What’s With All The Petitions?
The last clause of the First Amendment guarantees the right to "petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Where did this idea come from?
Impeaching History
Got impeachment? Not much. In American history, there have only been a total of 19 impeachment trials in the U.S. Senate.
De Facto First Ladies: A Definitive Guide
Ivanka Trump will be assuming many duties of the First Lady. She won't be the first presidential daughter to take “the hardest unpaid job in the world.”
Edmund Burke and the Birth of Traditional Conservatism
Edmund Burke (1729-1797) is one of the philosophical fountainheads of modern conservatism. But he didn't start out that way.
A Brief History of Vice Presidential Inaugurations
Vice presidential inaugurations haven’t always shared the pomp and circumstance reserved for the highest office in the land.
What Poinsettias Have to do with U.S.-Mexico Relations
Poinsettias were named for the first US diplomat to Mexico. The flower was more successful than he was. How it went from Aztec dye to Christmas decoration.
Why the Presidential Inauguration is in January
The Presidential Inauguration is January 20th as a result of a twentieth century change to the U.S. Constitution. Originally, it was March 4th.
Time for Reform of the Electoral College?
Is it finally time to reform the Electoral College after 2000 and 2016? If so, how could this be done?
When Did the Media Become a “Watchdog?”
The media changed its coverage over the course of the Vietnam War. But it may not have become more adversarial.
Should Nixon Have Demanded a Recount?
A lot about the 2016 presidential election has been unprecedented, but this isn’t the first time we’ve seen calls for recounts in some states.