Civic Ladder
Civic topics
Two-minute, plain-language explainers on voting, government, your rights, and getting involved. Nonpartisan, with sources, in English and Spanish.
Voting & elections
How Votes Are Counted and CertifiedElection night numbers are unofficial. Officials finish counting, check the totals, and then certify the final, official results.Primaries vs. General ElectionsPrimaries narrow the field of candidates. The general election then decides who wins the office. Who can vote in a primary depends on your state.The Electoral CollegeAmericans elect the president through 538 electors chosen state by state. A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win.
How government works
The Constitution & Bill of RightsThe U.S. Constitution sets up the national government and limits its power. Its first 10 amendments, the Bill of Rights, protect key freedoms.How a Federal Bill Becomes LawA bill must pass the House and Senate in identical form, then be signed by the president or survive a veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber.What the Supreme Court DoesThe Supreme Court is the nation's highest court. It decides cases about the Constitution and federal law, and its rulings are the last word in the courts.
Power & representation
Redistricting and gerrymanderingAfter each census, district lines for Congress, state legislatures and local boards are redrawn. Here is who draws them and what gerrymandering means.The census and why it mattersEvery 10 years the U.S. counts everyone who lives here. The count decides House seats, guides federal funding and shapes district maps.Local vs. state vs. federal powerFederalism splits power between the national government and the states, and states share some power with local governments. Here is who does what.
Your rights
Free speech & protestThe First Amendment limits how the government can restrict speech and protest. Here's what it covers, what it doesn't, and where the limits are.Public records & open meetingsYou have a right to ask for many government records and to watch many public meetings. Federal and state laws set the rules.Your rights at the pollsKnow your basic rights when you vote in person, from waiting in line to getting help, and who to ask if something goes wrong.
Money & government
How Taxes and Government Budgets WorkFederal, state and local governments each collect taxes to pay for services. Here's where the money comes from and how a local budget gets approved.The National DebtThe national debt is everything the federal government has borrowed and not yet paid back. Here's how it differs from the deficit and how the debt limit works.
Getting involved
Contacting your elected officialsHow to find who represents you, pick a way to reach them, and write a message that office staff will take seriously.Becoming a poll workerPoll workers run voting sites. Most states pay them, training is common, and many states let teens serve. Here's how to sign up.Running for local officeSchool board, city council and other local seats are open to residents who qualify. Here are the general steps to get on the ballot.Serving on a JuryJurors are ordinary people picked at random to decide court cases. Here's how they're chosen, what protections they have and how to answer a summons.