Politics, history and the people who made it
Understanding American politics requires understanding the rulebook that governs Washington.
36 stories
Learn how the Supreme Court opens in October and filters thousands of certiorari petitions down to 70 argued cases using the cert pool and Rule of Four.
Explore 10 crucial facts about the 1787 Constitutional Convention, including the delegates who walked out in protest and the three who refused…
Discover 7 essential facts about the 9/11 Commission and how its landmark 2004 report restructured the U.S. intelligence community and federal governance.
Discover why Congress takes an August recess, how air conditioning altered the legislative calendar, and what lawmakers do in their home districts.
Discover 10 landmark Supreme Court decisions released in the final week of June and learn why the Court saves its biggest constitutional…
Learn how congressional subpoenas work, the three legal paths for contempt votes, and why the Department of Justice rarely prosecutes executive officials.
Learn how the U.S. Senate confirms over 1,200 executive positions, from Plum Book listings to cloture votes, debate caps, and vacancy limits.
Discover the 7 times Congress changed the Supreme Court's size before settling on nine justices in 1869, from Washington's original six to…
Learn how the Library of Congress and the Congressional Research Service (CRS) deliver non-partisan legal and policy briefings to Members of Congress.
Discover how three major Presidential Succession Acts since 1792 reshaped the presidential line of succession between legislative leaders and the Cabinet.