Filter by: DemocracyGovernmentConstitutionElectionsVoting RightsLocal ElectionsState ElectionsState GovernmentRacial JusticeSupreme CourtHistoryMovementsProtestCensusDistrictingLocal GovernmentStatehood Congressional Recess Period when members of Congress return to their states and districts to work and meet with constituents. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Agreement between states to ensure the winner of the national popular vote is elected President. Ranked Choice Voting Ranked Choice Voting: A system of voting in which voters rank candidates on their ballot by order of preference. Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Federal law to improve election administration through reforms such as mandatory minimum standards and funding to meet standards. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) The only federal agency charged with improving voting systems and helping states with other critical functions of election administration. Runoff Election Elections between the two top candidates from a primary or general election often when the winner has not won both the most votes and earned at least 50% of the vote. Election Certification The process by which votes are tabulated and election results are made official. Voter Rolls and Voter Purging The list of registered voters who can cast a ballot in an election. Several states have recently abused their power to purge millions of voters from the rolls. The 19th Amendment In 1920, the 19th Amendment extended voting rights to women as it prohibited the U.S. and states from denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 The VRA outlawed discriminatory voting policies and established concrete ways to enforce and prevent discrimination. Pride and the Stonewall Uprising Pride honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. Shelby v Holder The US Supreme Court's 2013 decision gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 paving the way for levels of voter suppression not seen in decades. Juneteenth Juneteenth marked the end of slavery and the beginning of the fight for citizenship for Black Americans. National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) The NVRA, revolutionized voter registration across the country establishing voter registration requirements and policies to facilitate those requirements. The Electoral College The Electoral College is the way people in the United States elect the President and Vice President. The Census The U.S. Constitution requires that a Census, or population survey, take place every 10 years. Gerrymandering Gerrymandering occurs when district lines are redrawn to manipulate election results and disenfranchise voters. Bloody Sunday Anniversary The events of March 7, 1965 were considered to be a turning point for civil rights & led directly to passage of the Voting Rights Act. The U.S. Supreme Court Nomination Process How are Supreme Court Justices nominated and confirmed to office? Midterm Elections Midterm elections, or midterms, are elections held during the second year of a President’s four-year period in office – in the middle of the Presidential term. Local Elections 2021 Every year is an election year! Even when there aren’t national or statewide elections, local elections are happening across the country. State Legislatures When most people think about the legislative branch of government, they think about the U.S. Congress. But all 50 states have their own. The March on Washington In 1963, leaders of the civil rights movement organized the March on Washington to protest ongoing racial inequity. Community Districting Census results are used to create new legislative and congressional districts to ensure proportional representation in government. The 26th Amendment In 1971, the 26th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution lowered the voting age to 18. D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories Residents of DC, PR, and other U.S. territories have fundamentally different rights and representation than residents of the 50 states. Law Enforcement in Washington, D.C. To better understand January 6, 2021, we need to understand the complex relationship between the local and federal government in D.C. The For the People Act (H.R. 1/ S. 1) The For the People Act proposes a sweeping set of reforms to expand Americans’ access to the ballot box and fight corruption. The 14th Amendment and the Insurrection In the aftermath of January 6th, it became clear that several members of Congress “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” as defined in the 14th Amendment. Impeachment Impeachment is a constitutional process used to remove a president or other federal official from office. The 25th Amendment The 25th Amendment established the presidential line of succession and created a process for the President to be removed from office if they become unfit to serve. What’s up with DACA DACA provides work permits and a temporary reprieve from deportation for almost 800,000 undocumented young people. Executive Orders An executive order is an official statement from the president advising federal agencies on what to do and how to use resources.
