Midnight Rulemaking, and More from CRS
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has declined to make publicly available online include these.
Midnight Rulemaking, July 18, 2012
An Analysis of the Distribution of Wealth Across Households, 1989-2010, July 17, 2012
Oil Sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline: Background and Selected Environmental Issues, July 16, 2012
Defense Surplus Equipment Disposal: Background Information, July 18, 2012
Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S. Policy, July 18, 2012
The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy, July 17, 2012
Timor-Leste: Political Dynamics, Development, and International Involvement, July 3, 2012
FY2013 Defense Authorization and Appropriations, and More from CRS
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following.
Defense: FY2013 Authorization and Appropriations, July 13, 2012
The Unified Command Plan and Combatant Commands: Background and Issues for Congress, July 17, 2012
LIBOR: Frequently Asked Questions, July 16, 2012
The 2001 and 2003 Bush Tax Cuts and Deficit Reduction, July 16, 2012
Guatemala: Political, Security, and Socio-Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations, June 26, 2012
China and Internet Freedom, and More from CRS
Among the latest Congressional Research Service reports that have not been made readily available to the public are the following.
China, Internet Freedom, and U.S. Policy, July 13, 2012
Department of Defense Implementation of the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative: Implications for Federal Information Technology Reform Management, July 12, 2012
Confirmation of U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations in Presidential Election Years, July 12, 2012
Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies, July 12, 2012
Hydraulic Fracturing and Safe Drinking Water Act Issues, July 12, 2012
An Analysis of Charitable Giving and Donor Advised Funds, July 11, 2012
Armed Conflict in Syria, and More from CRS
Newly updated reports of the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following.
Armed Conflict in Syria: U.S. and International Response, July 12, 2012
Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians, July 12, 2012
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers, July 11, 2012
Burma’s Political Prisoners and U.S. Sanctions, July 5, 2012
Article V Conventions to Amend the Constitution, and More from CRS
The Congressional Research Service has just produced a second report concerning “Article V Conventions” by which state legislatures can try to initiate amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
“The Article V Convention for proposing amendments was the subject of considerable debate and forethought at the Constitutional Convention [in 1787],” the new report says. “The founders clearly intended it as a balance to proposal of amendments by Congress, providing the people, through their state legislatures, with an alternative means to consider amendments, particularly if Congress was unable or unwilling to act on its own. Since it is one of the few provisions of the Constitution that has never been implemented, however, the Article V Convention presents many questions for Congress.”
See The Article V Convention for Proposing Constitutional Amendments: Historical Perspectives for Congress, July 10, 2012. The earlier Article V report on Contemporary Issues for Congress, noted yesterday, is here.
Other new and updated CRS reports that have not been made readily available to the public include the following.
Abortion: Judicial History and Legislative Response, July 9, 2012
Higher Education Tax Benefits: Brief Overview and Budgetary Effects, July 10, 2012
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, July 10, 2012
Yesterday, Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ) and Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives that make non-confidential CRS reports publicly available on a congressional website. If the resolution is approved, the public would have authorized access to most CRS reports and would no longer have to rely on unauthorized access. See “New Bill Would Open CRS Reports to Public” by Daniel Schuman of the Sunlight Foundation.
A Convention to Amend the Constitution, and More from CRS
Article V of the U.S. Constitution prescribes two ways by which the Constitution can be amended: Either Congress may propose amendments for ratification by the states, or else a majority of state legislatures may ask Congress to call a convention for considering amendments.
A new report by the Congressional Research Service examines the possibility of a convention to amend the Constitution. That option has never been used in practice but, CRS says, it could become newly appealing under present circumstances.
“Various contemporary developments could contribute to a renewal of congressional interest in the Article V Convention alternative,” the new CRS report said. “The emergence of Internet and social media-driven public policy and issue campaigns has combined with renewed interest in specific constitutional amendments, and the Article V Convention procedure in general, as a means of bypassing perceived policy deadlock at the federal level.”
