Government

Shrouded in mystery. Exposed by a fresh-faced cubicle dweller. An introduction to the National Security Agency, its mission and activities, and the domestic spying programs uncovered in the Edward Snowden leak.

By Chris Opfer

Did you really think NSA stood for No Snooping Allowed? Of course not. But there's at least one more source of data for them to collect that you may not have considered -- and it's in your car.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Throughout history, charismatic leaders have emerged and changed the world - for better and for worse.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Right-to-work legislation lately has received a ton of attention in the U.S. Why are people so divided on these controversial laws?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

The image of a firefighter sliding down a pole to his truck and gear as alarms scream in the background is nothing short of iconic. But is it really necessary? Does sliding down a pole save time?

By Jamie Page Deaton

Confusing wording in legislative documents often leads to misinterpretation of the draft's intent. Is that the case with the Affordable Care Act?

By Maria Trimarchi

Candidates for the "51st state" include Puerto Rico, Guam and Washington, D.C. How likely is this to happen for any of them, and how did the U.S. get the 50 it already has?

By Dave Roos

As long as there has been civil discourse, there has been civil disobedience. In other words, protesting against the status quo is nothing new. But what was the largest one ever assembled?

By Robert Lamb & Dave Roos

Decades ago, two political scientists predicted Americans would ultimately move away from establishment, two-party politics. Were they right, and what makes voters go independent in the first place?

By Cristen Conger

Like the more politically liberal Occupy Wall Street movement, the Tea Party has attracted intensive media coverage. But what does this now formalized entity stand for, and who makes up its ranks?

By Cristen Conger

It took just about as much time for the ink to dry on the Declaration of Independence as it did for American politics to become another type of family business. What are 10 of the most successful political dynasties?

By Cristen Conger

Women have the right stuff to excel in politics, but they still make up well under 20 percent of the U.S. Senate and House. Could this minority status actually be making them better politicians?

By Cristen Conger

Whenever a presidential election rolls around, third parties often have a moment in the limelight. From Internet-privacy-loving Pirates to Ayn Rand-toting Objectivists, what are some of the most unusual third parties out there?

By Cristen Conger

We always hear about major government figures like the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, but who are these people, and how do they help the president? Meet the ladies and gentlemen of the Cabinet.

By Dave Roos

When it comes to politics, men tend to dominate, with women accounting for only about 10 percent of government leaders internationally. Which female politicians have trail-blazed a path to close that gender gap?

By Cristen Conger

Libertarians are certainly enjoying their moment in the spotlight, but does anyone know what they really believe? This article will shed some light on a political philosophy that could influence the upcoming election.

By Dave Roos

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