Pleading the Fifth or Taking the Fifth: What do these phrases actually mean and when can you use them and not use them. How far does the right to remain silent actually go and what does it have to with Congress?

Impeachment: An objective, non-partisan look by a government teacher at how impeachment works and whether it is about crimes or politics or both.After teaching high school government for fifteen years, I was disappointing to find a lack of objective talk out there on the straightforwards of how government works. This is a non-partisan look at government and politics that examines what our government can do, cannot do and how it does what it does.

What is a special prosecutor? Do we need one? What makes them different from everybody else in government? Find out this week as we try to untangle the mess.After teaching high school government for fifteen years, I was disappointing to find a lack of objective talk out there on the straightforwards of how government works. This is a non-partisan look at government and politics that examines what our government can do, cannot do and how it does what it does.

This episode we take a look at government shutdowns - what are they, what causes them, and how does this all complicated budget process work anyway?After teaching high school government for fifteen years, I was disappointing to find a lack of objective talk out there on the straightforwards of how government works. This is a non-partisan look at government and politics that examines what our government can do, cannot do and how it does what it does.

This episode we take a look at  the constitutionality of hate speech and how the United States Supreme Court has struggled to deal with it.After teaching high school government for fifteen years, I was disappointing to find a lack of objective talk out there on the straightforwards of how government works. This is a non-partisan look at government and politics that examines what our government can do, cannot do and how it does what it does.

An objective, non-partisan look by a government teacher at special elections - how much do they really matter?

An objective, non-partisan look by a government teacher at whether we should seek to limit or empower our own government. Hint: the answer depends on your priorities!

An objective, non-partisan look by a government teacher at the constitutional question of whether a president needs congressional approval to launch a military strike. What would James Madison have thought of cruise missiles?

An objective, non-partisan look by a government teacher at the way we interpret the Constitution. Should it be seen according to the original meaning of the framers or as a "living document".

An objective, non-partisan look by a government teacher at the judicial nomination process and the Senate "nuclear option". (Minor Correction: at one point while dicussing a bit of history I refer to Judge Bork as "Neil" - his first name is "Robert",  - apologies)