However, “The Constitution provides only a brief description of the Article V Convention process, leaving many details that would need to be considered if a convention were to become a serious prospect.”
A copy of the new CRS report was obtained by Secrecy News. See The Article V Convention to Propose Constitutional Amendments: Contemporary Issues for Congress, July 9, 2012.
Other new and updated CRS reports that have not been approved by Congress for broad public access include the following.
Health Care: Constitutional Rights and Legislative Powers, July 9, 2012
U.S. Postal Service: Background and Analysis of H.R. 2309 and S.1789 in the 112th Congress, July 9, 2012
Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues, July 6, 2012
Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication of Classified Defense Information, June 26, 2012
Trafficking in Persons, and More from CRS
Newly updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been authorized by Congress for broad public distribution include the following.
Trafficking in Persons: International Dimensions and Foreign Policy Issues for Congress, July 6, 2012
Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve: Current Policy and Conditions, July 6, 2012
The Definition of “Supervisor” Under the National Labor Relations Act, July 5, 2012
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: FY2013 Appropriations, July 5, 2012
An Overview of the Affordable Care Act, and More from CRS
Updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has not made readily available to the public include the following.
ACA: A Brief Overview of the Law, Implementation, and Legal Challenges, July 3, 2012
Individual Mandate and Related Information Requirements under ACA, July 2, 2012
Foreign Holdings of Federal Debt, July 3, 2012
Mexico’s Free Trade Agreements, July 3, 2012
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, July 2, 2012
Hydropower, High Speed Rail, Haiti, and More from CRS
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that has Congress has not authorized CRS to release to the public include the following.
Hydropower: Federal and Nonfederal Investment, June 26, 2012
The Development of High Speed Rail in the United States: Issues and Recent Events, June 28, 2012
Haiti Under President Martelly: Current Conditions and Congressional Concerns, June 6, 2012
Federal Laws Relating to Cybersecurity: Discussion of Proposed Revisions, June 29, 2012
U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: Recent Trends and FY2013 Appropriations, June 26, 2012
China’s Economic Conditions, June 26, 2012
Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress, June 29, 2012
Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress, June 27, 2012
How FDA Approves Drugs
The procedures by which the Food and Drug Administration approves drugs and medical devices for use in the United States were addressed in a cluster of reports from the Congressional Research Service.
How FDA Approves Drugs and Regulates Their Safety and Effectiveness, June 25, 2012
FDA’s Authority to Ensure That Drugs Prescribed to Children Are Safe and Effective, June 25, 2012
FDA Regulation of Medical Devices, June 25, 2012
The FDA Medical Device User Fee Program, June 25, 2012
Rio + 20, and More from CRS
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service obtained by Secrecy News include the following.
Rio+20: The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, June 2012, June 18, 2012
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): A Legal Analysis, June 7, 2012 (published June 20)
Job Creation in the Manufacturing Revival, June 20, 2012
Double-Dip Recession: Previous Experience and Current Prospect, June 19, 2012
Morocco: Current Issues, June 20, 2012
History of Executive Privilege, and More from CRS
A 2008 report by the Congressional Research Service discussed the history of claims of executive privilege, including various unresolved questions surrounding its use. The Obama Administration asserted executive privilege today in connection with records sought by a House Committee. See Presidential Claims of Executive Privilege: History, Law, Practice and Recent Developments, updated August 21, 2008.
Newly updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has not made publicly available include the following.
U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress, June 19, 2012
Free Trade Agreements: Impact on U.S. Trade and Implications for U.S. Trade Policy, June 18, 2012
Madagascar’s Political Crisis, June 18, 2012
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests, June 15, 2012
U.S. Trade Deficit and the Impact of Changing Oil Prices, June 18, 2012
Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and “DREAM Act” Legislation, June 19, 2012
Federal Taxation of Aliens Working in the United States, May 18, 2012