Government

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Dickey Amendment Blocks Research on Gun Violence, Critics Say

With so much public outcry and concern over the rash of gun violence in the U.S., why would Congress cut federal funding for research into causes and solutions?

By Patrick J. Kiger Mar 7, 2018 Government / Political Issues

Will the 2020 Census Count the LGBTQ Community?

Members of the U.S. LGBTQ community want to be counted in the 2020 Census. So what's the big deal, and why would the government not count sexual orientation?

By John Donovan Mar 5, 2018 Government / Citizenship

Who Decides What Goes on Postage Stamps?

Anyone can submit an idea for a postage stamp, but who decides which ideas make the cut?

By Stell Simonton Mar 2, 2018 Government / Agencies

The 25th Amendment: The Other Constitutional Way to Remove a President

It's been invoked in the past, but never to remove a U.S. president from office.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Jan 8, 2018 Government / Political Issues

Does President Trump Really Have a Nuclear Button?

Contrary to his tweeted threat to North Korea, President Trump doesn't actually have a nuclear button.

By Patrick J. Kiger Jan 5, 2018 Government / Political Issues

Senate Write-in Candidates Rarely Win, But It Has Happened

A handful of write-in candidates have been elected to both the U.S. House and Senate, but it's a difficult way to win office.

By Patrick J. Kiger Dec 7, 2017 Government / Elections

Runoffs Decide Elections That Are 'Too Close to Call'

Sometimes elections are just too close to call. That's when voters have to head back to the polls for a runoff.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Nov 30, 2017 Government / Elections

The Card Game That Wants to Stop the Border Wall

Cards Against Humanity isn't a fan of the proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall, and the makers of the game have a plan to stop it. Or at least delay it.

By Cherise Threewitt Nov 27, 2017 Government / Political Issues

How Does the U.S. Senate Expel a Senator?

The Constitution gives the U.S. Senate the power to expel one of its members by a two-thirds vote, but it hasn't happened since the Civil War, and there isn't a well-established process for doing it.

By Patrick J. Kiger Nov 17, 2017 Government / Political Issues

Was South Korea's Disgraced Ex-President Controlled by a Cult?

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye was impeached and is on trial for corruption. Who was really pulling the strings during her administration?

By Diana Brown Nov 14, 2017 Government / Political Issues

How Nepotism Works

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.

By Ed Grabianowski Government / Political Issues

6 Times a Single Vote Really Did Change an Election

Sorry, democracy grinches: a single voter's decision can make a difference. American citizens have cast rare, but possible, pivotal votes throughout history.

By Patrick J. Kiger Nov 7, 2017 Government / Political Issues

How Gerrymandering Works

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.

By Patrick J. Kiger Government / Political Issues

How Freedom of the Press Works

Freedom of the press is one of the most overused — and increasingly, misunderstood — phrases in modern society. We explore what it really means and what happens when the freedoms disappear.

By Nathan Chandler Government / Political Issues

Can FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund Ever Run Out of Money?

Two consecutive 2017 hurricanes nearly exhausted FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund before Congress replenished it. But will that always happen?

By Patrick J. Kiger Sep 12, 2017 Government / Emergency Services

Do We Need Gender on Government IDs?

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 Sep 8, 2017 Government / Political Issues

Masculinity Is Considered 'More American' Than Femininity, Study Suggests

Americans tend to equate American identity with stereotypically male traits, like ambition and independence. But why? And how does it affect women?

By Kate Kershner Sep 7, 2017 Government / Political Issues

DACA: What Happens Now?

Trump rescinds DACA. What's next for the 800,000 dreamers?

By Sarah Gleim Sep 5, 2017 Government / Citizenship

Do People Who Protest in Public Have an Expectation of Online Privacy?

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 Aug 17, 2017 Government / Privacy