Guides, explainers, and analysis about how U.S. government works — and how to make yours work for you.
5 articles in "How Congress Works"
Congress is the branch of the U.S. government responsible for writing the nation's laws — but how does a bill actually become law, and what do senators and representatives really do all day? Here's a plain-English breakdown.
When a senator resigns or dies in office, there's no single national rule for what happens next. Some governors can appoint a replacement to serve out the full term; others must call a special election within months. Here's how it actually works, state by state.
Bill into law. Short explanation how bills become laws in the United States of America.
The number of U.S. House representatives each state gets isn't random — it's determined by population. Here's how the system works and why it matters.
The "I'm Just a Bill" cartoon got the basics right, but the real process is messier, slower, and more interesting.