US Politics: Most Popular Articles

What Are Super-Delegates?
The Democratic Party has three types of delegates; two types are elected at the state level. The third is less well publicized or understood: the super-delegate.

2008 Presidential Primaries
2008 Presidential Primary and Caucus Calendar

2008 Delegate Count - Democratic Primary and Caucus - Presidential Election
Summary of the Democratic presidential delegate count after each state primary or caucus.

Death Penalty
After a 10-year moratorium, the United States re-instituted the death penalty in 1977. Overview of statistics, arguments pro-and-con, background of capital punishment.

Presidential Election - Results by State, 1972-2004; Democratic Primary Results, 2008
How each state has voted in the last nine presidential elections and how each state has voted in the 2008 Democratic Primary.

Historical Presidential Approval Ratings - End Of Term Plus Current Ratings
Chart of end-of-term Presidential Approval ratings. Links to current approval ratings -- job, Iraq -- as well as Presidential candidate polling data.

Issue Summary: Abortion
This issue summary provides background about abortion in America, presents various points of view on the political aspects of abortion, and provides links to pro choice and pro life organizations.

Obama Political Timeline
When Barack Obama decided he wanted to run for the Illinois Senate in 1996, he ensured his candidacy by successfully challenging the nomination petitions of his four competitors. This article provides a timeline of Obama's political career.

Party In Power - Congress and Presidency - 1945 - 2008
Table showing the party in power in each of the three branches of government, from 1945-2006.

Top 10 Political Movies
Use this gift guide to find the best political movie for the politico on your gift list.

Race for US Senate - 2008
Overview of Senate race in 2008 election.

What Is A Leadership PAC?
Federal politicians -- senators and representatives -- often form what is called a Leadership PAC to, among other things, raise money to help fund other candidate campaigns.

2008 Election Central
Latest election news, candidate positions on the issues, fundraising information, States to Watch, and a comparison of the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates.

10 Classic Novels
Top 10 classic political novels, from 1984 to To Kill a Mockingbird.

How Much Is A Billion?
Context for understanding how much is a billion.

US Politics - Forum Guidelines
Posting policies for the US Politics Forum

Gay Marriage - Post Election
Overview of the status of gay marriage in the US after the November 2004 elections.

Hurricane Katrina - Statistics - Two Year Anniversary
Livability statistics for New Orleans area, post Katrina.

Presidential Approval Rating
Analysis of presidential approval ratings -- overall, Iraq and economy -- from 2001 to 2007.

Bill of Rights
History of the Bill of Rights; first 10 amendments to the US Constitution.

Troops In Iraq
US and Coalition Troops in Iraq

US Immigration as Percent of Population - 1820-2004 From US Politics at About.com
US Immigration as Percent of Population, from US Politics

War in Iraq
Overview of issues surrounding the War in Iraq.

The Draft
Overview of the history of the draft in the US. Reviews the success of the "all volunteer" Army and the possibility that Congress will reinstitute a draft.

George W. Bush
This illustrated biography of George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States, examines his life from birth to the White House.

Debt/GDP by President
Gross Debt as a Percent of GDP, by President

Real Median Income, 2007
Real Median Income - US Census, August 2007

Electoral Votes - 2008 Presidential Election
Summary of state electoral votes in 2008.

Public Holidays In The US
What are the nationwide public holidays in the United States and how is a holiday born?

2008 Delegate Count - Republican Primary and Caucus - Presidential Election
Summary of the Republican presidential delegate count after each state primary or caucus.

Same-Sex Marriage in the US - June 2006
Overview of the status of gay marriage in the US - June 2006 - on eve of Senate vote on Constitutional Amendment.

Does immigration have a positive or negative impact on the US? - US Politics Poll
Do You Agree With Iraq Troop Surge?

Sen. Barack Obama & Sen. Hillary Clinton Leadership PAC Donations & Super-Delegate Endorsements
Data on both Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton's Leadership PAC donations to federal candidates and their super-delegate position.

Amending The Constitution
How to amend the Constitution of the United States.

Hurricane Katrina Timeline from US Politics
A timeline of events leading up to and following Hurricane Katrina's landfall on the Gulf Coast of the US in August 2005. Focus is on government actions and political decisions.

Civil Rights Act
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964

Debt as a Percent of GDP, 1940
US Federal Debt as a Percent of GDP, 1940-2007

Supreme Court
An overview of the federal court system in the United States, with profiles of US Supreme Court Justices.

Medicare v Medicaid
Part one: medicare. An indepth look at two government programs for health care: medicare and medicaid.

