The U.S. Oil Refining Industry: Background in Changing Markets and Fuel Policies (open access)

The U.S. Oil Refining Industry: Background in Changing Markets and Fuel Policies

This report begins by looking at the current production capacity of the oil refineries operating in the United States, and the sources and changes in crude oil supply. It then examines the changing characteristics of petroleum and petroleum product markets and identifies the effects of these changes on the refining industry. The report concludes with discussion of the policy and regulatory factors that are likely to affect the structure and performance of the industry during the next decade.
Date: October 29, 2010
Creator: Andrews, Anthony & Pirog, Robert
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Raising the Tax Rates on High-Income Taxpayers: Pros and Cons (open access)

Raising the Tax Rates on High-Income Taxpayers: Pros and Cons

This report focuses on the debate over whether the top two marginal tax rates should be permitted to rise back to their 2001 levels, once the temporary tax provisions known as the "Bush tax cuts" expire on December 31, 2010. The report discusses arguments for and against raising the tax rates.
Date: November 5, 2010
Creator: Noto, Nonna A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Executive Departments During the 110th Congress, 2007-2008 (open access)

Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Executive Departments During the 110th Congress, 2007-2008

This report explains the process for filling positions to which the President makes appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate (PAS positions). It also identifies, for the 110th Congress, all nominations to executive-level full-time positions in the 15 departments. Profiles of the departments provide information regarding their full-time PAS positions and related appointment activity during the 110th Congress.
Date: November 19, 2010
Creator: Hogue, Henry B.; Carey, Maeve P. & Bearden, Maureen
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct: A Brief History of Its Evolution and Jurisdiction (open access)

House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct: A Brief History of Its Evolution and Jurisdiction

This report briefly outlines the background of ethics enforcement in the House of Representatives, including the creation of both the Select Committee on Ethics and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. The report also focuses on various jurisdictional and procedural changes that the committee has experienced since 1967 and discusses the committee's current jurisdiction and procedures.
Date: August 2, 2010
Creator: Straus, Jacob R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Impeachment: An Overview of Constitutional Provisions, Procedure, and Practice (open access)

Impeachment: An Overview of Constitutional Provisions, Procedure, and Practice

On June 19, 2009, the House voted to impeach U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The impeachment process provides a mechanism for removal of the President, Vice President, and other federal civil officers found to have engaged in "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." This report explains the impeachment process, including its history and the process itself.
Date: April 8, 2010
Creator: Bazan, Elizabeth B. & Henning, Anna C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Impeachment: An Overview of Constitutional Provisions, Procedure, and Practice (open access)

Impeachment: An Overview of Constitutional Provisions, Procedure, and Practice

On June 19, 2009, the House voted to impeach U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The impeachment process provides a mechanism for removal of the President, Vice President, and other federal civil officers found to have engaged in "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." This report explains the impeachment process, including its history and the process itself.
Date: April 26, 2010
Creator: Bazan, Elizabeth B. & Henning, Anna C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies (open access)

Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies

This list of about 150 congressional liaison offices is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies. In each case, the information was supplied by the agency itself and is current as of the date of publication. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions.
Date: September 3, 2010
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies (open access)

Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies

This list of about 150 congressional liaison offices is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies. In each case, the information was supplied by the agency itself and is current as of the date of publication. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions.
Date: September 24, 2010
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Committee Types and Roles (open access)

Committee Types and Roles

This report briefly describes the structure of the congressional committee system and the types of congressional committees, as well as congressional subcommittees.
Date: November 10, 2010
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies (open access)

Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies

This list of about 150 congressional liaison offices is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies. In each case, the information was supplied by the agency itself and is current as of the date of publication. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions.
Date: August 19, 2010
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais (open access)

Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais

This report describes the House of Representatives officers who sit on the three tiers of the House chamber's central dais.
Date: November 10, 2010
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Internships, Fellowships, and Other Work Experience Opportunities in the Federal Government (open access)

Internships, Fellowships, and Other Work Experience Opportunities in the Federal Government

This report describes Internet resources on major internship, fellowship, and work experience programs within the federal government. It is intended as a selective guide for students of all levels: high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate. This report will be updated annually.
Date: July 27, 2010
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E. & Ludwigson, Elli K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and "DREAM Act" Legislation (open access)

Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and "DREAM Act" Legislation

Supporters of comprehensive immigration reform have urged the President and Congress to pursue reform legislation. While legislative action on comprehensive reform does not appear likely during the remainder of the 111th Congress, there may be an effort to enact a measure, commonly referred to as the "DREAM Act," to enable certain unauthorized alien students to legalize their status. This report discusses the DREAM act and related issues.
Date: October 27, 2010
Creator: Bruno, Andorra
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and "DREAM Act" Legislation (open access)

Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and "DREAM Act" Legislation

Supporters of comprehensive immigration reform have urged the President and Congress to pursue reform legislation. While legislative action on comprehensive reform does not appear likely during the remainder of the 111th Congress, there may be an effort to enact a measure, commonly referred to as the "DREAM Act," to enable certain unauthorized alien students to legalize their status. Multiple bills have been introduced in recent Congresses to address the unauthorized student population. This report discusses the DREAM Act, the topic of unauthorized alien students in general, and other related legislation.
Date: September 22, 2010
Creator: Bruno, Andorra
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tariff Modifications: Miscellaneous Tariff Bills (open access)

Tariff Modifications: Miscellaneous Tariff Bills

This report discusses the current process by which duty suspension bills and other provisions are introduced, reviewed by several government agencies and committee staff, made available for public comment, and finally included in omnibus miscellaneous trade and technical corrections bills (MTBs) legislation reported out by the committees of jurisdiction.
Date: October 20, 2010
Creator: Jones, Vivian C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Nuclear-Powered Surface Ships: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress (open access)

Navy Nuclear-Powered Surface Ships: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress

This report discusses the possibility of increasing the number of Navy surface ships powered by nuclear energy, including the Navy's planned CG(X) cruiser. The report explores a 2006 Navy study that discusses budget considerations, the cost of a nuclear-powered ship compared to a ship powered by crude oil, and other suggestions relating to this proposed expansion. The overall report has a specific emphasis on the planned CG(X) cruiser, and how the implementation of this cruiser may be delayed by current budget proposals.
Date: September 29, 2010
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Veterans and Homelessness (open access)

Veterans and Homelessness

This report discusses several issues relating to homelessness among veterans, which has become more prominent since the beginning of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Date: November 4, 2010
Creator: Perl, Libby
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nuclear Energy Policy (open access)

Nuclear Energy Policy

This report discusses nuclear energy issues currently facing Congress, such as federal incentives for new commercial reactors, radioactive waste management policy, research and development priorities, power plant safety and regulation, nuclear weapons proliferation, and security against terrorist attacks.
Date: October 21, 2010
Creator: Holt, Mark
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. International Trade: Trends and Forecasts (open access)

U.S. International Trade: Trends and Forecasts

This report discusses the U.S. trade deficit in light of the 2008 global financial crisis, with emphasis on international trade and U.S. trade policy, most recent developments in trade of goods and service, trade forecasts for the future, and how issues such as the U.S. trade deficit and international trade, particularly with China, are commonly perceived.
Date: October 15, 2010
Creator: Nanto, Dick K. & Donnelly, J. Michael
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Casework in a Congressional Office: Background, Rules, Laws, and Resources (open access)

Casework in a Congressional Office: Background, Rules, Laws, and Resources

This report, which will be updated as warranted, discusses House and Senate rules and guidelines, laws, and regulations affecting congressional casework, as well as the role of caseworkers. It also provides sample outlines and document templates for implementing and managing congressional casework.
Date: November 4, 2010
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management (open access)

Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management

This report, which will be updated as warranted, describes statutory requirements for allocating congressional nominations to service academies. It also identifies the qualifications that must be met by potential nominees, as established by statute and each academy. Finally, sample documents that could be used by congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are included.
Date: October 7, 2010
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Veterans Affairs: Benefits for Service-Connected Disabilities (open access)

Veterans Affairs: Benefits for Service-Connected Disabilities

This report describes disability compensation, which is a benefit Congress provides to American veterans and their dependents through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Disability compensation is a monthly cash benefit program for veterans currently impaired from past service-connected activities.
Date: November 1, 2010
Creator: Weimer, Douglas Reid
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Legal Framework (open access)

Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Legal Framework

The development of offshore oil, gas, and other mineral resources in the United States is impacted by a number of interrelated legal regimes, including international, federal, and state laws. International law provides a framework for establishing national ownership or control of offshore areas, and domestic federal law mirrors and supplements these standards. This report discusses these issues.
Date: September 20, 2010
Creator: Vann, Adam
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Roles and Duties of a Member of Congress (open access)

Roles and Duties of a Member of Congress

This report briefly describes the roles, expectations, and duties of a Member of Congress, namely representation, legislation, and constituent service and education, as well as political and electorcal activities.
Date: November 4, 2010
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library