The following is an extract from our short explainer “Things You Might Not Know About Elections.” You can find the entire explainer here: https://cffad.org/things-you-might-not-know-about-elections/ Last week, we introduced the idea of universal voting rights. This week, we will begin a review of some of the obstacles to universal voting that will always need the vigilant […]
Obstacles to Universal Voting Read More »
The following is an extract from our short explainer “Things You Might Not Know About Elections.” You can find the entire explainer here: https://cffad.org/things-you-might-not-know-about-elections/ Thus far, we have covered (1) how elections are essential to your freedom and prosperity, (2) why elections can take many forms, and (3) how choices made by our state legislatures
Why Universal Voting Rights? Read More »
The following is an extract from our short explainer “Things You Might Not Know About Elections.” You can find the entire explainer here: https://cffad.org/things-you-might-not-know-about-elections/ The constitutions and laws of each state assign elections administration to various people and institutions. There is enormous variation across the U.S. in this regard. Altogether, over 70% of the officials
Partisan Elections Administration? Read More »
The following is an extract from our short explainer “Things You Might Not Know About Elections.” You can find the entire explainer here: https://cffad.org/things-you-might-not-know-about-elections/ The constitutions and laws of each state assign elections administration to various people and institutions. There is enormous variation across the U.S. in this regard. The Chief Election Officer in each
Who Administers Elections? Read More »
The following is an extract from our short explainer “Things You Might Not Know About Elections.” You can find the entire explainer here: https://cffad.org/things-you-might-not-know-about-elections/ Elections provide a more peaceful and legitimate way of transferring power than other political systems, provided that everyone trusts that they are delivering a fair and legitimate result. Elections administrators play
The Importance of Elections Administration Read More »
The following is an extract from our short explainer “Things You Might Not Know About Elections.” You can find the entire explainer here: https://cffad.org/things-you-might-not-know-about-elections/ How Winners are Defined Republics and other representative democracies around the world choose from a wide range of options for how votes translate into who sits in legislative bodies and who
How Are Elections Won? Read More »
The following is an extract from our short explainer “Things You Might Not Know About Elections.” You can find the entire explainer here: https://cffad.org/things-you-might-not-know-about-elections/ The mechanics of voting: Elections can take many forms depending upon circumstances and needs. For example, in The Gambia, as recently as 2021, where illiteracy was a huge societal problem, voters
The Mechanics of Voting Read More »
The following is an extract from our short explainer “Things You Might Not Know About Elections.” You can find the entire explainer here: https://cffad.org/things-you-might-not-know-about-elections/ Who may vote: Some systems, like ours, place a high value on placing power in the people and holding power accountable to the people – and therefore highlight the universal right
Who can run for office here and elsewhere?
Who May Run for Office? Read More »
Not all elections are the same. Even so, some principles should apply to every election. These include: If you want to learn more about elections, we have a 9-part course, each part is a 20 minute read. Easy! Click here: https://cffad.org/things-you-might-not-know-about-elections/ See our other topics here: https://cffad.org/topics/ and our glossary here: https://cffad.org/glossary/
All Elections Should Have These Read More »
You already know the value of free and fair elections better than most if you have ever lived in: Unlike authoritarian regimes, regular, free, and fair elections allow voters to make collective choices about their representatives and the policies they want to support. Unlike countries that limit basic freedoms, competitive free and fair elections create
How can citizens impact Congress?
Introduction to Congress 21 Read More »
The following is an extract from Lesson 4 of 4 of An Introduction to the U.S. Congress. You can get all of the lessons here: https://cffad.org/topic/#congress-part-1 Getting the allocation of powers right can make all the difference between a system of government that prioritizes justice, happiness, and liberty (as in the Preamble to the Constitution)
Introduction to Congress 20 Read More »
Back when the Constitution was written, some people did not trust the new federal government the framers created. Those who felt this way, the so-called Anti-federalists, were especially concerned that the new government would tyrannize the people or the state governments. Here is how Patrick Henry put it: “Show me that age and country where
Bill of Rights Day 2023 Read More »
Have congressional powers changed over time?
Introduction to Congress 19 Read More »
Denied Powers and The Bill of Rights
Introduction to Congress 17 Read More »
What powers are denied to Congress?
Introduction to Congress 16 Read More »
There’s much to be thankful for and much we can do in return.
Some Things to be Thankful For Read More »
What are the enumerated powers of Congress?
Introduction to Congress 15 Read More »
How does the Constitution empower and limit Congress?
Introduction to Congress 14 Read More »
How does the Bill of Rights restrict Congress?
Introduction to Congress 12 Read More »
Checks and balances – what and why?
Introduction to Congress 11 Read More »
Trust in our system of democracy depends in no small part upon how well it delivers for us. The services we get from the government are part of that. Few of us are happy about shut-downs, inadequate services, waste, and unsustainable debt. That prompts a question: how is the U.S. budget process supposed to work?
The Federal Budget Process Read More »
How does the Constitution balance the federal and state governments?
Introduction to Congress 10 Read More »
Joint Statement from 13 Presidential Centers
Constitution Day: Joint Statement Read More »
Congress – too powerful or not powerful enough?
Introduction to Congress 9 Read More »
How did the framers decide to count enslaved people?
Introduction to Congress 8 Read More »
