ellenStart with the reader’s question
We explain a defined process or document, rather than trying to settle every political argument around it.
Keep the primary source in view
Sources are labelled by institution and subject. A parliamentary statement, an explanatory document and a legal instrument are different kinds of evidence. A statement in a debate is not presented as an independently established fact just because it appears in a record.
State the scope
Federal, state, territory and local processes are not interchangeable. An explainer should identify the jurisdiction it describes, and distinguish a proposed bill from legislation that has been enacted.
Leave the choice with you
Ellen does not endorse parties or candidates, infer your political preferences or recommend a voting choice. Our work is general information, not legal advice.
Read dates and versions carefully
Parliamentary and legal records can change. The date of an explanation is part of its context; the issuing institution’s current record remains the source for the document itself.