Politics articles
Discover up‑to‑date data on elections, voting, party affiliations, and the trends shaping the nation today.
Legislative agenda definition
A legislative agenda is the set of policy priorities, proposals, or bills that lawmakers and congressional leaders plan to consider during a legislative session. The legislative agenda determines which issues get attention in hearings, debate, and floor votes, shaping the direction of public policy.Congress receives far more proposals than it can act on, and the agenda determines which measures receive formal legislative consideration. The legislative agenda develops through several stages of the legislative process, including bill introduction, committee consideration, and floor scheduling. Legislative agendas may reflect party priorities, campaign promises, and the major policy goals of elected officials. They may also shift in response to changing political conditions, public opinion, or emerging national issues.
Committee jurisdiction definition
A congressional committee's jurisdiction is the set of subject areas it has authority over. Jurisdiction determines whether a committee has the authority to review a bill, hold hearings on it, and send it to the full House or Senate for consideration.Committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate are granted jurisdiction through the chambers’ rules, which assign committee policy areas and legislative responsibilities. These rules determine which committee considers a bill before it reaches the floor. Committee jurisdiction organizes the legislative process and allows members to develop expertise in specific subjects.
Whip count definition
A whip count is an informal tally congressional leadership conducts to gauge how party members plan to vote on upcoming legislation, amendments, or procedural motions. Whip counts are typically organized by the party whip and their staff, who contact party members to see whether they support or oppose a proposal. Whip counts work as an informal internal survey before an important vote, helping party leaders determine whether they have enough votes to pass a piece of legislation before bringing it to the floor.
Legislative counsel definition
A legislative counsel is a nonpartisan attorney who assists members of Congress and congressional committees by drafting legislation and providing legal guidance on the form and structure of bills, resolutions, and amendments. They translate policy ideas into precise statutory language to ensure that the proposed legislation is clear, internally consistent, and aligned with existing federal law.They’re typically experienced attorneys with expertise in statutory drafting, legislative procedure, and public law and operate on a nonpartisan and confidential basis, assisting members of both parties.
Joint resolution definition
A joint resolution is a particular type of Congressional measure that must pass in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In most cases, it follows the same legislative process as a bill and then becomes law with the same force as a standard bill.Joint resolutions are typically used for a narrow set of purposes: stopgap government funding, authorizing military force, overturning federal agency rules, and proposing Constitutional amendments. They originate in either chamber; they’re designated H.J.Res. when introduced in the House and S.J.Res. in the Senate.
Runoff election definition
A runoff election, also called a two-round election, is a second, follow-up election held when no one wins a congressional election outright. States usually hold runoffs when no candidate receives a majority (more than 50% of the votes) in the first election. The top two vote-getters from the first election compete in the runoff.The Constitution lets states set the time, place, and manner of their congressional elections, so runoff rules for US Senate and US House races differ by state.
General election definition
A general election is an election in which voters choose who will hold public office; in federal races, general elections pick the president and Congresspeople. Voters pick among candidates from all political parties, along with any independent candidates. It is typically the final step after primaries, in which parties select their nominee. When is the federal general election?Federal law sets one Election Day for all federal offices. It falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, so the date always lands between November 2 and November 8.
Midterm election definition
A midterm election is a congressional election held in the middle of a president's four-year term. Voters elect all 435 members of the US House of Representatives and about one-third of US senators in midterms. Midterm elections happen every four years, in even-numbered years between presidential races — 2022, 2026, etc.When is the next midterm election?The next midterm election is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Federal law sets Election Day as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.
Redistricting definition
Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of an electoral district to reflect changes in its population. The process determines how communities are grouped for political representation, shaping who is elected to Congress, state legislatures, and local governing bodies.Redistricting is a state process, but is governed by federal law. The US Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, requires that each of a state’s congressional districts have nearly equal populations, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits maps that weaken the voting power of racial or language minority groups.A 2026 Supreme Court ruling, Louisiana v. Callais, raised the bar for proving those claims. A map now violates the law only when evidence strongly suggests a state drew its districts to intentionally limit voting opportunity based on race. Some states have begun redrawing their maps in response.Within those boundaries, states have broad authority to set their own redistricting practices, including when new maps are drawn.
Ballot measure definition
A proposition — also called a ballot measure — is a potential new law, constitutional amendment, or policy question placed on a ballot. Voters approve or reject the measure directly, rather than leaving the decision to elected officials. They happen at the state, county, and city levels and are used to address issues like taxes, bond laws, and wages.The name for these ballot measures varies by state; California numbers its statewide measures as propositions while Washington calls them initiatives and referenda. Each state specifies its own naming and rules via state constitutions and election laws. What is the difference between an initiative and a referendum?An initiative lets voters propose a new law or a change to an existing law by petition. In some states, including California, an initiative can also amend the state constitution.A referendum lets voters approve or reject a law the state legislature has already passed. The legislature can also refer its own proposed laws to the voters for a decision.(Both fall under the larger category of “proposition,” which includes any legal/policy question citizens vote on directly.)How does a proposition get on the ballot?Most measures qualify by petition. Supporters gather signatures from registered voters, and election officials check the signatures. If the petition has enough signatures — the required number is usually a share of the votes cast in a past statewide election — then the measure qualifies.In California, a statewide referendum needs 546,651 valid signatures to qualify, equal to 5% of the votes cast for governor in 2022. In Washington, an initiative needs 308,911 valid signatures. That equals 8% of the votes cast for governor in 2024.State legislatures can also vote to place a measure on the ballot without a petition.
