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Thursday, March 28, 2019

From 538: Trump’s Approval Rating Is Incredibly Steady. Is That Weird Or The New Normal?

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For out look at polling, and approval ratings. - Click here for the article . So what explains this lack of movement in recent presidents’ ...

For our look at the coalitional nature of the two parties.

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Both from 538 - The Five Wings Of The Republican Party . The Trumpists Often join Trump on immigration policy and in attacking institutio...

From the Texas Tribune: Advocates say the timing is right for independent oversight of Texas prisons

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More on checks and balances, executive agencies, interest groups, and bill making. - Click here for the article . After a recent slew of da...

From Vox: Maryland just became the sixth state to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour

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More on policy diffusion and interest groups, among other topics. - Click here for the article . Maryland is now the third state to phase i...

CNN: Remembering Desert Storm, 20 years later

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Here's video we watched in GOVT 2305 today.

From Lawfare: Document: Attorney General Barr Letter on Mueller Report

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This is all we know right now about the results of the Mueller investigation. - Click here for it .

AC in Texas Prisons

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All from the Texas Tribune - Texas officials say it would cost $1 billion to cool prisons – but they’ve grossly overestimated AC costs befor...
Tuesday, March 26, 2019

For reference ....

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From the NCSL: REDISTRICTING AND THE SUPREME COURT: THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CASES

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A nice summary of past cases. - Click here for it .

From the NYT: Justices Display Divisions in New Cases on Voting Maps Warped by Politics

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The court again considered whether partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional. The cases are Rucho v. Common Cause , and Lamone v. Benise...

From Congress.gov: H.R.1 - For the People Act of 2019

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- Click here for full info on the bill .

From Vox: House Democrats officially unveil their first bill in the majority: a sweeping anti-corruption proposal

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HR1 - For The People Act - was the first bill introduced in the House by the Democratic majority. - Click here for the article . Here are th...
Monday, March 25, 2019

From the Texas Tribune: Medical cannabis expansion has high support in the Texas Legislature. But Dan Patrick might stand in the way.

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For our look at criminal law, the lieutenant governor, and interest groups in Texas. - Click here for the article . . . . a broad coalition ...

From the Texas Tribune: Justice Department reaches agreement with Harris County to ensure polling place accessibility for disabled voters

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For our look at federalism, elections, and civil rights. - Click here for the article . Harris County on Tuesday agreed to make its voting ...

From WalletHub: 2019’s Most & Least Federally Dependent States

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More on fiscal federalism. - Click here for the article . One big point of difference among state economies is the tax burden of the averag...

From Governing: Momentum for Fixing Marijuana's Banking Problem Is Higher Than Ever

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The national government is catching up with the states. - Click here for the article . New Jersey will likely be the next to legalize recre...

From Governing: Articles on Fiscal Federalism.

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- Inside Trump's Budget: 6 Things State and Local Governments Should Know . - President Trump's 2020 budget proposes major cuts for...

From Governing: Scott Walker's New Gig: Urging States to Call a Constitutional Convention

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An Article V Convention . - Click here for the article . A national group says its campaign to convene an unprecedented U.S. constitutional...
Friday, March 22, 2019

From the Fort Worth Start-Telegram: Conservatives worried about Dems in Texas decide to leave Cornyn alone

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For 2305 students and this week's written assignment. hat's going on here?  - Click here for the article . Leaders of a deep-pockete...
Thursday, March 21, 2019

Sullivan v NYT

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From the Pew Research Center: Bipartisan support for some gun proposals, stark partisan divisions on many others

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For our look at public opinion and partisanship. - Click here for the article .

Vox: It took one mass shooting for New Zealand to ban assault weapons

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A demonstration of what makes the American governing system different. Keep in mind that more people live in the Houston metropolitan area t...

Some recenty items from the Texas Tribune.

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- State regulators: No 'immediate health concerns' from Deer Park terminal fire . - Medical cannabis expansion has high support in...

LBJ's television

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From the Texas Tribune: How the Texas Democratic and Republican party platforms compare

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For my 2306 students as we look at state parties. - Click here for it .

ANDREI IANCU v. ERIK BRUNETTI

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More on the issue below: - ScotusBlog: Iancu v. Brunetti . - FUCT . - Wikipedia: Lapham Act . - Lexology: I ancu v. Brunetti: FUCT Trademark...

