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How Government Works

Congress, the courts, the White House and the rules that tie them together.

6 explainers in this hub

How a Bill Becomes a Law: The 9 Steps, From Idea to Signature A bill becomes a law when a member of Congress introduces it, both the House and the Senate pass the identical text… 6 min readHow Government Works How Congress Works: 535 Members, Two Chambers, One Very Long Process Congress is the legislative branch of the US government, made up of the House of Representatives (435 voting members elected every two… 6 min readHow Government Works How the Supreme Court Works: Nine Justices and a Lot of Paperwork The Supreme Court picks most of its own cases: losing parties file petitions for certiorari, and the Court hears a case only… 6 min readHow Government Works Term Limits for Congress: The Case For, Against and What It Would Take Members of Congress have no term limits: representatives and senators can be reelected as often as voters choose. In U.S. Term Limits… 6 min readHow Government Works What Is a Filibuster? The Senate’s Favorite Delay Tactic A filibuster is any tactic, classically a marathon speech, that keeps the US Senate from ending debate so a measure can't come… 6 min readHow Government Works What Is Lobbying? How Influence Works in Washington Lobbying is any organized effort to influence decisions by government officials, such as members of Congress or federal regulators. It is protected… 6 min readHow Government Works