Government

All they had to do was sit back and count the votes. They thought they had the presidential election in the bag -- until they didn't. Here's our list of some of the biggest collapses in presidential campaign history.

By Dave Roos

The use of political attack ads -- those that focus on rivals' shortfalls rather than preferred candidates' achievements -- has shot up in recent years. These negative ads may leave a bad taste in voters' mouths, but are they effective?

By Cristen Conger

Presidential debates aren't really known for their fireworks, but these off-the-cuff moments definitely made sparks fly.

By Dave Roos

Historically in the United States, third parties have successfully steered political discourse and lawmaking, yet largely haven't stuck around long enough to get their own candidates into office. Which have had the best shot?

By Cristen Conger

The probability of a single vote actually making a difference in a presidential election is one in 60 million. With those kinds of odds, what keeps people going out to the polls?

By Cristen Conger

Lobbying has a long and storied history in American politics, but does it also deserve the bad rap it's taken for so long?

By Dave Roos

For years, pollsters and pundits have puzzled over how U.S. adults decide to cast their votes. Party affiliations and personal stances on electoral issues have a lot to do with it, of course, but does gender play a role, too?

By Cristen Conger

Campaign ads are designed to grab voters' attention, but what if an ad attracts eyeballs for all the wrong reasons? Here are five of the most offensive campaign ads ever produced.

By Dave Roos

Do you remember boring campaign ads? Of course not. That's why campaigns spend millions of dollars to send messages to voters. Here are five ads that worked -- and that's why we remember them.

By Dave Roos

If the news is any indication, Americans have officially caught recall fever. Why (and how) are everyday voters taking the extraordinary step of recalling officials they've already elected to their posts?

By Dave Roos

Almost every day it seems like there is a new poll out tracking the president's performance or some political issue. But who selects the people who respond to these polls? And can you trust the numbers?

By Dave Roos

It's probably more than you think. Learn more about how many cities have a ban on plastic bags.

By Rachel Cemansky

The U.S. Constitution touts freedom of the press, but a closer look at the law — especially as interpreted by the Supreme Court — shows that press "freedom" has its limits. How are journalists bound by the law?

By Dave Roos

Citizen journalism refers to the efforts of average citizens or amateur journalists to gather news and spread accurate information. The question that surrounds the practice, however, is defining what makes a professional journalist.

By Dave Roos

Ever wonder how the 24-hour news cycle is possible? You can thank digital satellite news gathering for a large part of the constant flow of information.

By Jane McGrath

Do you remember the phrase "film at 11"? If you do, you were around before electronic news gathering made the world move a little faster.

By Jane McGrath

Sarah Palin has one, and comedian Stephen Colbert does too. But what exactly is a Super PAC, and how will they affect future elections?

By Chris Warren

Each September, Americans remember the document that Revolutionary War general and national assemblyman Marquis de Lafayette called "little short of a miracle." But what don't you know about the U.S. Constitution?

By Julia Layton

Do we have a right to privacy? It isn't specifically laid out in the Constitution, but we do have the right to protect our private information. But what happens to that privacy once you die?

By Ed Grabianowski

The United States spends a huge chunk of its national paycheck on debt obligations. Where is all that money going?

By Dave Roos, Melanie Radzicki McManus & Yara Simón

It's safe to say most every American is familiar with the two magic words: "American dream." But what is this dream exactly? And how do you know if you're living it?

By Patrick J. Kiger

If you think filibusters have been in the news more lately, you're right. In the 1950s, the Senate averaged fewer than one per session. The 116th Congress (2019-2020), however, threatened filibuster 270 times. Why the big increase?

By John Kelly & John Donovan

You always hear stories about politicians and government employees leaving their jobs to return to the private sector and vice versa, but did you know that the phenomenon actually has a name? It's known as the Revolving Door -- and some critics think it could damage the country irreparably.

By Josh Clark

If you're a child in the United States, you can't legally vote, drive, hold public office or even see some movies without an adult with you. But that doesn't mean you don't have constitutional rights.

By Chanel Lee

China is generally viewed as the next candidate for "superpower" distinction, but does that mean it will take over the world? What would that entail?

By Charles W. Bryant