Congressional Authority Over the Federal Courts (open access)

Congressional Authority Over the Federal Courts

This report examines Congress' legislative authority with respect to the Judicial Branch. While Congress has broad power to regulate the structure, administration and jurisdiction of the courts, its powers are limited by precepts of due process, equal protection and separation of powers. This report addresses the constitutional foundation of the federal courts, and the explicit and general authorities of Congress to regulate the courts. It then addresses Congress’ ability to limit the jurisdiction of the courts over particular issues, sometimes referred to as “court-stripping.” The report then analyzes Congress’ authority to regulate the availability of certain judicial processes and remedies for litigants. Congressional power to legislate regarding specific judicial decisions is also discussed.
Date: May 16, 2005
Creator: Bazan, Elizabeth B.; Killian, Johnny & Thomas, Kenneth R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bioterrorism Countermeasure Development: Issues in Patents and Homeland Security (open access)

Bioterrorism Countermeasure Development: Issues in Patents and Homeland Security

In the 109th Congress, several bills have been introduced, including S. 3, the Protecting America in the War on Terror Act, and S. 975, the Project Bioshield II Act, that would generate additional incentives for the creation of new technologies to counteract potential biological threats. These bills propose reforms to current policies and practices associated with intellectual property, particularly patents, and the marketing of pharmaceuticals and related products. This report includes patents and innovation, the role of patents in pharmaceutical/biomedical R&D, legislative developments and proposals for change.
Date: May 6, 2005
Creator: Schacht, Wendy H. & Thomas, John R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Counter-Terrorism Training: Issues for Congressional Oversight (open access)

Federal Counter-Terrorism Training: Issues for Congressional Oversight

None
Date: May 16, 2005
Creator: Reese, Shawn
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Quasi Government: Hybrid Organizations with Both Government and Private Sector Legal Characteristics (open access)

The Quasi Government: Hybrid Organizations with Both Government and Private Sector Legal Characteristics

None
Date: May 18, 2005
Creator: Moe, Ronald C. & Kosar, Kevin R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Export Administration Act: Evolution, Provisions, and Debate (open access)

The Export Administration Act: Evolution, Provisions, and Debate

This paper discusses the Export Administration Act in terms of its evolution in the 20th century, its major features including the types of controls authorized by the act, the Commerce Control List and export licensing procedures, and issues concerning the maintenance of export controls under IEEPA. It then highlights several controlled commodities that have been featured prominently in export control discussions. Finally, it discusses competing business and national security perspectives concerning several of more contentious themes in the export control debate: the controllability of technology, the effectiveness of multilateral control regimes, the organization of the export control system, and the impact of export controls on the U.S. economy and business.
Date: May 5, 2005
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Retirement: Major Legislative Issues (open access)

Military Retirement: Major Legislative Issues

The military retirement system includes benefits for retirement after an active or reserve military career, disability retirement, and survivor benefits for eligible survivors of deceased retirees.
Date: May 9, 2005
Creator: Goldich, Robert L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Combat Aircraft Sales to South Asia: Potential Implications (open access)

Combat Aircraft Sales to South Asia: Potential Implications

In March 2005, the Bush Administration announced a willingness to resume sales of F-16 combat aircraft to Pakistan. Potential sales to India are also being considered. These potential sales have political, military, and defense industrial base implications for the United States and the South Asia region. H.R. 1553 and S. 12 would impose nonproliferation conditions on these sales.
Date: May 19, 2005
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher; Grimmett, Richard F. & Kronstadt, K. Alan
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nuclear Weapons: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program (open access)

Nuclear Weapons: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program

Most current U.S. nuclear warheads were built in the 1980s, and are being retained longer than was planned. Yet warheads deteriorate with age and must be maintained. The current approach monitors them for signs of aging. When problems are found, a Life Extension Program (LEP) rebuilds components. While some can be made to new specifications, a nuclear test moratorium bars that approach for critical components that would require a nuclear test. Instead, LEP rebuilds them as closely as possible to original specifications. Using this approach, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy have certified stockpile safety and reliability for the past nine years without nuclear testing
Date: May 24, 2005
Creator: Medalia, Jonathan
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intelligence Issues for Congress (open access)

