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Election of 1876: Testing the Constitution
The Presidential Election of 1876 was considered a foregone conclusion, with Democrat Samuel J. Tilden sure to defeat Republican Rutherford B. Hayes, but disputed Southern electoral votes led to an outcome that nobody predicted.
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Election of 1860: A Nation, Torn
The Presidential Election of 1860 proved the most divisive in U.S. history, with the election of Abraham Lincoln triggering the secession of Southern states. But how did it play out at the polls?
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Election of 1824: When the House Chose
In the Presidential Election of 1824, five men from one party were up for the job. It was left to the House of Representatives to figure out a winner – and the aftermath led to the modern two-party system.
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Election of 1800: Presidential Tie
The 1800 Presidential Election, which ended in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Burr, presented Congress with a dilemma – how to stop a tie from happening again.
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Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation ensures the equitable and safe transport of goods and people along our roads, railways, skies, waterways and airspace. So, why did it take so long to come into existence?
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Department of the Interior
Many government departments have a focused mission, but the Department of the Interior is known as the "Department of Everything Else." So what are its responsibilities and how does it keep our country in check?
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Department of Homeland Security
Established in 2002, the Department of Homeland Security might be the youngest of all the federal government’s departments, but its work to safeguard “the American people, our homeland, and our values” couldn't be more important.
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Department of Commerce
The Department of Commerce is one of the largest, most powerful of U.S. government agencies. Its mission? To “create the conditions for economic growth and opportunities for all communities.”
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Congressional Investigations
Congressional Investigations have uncovered some serious wrongdoing over the past 200 years. But where does Congress get the power to conduct investigations and how has it used that power throughout U.S. history?
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U.S. Constitution: Article Three
"U.S. Constitution: Article Three" explains the responsibilities of the judicial branch by analyzing Article III of the U.S. Constitution.
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Article Three: Structure of Powers of Judicial Branch 2
Article Three: Structure of Powers of Judicial Branch explains the responsibilities of the judicial branch by analyzing Article III of the Constitution.
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The Living Guide for Freedom 2
"The Living Guide for Freedom" examines the U.S. Constitution as a living document by analyzing its evolution through the fifteenth, nineteenth, twenty-fourth, and twenty-sixth amendments.
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Rights Have Limits
"Rights Have Limits" explains that rights are not absolute by identifying specific examples and the reasons for those limitations.
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Article Two: Structure of Powers of Executive Branch
Article Two: Structure of Powers of Executive Branch explains the responsibilities of the executive branch, including the role of the president, by analyzing Article II of the Constitution.
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Article One: Structure of Powers of Legislative Branch
Article One: Structure of Powers of Legislative Branch explains the responsibilities of the legislative branch by analyzing Article I of the Constitution.
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Civic Duties and Responsibilities 2
Civic Duties and Responsibilities explains how citizenship includes obligations by describing examples of how citizens exercise civic responsibility.
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The Living Guide for Freedom
The Living Guide for Freedom examines the U.S. Constitution as a living document by analyzing its evolution through the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Sixth Amendments.
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The First Five Amendments
"The First Five Amendments" clarifies how amendments protect individual rights against government interference by exploring amendments one through five of the Bill of Rights.
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Civic Duties and Responsibilities
"Civic Duties and Responsibilities" explains how citizenship includes obligations by describing examples of how citizens exercise civic responsibility.
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Edith Galt: The First Lady Who Took Control
Historically a ceremonial position, the role of First Lady at one point mainly involved hosting events at the White House. But when President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke in 1919, his wife, Edith, covertly took on many of his duties...
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President's Cabinet
The President’s Cabinet is made up of the most important people in the Executive Branch of government. But who are they and what are their roles?
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Speaker of the House
As the head of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House is one of the most important roles in the United States government.
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Executive Order
What actual powers does the President have? Well, as it turns out – a lot. Including the power to make new orders at the stroke of a pen.
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Amending the Constitution
The U.S. Constitution has been amended 27 times in its history, but what did they change, and how?