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Government & Elections Legislative Branch

H.R. 1 – A Bill to Rescue Democracy?

January 22, 2019

The first bill introduced in the new Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is H.R. 1, informally known as the For the People Act. (The bill’s full title is H.R. 1: To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and for other […]

Legislative Branch

10 Things to Know About the Government Shutdown

January 15, 2019

Why did the American government shut down? As summarized by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget: “Every year, Congress must pass and the president must sign budget legislation for the next fiscal year (FY), consisting of 12 appropriations bills, one for each appropriations subcommittee. When the federal government’s fiscal year began October 1, Congress had enacted […]

Legislative Branch

The New Congress and the Government Shutdown

January 08, 2019

On January 3, the 116th Congress was sworn in as directed by the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. The incoming Congress will be the most diverse in history. Here are some facts about the makeup of the new Congress: In the House of Representatives, Democrats will now be in the majority with 235 members. Republicans will have […]

Criminal Justice Legislative Branch

Criminal Justice Reform: The First Step Act

December 31, 2018

On December 21st, President Trump signed the FIRST STEP Act of 2018 into law. In addition to being a notable act of bipartisanship, the act will have far reaching implications for the nation’s criminal justice system and will have meaningful impacts on the lives of incarcerated people. The bill, whose title is an acronym for […]

New Year, New Congress

December 18, 2018

Congress is adjourning for the holiday break and when it comes back in January, the new congressional class will be the most diverse in history. The November elections saw historic wins for women and minority groups that have lacked representatives of their demographics. The 116th Congress will include several notable members: There will be a record […]

Legislative Branch

Mueller and the Lame Duck

December 04, 2018

Congress is back in session after Thanksgiving break, but the newly elected senators and representatives have not yet taken their seats. For the next month and a half, the outgoing Republican majority will continue to call the shots in the House of Representatives, meaning that these are the last few weeks of single-party control of […]

A Rumble in the House—What Are the Odds of Republicans Maintaining the Majority?

November 05, 2018

What’s Up? The members of the House of Representatives represent citizens on the basis of population. Representatives (who are elected to two-year terms) have many duties, but their most important ones are to make and pass federal laws by introducing bills and resolutions, offering amendments, serving on committees, and voting to represent their constituents. Tomorrow, […]

What’s at Stake in the Senate Races?

October 17, 2018

What’s Up? There are 35 Senate seats up for grabs in 2018 (including two—Minnesota and Mississippi—that are up for special election). Of those 35 seats, 26 of them are currently held by Democrats. The Current Situation  Republicans currently hold the majority (51 seats) in the Senate; Democrats hold 47 seats and independents hold two seats. […]

The Kavanaugh Question

October 15, 2018

Although Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment was ultimately successful, the question remains of whether or not it will be an instance of winning the battle but losing the war with regard to the 2018 midterm elections. Some commentators have suggested that had Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation failed, it might have sparked a backlash among voters in both […]

Current Issues Blog

H.R. 1 – A Bill to Rescue Democracy?

10 Things to Know About the Government Shutdown

The New Congress and the Government Shutdown

Criminal Justice Reform: The First Step Act

New Year, New Congress

Mueller and the Lame Duck

A Rumble in the House—What Are the Odds of Republicans Maintaining the Majority?

What’s at Stake in the Senate Races?

The Kavanaugh Question

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