Elections and Political Process

Elections and the Political Process Elections are one of the main ways Americans convert public opinion into public power. This category explores how U.S. democracy has evolved from the founding era to today through the American experiment in democracy, how citizens learn to participate through citizenship education, and the many ways people shape government through public participation.

How Elections Work From updating your voter registration after moving to understanding primary elections, these guides explain the mechanics of voting and nominations. You can also learn how generic congressional ballot polls help indicate likely control of Congress, and what research says about whether campaign debates actually change presidential races.

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[Updated] Why is the Government Still Shut Down? What Comes Next?

As of October 16, 2025, the United States federal government remains in a partial shutdown. The impasse began at 12:01…

How Republicans and Democrats Have Handled Past Bigotry Scandals in Their Own Ranks

In October 2025, Politico exposed thousands of racist, sexist, and pro-Hitler messages exchanged in a private chat group among Young…

Do Democrats Support Illegal Immigration to Gain Voters?

A reader writes us to ask: "The reason Democrats want to give undocumented immigrants free health care is to get…

How Game Theory Explains the 2025 Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown of September 2025, the first in more than six years, looks like political chaos. Hundreds of…

Government Shutdown 2025: Why Congress Can’t Compromise on Funding and Health Care

Federal funding expires at midnight on September 30, 2025, and Congress has no agreement in place. Washington is heading toward…

Why the Minority Party Can Force a Government Shutdown

The federal government shut down on Oct. 1, 2025. Republicans control the White House, the House of Representatives, and the…

How America’s Communications Watchdog Has Shaped the Media

For a century, the Federal Communications Commission has wrestled with technology that outpaces the laws designed to govern it. From…

How America Has Taught Citizenship From the Founding Fathers to Today

Civic education is the lifelong process of equipping people to be informed and engaged members of their communities, from local…