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Can States Uphold Paris Accord?, & More from CRS

07.07.17 | 1 min read | Text by Steven Aftergood

Some American cities and states are committing to pursue the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change despite President Trump’s repudiation of that policy.

But a new brief from the Congressional Research Service said the US Constitution may limit the ability of states to formally adopt such a course. In particular, the Constitution appears to bar states from making legally binding agreements with foreign nations. And the Supreme Court has often stated that the federal government preempts states in matters of foreign affairs.

See Constitutional Limits on States’ Efforts to “Uphold” the Paris Agreement, CRS Legal Sidebar, June 27, 2017.

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Climate Change: Frequently Asked Questions about the 2015 Paris Agreement, updated June 28, 2017

Help Wanted: Supreme Court Holds Vacancies Act Prohibits Nominees from Serving as Acting Officers, CRS Legal Sidebar, June 28, 2017

Comparison of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), July 3, 2017

Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: An Economic Analysis, updated June 29, 2017

U.S. Direct Investment Abroad: Trends and Current Issues, updated June 29, 2017

The Federal Budget: Overview and Issues for FY2018 and Beyond, June 30, 2017

No Bivens for You?, CRS Legal Sidebar, July 5, 2017

Qatar: Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy, updated June 29, 2017

The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy, updated June 28, 2017

The Coast Guard’s Role in Safeguarding Maritime Transportation: Selected Issues, updated June 28, 2017

The Legal and Practical Effects of Private Immigration Legislation and Recent Policy Changes, CRS Legal Sidebar, June 30, 2017

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