Category «Legislation»

Independent Counsels, Special Prosecutors, Special Counsels, and the Role of Congress

CRS – Independent Counsels, Special Prosecutors, Special Counsels, and the Role of Congress. Jack Maskell – Legislative Attorney, June 20, 2013 This report provides information on the procedure for the appointment of an “independent counsel,” a “special prosecutor,” or a “special counsel” to investigate and prosecute potential or possible violations of federal criminal law by …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

UK Parliament to launch in-depth inquiry into US surveillance programmes

News release: “Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee will conduct an “in-depth inquiry” into the US surveillance programmes, including the bugging of EU premises and other spying allegations, and present its results by the end of this year, says a resolution passed by the full House on Thursday. Parliament’s President and political group leaders formally confirmed the …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Courts, Free Speech, Government Documents, Legislation, Patriot Act, Privacy

European Parliament has adopted new EU legislation to fight cyber-crime

“The Directive on attacks against information systems builds on rules that have been in force since 2005 (Council Framework Decision 2005/222/JHA). While retaining a number of current provisions, it introduces new offences, such as the use of tools to commit large-scale attacks, new aggravating circumstances and higher criminal sanctions that are necessary to fight more …

Subjects: Cybercrime, EU Data Protection, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation, Privacy

ALA Resources Guide on the Affordable Care Act

“The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress and then signed into law by the President on March 23, 2010.  On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court rendered a final decision to uphold the health care law… Role of Libraries – ALA Policy B.8.11, The Role of Libraries in Providing E-Government and Emergency Services (Old …

Subjects: Economy, Education, Government Documents, Health Care, Knowledge Management, Legislation, Libraries, Marketing

CRS – Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication of Classified Defense Information

Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication of Classified Defense Information – Jennifer K. Elsea, Legislative Attorney, June 24, 2013 “The publication of classified information related to National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance activity is the latest in a series of leaks to the press that has riveted Congress’s attention. Press reports describing classified U.S. operations abroad have …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation, Patriot Act

CRS – The Commodity Futures Trading Commission: Background and Current Issues

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission: Background and Current Issues – Rena S. Miller – Analyst in Financial Economics, June 24, 2013 “The CFTC witnessed a major expansion of its role in overseeing derivatives markets following passage of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010. This act br ought previously unregulated over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives, called swaps, under the …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Government Documents, Legislation

Revised Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule Goes Into Effect Today

News release: “The Federal Trade Commission’s revised Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule took effect today, giving parents greater control over the online collection of their children’s personal information. The revised COPPA rule culminates more than two years of review by the agency to modernize the rule. The revised COPPA rule addresses changes in the …

Subjects: Internet, Legislation, Privacy

Banking Agencies Issue Host State Loan-to-Deposit Ratios

News release: “The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today issued the host state loan-to-deposit ratios that the banking agencies will use to determine compliance with section 109 of the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994. …

Subjects: Economy, Government Documents, Legislation

Commentary – Calling It ‘Metadata’ Doesn’t Make Surveillance Less Intrusive

By Geoff Nunberg:  “Metadata” was bound to break out sooner or later, riding the wave of “data” in all its forms and combinations. “Big data” and “data mining” are the reigning tech buzzwords these days, and university faculties are scrambling to meet the surge in demand for courses in the hot new field of data …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Free Speech, Knowledge Management, Legislation, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

ICBA Report: Ending-Too-Big-to-Fail

“The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) [on May 22, 2013] released End Too-Big-To-Fail, a report that examines the impact of too-big-to-fail financial institutions on the U.S. economy and why too-big-to-fail must be brought to an end now. In the report, ICBA also highlights the Terminating Bailouts for Taxpayer Fairness Act of 2013 (TBTF Act, …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Government Documents, Legislation

Council on Foreign Relations Backgrounder – U.S. Domestic Surveillance

“Two NSA surveillance programs have been exposed in press reports in June 2013. First, a Guardian report disclosed a classified FISC court order instructing Verizon, one of the largest U.S. telecommunications firms, to hand over phone records of millions of Americans to the NSA. Amid criticism from civil rights groups, the Obama administration defended the …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation, Patriot Act, Privacy

CBO Releases Two Analyses of the Senate’s Immigration Legislation

“The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) would revise laws governing immigration and the enforcement of those laws, allowing for a significant increase in the number of noncitizens who could lawfully enter the United States on both a permanent and temporary basis. Additionally, the bill would create a process for many …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents, Legislation