Presidential Comparison
Presidential Comparison: Debt as Percentage of GDP

Women's Milestones
As Nancy Pelosi assumes leadership of the US House of Representatives, let's look at other milestones for women in politics in the United States.

Iraq Casualties - Aug 2007
Iraq Casualties By Month - Mar 2003 - Aug 2007

MLK
At age 35, Martin Luther King, Jr., became the youngest man to win the Nobel Peace Prize. A follower of the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, King is one of the world's best-known modern advocates of nonviolent social change.

US Gross National Debt As Percent of Gross Domestic Product
US Gross National Debt As Percent of Gross Domestic Product, from US Politics

2005 Hurricane Season
Highlighst of the most costly and deadly hurricanes to hit the United States.

John G. Roberts, Jr - Bio
Biographical data on John G. Roberts, Jr., President Bush's first Supreme Court nomination.

Democrats For Prez
An overview of 2008 Democratic Presidential Candidates.

US Poverty Rate, 1959-2006
US Poverty Rate, 1959-2006 - US Census, August 2007

Bush Aggregated, Total
Chart shows aggregated approval ratings for President Bush, both terms. Includes 13 sources and 14-day running average.

Tort Reform Since 1986 - By State

US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 7
Text of the US Civil Rights Act - 1964 - Title 7.

McCain-Feingold
The McCain-Feingold Act, Public Law 107-155. is United States federal law that regulates the financing of political campaigns; chief sponsors were Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russell Feingold (D-WI). The law became effective 6 November 2002.

Quotes About Politics
Quotations from politicans and other famous people - talking about politics.

Should We Rebuild New Orleans?
Commentary on mitigation verus rebuilding after natural disasters, focusing on 2005 Category 5 Hurricane Katrina

Hilliary Clinton, 2008
Profile of Hillary Clinton, one of a series of profiles in the 2008 Presidential Race.

Historical Presidential Rating
End of term presidential approval ratings from Eisenhower to Clinton.

Opinion on Edwards
Compilation of conservative editorial commentary on Vice Presidential Candidate John Edwards

CAFE Standards
Background and controversy around the 1975 corporate average fuel efficiency standards designed to improve automobile fuel economy.

Davis-Bacon Act
The Davis-Bacon Act (1931) requires federal contractors to pay prevailing wages -- in other words, public funds cannot be used in price discrimination. Ironically, an Act championed by Republicans has been suspended most almost exclusively by Republican Presidents.

Deaths In Iraq By Year
US Military - Deaths In Iraq By Year, 2003-2007

Executions by State and Method of Execution - Alphabetical
Statistics: Executions by State and Method of Execution (1977-2003)

Filibuster In 2005
Overview of Senate procedural Rule 22, filibuster and cloture.

US Federal Budget Process
This federal budget process document is a quick primer outlining the steps taken as the budget moves from concept to reality.

Health Care
An overview of access to health care in the United States, with focus on insurance, costs, and party positions.

Hit Most By Hurricanes
More than three-quarters of the top 29 US cities hit by hurricanes are in Florida.

Presidents of the USA
Terms of office, political affiliation, and brief bios of the Presidents of the United States.

Being an Indian in America
Examines issues, statistics and life of American Indians and provides information on process to "prove" ancestry.

The Hatch Act
Passed in 1939, the Hatch Act restricts the political activity of executive branch employees of the federal government, District of Columbia government, and some state and local employees who work in connection with federally funded programs.

Issue: Geneva Conventions
This issue summary provides background about the Geneva Conventions and treatment of prisoners of war. The context is the current war against terrorism and events in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Abu Ghraib, Iraq.

Income Distribution - 2007
Income Distribution - US Census, August 2007

Michigan Primary
Presidential election primaries and caucuses are two different methods that political parties use to let party members (voters) select the presidential nominee. How do primaries work and why did Democrats ignore Michigan?

Panel Rejects Intrinsa
FDA Advisory Panel rejects testosterone via a patch (Intrinsa) for women with surgical menopause.

Top 10 PACS - 2006
Top political action committees in 2006 election.

Income, Woman and Men - 2007
Income, Woman and Men - US Census, August 2007

Filibuster and Cloture
Overview of Senate procedural Rule 22, filibuster and cloture .

John McCain, 2008
Profile of John McCain, one of a series of profiles in the 2008 Presidential Race.

Nigerian Yellow Cake
Examination of the facts and fiction surrounding the intelligence community and allegations that Iraq attempted to purchase yellowcake from Niger.