Primary election definition
A primary election decides which candidates a political party sends to the general election. Voters usually vote in the primary of the party they’re registered with. Federal primaries are held for the offices of president, US senator, and US representative. For congressional candidates, the primary winner becomes the party's nominee, while presidential nominees are chosen later at each party's national convention.Most primaries are run by state and local election officials. Parties are not required to hold one, and can instead choose to pick nominees with a caucus, a meeting run by the party. How do primary elections work?In a primary election, voters cast a secret ballot for one candidate from a single party. Typically, the candidate with the most votes wins the nomination. Some states require a majority, or more than half the votes; if no candidate reaches it, the top two meet again in a primary runoff election.Presidential primaries work differently. Voters don’t select a candidate directly, but pick delegates who represent their state at the party's national convention. The convention delegates then select the nominee.
Election Assistance Commission (EAC) definition
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is an independent, bipartisan federal body that helps state and local officials run federal elections. The agency shares election administration information, sets voluntary voting system guidelines, and distributes federal election funds to states. The EAC also tests and certifies voting systems and accredits laboratories that test them. States can decide whether or not to use the agency's guidelines and certification program.The agency also publishes and updates the national mail voter registration form. Congress required the form in the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Voters send the completed form to their state or local election office, which processes the registration.Congress created the EAC in the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
Provisional ballot definition
When a person’s eligibility to vote can’t be confirmed at the polling place, that person can cast a provisional ballot. Election officials set these votes aside and count them only after they verify the voters’ eligibility. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires every state to offer provisional ballots in federal elections.
How do voting laws differ by state?
Voter registration, ability to vote by mail, and ID requirements to vote in-person vary by state.
Who shows up to the midterms?
Voter turnout in the last two midterm elections has been higher compared to midterms in the past four decades.
Why don’t people vote?
Eighteen million registered voters didn't cast a ballot in 2024. What was their reason?
How red or blue is your state?
In the last ten elections, 41 states voted for the same party eight times or more.
How many voters have a party affiliation?
As of April 2026, 43% of registered voters have declared a party affiliation—39.2 million Republicans and 45.4 million Democrats.
How many executive orders has each president signed?
Recent presidents have signed an average of 270 executive orders while in office, with two-term presidents averaging 332 and single-term presidents averaging 207.
Ask an Analyst: Lending some color to the political map
Go behind the scenes with our team as we find and make sense of the numbers.
USAFacts’ top 10 articles of 2025
Crime, government activity, federal revenue and debt, election data, border security, and federal employment numbers were among readers’ favorite articles.
Can people with felony convictions vote?
In 23 states, those with felony convictions automatically regain the right to vote when they are released from prison.
Reapportionment and redistricting after the 2020 census: Explained
Texas gained two congressional seats while seven states lost a seat following the 2020 census. In all, seven seats shifted between 13 states.
How does voter turnout in the US differ by state, age and race?
The past four decades show clear trends in voter turnout: older, white Americans are most likely to cast a ballot. But some states buck the trend.
State of the Facts 2024: Americans’ views on data, election information, and AI
Americans are more likely to use “new media” as news sources, but less likely to trust them.
What are the current swing states, and how have they changed over time?
Five states were won by less than 3 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
How many Americans voted in 2024?
Voter turnout was the third highest since 1980 but declined by 1.5 percentage points since 2020.
How does the government help non-English speakers vote?
Under the Voting Rights Act, thirty states are required to provide non-English voting materials in at least one locality.
How COVID-19 is changing primary voting—and the November election
Some states are extending deadlines and eligibility for mail-in ballots. Such measures may provide insight in how people vote in the November general election.
Who is Gen Z? Key insights in 4 charts
Members of Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, will turn 12–27 years old in 2024. What does the data reveal about this generation?
How many Americans voted in 2020?
Voter turnout surged in 2020 with increases in mail-in and early voting.
State of the Union: The words, the facts, the data
What do presidents historically talk about when they address the nation, and how does it compare to trends in areas such as jobs, wages, education, national security, and healthcare?
How many voters cast ballots early and by mail?
Early and mail-in ballots accounted for over half of all votes in 2024.
What are the demographics of Hispanic voters?
In six states, over 20% of the voting-age population identified as Hispanic in 2020.
Who’s funding the 2024 election?
Over 75% of the funds raised for the 2024 election have come from political action committees (PACs) and party committees, which then redistribute the funds to different campaigns.
What are ballot propositions and how many are on the ballot in 2022?
Twenty-six states allow citizens to petition for and vote on laws and amendments.
Dates to know for the 2024 presidential election
The 2024 presidential election will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Presidential primaries and caucuses are scheduled to begin in January and will run through June.
How do runoff elections work?
Nine states schedule runoffs for congressional primaries where no one candidate takes a majority, and two have general election runoffs.