By
GovFacts
22 Min Read

What Unions Do and How Collective Bargaining Works

A plain-English guide to how unions form and negotiate, covering authorization cards, NLRB elections, first contracts, dues, grievances, and strikes.

By
GovFacts
21 Min Read

The Barriers People Face After Prison

Collateral consequences are legal barriers to jobs, housing, and voting that can outlast a prison sentence. Learn how to find and challenge them.

Latest

An Independent Team to Decode Government

GovFacts is a nonpartisan site focused on making government concepts and policies easier to understand — and government programs easier to access.

Our articles are referenced by trusted think tanks and publications including Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill, and USA Today.

Your Money & Home

What a Patent Actually Protects (and What It Doesn’t)

A US patent only lets you stop others from making, using, or selling your invention, it does not give you…

By
GovFacts

Navigating the Patchwork of Federal Consumer Protections

Federal law splits consumer protection across agencies for fees, billing errors, and recalls. See which one applies and the escalation…

By
GovFacts

How to Spot and Report Common Scams

Learn the warning signs in common scams, from AI voice cloning to QR code fraud, and see where to report…

By
GovFacts

Your Health & Safety

Why Mail Fraud Is a Federal Crime

Learn why mail fraud became a federal crime, tracing the law from an 1872 statute to today's rules on intent,…

By
GovFacts

Special Education Rights Under IDEA

A plain-English guide to IDEA special education rights: requesting evaluations, what schools must provide, key deadlines, and options if services…

By
GovFacts

Civil Rights History in Schools: What Federal Education Standards Require

When Reverend Jesse Jackson died in February 2026, the national conversation about his legacy collided with an uncomfortable reality: most…

By
GovFacts

Your Voice & Rights

Can You Win the Presidency While Losing the Popular Vote?

The Electoral College can let a candidate win the presidency while losing the national popular vote, as it did in…

By
GovFacts

What the First Amendment Actually Protects

Learn what the First Amendment protects, from workplace speech to threats, protests, and campaign spending, using three key questions.

By
GovFacts

How the Census Shapes Political Power and Funding

See how census counts shape House seats, Electoral College votes, and federal funding, and which groups get undercounted most.

By
GovFacts

Your World

The Fight Over America’s Public Lands

Explains who controls America's public lands, how four federal agencies split the job, and why grazing rules and monument fights…

By
GovFacts

Why Family Green-Card Waits Can Last Decades

Learn how family visa categories, priority dates, and life events like marriage or death can affect a green card case…

By
GovFacts

How to Get a Green Card: The Main Paths

Breaks down the four legal paths to a green card, family, employer, humanitarian, and the diversity lottery, with costs and…

By
GovFacts

No Treaty, No Accountability: Why the Karachi Consulate Shooting Is Hard to Prosecute

Ten people are dead in Karachi. Everyone knows who pulled the trigger. The question is whether any court on Earth…

By
GovFacts

Trending Federal Guidance

Understanding the Social Security Earnings Limit

You can receive Social Security retirement or survivor benefits while still employed. However, if you begin receiving benefits before reaching your Full Retirement Age (FRA), specific rules limit how much…

By
GovFacts
21 Min Read

Understanding Your Passport Costs: A Clear Guide to Fees

Getting a U.S. passport is your ticket to international travel, but understanding the associated costs…

By
GovFacts

USPS Package Size Limits

Whether you're shipping products nationwide as a small business owner or sending gifts to loved…

By
GovFacts

Step-by-Step Guide for Applying for Social Security Benefits

Navigating Social Security benefits doesn't have to be complicated. This guide breaks down the application…

By
GovFacts

USPS Media Mail Rules and Restrictions

Media Mail is an economy shipping service provided by the USPS specifically for sending media…

By
GovFacts

Other Top Federal Guidance

Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Employees: Understanding Your Rights Under the FLSA

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the cornerstone of federal wage and hour law in the United States. Enacted…

By
GovFacts

Official USPS Change of Address

Moving to a new home is an exciting chapter but it also comes with a lengthy to-do list. Among many…

By
GovFacts

USPS Careers: Find and Apply for Postal Service Jobs

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is one of the nation's largest employers, offering diverse career paths. From mail carriers…

By
GovFacts

Home Office Tax Deductions and Requirements

Working from home has become increasingly common, making home office tax deductions more relevant than ever. Whether you're self-employed or…

By
GovFacts

Passports and Visas: Understanding the Key U.S. Travel Documents

Navigating the requirements for international travel can seem complex, especially when it comes to understanding the necessary documents. Passports and…

By
GovFacts

You May Also Like

Why Most Bills Never Become Law: The Hidden Chokepoints in Congress

Congress introduces thousands of bills each year, but most die from Senate rules, budget reconciliation limits, or the obscure Byrd Rule test.

By
GovFacts
20 Min Read

How Presidential Succession Works

Learn what happens when a president dies, resigns, or can't serve, and how succession works if both leaders are gone at once.

By
GovFacts
23 Min Read

Why Only USPS Can Put Mail in Your Mailbox

Federal law lets only USPS put mail in your mailbox, with narrow exceptions for prepaid postage and small package deliveries, plus fines for violations.

By
GovFacts
20 Min Read

How the Federal Budget Process Is Supposed to Work

The 1974 law set a strict budget calendar, but Congress almost never meets its deadlines, relying instead on stopgap funding and last-minute deals.

By
GovFacts
21 Min Read

Your Rights as an Employee Regarding Breaks and Retaliation

Federal law doesn't require lunch or coffee breaks, but retaliation protections still apply. See how state rules differ and what's protected.

By
GovFacts
16 Min Read

Why Closing a Post Office Is So Hard

Closing a U.S. post office involves months of legal steps like notice, comments, and appeals, but emergency suspensions can skip them.

By
GovFacts
19 Min Read

How the Federal Reserve Sets Interest Rates

Explains how the Federal Reserve turns its target range for the federal funds rate into a real overnight rate using tools like IORB and repo facilities.

By
GovFacts
17 Min Read

401(k) vs. IRA vs. Roth: What’s the Difference?

Explains how a 401(k) and IRA differ, and how Roth changes the tax picture, covering contribution limits, early withdrawals, and RMDs.

By
GovFacts
21 Min Read

How Federal Housing Assistance Works

Explains how Section 8 and public housing work, who qualifies, and why waitlists and landlord refusals leave many families without help.

By
GovFacts
17 Min Read

How Government Ethics Rules Work

Federal ethics rules explain how officials disclose assets, avoid conflicts of interest, follow gift limits, and face lobbying bans after leaving government.

By
GovFacts
26 Min Read

Why Postal Workers Can’t Legally Strike

Postal workers cannot legally strike under federal law. This explains the 1970 mail strike and how arbitration settles pay disputes today.

By
GovFacts
20 Min Read
Show More