Do I have a terrorist score on file with Homeland Security?

In a document released in early November, the Department of Homeland Security revealed aspects of a targeting program that most citizens and many lawmakers didn't know about.

How Air Force One Works

When the president goes anywhere by plane, he travels in the most amazing private jet in the world -- a flying White House complete with a gym! Take a tour of this amazing aircraft and see pictures from past and present.

How does the FBI decide who makes the Most Wanted list?

The FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list has been an unqualified success since its inception in the 1950s. Learn how they choose its members.

How does the FCC police obscenity?

The FCC is the government group that reacted to Janet Jackson's Super Bowl exposure and to indecency violations by Bubba the Love Sponge. Learn about the FCC's obscenity criteria.

How Eminent Domain Works

How can the government just take over and destroy property and buildings? And why do we let them? It's called eminent domain -- and it's in the Constitution. Learn about the controversy surrounding eminent domain.

How NATO Works

NATO is still in the news regarding its involvement in Iraq and what role it should play in the aftermath of the war. Learn about the history of NATO, how it fits into world affairs and what the alliance means.

How Presidential Memoirs Work

With President Clinton's memoirs scheduled for release on June 22, there's a whole lot of talk going around about the nature of a presidential memoir. What is its purpose? What is the role of cold, hard facts in this type of book? How does it progress from idea to finished product? This week, find out what distinguishes a memoir from a general autobiography and see how a presidential memoir comes to be.

How Prohibition Worked

It's hard to believe that less than a century ago, the United States tried its best to legally ban alcohol. Prohibition spawned illegal speakeasies, organized crime and economic turmoil. Learn about it in this article.

How Spies Work

To get secret information, governments use espionage -- a blend of subterfuge, deception, technology and data analysis. Spies have shaped foreign policy, altered the course of wars and left a deep (though usually hidden) impression on world history.

How Supreme Court Appointments Work

The retirement of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has led to speculation and political maneuvering. Find out how Supreme Court justices are nominated, who is qualified to serve and how a nominee is approved.

How the ACLU Works

The ACLU has worked to defend fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to privacy for 80 years, but not without controversy. Read about fascinating facts and history-changing decisions the ACLU has been party to.

How the CIA Works

Despite plenty of Hollywood films about the CIA and its spies, many people still don't know what the agency actually does. In this article, we'll take a look at the history of the CIA and the scandals that have rocked it through the decades.

How the FBI Works

Find out what the FBI does, how it started, and what it takes to become an FBI agent. We'll also take a look at some of the tools and techniques used by the FBI and learn about J. Edgar Hoover, the man who molded the Bureau into a powerful crime-solving agency.

How the Humane Society Works

When most people think of the Humane Society, they imagine rows and rows of caged dogs and cats waiting for someone to adopt them and take them home. While the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) does work to support local animal shelters -- and dogs and cats -- its work encompasses much more than that.

How the U.S. Postal Service Works

The U.S. Postal Services delivers 213 billion pieces of mail a year. But will e-mail someday triumph over snail mail? And how do your letters get to the right place?