GOVERNMENT

One of many protests against the Vietnam War in the late 1960s.

10 Significant Vietnam War Protests

The deeply unpopular war led to the biggest and most consequential protest movement in U.S. history. Here are the key events and reactions.

Senators can be expelled, but it doesn’t happen often.

Can You Expel a Sitting Senator?

Once you’ve been voted into the Senate, it’s difficult to get you out.

Why Is a Tariff Called a “Tariff”?

This word has taken a long linguistic journey to get to where it is today.

What Happens if I Don’t File My Taxes on Time?

If you fail to file or pay your taxes in time for the April 15 deadline, you could end up dealing with a lot of hassle—and get stuck paying a lot of fees.

The Windows 95 theme has earned recognition.

The Windows 95 Chime Just Earned a Spot in the National Recording Registry

The 6-second start-up anthem joins “My Heart Will Go On” and the ‘Hamilton’ soundtrack as “one of the defining sounds of history.”

8 Gripping Facts About the Vietnam War Draft

Dive into the history of the draft during the Vietnam War, including its origins, how long it lasted, and how some young Boomers successfully managed to dodge it.

If you‘d like more than a beach vacation, Fiji is the place for you.

Fiji Is Asking Tourists to ‘Give Back’ 1 Hour of Their Vacation

The island nation is inviting travelers to donate some of their vacation to support local communities and environmental efforts.

Why America Obsesses Over the President’s First 100 Days in Office

Would you want to be compared to the man who legalized beer in his first 100 days in office?

10 Questions About the Vietnam War, Answered

The Vietnam War was a highly controversial conflict. We break down some of the most common questions about the war, from why the U.S. entered the conflict to who ultimately won.

Abbie Hoffman was a controversial and influential figure.

10 Revolutionary Facts About Abbie Hoffman

Abbot “Abbie” Howard Hoffman was a bombastic and theatrical figure who often used absurd media stunts to get his points across.

Senator Joseph McCarthy (center) and Roy Cohn (right) during the Army-McCarthy Hearings in June 1954.

10 Suspicious Facts about McCarthyism

McCarthyism advertised itself as a response to national security threats created by the Cold War, including Soviet espionage. But the movement was bigger than Senator Joseph McCarthy.

If yours doesn't have a star or a flag, you might need to pay the DMV a visit soon.

REAL IDs: Everything You Need to Know Before the Deadline

The REAL ID program is finally being enforced. Here's how it could affect you.

Why Are There 9 Supreme Court Justices?

The U.S. Constitution doesn't specify how many Supreme Court justices are necessary—and there weren’t always nine on the bench.

The ACLU regularly argues cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

9 Fundamental Facts About the ACLU

The group was founded during World War I to defend Americans’ First Amendment freedoms. Over the years, that mission has taken some unexpected turns.

The typo in question concerned property rights.

Error in Judgment: The 100-Year-Old Supreme Court Typo That May Have Altered Judicial Decisions

The typo in a 1928 opinion may have inadvertently influenced an unknown number of decisions to follow.

There’s a lot people get wrong about the Central Intelligence Agency.

7 Misconceptions About the CIA

Yes, you can have a Facebook page and still join the CIA.

A mass of shipping containers at the port of Shenzen, China.

How Do Tariffs Work?

Tariffs are a means for one country to wrangle better trade terms with another country and to protect domestic manufacturing. Unfortunately, they don’t always deliver.

A person holds an American flag during a naturalization ceremony on the ship ‘Wavertree’ in New York City. The 20 candidates were from 17 countries and 5 of the candidates were current or former members of the U.S. military.

Could You Pass the U.S. Citizenship Test?

Could you pass the civics portion of the U.S. citizenship test? Applicants must answer six of 10 questions correctly—and it’s harder than it sounds.

Do You Know the Presidential Line of Succession?

The transfer of power passes through a lot of people. Can you put them in order?

The spelling is a bit peculiar at times, too.

21 Things You May Not Know About the U.S. Constitution

How well do you really know the U.S. Constitution? Discover things you might not have realized about this influential document, like its dictator-friendly loophole.

The gray wolf is an endangered species in most of the U.S.

The 10 Best States for Wildlife Protection

Where does your state rank when it comes to wildlife conservation?

Baltimore, Maryland had a brief stint as capital.

9 Places That Have Served as the Capital of the United States

Washington, D.C., hasn't always been the political center of the United States.

Rosa Parks is fingerprinted by a Montgomery, Alabama, police officer after being arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger.

11 Peaceful Protests and Their Historic Results

Civil disobedience and nonviolent protests have moved mountains. Here are just a few examples of when people took back power.

American officials exchanged Soviet spy Rudolf Abel for the American U-2 spyplane pilot Francis Gary Powers in the 1962 “Bridge of Spies” transfer.

How a Nickel and a Paperboy Brought Down a Cold War Spy

Soviet spy Rudolf Abel might have never been caught were it not for a Russian turncoat and a newspaper delivery boy who thought he’d been stiffed.