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When did public schools become "bad"? And did the quality actually change, or are statements about the inferiority of public education the racist shibboleths I've come to assume that they are? [more inside]
posted by Sara C. on Jun 17, 2016 - 19 answers

Hey Brilliants, I hope you are all enjoying the beginning of spring! I am researching a new project on secession and am looking for examples in literature, film, tv, etc. of stories that are about a US state or city trying to secede from the union. I'm somewhat aware of Texas' ability to secede but am wondering if anyone has written anything about what would happen if another state or city tried to secede. Thanks so much :) [more inside]
posted by sunnyblues48 on Mar 23, 2016 - 17 answers

I am teaching a college-level introductory government class and need to include content about the Founding Fathers and their views on government. My expertise is in environmental law/policy, which is where most of the class will focus, but I do need to cover the traditional constitution-writing, independence-declaring stuff as well. I already have readings (from Zinn, and also a mainstream textbook) but I would like a compelling video about the founding fathers - and, hopefully, their disparate and conflicting viewpoints - to round out our first week. I was thinking of PBS or something like that, but I'm having a hard time finding anything that is 1) long enough, 2) not too long (>60 minutes), and 3) college level. Any ideas?
posted by Princess Blueberry on Sep 8, 2015 - 8 answers

Severnaya Zemlya, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia is censored on Google Maps. Anybody know why? Here it is: link
posted by tellUwut on Apr 21, 2015 - 5 answers

I remember reading something, somewhere from one of the founding fathers about the original intent of legislators to NOT be a political class. To serve a term or two and go home so that people from outside could contribute and people inside didn't get too jaded. Though maybe I'm adding a lot of subtext. Is there anything from any of the FF's on this that rings a bell? Do you have a quote or two?
posted by rileyray3000 on May 10, 2013 - 3 answers

I'd like to find out more information on a 1970's US food program. [more inside]
posted by Marky on Oct 1, 2012 - 13 answers

Can you recommend books/articles about the dynamics of political power transitions? [more inside]
posted by Westringia F. on Aug 22, 2012 - 1 answer

Can anyone explain to me the reason why the pay for members of the United States Congress is paid by the federal government and not their respective states? Was such a system ever considered and rejected and, if so, why? I recognize that the offices are federal, but their ties to their state is the very reason they are there. Wouldn't state legislatures want that control or were they happy to dump the costs onto the federal government? This seems like something that would have been debated very early in our history yet I can't find any info on it. Thanks.
posted by Jamesonian on Jul 7, 2011 - 7 answers

Where did the "America is a republic, not a democracy" argument come from, and how much truth is there to it? [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Jan 17, 2011 - 30 answers

What country or countries have the longest continuously functioning government? Please specify the type/form of government, such as US/ democratic republic.
posted by woman on May 31, 2009 - 14 answers

I'm too ignorant to properly evaluate a historical claim that I just read. [more inside]
posted by prefpara on Mar 28, 2009 - 34 answers

I'm looking for a listing, preferably something with citations of the actual state laws, of when each state changed it's laws to allow for the direct election of electors in the electoral college.
posted by phrontist on Oct 22, 2008 - 1 answer

Can you think of any examples of "jawboning" from history? [more inside]
posted by yesno on Mar 6, 2008 - 4 answers

What kinds of high-technology things exist now but will only come to light 50 or 100 years from now? Speculative, but asking for concrete answers. [more inside]
posted by exlotuseater on Nov 30, 2007 - 41 answers

I'm looking for cheap/free visual aids (posters, photos, etc.) to support a high school teacher who is teaching US government. Thanks! [more inside]
posted by carter on Aug 23, 2006 - 3 answers

How can I obtain copies (screenshot or cache) of government officials' websites as they appeared a week, two weeks, a month ago? [more inside]
posted by LordSludge on Nov 22, 2005 - 6 answers

LawFilter: Why is the U.S. Code so strange? [more inside]
posted by dsword on Oct 23, 2005 - 17 answers

I'm over 30 and probably know as much or less about history, politics/ gov, and current events as my 7 year old niece. Now, I want to be aware and don't know where to begin. I've tried just "merging in" but the references, terms, and names are lost on me. I need a starting point that will give me a framework or bird's eye view to start from and build on. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 24, 2005 - 27 answers

Curiosity struck and I'm looking for a year-by-year breakdown of the number of times the filibuster has been used. A chart with further breakdowns of senator, state, party, duration, cause, and whether the filibuster was ended via cloture would be even nicer. [more inside]
posted by rudyfink on May 17, 2005 - 7 answers

Out of curiousity (I'm not trying to be political), has it been the standard MO of popularly elected dictators, or any dictator, to tout the freedom of their people? Was the subject of liberty just ignored by leaders of Germany, Italy, Spain, et. al?
posted by borkingchikapa on Jan 21, 2005 - 13 answers

Are there any historical examples of the political "domino effect" actually happening? Has one country ever changed its form of government, only to have several neighbors follow suit without invasion or coercion? I'm interested in any continent, any time period. [more inside]
posted by junkbox on Aug 4, 2004 - 12 answers

Can a free people in a democratic country that has grown to such an enormous power remain to its historically told ideals of basic human rights, government from and for the people? Could the desire for control of that power be great enough to collapse a free society? Is humankind enslaved to war?
posted by the fire you left me on Apr 30, 2004 - 22 answers

History question: January 21, 1977. "The afternoon of infamy" for people in the limousine business. After having just been inaugurated, Jimmy Carter decides to exit his limo and walk with his family (and a large crowd) down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. What has been the trend since?
posted by john on Jan 3, 2004 - 6 answers