Posts by bmaynard
New Electoral College Map for 2024
Dual Court System
The dual court system refers to the coexistence of two separate court systems in the United States: the federal and state court systems. While the federal court system has jurisdiction over cases that involve federal law, the state court system has jurisdiction over cases that involve state law. Most legal disputes in the U.S. arise…
Read MoreGeneral Elections
General elections in the United States are held to select federal, state, and local officials. These elections are typically held on the first Tuesday of November in even-numbered years. The candidates who win the general election are elected to office. All eligible voters in a district or state can vote for candidates running for office…
Read MoreFinal Battles of the American Revolution
The Southern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War refers to the series of military conflicts that took place in the southern colonies between 1778 and 1781 in the final years of the American Revolution. The British, who had focused their efforts on the northern colonies during the early years of the war, shifted their attention…
Read MoreHouse of Representatives Congressional Committees
The United States House of Representatives has several major committees that play important roles in the legislative process. Some of the major committees in the House of Representatives are: These committees have subcommittees that are responsible for more specific areas of focus within each committee’s jurisdiction. Congressional committees play a significant role in the legislative…
Read MoreThe State Judicial Branch
The state judiciary is responsible for interpreting and applying state laws and the state constitution and for resolving legal disputes. The powers of a state judiciary generally include the authority to: It should be noted that the structure of state judiciary also varies from state to state; some states have a unified court system, while…
Read MoreRunoff Elections
Some states require the winner to receive the majority of the votes (more than 50%) and not just a plurality (the most votes). A runoff election is held when no candidate in a primary or general election receives a majority of the votes cast. The top two candidates who received the most votes proceed to…
Read MoreWhat does a Governor do?
A governor is the highest-ranking executive official in a state government and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the state and carrying out the policies of the state legislature. Some of the key responsibilities of a governor include: These are some of the most common responsibilities of a governor, but the exact role and…
Read MoreWhat Does the Declaration of Independence Say?
The Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as independent states and no longer a part of the British Empire. These states would form a new nation, the United States of America.…
Read MoreWhat is Ranked Choice Voting?
Ranked choice voting (RCV) is a method of voting in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. Instead of choosing just one candidate, voters can indicate which candidate is their first choice, second choice, third choice, and so on. Ranking allows voters to express a greater level of nuance in their preferences and can…
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