How Do Iowa Caucuses Work?
Presidential election primaries and caucuses are two different methods that political parties use to let party members (voters) select the presidential nominee. How do caucuses work and why is Iowa first?

New Orleans Quick Facts
Quick facts about Mississippi, population, economics, geography

BB Amendment
A timeline for the Balanced Budget Amendment, which would amend the United States Constitution by requiring -- through law -- that Congress pass a federal budget that balances projected revenues and expenditures, with certain exceptions (notably, a time of war).

Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty dealing with greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. This issue overview explains history, impacts and current status of the treaty.

Bush Aggregated, 2nd Term
Chart shows aggregated approval ratings for President Bush, second term only. Includes 13 sources and 14-day running average.

Jena 6 - A Timeline - Events of 2007
Timeline of events in the Jena 6 case in Louisiana, where six black youth were charged with murder in a schoolyard brawl with a white student.

Presidential Vetoes - Overview and History
Overview and history of the Presidential veto in the United States.

DOMA
President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on 21 September 2001. It defines marriage as an act between heterosexuals.

US Politics - Articles
An index of Articles for the US Politics guide site.

Iraqi Deaths - Annual - 05-07
Estimate of Iraq civilian deaths, 2005-2007, source Iraq Coalition Casualty Count

Salaries of US Federal Officia
Current salaries for members of the U.S. Congress as well as the White House and the Courts.

Bush - Terrorism Approval
Bush - Terrorism Approval Ratings, Oct 01 - Sept 06

Hurricane Katrina Timeline from US Politics - Aftermath
A timeline of events leading up to and following Hurricane Katrina's landfall on the Gulf Coast of the US in August 2005. Focus is on government actions and political decisions.

Barack Obama, 2008
Profile of Barack Obama, one of a series of profiles in the 2008 Presidential Race.

Swing-Vote Cases
Many controversial issues have been decided by a 5-4 vote of the Supreme Court; the swing vote is the person who is vote number five. It's called a swing vote because the person does not always vote with either "side" of the court.

Presidential Vetoes - History, Records
Quick facts about Presidential vetoes

How Does the Florida Primary W
Presidential election primaries and caucuses are two different methods that political parties use to let party members (voters) select the presidential nominee. How do primaries work and why did Democrats ignore Florida?

Bush Strategies In Iraq
A timeline of key Bush Strategies in Iraq.

AG - 1980-2007
Bios of US Attorney General from 1980-2007.

Gross Federal Debt - 1940-2007
Gross Federal Debt - 1940-2007

Side-By-Side: Hurricane Katrina v Hurricane Rita from US Politics
A timeline of events leading up to the landfall of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

Bush Vetos
Details on the bills that have been vetoed by President Bush (43).

Presidential Election Forecast
2005 overview of possible candidates and issues relating to the US 2008 Presidential election.

Super Tuesday - 5 February 2008 - Presidential Election
Summary of the states holding primaries and caucuses on super Tuesday, 5 February 2008.

Presidential Approval Ratings - August 2005
Analysis of presidential approval ratings -- overall, Iraq and economy -- from 2001 to 2005.

Grand Jury in the US
The Grand Jury in the United States: an historical overview with details on selection, reponsibilities, secrecy, subpoena power, and indictments.

Republicans for Prez
These are officially-announced candidates for the Republican Presidential nomination, effective 1 December 2007.

South Carolina Primary
Presidential election primaries and caucuses are two different methods that political parties use to let party members (voters) select the presidential nominee. How do primaries work and why are South Carolina Ds and Rs on different days?

Uninsured Rates By State-2007
Uninsured Rates By State - US Census, August 2007

Guide To the 2008 Nomination
A Cliff Notes Guide To the 2008 Presidential Nomination defines terms and provides an overview of the nomination process that culminates in the Democratic and Republican National Conventions this summer.

Blue Laws - Alcohol
Blue laws in the US.

US Immigration By Decade - 1820-2004 From US Politics at About.com
US Immigration by Decade, from US Politics

Samuel Alito - Bio
President Bush nominated Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Samuel Alito to replace Sandra Day O'Connor. He was confirmed on 31 January 2006 and is the second Bush appointment to the Court.

Facebook - 2008 Prez
Facebook, the social networking site that is now open to everyone, has a myriad of political applications (widgets) that you can add to your profile. Here are the top presidential campaign 2008 applications!

HAVA
In 2002, Congress interjected the federal government into how states conduct federal elections when it passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA - Public Law 107-252). The Act set up ID requirements for voters.

Tort Reform - State Recap
Physicians across the country are seeking tort reform from state lawmakers. Their goal: to stabilize medical liability insurance premiums.

