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Foreign Legal Gazettes Database

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“On December 8 at 2pm ET, the Law Library of Congress will host a webinar to demonstrate how to use our new Foreign Legal Gazettes Database to explore the Law Library’s vast collection of foreign legal gazettes. The Law Library has been collecting foreign legal gazettes since the mid-19th century. We are one of the last libraries to still systematically acquire these publications from as many jurisdictions as possible. Presently, we collect gazettes from about 175 national jurisdictions and approximately 100 subnational jurisdictions.

Our new database allows patrons to search our gazettes by jurisdiction (either via the facets or by clicking on a map), title, content and format. A mobile version has added functionality through sorting capabilities in the columns of the table.

This webinar will be presented by Chief of the Law Library Collection Services Division Kurt Carroll, Supervisor for the Law Library Collection Services Division Betty Lupinacci, Lead Technician for Law Library Legal Processing Workflow Resolution Ken Sigmund, and Law Library Technician Elina Lee. You can register here.”

State Elections 2020

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National Conference of State Legislatures – State Elections 2020 – “Voters in 44 states chose nearly 6,000 state legislators on Nov. 3, although votes are still being counted. Click on the partisan control, statewide ballot measures and election administration tabs below for postelection analysis Postelection Partisan Legislative Control  Map is being updated as results are… Continue Reading

#Protect2020 Rumor vs. Reality

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Chris Krebs, the DHS Director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, was fired by President Trump on November 17, 2020. His agency’s website, “RumorControl – Mis- and Disinformation can undermine public confidence in the electoral process, as well as in our democracy,” is still online but may not continue. “This webpage is for people with… Continue Reading

Why Two Decades of Pandemic Planning Failed

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Medium – The Cicero Institute: “At the commencement of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the United States government flailed and then failed in its attempt to respond to the crisis. Americans couldn’t help but ask why the government didn’t have a plan for this situation, a situation that was not only predictable, but which many scientists… Continue Reading

Federal Regulators Increase Focus on Patient Risks From Electronic Health Records

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Pew -“As part of a federal program to routinely publish data on the capabilities of electronic health record (EHR) systems, the government recently finalized a component that will help collect information from doctors, nurses, and other clinicians about the effects of these technologies on patient safety. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information… Continue Reading

How Do Presidential Transitions Normally Work?

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LifeHacker: “The White House has seen a peaceful transitions of power between outgoing and incoming presidential administrations throughout history, regardless of any volatility gripping the nation. Passing the baton of executive power to a new presidential administration has been a hallmark of this country’s democracy; the White House is where presidential tenants temporarily reside, not… Continue Reading

Mehlman Castagnetti – America Decided – America’s Divided

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PowerPoint – America Decided – America’s Divided – MAIN TAKEAWAYS “Voters wanted more competent but also more moderate leadership:  Trump lost for failing to manage COVID competently & excessive chaos / division  • House Democrats lost where voters feared overly-aggressive Progressivism Our nation remains narrowly & deeply divided: • Senate & House nearly tied, key… Continue Reading

Bills, Resolutions, Nominations,and Treaties: Characteristics and Examples of Use

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CRS report via LC: Bills, Resolutions, Nominations,and Treaties: Characteristics and Examples of Use – November 16, 2020. “In each chamber of Congress, four forms of legislative measures may be introduced (or, in the case of resolutions, submitted) and acted on: bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and resolutions of one house (“simple resolutions”). In addition, under… Continue Reading

Visualizing How Voting has Changed Between the 2016 and 2020 U.S. Presidential Elections

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Center for Data Innovation: “Reuters has created a series of visualizations that show how county-level votes (where at least 95 percent of expected votes have been counted) have changed between the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the 2020 U.S. presidential election. One visualization shows that counties with large numbers of Hispanic voters, which have historically… Continue Reading

Presidential Transition Act: Provisions and Funding

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CRS report via LC – Presidential Transition Act: Provisions and Funding, November 13, 2020: “The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (PTA) authorizes funding for the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide suitable office space, staff compensation, and other services associated with the presidential transition process (3 U.S.C. §102 note). The act has since been amended… Continue Reading

The machinery of American democracy is working

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The New York Times – “This article is part of Democracy by Mail, a series following the absentee-ballot process from printing to mailing to counting: “…But for the most part, mail-in balloting — and balloting at the polls, too — went smoothly and revealed two competing truths: The machinery of American democracy is working, its… Continue Reading

Vacancies, acting officials and the waning role of the U.S. Senate

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Brookings – “With the recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and ensuing speculation over whether Republican senators will confirm the president’s nominee before the 2020 election, the role of the U.S. Senate has taken center stage. Such an imbroglio leaves the impression that the Senate plays a pivotal role in the appointments process, and… Continue Reading