Political Issues
The Political Issues Channel discusses hot topics and important political issues such as conventions, scandals and theories.
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
The Most Racist States in the U.S. Aren't Where You'd Expect
Who Are the Sanctioned Russian Oligarchs?
How British Parliament Works
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
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In the age of endless information, are voters too distracted to make informed decisions?
By Diana Brown
First ladies have traditionally played significant roles at the White House. But so far that work has been sans pay.
By Dave Roos
'American Exceptionalism' is a slippery term that has been used both positively and negatively. What does it really mean and how did it come to be embraced by both American Democrats and Republicans?
By Dave Roos
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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?
It's been invoked in the past, but never to remove a U.S. president from office. How does it work and when - if ever - should it be used?
Contrary to his tweeted threat to North Korea, President Trump doesn't actually have a nuclear button.
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.
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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.
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 - and increasingly, misunderstood - phrases in modern society. We explore what it really means and what happens when the freedoms disappear.
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
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
Scandalgate! The connotative suffix has been affixed to imbroglios aplenty. But has its overuse made us forget its original context?
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?
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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?