The U.S. Treasury/ Photo by Micah Clemens

Lawmakers passed a clean bill to suspend the debt ceiling. The deal came two weeks before Feb. 27, the date by which Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said the U.S. government would be in danger of defaulting on its debt payments. Read more.

For the key facts on the debt ceiling and how it works, see Federal Budget 101.

Updates on the debt ceiling negotiation:

• Feb. 3: Debt Ceiling Deadline 2014
• Feb. 11: Three Dangerous Myths About the Debt Ceiling
• Feb. 13: Congress Passes Clean Debt Ceiling Bill