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At some point around mid-October, Congress and the President will have to raise the country’s $16.7 trillion debt ceiling or else risk a default on the country’s commitments. It’s as simple as that. What is less simple, however, is how – and even whether – elected leaders will address the still-unfinished task of controlling U.S. public debt over the long term.

Meet Maurice Duverger

Start telling people that a third party’s day is on its way and it’s only a matter of time before you hear about Duverger’s Law. But laws, like rules, are meant to be broken. And Duverger’s is no exception.

The 113th Congress returned from summer recess Monday and nine legislative days remain before the 2014 fiscal year starts on October 1. President Barack Obama submitted his budget in April.

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On Monday, a case began in appeals court between Verizon and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over the issue of net neutrality and the overall authority of the Internet. The case was brought by Verizon against the FCC, in part, to dispute the commission's jurisdiction on the matter. The case is also one of the premier cases over net neutrality.

This week, Washington has been aflutter over the recent use of chemical weapons against civilians in Syria, and President Obama's desired response-"limited military strikes"-to the incident. The Syrian conflict, which has lasted for over two years, has claimed approximately 110,000 lives.