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?
15 Largest Cities in England, Ranked by Population
15 Largest Cities in Australia, Ranked by Population
12 Largest Cities in Mexico, Ranked by Population
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
The Most Racist States in the U.S. Aren't Where You'd Expect
Who Are the Sanctioned Russian Oligarchs?
How British Parliament Works
10 Most Corrupt Countries in the World — As Far As We Know
Most Racist Countries in the World: A Global Look at Inequality
Is Taiwan a Country? It Depends on Which Criteria You Use
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 6
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.
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
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.
Advertisement
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.
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.
Two consecutive 2017 hurricanes nearly exhausted FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund before Congress replenished it. But will that always happen?
Advertisement
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
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.
Advertisement
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?
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.
Advertisement
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.
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
Advertisement
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
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
Advertisement
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