During the weekend premier of “House of Cards,” season three, more than 600,000 people tweeted about the release of the show, according to an article on gigaom.com.

More shows, like “House of Cards” and “Scandal,” are showing up on television and Netflix. “House of Cards” is based off the the U.K. show, which has the same name. However, the Americanized version of the show, which stars a ruthless Kevin Spacey as a political powerhouse, delves in deeper with the way the public might think politics work in the states.

And while “Scandal” flirts with the line of unrealistic situations, the show does a good job of highlighting some of the backdoor deals, both good and bad, that politicians take part in to get their party’s platforms across.

And while many of these television shows are created solely for entertainment purposes, series like “House of Cards” do a good job of educating viewers on how American politics work. When asked who President Obama’s chief of staff is, you probably shrug your shoulders and admittedly have no idea, unless you follow politics closely. But when asked who Frank Underwood’s (Kevin Spacey) chief of staff is, more people are probably more likely to know the answer is Doug Stamper.

This is because, and believe it or not, some Americans don’t understand basic politics. And it’s not anyone’s fault but their own for being uneducated on one of the more crucial rights as an American citizen. However, shows like “House of Cards” and “Scandal” are breaking down these lesser known positions into relatable characters we know. You might root for Stamper in the “House of Cards” episodes or you may even hate/love him. But what is undeniable is people know what his position is, what its relation to the president is and what some of the duties are. With this knowledge, more Americans can put a face with a position and understand the people they are voting for could end up being selected for positions like a president’s chief of staff.

While we don’t vote for every single position we might see in “House of Cards” or “Scandal,” we can be more informed on the decisions these positions are making and, in turn, make more informed decisions for our futures.

Politics don’t always make sense and a lot of the time government lingo can be hard to decipher. But an increasing interest in political based shows will only prove to be better for the American public when it comes to understanding where the positions stand in the American government.

The overwhelming interest these shows have generated among the American public could be a driving force in the public’s desire to learn, or at least understand,  the political system in which we are forced to place so much trust.