Clean Water Rule Challenge Must Begin in Federal District Courts, Supreme Court Holds (open access)

Clean Water Rule Challenge Must Begin in Federal District Courts, Supreme Court Holds

This report discusses the Supreme Court's ruling in the case of "National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) v. Department of Defense". The background of the case and implications of the ruling are discussed.
Date: January 31, 2018
Creator: Mulligan, Stephen P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Addressing Sexual Harassment by Modifying the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995: A Look at Key Provisions in H.R. 4822. (open access)

Addressing Sexual Harassment by Modifying the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995: A Look at Key Provisions in H.R. 4822.

This report discusses the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) and proposed reforms to how it handles harassment claims through the bill H.R. 4822. The report highlights and considers some of the major differences between the current process provided under the CAA and the process that would exist if H.R. 4822 were enacted, as well as other changes proposed by the bill that could affect both legislative branch employees and Members of Congress.
Date: January 29, 2018
Creator: Back, Christine J. & Freeman, Wilson C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Shining a Light on the Solar Trade: Investigation Leads to Tariffs on Solar-Related Imports (Part 1) (open access)

Shining a Light on the Solar Trade: Investigation Leads to Tariffs on Solar-Related Imports (Part 1)

This report is part one of a report discussing the implementation of a tariff-rate quota on solar-energy related imports for four years beginning February 7, 2018. The announcement was triggered by the results of a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) investigation into potential harm to U.S. industries from the importation of solar-panel related parts. The process of an ITC investigation is described in this part of the the report.
Date: January 26, 2018
Creator: Lewis, Caitlain Devereaux
System: The UNT Digital Library
Shining a Light on the Solar Trade: Investigation Leads to Tariffs on Solar-Related Imports (Part 2) (open access)

Shining a Light on the Solar Trade: Investigation Leads to Tariffs on Solar-Related Imports (Part 2)

This report is part two of a report discussing the implementation of a tariff-rate quota on solar-energy related imports for four years beginning February 7, 2018. The announcement was triggered by the results of a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) investigation into potential harm to U.S. industries from the importation of solar-panel related parts. This section of the report discusses the background of the investigation and various options the ITC suggested as a remedy to their findings of injury to U.S. industry as well as Congressional considerations.
Date: January 26, 2018
Creator: Lewis, Caitlain Devereaux
System: The UNT Digital Library
Amateur Strip-Club Arrests: Probable Cause and Qualified Immunity (open access)

Amateur Strip-Club Arrests: Probable Cause and Qualified Immunity

This report discusses the Supreme Court case "District of Columbia v. Wesby" which addressed the question of what constituted probable cause for arrest and police officers qualified immunity from personal lawsuits against them for actions during the course of their duties.
Date: January 24, 2018
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
Is Impossibility Preemption Impossible? Federal Drug Law and Preemption of State Tort Claims (open access)

Is Impossibility Preemption Impossible? Federal Drug Law and Preemption of State Tort Claims

This report discusses the potential Supreme Court case of "Merck v. Albrecht". The report concludes with an overview of the "Merck" petition, analyzing the key issues of interest for Congress that the petition raises.
Date: January 19, 2018
Creator: Armstrong, Kathryn B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
NLRB Rejects Former Standards Following Appointment of New Members (open access)

NLRB Rejects Former Standards Following Appointment of New Members

This report discusses recent decisions by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after President Trump appointed two new members to the board. The decisions overturn a variety of significant past decisions and are summarized in the report.
Date: January 18, 2018
Creator: Shimabukuro, Jon O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Overview of "Travel Ban" Litigation and Recent Developments (open access)

Overview of "Travel Ban" Litigation and Recent Developments

This report provides an overview of the series of executive actions (the first two taking the form of executive orders, and the third issued as a presidential proclamation) commonly referred to as the "Travel Ban," which restrict the entry of specified categories of non-U.S. nationals (aliens) into the United States, and the litigation related to those executive actions. It also addresses a fourth and more recent executive action--an executive order issued on October 24, 2017--which announced the general resumption of refugee admissions into the United States (subject to certain restrictions) following the expiration of a temporary suspension on such admissions.
Date: January 18, 2018
Creator: Smith, Hillel R. & Harrington, Ben
System: The UNT Digital Library
Should Federal Law Restrict Where a Company May File Bankruptcy? (open access)

Should Federal Law Restrict Where a Company May File Bankruptcy?

This report discusses laws and regulations regarding where a company may file for bankruptcy and a recently proposed bill which would restrict the locations where companies could file for bankruptcy.
Date: January 18, 2018
Creator: Lewis, Kevin M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up H.R. 4170, the Disclosing Foreign Influence Act (open access)

House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up H.R. 4170, the Disclosing Foreign Influence Act

This report discusses the House Judiciary Committee's announcement that they would hold a full committee markup hearing on Wednesday, January 17 for H.R. 4170, the Disclosing Foreign Influence Act (DFIA).
Date: January 16, 2018
Creator: Brown, Cynthia
System: The UNT Digital Library
"Marbury v. Madison Returns"! The Supreme Court Considers the Scope of "Judicial Power" (open access)

"Marbury v. Madison Returns"! The Supreme Court Considers the Scope of "Judicial Power"

This report provides background on "Marbury v. Madison" and the upcoming case of Dalmazzi v. United States" which challenges the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court over the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) and concludes by exploring the potential ramifications of the jurisdictional question "Dalmazzi" poses.
Date: January 16, 2018
Creator: Freeman, Wilson C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Constitutional Challenge to SEC Administrative Law Judges (open access)

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Constitutional Challenge to SEC Administrative Law Judges

This report discusses the case of "Lucia v. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)" which is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court. The case addresses whether administrative law judges(ALJs) within the SEC are "Officers of the United States" (officers) who must be appointed in accordance with the Appointments Clause of Article II of the Constitution.
Date: January 16, 2018
Creator: Killion, Victoria L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Updated: Will the Supreme Court Address State's Power to Require that Retailers Tax Internet Sales? (open access)

Updated: Will the Supreme Court Address State's Power to Require that Retailers Tax Internet Sales?

