Category: Federal
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Overview of federalism implications in decisions from the 2024-25 Supreme Court term
What’s the story? During the 2024 term, which ended on June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued several decisions that affected the balance of federalism, altering how authority is shared between states and the federal government. The rulings focused less on policy outcomes and more on procedural rules, addressing disputes over the proper use…
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Rep. Barry Moore becomes the ninth representative to announce a U.S. Senate bid for 2026
Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) announced on Aug. 12, 2025, that he will run for the U.S. Senate in Alabama in 2026 rather than another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. As of Aug. 12, 2025, independent race forecasters The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have rated the general election for the seat as…
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Democrats and Republicans make up over two-thirds of registered voters in the U.S.
Thirty states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia offer public information on the registered voters within these states and territories. Voter registration is the process by which a voter can become eligible to vote in a state or territory. Forty-nine states allow it, with the exception of North Dakota. Among the information…
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Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for August 2025
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from July 2, 2025, to August 1, 2025. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 47 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy percentage of 5.4,…
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President Trump has appointed five federal judges through August 1 of the first year of his second term
President Donald Trump (R) has appointed and the Senate has confirmed five Article III federal judges through August 1, 2025. This is the fewest Article III judicial appointments through this point in a president's second term since Bill Clinton (D). The average number of federal judges appointed by previous presidents at this point in their…
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Trump executive order creates new federal employee classification for political appointees
On July 17, President Donald Trump (R) issued an executive order to expand the number of politically appointed federal employees. The “Creating Schedule G in the Excepted Service” executive order created a new job classification for federal workers, called Schedule G. Employees hired under Schedule G would be considered political appointees, serving without the legal…
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President Donald Trump (R) issued 15 executive orders in July, the highest monthly total since April
President Donald Trump (R) issued 15 executive orders in July, bringing his total to 181. To view the titles and text of each order he issued in July, click here. This is the highest monthly total since April. In June, Trump issued nine orders and in May, Trump issued 14 orders. Trump issued 46 executive…
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Rep. Nancy Mace becomes the eighth Republican representative to announce a gubernatorial bid for 2026
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) announced on Aug. 4, 2025, that she will run for governor of South Carolina in 2026 rather than another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Gov. Henry McMaster (R) is term-limited. As of July 29, 2025, independent race forecasters The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have rated the…
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Tracker: Article III federal judicial nominations by president by days in office since 2001
There were 48 vacancies out of 890 authorized federal judicial posts as of July 31, 2025. Forty-seven of those were for Article III judgeships. This report is limited to Article III courts, where appointees are confirmed to lifetime judgeships. Since June 15, 2025: By July 31, 2025—193 days in office—President Donald Trump (R) had nominated…
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President Donald Trump (R) ends June with 44% approval, down one point from last month
At the end of July, approval polling averages showed President Donald Trump (R) at 44% approval. Fifty-three percent of voters disapproved of his performance. This is the lowest approval rating he’s received during his presidency. He last received this approval rating in June. The highest approval rating Trump has received is 54%, last seen on…