This report serves as a primer on class action litigation in the federal courts. It begins by discussing the purpose of class actions, as well as the risks class actions may pose to defendants, class members, and society at large. The report also discusses the prerequisites that a class action must satisfy before a court may "certify" it--that is, before a federal court may allow a case to proceed as a class action. An Appendix to the report also contains a reference chart that graphically illustrates those prerequisites for class certification. The report then discusses Rule 23's restrictions on the parties' ability to settle a certified class action. The report concludes by identifying ways in which Congress could modify the legal framework governing class actions if it were so inclined, with a particular focus on a bill currently pending in the 115th Congress that would effectuate a variety of changes to the class action system.

This report provides answers to frequently asked questions concerning abortions that are performed in the second trimester of a woman's pregnancy because Congress and many state legislatures are considering legislation that would limit or ban abortions in midpregnancy. This report does not discuss constitutional or legal questions nor does it discusses differing state regulations regarding such abortions.

This report provides information about congressional votes regarding their salaries from 1990-2018.

This report discusses Congressional salaries and action related to them in Congress from fiscal year 2010 through pay projections for fiscal year 2019. It also includes a historical table of salary levels for Members of Congress from 1992 to 2018.

This report provides data on current Latin American and Caribbean leaders and the date of their last election as well as the next scheduled election.

News release documenting Texas monthly sales tax revenue for April 2018 with a general summary and table of local sales tax allocations.

Annual financial report of the Coastal Water Authority documenting income, expenditures, and other relevant financial information for fiscal year 2017.