Tag Archives: politics

Just the facts, please

Posted on September 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

Do you want to check out the accuracy of the claims and counterclaims that you are hearing during this contentious political season?  Here are some sources that will help you:

FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center.

PolitiFact.com is a Pulitizer Prize-winning project of the Tampa Bay Times.

VoteSmart.org, founded by former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford and others, is a nonprofit, non-partisan educational organization.

U.S. Congress Votes Database shows the voting records going back to 1991 for all the members of Congress.

For additional information, check out our subject guide on government and politics and the 2012 Elections topic page or Ask Us!

kt

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Posted in Government & Politics, Reference & Research

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Who Goes First?

Posted on September 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

Conventions 2012Are you wondering why the Republicans had their convention first this year? Is there a rule about which party goes first?

Since 1956, back when Eisenhower was the president, the party that held the White House has traditionally gone second, so this year the Democrats have their convention after the Republicans.

During the years 1864 to 1956, the Democrats had their convention after the Republicans, with the one exception of 1888 when the Democrats went first.

There is no mention of conventions in the Constitution, and conventions have evolved over the years, along with the process of selecting nominees. The first nominating convention in American history occurred in 1831, when the anti-Masonic Party held their convention in Baltimore. The Democrats and National Republicans followed with conventions in 1832.

Questions?  Ask Us! Interested in government and politics? Check out our subject guide and the 2012 Elections topic page.

kt

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Posted in Events, Government & Politics, Reference & Research

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