Category: Federal
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Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball change race rating of Georgia’s special U.S. Senate election
On Oct. 13, The Cook Political Report changed its race rating for the special U.S. Senate election in Georgia from “Lean Republican” to “Toss-up”. On Oct. 8, Sabato’s Crystal Ball changed its rating from “Likely Republican” to “Leans Republican”. Polling in recent weeks has shown Raphael Warnock (D) leading incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R) and Rep. Doug Collins (R),…
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Senate Judiciary Committee to vote on Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination Oct. 22
The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on whether to advance Judge Amy Coney Barrett‘s nomination for consideration before the full Senate. Twenty-two senators currently sit on that committee, including 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats. President Donald Trump (R) nominated Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court on Sept. 29 to fill the vacancy caused by the death…
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Nine presidential candidates are each on more than 10 state ballots
Thirty-six presidential candidates are appearing on at least one ballot across the 50 states and Washington, D.C., on November 3, 2020. This is more than the 31 presidential candidates who also appeared on at least one ballot in 2016. Three candidates are appearing on the ballot in all 51 jurisdictions: • Former Vice President Joe…
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U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Appointments Clause challenge to administrative patent judges
On October 13, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear United States v. Arthrex Inc., a case involving the president’s appointment and removal power and whether administrative patent judges (APJs) are principal officers of the United States who must be appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. After losing a patent dispute…
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SCOTUS allows Trump administration to end 2020 census count
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order on Oct. 13 which allows the Trump administration to end the 2020 census count. SCOTUS stayed an order from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which had directed the Trump administration to continue to gather data through the end of October. The Trump administration had argued that…
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Learn more about the arguments in the debate over lockdown/stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic
Discussions about policy responses to the coronavirus are happening at a fast pace. As part of our ongoing coverage Documenting America’s Path to Recovery, Ballotpedia has published a series of articles capturing the regular themes in support of and opposition to these policy responses. Here’s how it works. First, we identify a topic area, (such as…
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Who runs elections in the United States?
Election administration in the U.S. is largely decentralized. Administrators at the state and local level are responsible for running elections, from maintaining voter registration records to counting ballots. As a result, election laws and procedures vary widely among states and localities. Each state has an agency that manages elections. Responsibilities of the state-level office often include…
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Supreme Court announces it will use teleconferencing to hear oral arguments for November, December sittings
The Supreme Court of the United States announced on October 9, 2020, that it will hear oral arguments via teleconference for its November and December sittings. Currently, eight arguments are set for November, and ten are set for December. The court previously heard oral arguments via teleconference in May and October of this year after…
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U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear case challenging Chevron deference
On October 5, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge against Chevron deference brought by the Children’s Hospital Association of Texas. The association had asked whether courts should give Chevron deference to agency legal interpretations that are different from previous agency interpretations. Chevron deference is an approach to judicial review that compels federal courts to yield to a federal agency’s…
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Ballotpedia study shows that 29 state APAs require administrative agencies to conduct a cost-benefit analysis before implementing rules
A Ballotpedia study of all 50 state constitutions and administrative procedure acts (APAs) showed that 29 state APAs require administrative agencies to conduct a cost-benefit analysis before implementing rules, as of September 2020. Cost-benefit analysis is an aspect of agency dynamics, one of the five pillars key to understanding the main areas of debate about…