Power
How is power gained and checked?
Checks and balances, election districts, campaign money and lobbying rules, and how to tell who holds power.
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How do people gain political power in the US?
Legal power comes from holding an office the law creates, reached by election, appointment or succession. Giving, organizing and lobbying are legal ways to take part, but they carry no legal authority.
Power
How do checks and balances work?
Congress, the president and the courts can each limit the others through vetoes, overrides, funding, Senate consent, impeachment and judicial review.
Power
How do campaign money and lobbying work?
Federal law limits and discloses campaign contributions, and paid lobbyists must register and report. Learn the main rules and where to find the records.
Power
How are election districts drawn?
After each census, House seats are divided among the states and maps are redrawn. See who draws the lines, the legal limits and why maps can change.
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How can you tell who holds power in government?
To find who decides an issue, ask who proposes it, who approves it, who carries it out and who can review it. Examples show how the answer changes.