Guides, explainers, and analysis about how U.S. government works — and how to make yours work for you.
12 articles · Page 1 of 3
A close national popular vote can still produce a losing candidate as president. Here's how the Electoral College's 538 votes actually work, why the Founders built it that way, and the real arguments on both sides of replacing it.
An overview of how campaign finance works in U.S. federal elections, from contribution limits to Super PACs and the ongoing debate over reform.
A clear guide to federal elections — how candidates qualify, how voting works, and how results are certified. Learn the key stages every voter should know.
Every ten years, the lines dividing America's congressional districts are redrawn — a quiet, technical process that nonetheless determines how much your vote actually counts. From partisan gerrymandering to independent commissions, understanding who controls this process reveals one of the most consequential yet overlooked forces shaping American representation.
When the United States was founded, only a narrow group of citizens held the power to vote. Over nearly two centuries, a series of hard-fought constitutional amendments and social movements dismantled those barriers.