GOVERNMENT

Craft Beer is the Latest Casualty of the Government Shutdown

Things are officially out of control.

The Time the U.S. Government Banned Sliced Bread

During World War II, even America's "greatest thing" wasn't safe.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais-Pool/Getty Images

15 Amazing Facts About Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg used her voice to shape the course of our nation’s history.

In 1959, the U.S. Postal Service Attempted to Deliver Mail via Missile

The project was about more than just high-speed delivery.

Where Do I Vote? The Simple Way to Find Your Polling Place in Every State

Don't wait until the last minute to look this up.

Only One in Three Americans Could Pass the U.S. Citizenship Test

Are you one of the 36 percent of Americans who can pass the civics exam?

The Time Congress Banned the Braille Edition of Playboy

Yes, there's a Braille edition. And yes, someone in our government found a way to be offended by it.

Dolly Parton, They Might Be Giants, and More Featured on New Album Inspired By the 27 Amendments

Even the amendments most history books gloss over.

Illustration composite by Mental Floss. Egg carton: iStock

The Anatomy of a Food Recall

Who decides when our food is unsafe, and what happens next?

The Tiny Government Office That Will Replace Your Ripped, Burned, and Chewed-Up Cash

You may not be able to spend it, but that ripped bill isn't worthless.

Being a TSA agent means plenty of job stress.

14 Secrets of TSA Agents

Cats are a nightmare and that block of cheese in your luggage can look remarkably like a bomb. Learn more about life as a TSA agent.

6 Things Americans Should Know About Net Neutrality

Including the epic "Star Wars" quote battle of 2015.

House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and Donald Trump arrive for a meeting with the House Republican conference.

What Does the Sergeant at Arms Do?

Both the House and the Senate have their own Sergeant at Arms, and their visibility is highest during the State of the Union address. But what do they do the other 364 days of the year?

Can You Expel a Sitting Senator?

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

Plagued with Rodents, Members of the UK Parliament Demand a Cat

"It's YouTube gold in waiting!"

6 Times Multiple Leaders Reigned in a Single Year

Ancient Rome had four emperors in one year, while France had three kings in six months.

There’s an Invisible Tracking Code Embedded in the Documents You Print

The tiny yellow dots help law enforcement track counterfeiters.

What Was the Original Reason for the 25th Amendment?

The 25th Amendment has been in the news a lot lately. But what led to its establishment in the first place?

14 Secrets of Secret Service Agents

They have ways of keeping tabs on you, and one of them is probably in your desk drawer right now.

10 Everyday Innovations That Came From NASA Research

Helping you clean up small messes since 1981, among other things.

The CIA Uses Board Games as Training Tools

The games were revealed at this year's SXSW.

The Men Who Volunteered to Be Poisoned by the Government

In 1902, 12 men agreed to take low doses of poison in order to test their efficacy as food preservatives. No one died. Basically.

The Pentagon Is Paying Hackers to Infiltrate Its Systems

The first vulnerability was found within hours of the program's launch.

Indonesian City Considers Erecting a Giant Statue of a Vampiric Ghost

Officials think the spooky attraction would be good for tourism.

PREV NEXT