Government

Green New Deal: aims, history, proposals, and debate Green New Deal Overview of the Green New Deal — its origins, core goals (decarbonization, jobs, equity), major proposals, political history, costs debate and critiques in U.S. climate and economi…

Guardian Council (Islamic Republic of Iran) Guardian Council An overview of Iran's Guardian Council: its composition, constitutional role in reviewing legislation and elections, historical origin after 1979, and its political significance an…

Guardians of Scotland Temporary rulers appointed to govern Scotland during the late 13th–early 14th century interregna, responsible for administration, defence and diplomacy until a monarch could be set…

Guest worker: temporary foreign labor and its social, economic, and legal aspects Guest worker Guest workers are foreign nationals admitted temporarily to work, usually to fill labor shortages. Programs differ by country and raise questions about rights, integration, remitta…

Gulag: The Soviet system of forced labor camps Gulag An overview of the Gulag — the Soviet system of corrective labor camps: its organization, prisoners and conditions, economic role, historical development, and legacy in literature…

Hail to the Chief (United States presidential anthem) Hail to the Chief Ceremonial anthem played to announce or honor the President of the United States; covers history, musical and lyrical features, protocol for use, and notable occasions.

Head of government: role, powers, selection, and variations Head of government An overview of the head of government: definition, duties, selection methods, differences from head of state, historical development, and common national examples.

Head of State: Role, Types, and Historical Development Head of state A head of state is the public representative of a sovereign polity. This article explains functions, selection methods, major systems, historical background, and notable modern exa…

Heinrich Lübke (1894–1972): President of the Federal Republic of Germany Heinrich Lübke Heinrich Lübke (1894–1972) served as the second President of the Federal Republic of Germany (1959–1969). A CDU politician, his tenure covered the Cold War era and the country’s po…

Heir apparent An heir apparent is the person first in a line of succession whose right to inherit cannot be superseded by birth of another claimant; contrasted with an heir presumptive.

Hellenic Parliament (Vouli ton Ellinon) Hellenic Parliament The Hellenic Parliament is Greece's unicameral legislature, seated in the Old Royal Palace in Athens. It is composed of 300 elected members and performs lawmaking, oversight and re…

Hereditary Monarchy: succession, types, and modern roles Hereditary monarchy A hereditary monarchy is a system where the sovereign's office passes within a family. This article explains succession rules, historical development, contemporary forms, and disti…

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Senior EU official who coordinates and represents the bloc's common foreign and security policy, combining roles across the EU institutions and heading the European External Action…

Highness (honorific style) Highness Highness is an honorific style used to address princes, princesses and other members of nobility. It denotes rank and dignity and is positioned below Royal and Imperial Highness in…

Hillsborough Castle (Northern Ireland): official residence and historic house Hillsborough Castle Hillsborough Castle is a historic Georgian country house in County Down used for official government and royal visits, diplomatic events, and public tours of state rooms and garden…

Hirohito (Emperor Shōwa): Emperor of Japan, 1926–1989 Hirohito Hirohito, posthumously Emperor Shōwa, was Japan's 124th emperor. His long reign (1926–1989) spanned prewar militarism, World War II, Allied occupation, constitutional change and Ja…

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) — United Kingdom tax and customs authority HM Revenue and Customs HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is the UK government department that collects taxes, administers certain welfare payments and enforces regulations such as the national minimum wage.

House of Hohenzollern‑Sigmaringen Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen A Swabian cadet branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty that ruled the County (later Principality) of Hohenzollern‑Sigmaringen and provided monarchs for Romania and other European dynas…

Home Secretary (United Kingdom) Home Secretary Senior UK minister who heads the Home Office and oversees domestic security, policing, immigration and public order; a Great Office of State and a key Cabinet post.

Hongwu Emperor (Zhu Yuanzhang) — Founder of the Ming Dynasty Hongwu Emperor The Hongwu Emperor (Zhu Yuanzhang) founded the Ming dynasty, rising from poverty to rule 1368–1398. He centralized power, reformed administration and law, and left a contested lega…

House of Commons — the lower house in Westminster-style parliaments House of Commons The House of Commons is the elected lower chamber in several Westminster-style parliaments, notably the United Kingdom and Canada. It proposes and debates laws, approves public spe…

House of Commons of Canada The elected lower chamber of Canada’s federal Parliament: its composition, powers, history, procedures, committees, and role within the constitutionally divided federal system.

