Watch 'I'm Just a Bill' explain how a law gets made

Congressional committees quietly shape most legislation

This video explains how 20 congressional committees—standing, select, and conference—perform much of Congress's work, from drafting legislation and holding hearings to overseeing executive branch agencies.

Watch every episode of 'Bill Nye the Science Guy'

Each features one scientific topic alongside demonstrations, fake commercials, a song parody with science-themed lyrics, and bloopers. Other segments include conversations with experts, exhibiting experiments that can be done at home, and trips to locations beyond "Nye Laboratories" to highlight real-world applications.

The US Mint created a video to show kids how coins are made

The video, made simple for children (or anyone who wants an easy-to-understand 101 video about the process coins go through to get in your wallet), outlines the entire process that a coin goes through in its lifetime, from Congress voting on new coins, to how coins are stamped, to their journey to a Reserve Bank.

Visualize every time Congress has mentioned the word 'democracy' since 1880, and why

This Pudding interactive analyzes every mention of "democracy" in the Congressional Record over 145 years, charting how the word shifted from a partisan label to a concept, and tracking when lawmakers warned the system itself was under threat.

Bills passed during the Civil War shaped postwar America

Despite the war with the South, Congress passed transformative laws like the Homestead Act and the Morrill Land-Grant College Act, which encouraged westward settlement and expanded higher education.

The lifespan of a dollar bill

Durable, made of a cotton blend, and with billions in circulation, the common dollar bill is made to last. This video from 1440 goes inside the life of the country's paper currency, from printing to purchasing, in this quick 60-second overview.

Hear how Congress uses oversight to uncover waste, fraud, and abuse

Oversight Matters, produced by the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy, provides a behind-the-scenes look at legislative investigations and demonstrates how bipartisan oversight in Congress and state legislatures drives accountability and policy reform.

Trace how the Bill of Rights, inspired by centuries of political theory, took shape between 1774 and 1789.

This interactive resource from the National Constitution Center traces the complex drafting process behind the Bill of Rights, showing how state proposals and revisions evolved into the first 10 amendments.

Why financial literacy education in the US sucks

If you don't remember learning anything about basic financial literacy in school, you're not alone—that's the common sentiment among those who have passed through the American school system. This video explains the history of financial education in the US and points out what can be done in the future to make the financial lessons children learn in school stick with them past recess. Watch it here.

The Bill of Rights spent more than a century largely ignored by the courts

When ratified in 1791, the Bill of Rights applied only to the federal government, which exercised little direct control over daily life. It played a limited role in early constitutional law until the 20th century, when legal advocates began using it to challenge state and local laws.

The lab coat worn on 'Bill Nye the Science Guy' is stored in the Smithsonian

The series received substantial funding from the National Science Foundation and US Department of Energy to help fulfill requirements from the 1990 Children's Television Act to support educational children's programming. The show became the first television program to run concurrently on both public and commercial broadcast stations.

Watch Jim Henson explain how to make a Muppet.

Watch a freshman lawmaker navigate his first days in Congress

This video follows Denver Riggleman during his transition to Capitol Hill in 2019, capturing the disorder, pressure, and unpredictability of becoming a member of the United States House of Representatives amid shutdowns and political attacks.

How Lyndon Johnson created public radio

The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, part of the president's Great Society plan, established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which later led to the incorporation of National Public Radio. Originally, the bill was intended solely to establish public television; before Johnson signed the act, slips of paper reading "and radio" were literally Scotch-taped next to each mention of "television."

The Constitution is difficult to amend

Amended just 27 times in more than 230 years, the US Constitution is deliberately hard to change. This animated video from TED-Ed explains why the amendment process is so complex and what that rigidity means in practice.

Bill Nye served as a lab assistant in the 'Back to the Future' animated series

Set in an alternate timeline after the conclusion of "Back to the Future Part III," the series starred Jules and Verne—the children of Dr. Emmett Brown and Clara. Each of its 26 episodes concluded with a live-action segment in which Bill Nye performed an experiment related to that episode.

Every printed bill has its own unique serial number

In the US, each bill also has its own plate number, series year, Treasury seal, and more. Each design helps track money and combat counterfeiting.