Intelligence Issues for Congress

This report discusses intelligence issues for Congress including coordination among intelligence agencies, terrorism, and Iraq. Updated May 24, 2005.
Date: May 24, 2005
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Retirement: Major Legislative Issues (open access)

Military Retirement: Major Legislative Issues

None
Date: May 25, 2005
Creator: Goldich, Robert L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Campaign Finance (open access)

Campaign Finance

Concerns over financing federal elections have become a seemingly perennial aspect of our political system, long centered on the enduring issues of high campaign costs and reliance on interest groups for needed campaign funds. This report discusses campaign finance practices, enduring issues and today’s paramount issues. In addition it presents the Legislative Action in the 108th and 109th Congress, as well as the Congressional efforts to close perceived loopholes in Federal Election Law.
Date: May 19, 2005
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Campaign Finance (open access)

Campaign Finance

Concerns over financing federal elections have become a seemingly perennial aspect of our political system, long centered on the enduring issues of high campaign costs and reliance on interest groups for needed campaign funds. This report discusses campaign finance practices, enduring issues and today’s paramount issues. In addition it presents the Legislative Action in the 108th and 109th Congress, as well as the Congressional efforts to close perceived loopholes in Federal Election Law.
Date: May 25, 2005
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Space Programs: Civilian, Military, and Commercial (open access)

U.S. Space Programs: Civilian, Military, and Commercial

None
Date: May 24, 2005
Creator: Smith, Marcia S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Russia (open access)

Russia

None
Date: May 5, 2005
Creator: Goldman, Stuart D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
India-U.S. Relations (open access)

India-U.S. Relations

This report briefs the context of India - U.S relations and also discusses its bilateral issues
Date: May 18, 2005
Creator: Kronstadt, K. Alan
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Medical Care Services: Questions and Answers (open access)

Military Medical Care Services: Questions and Answers

None
Date: May 5, 2005
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Libya (open access)

Libya

None
Date: May 2, 2005
Creator: Mark, Clyde R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Social Security Reform (open access)

Social Security Reform

None
Date: May 24, 2005
Creator: Nuschler, Dawn
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cuba:  U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances (open access)

Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances

Restrictions on travel to Cuba have been a key and often contentious component in U.S. efforts to isolate the communist government of Fidel Castro for much of the past 40 years. Under the Bush Administration, enforcement of U.S. restrictions on Cuba travel has increased, and restrictions on travel and on private remittances to Cuba have been tightened. Several legislative initiatives have been introduced in the 109th Congress that would ease restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba. These bills would, among other things, lift overall restrictions on travel to Cuba, lift the overall embargo, and ease restrictions on exporting agricultural commodities to Cuba.
Date: May 10, 2005
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
High Performance Computers and Export Control Policy: Issues for Congress (open access)

High Performance Computers and Export Control Policy: Issues for Congress

This report addresses the issues for congress related to high performance computers and export control policy.
Date: May 5, 2005
Creator: McLoughlin, Glenn J. & Fergusson, Ian F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iraq:  U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-Saddam Governance (open access)

Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-Saddam Governance

None
Date: May 16, 2005
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Human Cloning (open access)

Human Cloning

This report provides information about the Human Cloning where a human embryo produced via cloning involves the process called somatic cell nuclear transfer. The nuclear of the egg is removed and replaced with a mature body cell.
Date: May 20, 2005
Creator: Johnson, Judith A. & Williams, Erin D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Internet Privacy: Overview and Pending Legislation (open access)

Internet Privacy: Overview and Pending Legislation

None
Date: May 16, 2005
Creator: Smith, Marcia S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iraq:  U.S. Military Operations (open access)

Iraq: U.S. Military Operations

None
Date: May 18, 2005
Creator: Bowman, Steven R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library