House of Commons of the United Kingdom The elected lower chamber of the UK Parliament, made up of 650 MPs representing constituencies. It debates and passes laws, holds the government to account, and meets at the Palace…

House of Councillors (Japan) The upper chamber of Japan’s National Diet, the House of Councillors reviews legislation, represents prefectural and national electoral interests, and serves as a deliberative chec…

House of Grimaldi A historic Genoese noble family that came to rule Monaco; origin in medieval Genoa, long association with the Principality of Monaco, and current head Prince Albert II.

House of Khalifa (Al Khalifa family of Bahrain) House of Khalifa The House of Khalifa is Bahrain’s ruling dynasty. Originating from Arabian tribes, the Al Khalifa have governed Bahrain since the late 18th century and hold major political and soc…

House of Representatives A House of Representatives is a legislative chamber in many governments, typically a lower or primary assembly of elected representatives responsible for making laws and representi…

House of Representatives (Belize) Overview of Belize's directly elected lower chamber: composition, electoral system, history, powers, and the role of Area Representatives in government formation and oversight.

House of Representatives (Cyprus) The House of Representatives is the unicameral parliament of the Republic of Cyprus. Members are elected by proportional representation for five-year terms; seats reserved for Turk…

House of Representatives (Japan) The House of Representatives (Shūgiin) is the lower chamber of Japan's National Diet. It drafts and passes laws, controls the budget, selects the prime minister, and can force the…

House of Representatives (Netherlands) — Tweede Kamer House of Representatives (Netherlands) The Tweede Kamer is the directly elected lower house of the Dutch parliament. It has 150 members, strong legislative and oversight powers, and plays a central role in forming and s…

House of Representatives (Thailand) The lower chamber of Thailand's National Assembly. A democratically elected body responsible for legislation, budget approval, government oversight and selecting the prime minister…

House of Representatives of New Zealand The unicameral elected chamber of New Zealand's Parliament. Describes composition, electoral system, functions, procedures, historical development and distinguishing features.

House of Representatives of the Philippines The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Philippine Congress. It initiates legislation and appropriations, represents districts and party-lists, and performs oversi…

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC): Purpose, History, and Legacy House Un-American Activities Committee A congressional committee established in 1938 to investigate alleged subversive activities. HUAC is best known for anti-communist probes, Hollywood hearings, controversies over civ…

Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC) — U.S. Forecast and Precipitation Center Hydrometeorological Prediction Center The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC), now the Weather Prediction Center, is an NCEP service center of the U.S. National Weather Service focused on quantitative precipita…

Illinois Attorney General The Illinois Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer, elected statewide to represent Illinois in litigation, advise agencies and enforce consumer, environmental, and ci…

Illinois Comptroller The Illinois Comptroller is the state's chief fiscal officer, responsible for maintaining accounting records, authorizing payments, reporting on finances, and promoting fiscal tran…

Illinois Executive Mansion Official residence of the governor of Illinois in Springfield: history, architecture, public access, preservation, and significance of the mid-19th-century Georgian-style mansion.

Illinois General Assembly The bicameral legislature of Illinois, composed of the House and Senate. Established under the 1818 constitution, it drafts laws, approves budgets, and represents 59 legislative di…

Illinois House of Representatives The lower chamber of the Illinois General Assembly. Composed of 118 members elected for two-year terms, it drafts state law, controls spending, conducts oversight and can impeach s…

Illinois Secretary of State Overview of the Illinois Secretary of State: roles, organization, history, services such as vehicle and driver licensing, archives, business filings, and notable officeholders.

Illinois Senate The Illinois Senate is the upper house of the Illinois General Assembly. This article explains its composition, terms, powers, history, and role within state government.

Illinois Treasurer: Role, Duties, History and Significance Illinois Treasurer Article describing the office of the Illinois Treasurer: its purpose, responsibilities, election, historical development, distinctions from other fiscal offices, and public importa…

Illinois's 5th congressional district A U.S. House district in northeastern Illinois that covers parts of Cook and DuPage counties, including sections of Chicago and nearby suburbs; represented by Democrat Mike Quigley…

United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) — overview and legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service Former U.S. federal agency (1933–2003) that administered immigration, naturalization, inspections and enforcement; functions were split in 2003 into USCIS, ICE and CBP under DHS.

Impeachment: definition, process, history, and notable examples Impeachment Impeachment is a political process by which a legislature accuses public officials of misconduct; this article explains the concept, typical procedures, history, consequences, and…

Imperial: relating to empires and to the historical system of measurements Imperial Imperial refers to things associated with an empire or emperor and to the traditional British-derived system of weights and measures (imperial units) including inches, ounces and p…