Justin Amash // Credit: Gage Skidmore An amendment to the Patriot Act that would have limited the surveillance powers of the NSA, failed to pass the House last week by a vote of 205-217 with 12 not voting. The amendment, sponsored by Justin Amash (R-Michigan), would have modified section 215 of the Patriot Act to force the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA) to demonstrate that targeted records were relevant to the case against a person under investigation. The amendment received wi...

Credit: Brookings.edu Republicans and Democrats in both houses of Congress are more divided than ever, according to a report titled, "Vital Statistics on Congress," published by the Brookings Institute. The report documents ideological polarization of congressional coalitions from both parties since the 1940s. It shows the parties have evolved in opposite directions as time has progressed. While the Democratic Party has been become more liberal relative to where it was in 1948, the Republican ...

Credit: Salon.com In a time when partisan gridlock has plagued the political system and divided the nation, Americans of every party affiliation agree on at least one thing: television is their primary source for news. According to a Gallup poll released Monday, 55 percent of Americans say television is their preferred method of staying informed on news and current events. The Internet came in second at 21 percent, followed by print media at 9 percent, and radio at 6 percent. Overall, those w...

113th Congress // Credit: Swalwell.house.gov A Gallup poll released June 26 revealed that Americans satisfaction with congressional performance is quickly approaching historic lows. Respondents rated the Democrats at 34 percent and the Republicans at 26 percent -- well below their respective averages of 42 percent and 37 percent since 1999. The overall approval rating of Congress is even lower, landing at 17 percent. A closer look reveals that the numbers themselves are a reflection of the dee...