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 5
Appointing family members to positions they didn't necessarily earn is often criticized. But nepotism reaches far beyond the business world, and it's not always so bad.
Sorry, democracy grinches: A single voter's decision can make a difference. American citizens have cast rare, but possible, pivotal votes throughout history.
Gerrymandering the political trick of manipulating the size and shape of electoral districts, to give one party an advantage. It's always been a problem, but technology has taken it to new heights.
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Freedom of the press is one of the most overused â and increasingly, misunderstood â phrases in modern society. We explore what it really means and what happens when the freedoms disappear.
Two consecutive 2017 hurricanes nearly exhausted FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund before Congress replenished it. But will that always happen?
Some countries have started allowing people to choose an 'X' on their passports to indicate an unspecified sex. Many people argue that's not enough and gender classifications don't belong on government documents at all.
By Dave Roos
Some say that publishing someone's personal information online for the purpose of harassment is bad, even if that person spouts hate speech. Do you agree?
By Dave Roos
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This time it's not honey that got Winnie the Pooh in trouble.
Anarchism is often thought of as a synonym for chaos and violence, but the philosophy of anarchism is far more nuanced than that.
Guess which president liked to skinny dip and which one liked petroleum jelly rubbed all over his head every morning.
President Trump and Congressional Republicans have claimed that protesters who've shown up in force are being paid by their political opponents. Is there any evidence that's true?
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Investigations have been a part of the U.S. Congress since 1790. Who decides on an investigation and how effective are they?
If you're a U.S. citizen with a passport, driver's license or state-issued ID, your face could wind up in a virtual lineup.
The National Security Council provides advice to the president on intelligence matters and coordinates activities in various government agencies. At least in theory. In reality, each U.S. president has used the council in the way that suits him.
Whether an item is labeled as "made," "assembled" or "manufactured" in a country makes a big difference.
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Once enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966, the Freedom of Information Act provided citizens and journalists more access to government documents and material.
Are we ready to go back to a pre-EPA USA? Take a look at a series of pics from the National Archives to see what it was like before the agency was formed.
By Sarah Gleim
Scandalgate! The connotative suffix has been affixed to imbroglios aplenty. But has its overuse made us forget its original context?
The longest mail route in America is nearly 200 miles. The shortest? Less than 1 mile.
By Dave Roos
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The words we use can suggest transactional or participatory relationships. What's your role in a country? To consume, spend and buy? Or to participate, vote and engage?
The first and only Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia in 1787. Why haven't there been others since?
By Dave Roos
Eight Republican members of Congress are pushing legislation to remove the U.S. from the United Nations. Is that even possible? Has it ever happened before?
You may be surprised at which states are feeding the most at the government trough.
By Dave Roos
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Are there alternatives to the winner-take-all voting system? Ranked-choice voting is one, which supporters say would elect more centrist candidates. But critics worry about the downsides.
A new U.S. president is under pressure to produce in those first 100 days in office. Why is that and does it really matter?
By Dave Roos