Category «Congress»

The Political Question Doctrine: Justiciability and the Separation of Powers

CRS – The Political Question Doctrine: Justiciability and the Separation of Powers. Jared P. Cole, Legislative Attorney. December 23, 2014. “Article III of the Constitution restricts the jurisdiction of federal courts to deciding actual “Cases” and “Controversies.” The Supreme Court has articulated several “justiciability” doctrines emanating from Article III that restrict when federal courts will adjudicate disputes. One justiciability concept is the political …

Subjects: Congress, Courts, Legal Research, Legislation

Human-Induced Earthquakes from Deep-Well Injection: A Brief Overview

CRS – Human-Induced Earthquakes from Deep-Well Injection: A Brief Overview. Peter Folger, Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy; Mary Tiemann, Specialist in Environmental Policy. December 22, 2014. “The development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has created new demand for wastewater disposal wells that inject waste fluids into deep geologic strata. An increasing …

Subjects: Congress, Energy, Environmental Law, Government Documents, Legal Research

Congressional Oversight Manual

CRS – Congressional Oversight Manual. Alissa M. Dolan, Legislative Attorney; Elaine Halchin, Specialist in American National Government; Todd Garvey, Legislative Attorney; Walter J. Oleszek, Senior Specialist in American National Government; Wendy Ginsberg, Analyst in American National Government. December 19, 2014. “The Congressional Research Service (CRS) developed the Congressional Oversight Manual over 30 years ago, following a three-day December 1978 Workshop on Congressional Oversight and Investigations. The workshop was organized …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Legislation

CBO Report on HR 30 Save Workers Act of 2015

As introduced in the House of Representatives on January 6, 2015 – “H.R. 30 would change how penalties are imposed under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on employers that do not offer insurance (or offer insurance that does not meet certain criteria) and that have at least one full-time employee receiving a subsidy through a …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents, Health Care, Legislation, Medicine

Federal Reinsurance for Terrorism Risk: An Update

“The federal program that provides insurance against the risk of terrorism expired at the end of 2014. Without such a program, taxpayers will face less financial risk, but some businesses will lose or drop their terrorism coverage and economic activity might slow if a large terrorist attack occurs. Last year, the Congress considered legislation to …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents

New on LLRX – Tell the FCC to Require Read-Aloud for Future Kindles and Other E Ink Devices

Via LLRX.com – Tell the FCC to Require Read-Aloud for Future Kindles and Other E Ink Devices – David H. Rothman calls attention to a pivotal upcoming event for readers everywhere: On Jan. 28, 2015 if the Federal Communications Commission makes the right choice and sticks to its past inclinations, a regulatory waiver will expire. The waiver has …

Subjects: Congress, E-Commerce, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation, Libraries

Senators Seek Answers on Use of Cell Phone Surveillance Devices

EPIC: “Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) have asked Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson several questions about the government’s use of cell site simulators or “Stingray” devices to track cell phones. According to the letter, the Senators previously asked FBI Director James Comey …

Subjects: Congress, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research, Privacy

Foreign Intelligence Gathering Laws

Library of Congress – “This report contains information on laws regulating the collection of intelligence in the European Union, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden. The report details how EU Members States control activities of their intelligence agencies and what restrictions are imposed on information collection. All EU Member States follow EU legislation …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, EU Data Protection, Government Documents, Legal Research, Privacy

The Enforcers & the Great Recession

Totten, Mark, The Enforcers & the Great Recession (December 7, 2014). Cardozo Law Review, Forthcoming. Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2535109 “No one played a more vital role responding to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression than a small band of state attorneys general (AGs). Yet this story has never been told nor …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

SEC Issues Annual Staff Reports on Credit Rating Agencies

[December 23, 2014] “the Securities and Exchange Commission issued its annual staff report on the findings of examinations of credit rating agencies registered as nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) and submitted a separate report on NRSROs to Congress. “These reports provide the most current and comprehensive picture of the credit rating industry,” said SEC Chair …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents, Securities Law

Cybersecurity Issues and Challenges: In Brief

CRS – Cybersecurity Issues and Challenges: In Brief. Eric A. Fischer, Senior Specialist in Science and Technology. December 16, 2014. “The information and communications technology (ICT) industry has evolved greatly over the last half century. The technology is ubiquitous and increasingly integral to almost every facet of modern society. ICT devices and components are generally interdependent, and disruption of one may affect …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Government Documents, Internet

Legal by Design: A New Paradigm for Handling Complexity in Banking Regulation and Elsewhere in Law

Lippe, Paul and Katz, Daniel Martin and Jackson, Daniel H, Legal by Design: A New Paradigm for Handling Complexity in Banking Regulation and Elsewhere in Law (December 16, 2014). Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2539315 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2539315 “On August 5, 2014, the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation criticized shortcomings in the Resolution …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System, Legal Research, Legislation

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