This report is an update of an earlier report regarding a state's power to require retailers to tax internet sales in the purchasers state of residence. A case was brought by the state of South Dakota against Wayfair.com (South Dakota v. Wayfair) which was accepted to be heard by the Supreme Court on January 12, 2018.
Date: January 16, 2018
Creator: Lunder, Ericka K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Logan Act: An Overview of a Sometimes Forgotten 18th Century Law (open access)

The Logan Act: An Overview of a Sometimes Forgotten 18th Century Law

This report discusses the Logan Act, including a brief explanation of some of the constitutional concerns that surround the law. This report concludes with a discussion of what Congress could do to modify the statute to make it less susceptible to some of these concerns.
Date: January 12, 2018
Creator: Freeman, Wilson C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
District Court Enjoins DACA Phase-Out: Explanation and Takeaways (open access)

District Court Enjoins DACA Phase-Out: Explanation and Takeaways

This report discusses the case of "Regents of University of California v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security" and the district court ruling which limits the DACA phase-out to aliens not yet enrolled in DACA.
Date: January 11, 2018
Creator: Garcia, Michael John
System: The UNT Digital Library
Update: Who's the Boss at the CFPB (open access)

Update: Who's the Boss at the CFPB

This report is an update regarding the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as there were two indivuduals who claimed the right to the job. The Trump Administration appointed acting director, Mick Mulvaney, was confirmed in his position after a lawsuit filed by the previous acting director, Leandra English, was denied by the DC courts.
Date: January 11, 2018
Creator: Brannon, Valerie C. & Cole, Jared P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Attorney General's Memorandum on Federal Marijuana Enforcement: Possible Impacts (open access)

Attorney General's Memorandum on Federal Marijuana Enforcement: Possible Impacts

This report discusses Attorney General Jeff Sessions' memorandum on federal marijuana enforcement policy sent to all U.S. Attorneys that immediately rescinds guidance documents specific to marijuana enforcement. It provides background on the memorandum, the relevant regulations, and implications of withdrawing previous guidance.
Date: January 10, 2018
Creator: Garvey, Todd & Yeh, Brian T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Facing the FAST Act: Abortion and Free Speech (Part 1) (open access)

Facing the FAST Act: Abortion and Free Speech (Part 1)

First part of a report regarding the Supreme Court case: "National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) v. Becerra;" it involves a California state law that requires certain pregnancy centers to distribute particular information to clients which they contend violates their free speech rights. This report provides an overview of the challenged law, followed by an analysis of how the Supreme Court might categorize the speech at issue.
Date: January 10, 2018
Creator: Killion, Victoria L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Facing the FAST Act: Abortion and Free Speech (Part 2) (open access)

Facing the FAST Act: Abortion and Free Speech (Part 2)

Second part of a report regarding the Supreme Court case: "National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) v. Becerra;" it involves a California state law that requires certain pregnancy centers to distribute particular information to clients which they contend violates their free speech rights. This report discusses the potential implications of any Supreme Court decision in "NIFLA" for First Amendment jurisprudence and legislatures seeking to regulate in this area.
Date: January 10, 2018
Creator: Killion, Victoria L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Supreme Court to Hear Voter Roll Case: What are the Implications? (open access)

Supreme Court to Hear Voter Roll Case: What are the Implications?

This report discusses the Supreme Court case of "Husted v. Phillip Randolph Institute," which charges the state of Ohio with violating the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) through their secondary voter registration maintenance program which removes people from the voter rolls due to inactivity. It discusses a brief history of the case before its coming to the Supreme Court and possible implications of the decision.
Date: January 9, 2018
Creator: Whitaker, L. Paige
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congress Considers Reform to Queries of FISA Information as Reauthorization Deadline Approaches (open access)

Congress Considers Reform to Queries of FISA Information as Reauthorization Deadline Approaches

This report is an update of an earlier report regarding Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and its expiration on January 19, 2018, along with proposed reforms to the FISA process.
Date: January 8, 2018
Creator: Liu, Edward C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Smart Toys and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (open access)

Smart Toys and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998

This report discusses "smart toys" for children that use the internet to interact with the user. It outlines various security concerns regarding the collection and use of information about children, and whether these toys are governed by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998.
Date: January 8, 2018
Creator: Stevens, Gina
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA Proposes to Repeal the Clean Power Plan (open access)

EPA Proposes to Repeal the Clean Power Plan

This report is an update of an earlier report regarding the EPA's (Environmental Protection Ageny's) proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, which was intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On Dec. 28, 2017 the EPA issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking input on creating a new replacement regulation for the previous Clean Power Plan.
Date: January 4, 2018
Creator: Tsang, Linda
System: The UNT Digital Library
Import Tariff or Border Tax: What is the Difference and Why Does it Matter? (open access)

Import Tariff or Border Tax: What is the Difference and Why Does it Matter?

This report briefly describes the difference between import tariffs and border taxes and whether the President may unilaterally impose them without congressional approval.
Date: January 30, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library