Guides
Where should I start?
Longer walk-throughs that connect the pieces: levels, branches, who elects whom, and one state up close.
Start with
How does the US government work?
Power in the US is divided two ways: between levels of government and among three branches. The national government and each state have their own lawmakers, executives and courts, and states create local governments such as counties, cities and school districts.
Guides
What is the difference between federal, state and local government?
How to tell which government handles what, from passports and driver’s licenses to zoning, schools and property taxes, and why the levels overlap.
Guides
How does local government work in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, 2,555 municipalities and 500 school districts explained: which offices are elected, for how long and in which years.
Guides
Who elects whom in the United States?
How US officials get their jobs: by direct election, through the Electoral College, by appointment with approval, or by another elected body.