CALIFORNIA -- In an interview for IVN, Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown of California's 47th district explained that the nonpartisan, top-two open primary system "requires candidates to build broad local coalitions." Brown is among the confirmed panelists who will speak at a series of discussions on voting rights, nonpartisan primaries, and th

Founded in 2003 by Page Gardner, the Voter Participation Center (VPC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging unmarried women, minorities, and Millennials to vote, which the organization has dubbed the "Rising American Electorate (RAE)."

Gridlock dominates American politics at the national level. Among other things, partisan animosity and distrust undermines congressional function. Partisan or ideological differences and policy choices are so far apart that the two sides usually talk past each other with little mutual understanding or willingness to understand.

The Senate Appropriations Committee took a 16-14 vote Thursday to approve a measure that would make it easier for marijuana businesses to obtain basic banking services with financial institutions. The amendment, proposed for the Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act of 2015, was authored by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

Every politician has a promising career. Unfortunately, most of them do not keep those promises. -- Jarod Kintz

Jokes about politicians are funny, usually because of the glaring kernel of truth they contain. To most who follow politics, our leaders have become stereotypes -- almost cookie cutter images of the people we'd expect to have as a politician.

But to social scientists, politicians are a bit more of a quagmire.

One of the more anticipated campaigns for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination has seemingly dropped from the national conversation and is struggling to raise money.

Called "The Most Interesting Man in the Senate" by Reason magazine, Rand Paul has built his Senate career on filibustering extrajudicial assassinations and opposing the security state.

Independent Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has a plan to kill two birds with one stone.

A recent poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, and reported on IVN, found that 66% of Americans now support Supreme Court term limits, and nearly half believe justices should be elected. To some, this may appear to be a reaction to the current paradigm of political dysfunction permeating out of Washington.

"Republicans and Democrats disagree on a lot," said Luke Russert of NBC News on Friday, July 17, "but they are in a

Before the Legislature’s summer recess, the Capitol was buzzing with several legislative committees deciding the fate of dozens of bills. Policy committee work is not glamorous, but it is an essential part of the democratic process that should be respected.

Among all of the hearings one incident stood out and for really unfortunate reasons.