Articles
What the FOIA Exemptions Cover: 9 Categories
What the FOIA exemptions cover: nine categories may protect information from public release. Learn what agencies can withhold or redact.
Articles
How a New Party Gets on the Ballot: State Rules
How a new party gets on the ballot depends on state law: recognition rules, petition thresholds and filing deadlines vary, so check the state’s election authori
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What the Internal Revenue Service Does After You File
What the Internal Revenue Service does: processes federal returns, checks information, issues refunds and follows up on errors or possible audit issues.
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What a Contribution Limit Is and Who Sets It
What a contribution limit is and who sets it: federal law governs federal races, while states set rules for state and local campaigns.
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What the National Debt Is, as an Accounting Matter
What the national debt is, as an accounting matter: a Treasury total…
What the Congressional Record Is—and How to Search It
What the Congressional Record is: the official record of proceedings and debate…
Budget Reconciliation: What It Can and Cannot Carry
Budget reconciliation: what it can and cannot carry depends on Senate rules:…
How a Vetoed Bill Returns to the Chamber
How a vetoed bill returns to the chamber depends on the Constitution:…
explainers on how the machinery works.