Administrative Law
Lifetime Driver’s License Revocation: Rules in Each State
A lifetime or permanent driver’s license revocation does not always mean never driving again. In Florida, a driver whose license was permanently revoked after four or…
How Government Works
How government works is the study of how public power is organized and used in the United States. It covers the written foundations of government, the branches and agencies that act, the roles of states and localities, and the money and elections that keep the system running. Understanding it helps people see who decides what and where to turn for action.
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October 12last updated
An independent team explaining how government works
GovFacts is a nonpartisan site that makes government concepts, policies and programs easier to understand and use.
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Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
Latest in How Government Works
Unions and Collective Bargaining
How Workers Vote Out a Union: Decertification Explained
Decertification is how workers vote out a union that represents them. It starts with a petition to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), signed by 30…
Consumer Rights and Laws
Surveillance Pricing: How Your Data Shapes What You Pay
Two shoppers can be offered different prices for the same product because of their personal data, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A personal offer…
Financial Aid
FAFSA’s Student Aid Index: What It Means for Your Aid
A low Student Aid Index (SAI) can mean greater eligibility for aid without telling a family what college will cost. What college will cost depends on…
Topics in How Government Works
Founding and structure
Constitutional Foundations covers the framework set by the Constitution, Federal Government Structure covers the branches and agencies of the national government, and Federalism covers how power is split between the national government and the states.
Constitutional Foundations
107 articles
- Can a President Serve More Than Two Terms?
- Why the Supreme Court Rarely Second-Guesses Presidential Trade Decisions
- The Constitutional Clause That Originally Gave Congress Tariff Power
States and territories
State and Local Government covers governments closer to home, and Territories and Possessions covers areas under national authority that are not states.
Running government
Government Operations covers the daily work of public agencies, Budget Appropriations covers how money is raised and spent, and Data Governance and Statistical Policy covers how public data is collected and managed.
Government Operations
63 articles
- Congress Gave Presidents Emergency Powers in 1977. Now the Court May Take Them Back.
- Can Congress Block a Presidential Emergency Declaration?
- National Emergency Declarations Have Tripled Since 2001. Here’s Why.
Politics
Elections and Political Process covers how officials are chosen and how campaigns and parties fit in.
All Articles on How Government Works
Why States Give Companies Tax Breaks to Create Jobs
State tax incentives trade public revenue for company investment and jobs. Their value depends on deal terms, enforcement and what the subsidy changes.
Section 338: Presidential Tariffs and Import Bans
How Section 338 lets presidents respond to trade discrimination with tariffs or import bans, including legal limits, required findings and Canada examples.
What Is America.gov?
America.gov is a federal AI portal for government information with plans for transactions. Its role depends on reliable answers and connected agency services.
The Hidden Meaning Packed Into a ZIP Code
ZIP codes pack real routing info: the first digit picks a region, the middle three name a hub, and the last two find your local post office.
The Problem ZIP Codes Were Built to Solve
The five-digit ZIP Code, launched in 1963, fixed a mail-sorting crisis by replacing clerks' memory with a machine-readable code, then found new uses.
Separation of Powers, Explained
The Constitution splits lawmaking, enforcement, and judging among Congress, the President, and courts, with built-in checks like vetoes and impeachment.
How a Case Climbs From Trial Court to the Supreme Court
Explains how a case climbs from trial court through appeals to the Supreme Court, covering deadlines, cert petitions, and the emergency docket.
How to Cut Most of Your Junk Mail (and What You Can’t Stop)
Free tools like OptOutPrescreen and DMAchoice can clear out most credit offers, catalogs, and coupons cluttering your mailbox each week.
Why Only One-Third of the Senate Is Up Each Election
Explains why the Constitution splits the Senate into three classes, so only about a third of seats face voters each election while others keep serving.
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.