Category: Featured

When the Founding Fathers were deciding how to set up the United States of America, they knew they did not want to emulate the tyrannical monarchies of Europe. Instead, they looked to the governments and philosophers of the past. Settling on the idea of dividing responsibilities into three parts, they created: The legislative branch (Congress)…

The legislative branch of the US government consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Collectively, we refer to the branch as Congress. Congress gets its powers mainly from Article I of the US Constitution. This branch is uniquely powerful due to the many duties it has. Joint Powers of Congress Some of the…

Have you ever wondered why only state Attorneys General, not citizens, sue other states or the federal government? The 11th Amendment to the US Constitution was the first to be ratified outside the Bill of Rights. It sets out that federal courts cannot hear cases or make decisions against a state if it’s sued by…

On August 26, 1920, women in the United States gained the legal right to vote for the first time under the 19th Amendment. It took strong women who were willing to oppose the popular opinions of the time to fight for this amendment’s passage. It allowed women to have a more equal position in society.…

Everything about the American flag holds special meaning. It symbolizes our country’s identity and history and provides a way for us to remember those who have given their lives fighting for it in the past. While most people understand why they should respect the flag, the protocols for honoring it are all too often overlooked.…

When there’s a vacancy in the US Supreme Court, the President of the United States nominates a candidate to fill the position. The US Senate has the power to confirm the nomination by a simple majority vote. This is a fairly simple, yet important, legal process. What isn’t quite as clear is exactly what one…

When World War II loomed on the immediate horizon, US military intelligence needed to make it as difficult as possible for the Axis powers to listen in to American radio transmissions. Computers that might securely scramble and unscramble communications were a long way off, but the United States Marine Corps (USMC) actively pursued a program…

Ratified on June 15, 1804, the 12th Amendment altered part of Article II, Section 1 of the 1787 Constitution dealing with the Electoral College, the mechanism used to select US presidents. Therefore, understanding the 12th Amendment requires a basic working knowledge of how that system works. That mechanism contains four vital aspects: Electors vote for…

The Founding Fathers of the United States were not weak men. They were realistic and logical. They served a people who had more than enough of being abused by their government. This is why they gave us the Third Amendment to the Constitution: “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,…

Ask the average American about Richard Nixon, and the first thing they’ll mention will probably be the scandal that ended his presidency. However, Nixon was more than Watergate; he was a strong leader for America during a highly challenging period. Early Career Richard Nixon’s first foray into politics was in 1946 when he beat the…