Guides, explainers, and analysis about how U.S. government works — and how to make yours work for you.
21 articles · Page 2 of 5
Congress is the branch of the U.S. government responsible for writing the nation's laws — but how does a bill actually become law, and what do senators and representatives really do all day? Here's a plain-English breakdown.
From primaries to the Electoral College, federal elections in the U.S. follow a specific, often confusing sequence. Here's how House, Senate, and presidential races actually work — and why your vote counts differently depending on the race.
When a senator resigns or dies in office, there's no single national rule for what happens next. Some governors can appoint a replacement to serve out the full term; others must call a special election within months. Here's how it actually works, state by state.
Primaries and caucuses both decide who ends up on your ballot, but they work nothing alike — one's a quiet trip to the polls, the other's a public meeting with your neighbors. Here's how each one actually works.
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.