Category: Federal

  • 71 new members of Congress elected in 2020 election

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    Seventy-one new members were elected to the 117th U.S. Congress on Nov. 3, 2020, or in subsequent runoff elections: nine new senators and 62 new representatives. This includes Rep.-elect Luke Letlow (R-La.), who died from complications related to COVID-19 on Dec. 29. The last race was called on Feb. 8, when the New York Board…

  • Checks and Balances: REINS Act reintroduced in 117th Congress

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    The Checks and Balances Letter delivers news and information from Ballotpedia’s Administrative State Project, including pivotal actions at the federal and state levels related to the separation of powers, due process and the rule of law. This edition:  In this month’s edition of Checks and Balances, we review executive orders issued by President Joe Biden…

  • Federal Register weekly update: Biden administration publishes first significant final rule

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    Image of the south facade of the White House.

    The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity that includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s regulatory activity. From February 8 through February 12—the fourth week of the Biden administration—the Federal Register grew by 896 pages for a year-to-date total of…

  • Six national party committees raised a combined $2.65 billion in 2019 and 2020

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    Six committees associated with the Democratic and Republican parties raised a combined $2.65 billion in 2019 and 2020. Democrats and Republicans each have three major national committees: an overall national party committee, one dedicated to U.S. Senate elections, and one dedicated to U.S. House elections. The six committees were each among the top 15 spenders…

  • Transition Tracker: February 10, 2021: Garland’s confirmation hearing scheduled to begin Feb. 22

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    President Joe Biden (D) and his team have been preparing for the transition between presidential administrations since the election, including selecting senior White House staff and appointees to top government positions. In 2020, there were 1,472 government positions subject to presidential appointment: 1,118 positions required Senate confirmation and 354 did not. The new administration is…

  • Supreme Court issues rulings involving the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act

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    The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) took action on a number of cases on February 3, issuing opinions in three cases, granting review in one case, and removing two cases from its February 2021 argument calendar. SCOTUS issued opinions in Salinas v. United States Railroad Retirement Board, Federal Republic of Germany v. Philipp, and Republic of…

  • Sen. Richard Shelby (Ala.) will not seek re-election in 2022

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    Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) announced on February 8, 2021, that he will not seek re-election in 2022. Shelby was first elected to the Senate in 1986. He switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 1994.  Shelby is the fourth senator to announce he won’t seek re-election in 2022, joining Republicans Richard Burr (N.C.),…

  • Anthony Brindisi (D) concedes in New York’s 22nd Congressional District election

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    Incumbent Anthony Brindisi (D) conceded the election to represent New York’s 22nd Congressional District on Feb. 8, 2021, to Claudia Tenney (R). His concession follows several months of legal challenges from Brindisi and Tenney over the validity of certain absentee and affidavit ballots cast in the Nov. 3, 2020, election. Brindisi announced his concession hours…

  • Rep. Ronald Wright dies from complications related to COVID-19

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    Rep. Ronald Wright (R-Texas) passed away from complications related to coronavirus on Feb. 7. He was diagnosed with the disease on Jan. 21. Wright was first elected to Texas’ 6th Congressional District in 2018, serving until his death in 2021.  Wright ran for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 3, winning with…

  • Federal Register weekly update: Biden administration publishes 23 final rules

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    The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity that includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s regulatory activity. From Feb. 1 through Feb. 5—the third week of the Biden administration—the Federal Register grew by 922 pages for a year-to-date total of…