Articles
Federal vs. Household Budgets: Different Rules
A household can try to balance income and bills; the federal budget also relies on borrowing, appropriations and rules that do not map neatly onto a family ledg
Articles
What Incorporation Did to the Bill of Rights
What incorporation did to the Bill of Rights: it made many protections in the first ten amendments enforceable against state governments through the Fourteenth
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How State Rights Shape United States Politics
United States politics is shaped by a constitutional split: federal powers are delegated, while the Tenth Amendment reserves others to states or the people.
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Open Rule vs. Closed Rule: House Bill Debate
An open rule lets House members offer relevant amendments; a closed rule bars them. The Rules Committee sets the terms for debate on a bill.
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What Stare Decisis Requires of a Court
What stare decisis requires of a court: lower courts follow higher-court precedent,…
How a New Party Gets on the Ballot: State Rules
How a new party gets on the ballot depends on state law:…
What the Internal Revenue Service Does After You File
What the Internal Revenue Service does: processes federal returns, checks information, issues…
What a Contribution Limit Is and Who Sets It
What a contribution limit is and who sets it: federal law governs…
explainers on how the machinery works.