The Clean Water Act became the national standard for protecting American waters

Enacted in 1972, the Clean Water Act grants the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate pollutant discharges, establish water quality standards, and oversee water pollution controls. Its scope has narrowed due to recent Supreme Court rulings.

A court designed to be the least powerful branch of government became one of the most influential institutions in America.

Read through the actual text of the US Constitution

This helpful guide from the US Congress includes annotations that provide valuable insights into the background, crafting, and legacy of each article in the document. Additionally, the resource offers accessible legal analysis and interpretations.

This American Life explored Ohio's gerrymandering battle

In 2022, Ohio lawmakers repeatedly drew congressional districts that the state Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional. This defiance violated a voter-approved reform intended to prohibit partisan gerrymandering.

Hear about the individuals who have reshaped the Constitution throughout American history

This multi-episode podcast series from The Washington Post explores how debates, court decisions, and influential individuals have shaped the Constitution as Americans pushed the nation to live up to its founding ideals.

Take a deep dive into the constitutional foundations of judicial review

In this episode of "This Constitution," the hosts take a law-focused approach to judicial review—examining its roots in Article III and the supremacy clause, its development through Marbury v. Madison, and the ongoing constitutional debates about whether the court's power strengthens or strains American democracy.

The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 created the modern federal budget

Before 1921, federal funding was fragmented and ad hoc. This article traces how inefficiency and postwar pressures led Congress to pass the Budget and Accounting Act, creating a standardized, centralized federal budgeting process.

The Senate's filibuster—a procedure that allows for unlimited debate—is not in the Constitution

In the United States Senate, the filibuster enables senators to delay or block legislation. Ending debate became possible in 1917 with a cloture rule requiring a two-thirds vote. In 1975, that was changed to 60 votes in most cases.

Congress has the power to enact laws related to bankruptcy, thanks to the US Constitution

It has done just that since 1800. This legislation, which outlines the various types of bankruptcy filings, has evolved over time. The most recent iteration is the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, which introduced Chapter 11 filings in an effort to make the process easier for businesses and individuals.

Explore important free-speech cases with a First Amendment litigator

Hosted by Ken White, the "Make No Law" podcast explores landmark First Amendment cases—from student speech to defamation—breaking down complex legal battles in an accessible way for lawyers and nonlawyers alike.

Debating the Constitution today

The Constitution continues to shape our political and social life today. If you want to understand how today’s political debates connect to the Constitution, check out this podcast from the National Constitution Center. The weekly program features experts from diverse perspectives and explores how constitutional principles shape modern issues.

See the day in the life of a lawmaker

This video tracks Mark Alford, who has represented Missouri's 4th district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023, offering a firsthand look at the pace, travel, and daily demands of congressional life.

Bill of Rights Day is commemorated annually in the United States on Dec. 15

The date marks the 1791 ratification of the first 10 amendments. President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially established Bill of Rights Day in 1941, on the document's 150th anniversary. Hear the speech he gave on that day.

Congress meets and legislates in the US Capitol building

The United States Capitol reflects neoclassical ideals drawn from ancient Greece and Rome. First opened to Congress in 1800 and repeatedly expanded over time, it remains the symbolic and functional home of both The House and The Senate.

Why cartoons are an ideal form for satire

For decades, TV shows like "The Simpsons" and "South Park" have satirized American culture and politics. Satire thrives on hyperbole, and cartoonists' ability to render the world in any way they choose allows for more elevated critiques.

The Clean Air Act became the cornerstone of modern air pollution control

Passed in 1970 and strengthened through multiple amendments, the Clean Air Act authorizes the EPA to set national air quality standards, regulate industrial and vehicle emissions, and reduce pollutants such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, and lead.

Authentic storytelling and audience awareness drive effective science communication

Bill Nye suggests that making people care about science requires limits on technical jargon, ensuring content is relatable to viewers, and injecting some comedy to help make the ideas stick. Having clear learning objectives can help educators stay on track and efficiently write content.

Dive deep into Madison's role in promoting the Constitution through the Federalist Papers

James Madison used the Federalist Papers to shape ratification debates, explain the Constitution's design, and argue that a large republic could safeguard liberty. This podcast explores his pivotal role in the ratification of the Constitution.

