Independent Bids for President (open access)

Independent Bids for President

This report briefly discusses legal and practical obstacles for candidates pursuing an independent run for the presidency after participating in the nomination process of a major political party--including competing in state primaries and caucuses for delegates to the party's national nominating convention.
Date: January 6, 2016
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Judicial Redress Act 101 - What to Know as Senate Contemplates Passing New Privacy Law (open access)

Judicial Redress Act 101 - What to Know as Senate Contemplates Passing New Privacy Law

This report briefly discusses the Judicial Redress Act (JRA), a bill that would amend the Privacy Act of 1974 and could have major implications on transatlantic data flows and the global economy.
Date: January 21, 2016
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
President Obama Announces Executive Actions to "Reduce Gun Violence" (open access)

President Obama Announces Executive Actions to "Reduce Gun Violence"

This report briefly discusses executive actions aimed at, among other things, "keep[ing] guns out of the wrong hands through background checks" and "mak[ing] our communities safer from gun violence." These actions include, for example, directing specified executive agencies to conduct or sponsor research into gun safety technology and finalizing a rule requiring firearms shippers to notify law enforcement of any firearms lost or stolen in transit.
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Free-Riders or Compelled Riders? Key Takeaways as Court Considers Major Union Dues Case (open access)

Free-Riders or Compelled Riders? Key Takeaways as Court Considers Major Union Dues Case

This report briefly outlines the ongoing debate regarding Union dues. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2015, 7.2 million employees in the public sector belong to a union, with more than 700,000 additional government employees being represented by a union without belonging to the union.
Date: January 1, 2016
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Criminal Justice Reform: One Judge's View (open access)

Criminal Justice Reform: One Judge's View

This report briefly provides highlights from an article written by Judge Alex Kozinski of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in which he recommended 26 changes in the U.S. criminal justice system, federal and state.
Date: January 1, 2016
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): What Actions Do Not Require Congressional Approval? (open access)

Renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): What Actions Do Not Require Congressional Approval?

This report briefly addresses questions about the extent to which the executive branch may unilaterally renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and implement amendments to the agreement in domestic law without further action from Congress.
Date: January 26, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
[Not Over 'Til It's Over: TransCanada Denial of Keystone XL Permit] (open access)

[Not Over 'Til It's Over: TransCanada Denial of Keystone XL Permit]

This report discusses the TransCanada announcement that they planned to sue the United States under NAFTA agreements for rejecting the permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline. It also describes a suit in U.S. District Court regarding its view that the executive branch and the President don't have power over cross-border petroleum trade since Congress has passed general legislation regarding such matters as well as legislation approving the Keystone XL Pipeline which was vetoed by the President.
Date: January 19, 2016
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Climate Change Litigation Update: "Children's Crusade" Case Against the United States Goes Forward (open access)

Climate Change Litigation Update: "Children's Crusade" Case Against the United States Goes Forward

This report discusses the case of "Juliana v. United States" which was brought by a group of 21 individuals all under the age of 20 organized through an Oregon nonprofit called Our Children's Trust. The plaintiffs seek to compel the federal government to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through appeals to the Constitution and common law.
Date: January 1, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Rescission of the Wet-Foot/Dry-Foot Policy as to Aliens from Cuba Raises Legal Questions (open access)

Rescission of the Wet-Foot/Dry-Foot Policy as to Aliens from Cuba Raises Legal Questions

This report provides answers to frequently asked questions about the legal implications of the Obama Administration's changes in policy as to Cuban citizens and nationals with the announcement of the rescission of the wet-foot/dry-foot immigration policy.
Date: January 18, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Alien Registration Requirements: Obama Administration Removes Certain Regulations, but Underlying Statutory Authority Remains (open access)

Alien Registration Requirements: Obama Administration Removes Certain Regulations, but Underlying Statutory Authority Remains

This report briefly surveys the legal authorities that underlay the implementation of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), as well as the authorities that remain available to the Executive notwithstanding the recent rule change by President Obama on December 23, 2016 which removed the regulations for the system.
Date: January 5, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Affordable Care Act Executive Order: Legal Considerations (open access)

Affordable Care Act Executive Order: Legal Considerations

This report discusses President Trump's executive order (EO) regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and answers questions regarding the authority and discretion agencies currently have to implement the ACA, and the procedures that may be required in the exercise of those authorities. Also addressed are ways the policy enunciated in the EO may translate into action by the Trump Administration in the context of pending lawsuits challenging the ACA.
Date: January 24, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
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
Keystone Revival: Executive Memorandum Paves Way for Possible Approval of Keystone XL Pipeline (open access)

Keystone Revival: Executive Memorandum Paves Way for Possible Approval of Keystone XL Pipeline

This report describes President Trump's executive memorandum regarding the Keystone XL Pipeline and discuses its directives and implications for the future of the pipeline project.
Date: January 26, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
What Can the New President Do About the Effective Dates of Pending Regulations? (open access)

What Can the New President Do About the Effective Dates of Pending Regulations?

This report discusses legal questions and relevant cases related to a new presidents power to freeze implementation of pending regulation temporarily while it is reviewed by the new administration for compatibility with his policy goals.
Date: January 18, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
President Trump Freezes Federal Civil Service Hiring (open access)

President Trump Freezes Federal Civil Service Hiring

This report discusses the federal civil service hiring freeze for the executive branch which was instituted by President Trump on Jan. 23, 2017 and presidential powers to institute such freezes and exceptions available to the hiring freeze.
Date: January 26, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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