Dear Red States ... Dear Blue States ...Political Satire
A humorous recitation of the differences between red and blue states; author unknown.

Contact Congress
How to get in touch with your U.S. congressman.

Jena 6 - A Timeline - Events of 2006
Timeline of events in the Jena 6 case in Louisiana, where six black youth were charged with murder in a schoolyard brawl with a white student.

Tragedy of Unlearned Lessons
Dr. Joe P. Dunn -- Charles A. Dana Professor and Chair of History & Politics at Converse College -- compares Vietnam with Iraq, Johnson with Bush, McNamara with Rumsfeld.

Sex and Politics
An overview of political sex scandals in America.

Richard Cheney
Richard Cheney

Taxes
This overview examines six types of taxes and explores five principles used to judge whether a tax is good or bad.

nobel
A list of Americans who have won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Abortion News
Breaking news and blog archive about abortion issues in the United States.

Top 10 Political TV Shows
Use this gift guide to find the best political TV shows for the politico on your gift list.

Rehnquist Legacy
Review of the life of Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist, including notable decisions.

SCOTUS: Procedures
Overview of procedures of the US Supreme Court.

US Senate
What powers are granted to the Senate by the US Constitution?

Overview : The Economy - Charts
Charts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for private, manufacturing and retail employment during the period January 1992 to June 2004

US Pension Crisis?
An overview of the pension system in the United States, examining the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), types of pensions, assets and liabilities, and facts to consider when discussing reform.

Balanced Budget Amendment
The Balanced Budget Amendment would amend the United States Constitution by requiring -- through law -- that Congress pass a federal budget that balances projected revenues and expenditures, with certain exceptions (notably, a time of war). Republicans have historically been the drivers of such an amendment.

Continuity of Government Plans
The Continuity of Operations Plan - or Continuity of Government Plan - ensures that United States federal government operations can continue in the case of catastrophic events. It is an outgrowth of Cold War era legislation and executive order.

Presidential Race - Editorial Endorsements
Analysis of presidential approval ratings -- overall, Iraq and economy -- from 2001 to 2004.

Approval Ratings - Gallup
Bush Approval Rating - 2001 - 2006 - Gallup Data

Uninsured Children - 2007
Uninsured Children - Race, Age, Poverty Rate - US Census, August 2007

Hurricane Katrina Timeline from US Politics - Landfall
A timeline of events leading up to and following Hurricane Katrina's landfall on the Gulf Coast of the US in August 2005. Focus is on government actions and political decisions.

Same-Sex Marriage in the US - November 2004
Overview of the status of gay marriage in the US after the November 2004 elections.

Pat Tillman Timeline
Pat Tillman -- high profile volunteer, multi-million-dollar pro-football player -- was killed in Afghanistan in April 2004. He was killed by "friendly fire." This is a timeline of events surrounding his death and subsequent investigations.

Iraq Quality Of Life
Selected quality of life indicators in Iraq show a mixed picture.

State Politics: Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is swing state; its 2006 population was 12.4 million. Pennsylvania is not as multicultural as the nation on average: it is 85.7% white (80.1% nationally) and 10.7% black (12.8% nationally).

Plame Timeline
Karl Rove / Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson Timeline

Warner Amendment - S2518 - 15 November 2005
Amednment to defense appropriation requiring that the Administration plan to withdraw from Iraq.

$87 Billion Vote
Historical look at the $87 billion vote on Iraqi reconstruction.

Deconstructing Polls
Ever wondered at the validity of political polls and at their newworthiness? Then this series of tips is for you.

Presidential Approval Sept 04
Analysis of presidential approval ratings -- overall, Iraq and economy -- from July - September 2004.

How Does The New Hampshire Pri
Presidential election primaries and caucuses are two different methods that political parties use to let party members (voters) select the presidential nominee. How do primaries work and why is New Hampshire the first?

Poverty by Age Group 1959-2006
Poverty by Age Group, 1959-2006 - US Census, August 2007

Measures of Economic Health - Comparison Among Presidents
Measures of Economic Health - Comparison Among Presidents.

Katrina News
Analyses and news reports of potential impact of a hurricane on New Orleans - before Katrina hit.

\$87 Billion Vote
Historical look at the $87 billion vote on Iraqi reconstruction.

Ronnie Earle
Ronnie Earle is the Travis County (Austin) Texas prosecutor. His office is responsible for prosecuting crimes against the state. He is in the news because of an indictment against US House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX).

How Do Nevada Caucuses Work?
Overview of how caucuses work in Nevada's 2008 primary season.