The Congressional Research Service has prepared reports on various aspects of the U.S. Supreme Court nominations process, including these:
Speed of Presidential and Senate Actions on Supreme Court Nominations, 1900-2010, August 6, 2010
Supreme Court Appointment Process: Roles of the President, Judiciary Committee, and Senate, February 19, 2010
Supreme Court Nominations Not Confirmed, 1789-August 2010, August 20, 2010
Supreme Court Nominations: Senate Floor Procedure and Practice, 1789-2011, March 11, 2011
Supreme Court Appointment Process: President’s Selection of a Nominee, October 19, 2015
Supreme Court Appointment Process: Consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee, October 19, 2015
Supreme Court Appointment Process: Senate Debate and Confirmation Vote, October 19, 2015
Questioning Supreme Court Nominees About Their Views on Legal or Constitutional Issues: A Recurring Issue, June 23, 2010
Supreme Court Justices: Demographic Characteristics, Professional Experience, and Legal Education, 1789-2010, April 9, 2010
Datasets and variables that do not align with Administration priorities, or might reflect poorly on Administration policy impacts, seem to be especially in the cross-hairs.
One month of a government shutdown is in the books, but how many more months will (or can) it go? Congress is paralyzed, but there are a few spasms of activity around healthcare and the prospects of a continuing resolution to punt this fight out until January or later.
At a period where the federal government is undergoing significant changes in how it hires, buys, collects and organizes data, and delivers, deeper exploration of trust in these facets as worthwhile.
Moving postsecondary education data collection to the states is the best way to ensure that the U.S. Department of Education can meet its legislative mandates in an era of constrained federal resources.