From The Fashion Law: Supreme Court to Review Goverment Ban on Fuct & Other "Scandalous" Trademarks

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Can the Patent Office trademark words that are scandalous and malicious? - Click here for the article . When Erik Brunetti first attempted ...
Friday, March 8, 2019

From thr Texas Tribune: Former U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall dies

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For our look at the transition from the Democratic to Republican Party in Texas. - Click here for the article .   Hall was one of the last ...

Some recent polls from the Texas Tribune

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- Analysis: In step with Texas voters on some things, and out of step on some others . - Immigration and border security remain the top wo...
Thursday, March 7, 2019

From the NCSL: Marijuana Overview

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More on policy diffusion. - Click here for article . States that Have Legalized Recreational Marijuana for Adults

From The Hill: What's socialism anyway?

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There seems little consensus on this, and the polls reflect this confusion. - Click here for the article . Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez may kn...

From Slate: The U.S. Constitution Is Impossible to Amend

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A mistake by the founders? - Click here for the article . The problem starts with Article 5 of the Constitution. It provides that an amendm...

More on the National Vote Compact

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- www.nationalpopularvote.com - The Movement To Skip The Electoral College Is About To Pass A Major Milestone . -  National Popular Vote In...

National Popular Vote Explained

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From Pitchfork: Chance, Killer Mike, Meek Mill File Legal Brief in Supreme Court Case on Rap Lyrics

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For our look at - Free Speech (limits) - Criminal Law - Amicus Briefs - Interest Groups - Click here for the article . The Supreme Court is...

The True Threat Doctrine

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- Wikipedia . Jump to search A true threat is a threatening communication that can be prosecuted under the law. It is distinct from a...

Knox v. Pennsylvania - Amicus Briefs

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- Amicus Curiae from Killer Mike, among others . - Amicus Curiae from the Cato Institute . - Appeal IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA - W...
Monday, March 4, 2019

From Bloomberg: Hold the Revolution: Roberts Keeps Joining High Court Liberals

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Chief Justices tend to focus on the integrity of the court as an institution. - Click here for the article . Chief Justice John Roberts is ...

From the Texas Tribune: Will Texas decriminalize marijuana this year? There is growing support.

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Texas may join the national trend. - Click here for the article . . . . According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, roughly 379,000 ...

From the Texas Tribune: GOP senator, oil industry clash over proposed eminent domain reforms

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Oil and Gas versus agriculture, among other groups ... - Click here for the article . For years now, Texas Sen. Lois Kolkhorst has aimed t...

From the TSHA: WHITE PRIMARY

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Some background on one of the two principle means used in Texas to limit minority voting. - Click here for the article .  Following Reconstr...

From TribTalk: Texas should encourage the right to vote — and protect voters from intimidation

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An opinion piece - one at odds with Texas history. The author heads an advocacy group, The League of Women Voters of Texas . - Click here fo...

From the Texas Tribune: Broad Texas school safety bill proposes threat assessment teams, expanded emergency training

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More from the legislature. - Click here for the article . Texas’ Senate education chairman on Monday unveiled a sweeping school safety meas...

More on the Texas Open Meetings Act

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This is the subject of the post below - texasopenmeetings.com . - Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas . - TML: TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS AC...

From the Texas Tribune: Texas' highest criminal court strikes down provision of Open Meetings Act as "unconstitutionally vague"

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The more vague the law, the more arbitrary the prosecution of it - Click here for the article . In a major blow to the state’s government ...

A few items covered last week

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- Railroad commissioners voice doubts that Permian Basin flaring is more prevalent than reported . - After Texas' second Supreme Court...

Will Texas be more competitive in 2020?

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Is seems so. -  Analysis: Where control of the next Texas Legislature will be decided . - Analysis: Political climate changes in Texas c...

Americans Are Poorly Informed About Basic Constitutional Provisions

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More on the irrational public. - Click here for the article . What does the First Amendment say? Nearly half of those surveyed (48 percent)...

From Wikipedia: National Coalition for Men v. Selective Service System

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A likely future Supreme Court case. - Click here for the article . In the United States, men between the ages of 18 and 25 and residing in t...