GOVERNMENT

At 5 feet 4 inches, Madison was America’s shortest commander-in-chief—but he left behind a towering legacy.

In addition to being a massive asset to journalists and eager members of the public, FOIA has also shed light on some of the weirder corners of America’s functioning democracy.

During the State of the Union a few weeks ago, I noticed that the members of Congress were sitting on rows of theater-style seating in the House Chamber. In a lot of period movies, though, you often see them seated at individual desks pre-20th century.

After George Washington took office, he assembled a Presidential Cabinet that had just four positions—Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph. Sin

In the majority of the United States, one candidate gets all of a state’s electoral votes. Two states, however, don’t have to go the all-or-nothing route: Nebraska and Maine, thanks to the Congressional District Method.

Governors across the U.S. are declaring states of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic. But what does the dire-sounding phrase really mean?

Presidents as far back as George Washington have waited until their final days in office to sign pardons. Let's take a look at some of history's more notable ones.