How the NSF Public Understanding of Science program fueled science interest and literacy

To support STEM education at all levels and in all settings, the NSF has invested in public-facing science projects since 1957. These investments produced science education storytelling and entertainment programming, including "Bill Nye the Science Guy," "The Magic School Bus," and the "Flight of the Butterflies" and "Blue Whales" IMAX films.

Watch Bill Nye's debut as the 'Science Guy' on 'Almost Live!'

Knowing that Nye explained scientific concepts as a volunteer at the Pacific Science Center, host Ross Shafer suggested Nye perform scientific demonstrations to fill the time left by a canceled guest. "You could be, like, Bill Nye the Science Guy," said Shafer.

Learn how the US tax code works and why it's important

First published in 1926, the US Code is the official codification of federal statutes in the US. Title 26 of the US Code, for instance, lists all of the federal tax laws of the United States. A new edition is published every six years.

Environmental regulation had bipartisan support in the 1970s

During the 1970s, Democrats and Republicans alike backed landmark environmental laws. Congress passed the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts with overwhelming bipartisan majorities—reflecting broad public agreement on protecting the environment.

On July 1, 1862, the agency now known as the Internal Revenue Service was established and named the Bureau of Internal Revenue

It was created to collect the first-ever US income tax, which was created to help pay for the Civil War. After gaining their independence from Britain, Americans were skeptical about giving the federal government absolute power to collect federal income taxes. As a result, early US tax laws dictated that direct taxes, like income taxes, had to be directly apportioned to a state's population. The nation went back and forth on its federal tax laws multiple times. For instance, in 1872, the income tax from the Civil War was repealed. But it was revived in 1894, and then repealed again in 1895. In 1913, Congress passed the 16th Amendment, giving Congress the power to levy income taxes on individuals and corporations without apportioning the burden among the states in line with population, once and for all.

The Bill of Rights toured the United States on the Freedom Train from 1947 to 1949

Alongside the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, the Bill of Rights traveled the country for 18 months. Nearly 3.5 million people viewed the documents as they traveled to all 48 contiguous states in the US. (Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states.)

The sophisticated math jokes of 'The Simpsons'

"The Simpsons" has always been a slyly sophisticated show and has featured more than a few references to complex mathematical concepts. That's largely due to its writers' room, which has featured more than one writer who studied math before transitioning to comedy.

The story behind Conan O'Brien's most celebrated 'Simpsons' episode

"Marge vs. the Monorail," an episode from the show's fourth season, is widely considered not only one of the best 'Simpsons' episodes, but one of the best sitcom episodes in general. In this detailed history of it for The Ringer, writer Conan O'Brien, then a 28-year-old fresh off leaving "Saturday Night Live," explains how "The Music Man," disaster movies, and a strange billboard inspired the script.

Watch Bill Nye be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Joe Biden bestowed the honor for Nye's work in science education, science advocacy and environmental stewardship, with the White House adding, "By sharing the magic of fun and science, he inspires generations of Americans to follow facts and reason and leave the world better than we found it."

The best episodes of 'The Simpsons,' ranked

In its almost four decades on the air, "The Simpsons" has played a role in shaping the arc of American comedy. This list from The Ringer ranks the show's episodes that played the biggest role in that process, featuring exemplary scripts from Conan O'Brien, Greg Daniels, and more.

A comprehensive history of 'The Simpsons'

This documentary explores the wild trajectory of the show, from Matt Groening's early underground cartoons to its status as a groundbreaking pop culture phenomenon.

Watch the full video of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream Speech'

Watch Bill Nye discuss biomechanics and sustainability while shopping for sneakers

While exploring sneaker history and technology, Nye covers the science of structural design, air bubbles and materials, including algae foam. He once voiced a 20-minute guided run on the Nike Run Club app.

Congress is passing fewer laws than in previous decades

A Reuters analysis shows that legislative output in the US Congress has declined as polarization deepens, bipartisan cooperation erodes, and lawmakers rely more on sprawling, must-pass spending bills rather than regular lawmaking.

Winning a Steve Martin look-alike contest led Bill Nye to pursue comedy

Doing impressions helped Nye realize he enjoyed making people laugh, and he pursued stand-up and comedy writing gigs while working at Boeing after college. On October 3, 1986, he left his engineering job to pursue a full-time career in the entertainment industry.