GOVERNMENT

A mob outside the White House during Andrew Jackson's first inaugural reception, 1828.

7 U.S. Inauguration Day Mishaps

The inauguration of a new U.S. President is a day of pomp and ceremony, of solemn oaths and dignified celebrations. But things don’t always go as planned.

Whistleblowers often put themselves at risk to expose the truth.

10 Whistleblowers Who Changed History

From Founding Fathers to Roman senators, these 10 whistleblowers helped shape history through their unparalleled acts of bravery.

11 Common Words With Very Specific Meanings on Food Labels in the U.S.

Sometimes regular English words—words that have commonsense but slightly fuzzy meanings—must be defined more precisely for food labeling.

8 Royals Who Renounced Their Titles

King Edward VIII is far from the only monarch to reject their rule.

14 Gifts That Changed the World

These gifts made a huge impact.

Let’s investigate the high-stakes world of Social Security trivia.

Was the First-Ever Social Security Number Really 001-01-0001?

In 1936, someone got bragging rights to having the lowest possible Social Security Number—but only after several others turned it down.

It comes down to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

The Reindeer Rule: Why You’ll See Rudolph in Public Christmas Displays

The Supreme Court ruled that government entities can’t display nativity scenes on public property without including symbols of other faiths, but that hasn’t stopped some towns from trying.

Most of the time, though, it'll cost you.

The Easiest Places To Buy Citizenship Around the World

Looking to buy your way into citizenship? Discover the differences between golden visas and CIPs, plus which countries are easiest to get into right now.

Learn Amazing Facts About the U.S. Constitution With A.J. Jacobs

Author A.J. Jacobs spent a year living like a Founding Father to better understand the U.S. Constitution. Here’s what he learned.

For a time, people couldn’t make up their minds.

The Debate Behind How to Number a President

Grover Cleveland caused quite the conundrum when he was elected for the second time in 1892 after a four-year break from the Oval Office.

The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest did not go well for the Romans.

8 Places the Romans Failed to Conquer

Ireland and Scotland are not the only places the mighty Roman Empire failed to vanquish.

President Obama departing the White House on January 20, 2016.

Here’s When a President’s Term Officially Ends

Inauguration Day isn’t just a matter of scheduling—presidential term limits are exactly four years, down to the hour.

If the Polls Close While You’re Still in Line to Vote, Don’t Leave

What do you do if you’re stuck at the back of the line when your polling place closes? You stay right where you are.

7 Historical ‘Wars on Christmas’

Christmas has been canceled a fair number of times throughout history.

A statue of Robert Smalls will soon be a part of the South Carolina Capitol grounds.

Robert Smalls, Civil War Hero Who Escaped Enslavement, Is Getting a Statue in South Carolina

The ship’s pilot helped his family reach freedom, then served in the Civil War and in the U.S. Congress. Robert Smalls’s statue will be the first to honor an individual Black citizen on South Carolina State House grounds.

A detail of a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I painted to commemorate the defeat of the Spanish Armada (depicted in the background).

15 Amazing Facts About Queen Elizabeth I

She spoke multiple languages, defeated Spain’s powerful navy, and never accepted a marriage proposal. Discover more fascinating facts about Queen Elizabeth I and her reign.

Why Do Supreme Court Justices Serve for Life?

Alexander Hamilton argued that lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court were the only way, but some modern scholars disagree.

There are actually multiple versions of this iconic sticker.

A Brief but Fascinating History of the ‘I Voted’ Sticker

The origins of those ‘I Voted’ stickers you see everyone rocking on Election Day go back to the 1950s in the United States, but the design everyone recognizes most was created by Janet Boudreau in the late 1980s.

‘Free the McFlurry’: The McDonald’s Machines Can Now Be Fixed Quickly, Thanks to Government Ruling

It was once literally illegal to tamper with a broken McFlurry machine. Not anymore.

Cacti are not welcome in one German town.

Such Pricks: A German Town Has Banned Cactus From Government Buildings

The mayor in ‘Footloose’ banned dancing. The mayor of Plettenberg has banned cactus.

The White House’s most mysterious occupant remains unidentified.

“The Thing”: When a Mysterious Teenage Ghost Haunted Taft’s White House

To this day, no one knows who "The Thing" might have been.

Some of these presidents were well versed in October surprises.

Where Did the Term ‘October Surprise’ Originate?

Its political legacy began during the Iran hostage crisis, but other kinds of October surprises had been happening for decades.

When France’s Père Lachaise Cemetery Used Celebrity Remains to Boost Business

The cemetery failed to interest the public until it started seeking out famous corpses.

11 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, passed away on December 29, 2024 at the age of 100. He was one of the most esteemed humanitarians ever to hold the office. He was also once chased by a wild rabbit.