Government
Government is a key part of any society and culture. Learn more about different types of government, politics and civic issues.
What Is a Postal Code? A Brief History of Zip Codes
From Human Skulls to Handguns, the Paris Lost and Found Has Seen It All
Running Antarctica's 'Penguin Post Office': Coolest Job Ever?
Democracy vs. Republic: What's the Difference?
How the Census Works
Birth Tourism: A Controversial Road to Citizenship
What to Do if Your Vote Is Challenged on Election Day
Why Does the U.S. House of Representatives Have Only 435 Seats?
Do Campaign TV Ads Really Change Voters' Minds?
Is the U.S. Prepared to Handle Natural Disasters During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
The Defense Production Act Was Designed for Emergencies Like Coronavirus
The Waffle House Index Is at Code Red; That's Not Good
Who Are the Sanctioned Russian Oligarchs?
How British Parliament Works
Nearly 1,000 U.S. Streets Named After MLK Jr. What Are They Like?
Is Taiwan a Country? It Depends on Which Criteria You Use
How Do Equity and Equality Differ?
How Is a 19th-century Obscenity Law Being Used to Ban the Abortion Pill?
How Does the U.S. Government Declassify Top Secret Documents?
How Does the U.S. Classify Its Most Sensitive Documents?
Why Data Encryption Remains a Really Complex Issue
Learn More / Page 2
Research shows that generations of refugees, whether displaced because of war, climate or famine, may no longer want to return to the place that was once home, even after it is safe to do so.
This group of men has enormous wealth, and they make up Putin's inner circle. Do they also have any chance of toppling Putin's regime, as well?
The United Kingdom and the United States both have representative democracies, but their legislatures work very differently.
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Declassified government documents can change our view of history, and also sometimes contain surprising revelations. Here are six to discover.
Researchers investigated the racial makeup and economic well-being of 22,286 census blocks in the U.S. with roadways bearing the slain civil rights leader's name. Here's what they found.
The Global Peace Index ranks 172 independent states and territories according to their levels of peacefulness. Those that came in last may — or may not — surprise you.
They're often mentioned in the same breath, but not every socialist is a communist, and not every communist or socialist country operates in the same way.
By Dave Roos
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It's that time of decade, when congressional maps get redrawn to reflect population growth — and often to improve one party's chances at the polls. So, when does redistricting become gerrymandering? The line is blurry.
By Dave Roos
The office of the Senate parliamentarian provides access to nonpartisan and confidential legislative expertise to help develop new legislation and understanding of the rules that govern the Senate.
You have to be at least 35 years old to be President of the United States. So, has anyone come close to that?
After 20 years of U.S. presence in Afghanistan, Taliban fighters swept through the country with lightning speed, taking control of the capital city Kabul on Sunday. What does the future hold for the people there?
By Tony Walker
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History has been made as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo steps aside and Kathy Hochul becomes the state's first female governor.
Impeachment is when Congress decides whether it's possible a president, or another elected official, has failed in their duties to the American people.
The Republican Party is known as the "GOP," but why? And what does "GOP" even mean?
When you think of the Secret Service, you probably think of the people in black guarding the president of the United States. But that's just a small part of the job. What else does this agency do?
By John Donovan
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The United States Secret Service provides 24/7 protection for the wives and kids of the U.S. president and vice president, including their adult children. But why do a president's children get protection?
By Dave Roos
Judge Amy Coney Barrett says her judicial philosophy is originalism, following in the footsteps of her mentor, Justice Antonin Scalia. What does that even mean?
By John Donovan
Populism is a political philosophy that divides society by splitting it into two opposing factions: the people and the elite. So who benefits from that?
By John Donovan
Cast your ballot to these questions to find out how much you know about the history of U.S. presidential elections.
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This American institution began with Abraham Lincoln following Stephen Douglas on the campaign trail. Today, the presidential debate is one of the most anticipated markers of candidates' campaigns.
She was the youngest New Zealand leader elected in over 150 years and has won plaudits for her handling of the coronavirus epidemic. We get the backstory on Jacinda Ardern and her many achievements.
It's happened before, and it'll likely happen again. The tricky part, though, is when it happens.
By Julia Layton
Voice of America, the U.S. government-controlled media network, has long had a reputation for being a source of unbiased news in contrast to the government-controlled media in countries it reaches. But will that continue?
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America's founders devised a structure in which the three branches of government would co-exist in a system of checks and balances designed to prevent each branch from gaining too much power. But does it still work?
President Trump is threatening to pull funding from public schools that don't open due to coronavirus. Can he even do that?