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Politics

What are the Basic Rules for US Campaign Spending?

The basic rules for U.S. political campaign spending are drawn primarily from the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA). FECA dates back to the early 1970s. It was amended in 2002 with the passage of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA),…

In the US Congress, what is Unanimous Consent?

Unanimous consent is an agreement by all members present on anything requiring a yes or no decision. If a family all agrees to have pizza for dinner, this can be considered unanimous. If anyone objects to pizza, however, unanimous agreement…

Does Voting Actually Matter?

The question as to whether voting matters is a difficult one to answer. In the main, voters do get to let their voices be heard through the act of voting. Depending upon what you vote on, your vote may matter…

What is the Peace and Freedom Party?

The Peace and Freedom Party (P&F) is a California political party that was formed in 1967. This party was created in opposition to the Vietnam War. Its platform continues to promote socialism, feminism, organized labor, and equal rights. Today, bringing…

What is a Swing State?

A swing state is an American state in which both candidates in a Presidential election have a reasonable chance of winning, because support is almost evenly divided. The opposite of a swing state is a “safe state,” in which one…

What is a Conservative Democrat?

In the United States, a member of the Democratic Party who holds personal political views that are conservative in comparison to those of the majority of his or her political party is known as a conservative democrat. Although views considered…

What Does “Radical Right” Mean?

The term “radical right” typically refers to individuals who are part of the extreme right-wing conservative movement within a political landscape. This is often used in a negative or pejorative manner to indicate someone who has views that are far…

What Are Congressional Races?

Elections held to elect members of the United States Congress are commonly referred to as the congressional races. The United States Congress consists of two parts: the senate and the house of representatives. Congressional races occur every two years at…

Are There State Senators and Federal Senators?

The concise answer to this question is: yes. In the United States, each state sends two senators to the federal Senate, which meets in Washington, DC. Most states also have their own, scaled down legislatures, which handle lawmaking and legislative…

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