Political Issues

After all, every president who could have lived there has, but is it mandatory?

By John Donovan

Why does health care cost so much in the U.S.? And why, for all that money, isn't the population any healthier? These are just some of the big questions in the debate over health care costs.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

We often think of the civil rights movement as just part of the 1960s. On Martin Luther King Day, we explore some civil rights issues going on in the U.S. today.

By Alia Hoyt

Ever felt a pang of guilt on, say, Election Day when you skipped the voting booth to go to dinner? The 'bread and circuses' concept of being pacified by food and entertainment - and forgoing civic duty - goes back to Roman times.

By Laurie L. Dove

Thousands of think tanks dot the globe, and if you think they don't affect you, you're wrong. The scholars at these high-brow thought factories have a much bigger agenda than merely sitting around looking contemplative.

By John Perritano

Thanks to the First Amendment, people in the U.S. can say whatever they want, wherever they want without fear of prosecution. Er ... not quite.

By Dave Roos

It's the U.S.'s primary public health insurance program, but who pays for it and who qualifies for coverage? Get the scoop on the ins and outs of Medicaid's rules and benefits.

By Maria Trimarchi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Rachel Cemansky

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

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

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

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

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

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