Welcome to the Monday, July 7, Brew.
By: Briana Ryan
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- After 2023 veto, Arizona Legislature sends drug cartel terrorism designation law directly to voters as ballot measure
- Vice President J.D. Vance casts his fifth tie-breaking vote to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- Did you know that the U.S. Supreme Court is the only court established by the U.S. Constitution?
After 2023 veto, Arizona Legislature sends drug cartel terrorism designation law directly to voters as a ballot measure
On Nov. 3, 2026, Arizona voters will decide on a ballot measure that would define drug cartels as terrorist organizations and require the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to “do everything within its authority to address the threat posed by drug cartels.”
State House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R), who supports the measure, said it “is a necessary step in our fight to defend Arizona communities, uphold the rule of law, and protect innocent lives.”
State Sen. Catherine Miranda (D), who opposes the measure, said it is “weaponizing the ballot to push the Right’s anti-immigrant agenda.”
The measure resembles an executive order that President Donald Trump (R) issued on Jan. 20, designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Arizona has a divided government in which Democrats control the governorship while Republicans control both legislative chambers. On Feb. 26, the Arizona House of Representatives passed House Concurrent Resolution 2055 (HCR 2055)—the bill to put the measure on the ballot—32-27. On June 27, the Arizona Senate passed it 16-13. All votes supporting the measure came from Republican legislators, while all votes opposing it came from Democratic legislators.
If this situation sounds familiar, that’s because in 2023, the Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature passed House Bill 2675 (HB 2675), a similar bill that would have designated drug cartels as terrorist organizations. However, HB 2675 was one of the 143 bills Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed in 2023.
In her veto message, Hobbs said, “Labeling drug cartels as terrorist organizations to deploy state resources is not a real solution and is not a state function.” Concerning the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, she said, “It is not a law enforcement agency. It’s clear there is a lack of understanding of what AZDOHS is charged to do for the people of Arizona.”
The difference between the two bills is that if Hobbs had signed HB 2675, it would have become law without voter approval. Hobbs cannot veto HCR 2055, and voters must decide whether HCR 2055 becomes law.
If voters approve the measure, Arizona would be the first state to designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations through a ballot measure. However, Texas and Florida have taken similar steps.
In September 2022, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed an executive order designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations. In February 2024, the Florida Legislature approved a bill that requested U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The bill did not create a binding law in the state but sent a memorial statement to Blinken.
In 2023, a group of 21 state Attorneys General submitted a letter to President Joe Biden (D) and Blinken requesting that they “take decisive action against the Mexican drug cartels by designating” them as foreign terrorist organizations.
Click here to learn more about the measure designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and here to view all the measures that Arizona voters will decide on Nov. 3, 2026.
Vice President J.D. Vance casts his fifth tie-breaking vote to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
On July 1, Vice President J.D. Vance cast his fifth tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the budget reconciliation bill.
Under Article I, Section 3, Clause 4 of the U.S. Constitution, the vice president also serves as the president of the Senate. In this capacity, he or she may cast the deciding vote when there is a tie in the Senate.
Compared to the last two vice presidents, Vance has cast more tie-breaking votes at this point in the administration than Mike Pence (R), and fewer than Kamala Harris (D). Pence had cast three tie-breaking votes while Republicans had a 52-46 majority in the Senate. Harris had cast six tie-breaking votes while the Senate was evenly divided.
So far, Vance has cast the third-fewest total number of tie-breaking votes among vice presidents who have served since 1981.
By the end of her four-year tenure, Harris cast the most tie-breaking votes of any vice president in U.S. history at 33. John C. Calhoun cast the second-most tie-breaking votes, 31, from 1825 to 1832. John Adams cast the third-most tie-breaking votes, 29, from 1789 to 1797.
As of July 1, 38 of the 50 vice presidents have cast a total of 306 tie-breaking votes. John Adams cast the first-ever tie-breaking vote on July 18, 1789.
Click here to view more information on Vance’s tie-breaking votes.
Did you know that the U.S. Supreme Court is the only court established by the U.S. Constitution?
Article III of the U.S. Constitution establishes the U.S. Supreme Court and leaves the creation of any lower courts to the U.S. Congress. Consequently, Congress established the 16 circuit courts, 94 district courts, and other judicial bodies.
Section 1 of Article III states: “The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.”
Click here to learn more about the federal court system, including the U.S. Supreme Court.