Congressional Research Service Reports - 99 Matching Results

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Barriers Along the U.S. Borders: Key Authorities and Requirements

Description: This report discusses key statutory authorities and requirements governing the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) construction of barriers along the U.S. borders. It also includes appendixes listing federal laws that have been waived by DHS in furtherance of border construction projects.
Date: April 8, 2015
Creator: Garcia, Michael J.
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Why Certain Trade Agreements Are Approved as Congressional-Executive Agreements Rather Than as Treaties

Description: U.S. trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), World Trade Organization agreements, and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) have been approved by majority vote of each house rather than by two-thirds vote of the Senate - that is, they have been treated as congressional-executive agreements rather than as treaties. The congressional-executive agreement has been the vehicle for implementing Congress's long-standing policy of seeking trade benefits for the United… more
Date: September 8, 2010
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Description: This report discusses a new development bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), launched by China that is posing a challenge to U.S. policymakers.
Date: April 8, 2015
Creator: Weiss, Martin A.
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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European Security and Islamist Terrorism

Description: This report briefly discusses the current security climate in Europe, as well as policy considerations for the U.S. Over the last two years, European governments and the European Union (EU) have grown increasingly alarmed by the rise of the Islamic State terrorist organization, its ability to attract European citizens to join the fighting in the Syria-Iraq region, and its use of violent extremist propaganda to inspire others.
Date: June 8, 2017
Creator: Archick, Kristin; Belkin, Paul & Mix, Derek E.
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Palestinian Factions

Description: Palestinian factionalism continues to dominate the political landscape in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The manner in which competing nationalist, socialist, Islamist, and democratic-minded Palestinians vie to control the direction of any future Palestinian state may influence United States objectives in the region. These include ending antiIsraeli violence, supporting Palestinian reforms, and bolstering Palestinian democratization and civil society. Some factions are designated foreign terrori… more
Date: June 8, 2005
Creator: Pina, Aaron D.
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The 2016 G-20 Summit

Description: This report discusses the 2016 G-20 summit where the leaders of the Group of Twenty (G-20) countries met in Hangzhou, China.
Date: September 8, 2016
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Terrorist Material Support: An Overview of 18 U.S.C. §2339A and §2339B

Description: This report discusses the two federal material support statutes that have been at the heart of the Justice Department's terrorist prosecution efforts. One provision outlaws providing material support for the commission of certain designated offenses that might be committed by terrorists (18 U.S.C. 2339A); the other outlaws providing material support to certain designated terrorist organizations (18 U.S.C. 2339B). They share a common definition of the term "material support," some aspects of whi… more
Date: December 8, 2016
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cultural Property: International Conventions and United States Legislation

Description: This report describes relevant treaties, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1483, current U.S. law, and proposed legislation, including H.Con.Res. 113, the Iraq Cultural Protection Act (H.R. 2009 and H.R. 3497), and the Emergency Protection for Iraqi Cultural Antiquities Act of 2004 (S. 1291 and S. 671, the latter of which has passed the Senate as an engrossed amendment to H.R. 1047, the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004).
Date: April 8, 2004
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K. & Garcia, Michael John
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Election in Italy

Description: This report discusses the results of the Italian Parliamentary election on March 4, 2018 which ended with no party gaining a majority making a coalition necessary. Populist parties gained a significant number of seats and implications of their rise to power for Italy, the EU, NATO, and the U.S. are discussed.
Date: March 8, 2018
Creator: Belkin, Paul
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Dispute Settlement in the World Trade Organization (WTO): An Overview

Description: This report describes the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), which is the World Trade Organization's (WTO) means of resolving disputes arising under WTO agreements. The report includes criticisms of certain flaws in the DSU, as well as WTO Members' suggestions for improvement. The report also describes the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which represents the United States in WTO disputes. Also discussed are pieces of legisl… more
Date: April 8, 2010
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Organization of American States: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: The Organization of American States (OAS) concentrates on four broad objectives: democracy promotion, human rights protection, economic and social development, and regional security cooperation. This report covers the background of the OAS and discusses the importance of U.S. participation in this organization in order to exert authority and shape outcomes in the Western Hemisphere.
Date: April 8, 2013
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Rohingya Crises in Bangladesh and Burma

Description: This report discusses the Rohingya refugee crisis in Burma and Bangladesh and proposed legislation in Congress regarding restrictions on Burmese military officials, trade, and humanitarian assistance. A brief background on the Rohingya people group, repressive policies by the Burmese government, current conditions in Burma and Bangladesh, risks of radicalization, human rights violations, and attempts by the U.N. and others to resolve the conflict are included in the report.
Date: November 8, 2017
Creator: Martin, Michael F.; Margesson, Rhoda & Vaughn, Bruce
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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American Agriculture and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement

Description: This report identifies four considerations about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that are particularly relevant for U.S. food and agriculture. It includes a partial snapshot of some of the higher-profile improvements in market access for agricultural products in the agreement, a summary of selected provisions beyond market access that are of interest to food and agriculture, a brief overview of industry reactions to the agreement, and a review of what would need to occur for the a… more
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: McMinimy, Mark A.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): In Brief

Description: This report briefly summarizes some of the key provisions listed in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that are seen as controversial. The TPP is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) among 12 Asia-Pacific countries, which the Obama Administration casts as comprehensive, with economic and strategic significance for the United States. These controversial issues include select market access (such as on dairy and other agricultural products, autos, and textiles and apparel) as well as the level o… more
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F.; McMinimy, Mark A. & Williams, Brock R.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Perspectives on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques

Description: This report briefly summarizes what constituted Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (EITs), provides background on their adoption and use, and discusses differing views on three questions that underpin discussion and debate of this topic.
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: Miles, Anne D.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Countries: Comparative Trade and Economic Analysis

Description: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a proposed regional free trade agreement (FTA) currently under negotiation between Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam. The negotiating partners have expressed an interest in allowing this proposed “living agreement” to cover new trade topics and to include new members that are willing to adopt the proposed agreement's high standards. This report provides a comparative economic analysis of the TP… more
Date: February 8, 2012
Creator: Williams, Brock R.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Efforts to Address the Threat of Bioterrorism: Selected Issues and Options for Congress

Description: This report focuses on four areas under congressional consideration deemed critical to the success of the biodefense enterprise: strategic planning; risk assessment; surveillance; and the development, procurement, and distribution of medical countermeasures. This report also discusses the effectiveness and sufficiency of programs implementing these aspects of the federal biodefense efforts, outside analysts' suggestions for improving the government's efforts, and current issues under congressi… more
Date: February 8, 2011
Creator: Gottron, Frank & Shea, Dana A.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Dispute Settlement in the World Trade Organization (WTO): An Overview

Description: This report describes the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), which is the World Trade Organization's (WTO) means of resolving disputes arising under WTO agreements. The report includes criticisms of certain flaws in the DSU, as well as WTO Members' suggestions for improvement. The report also describes the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which represents the United States in WTO disputes.
Date: September 8, 2009
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Countries of the World and International Organizations: Sources of Information

Description: This report provides a selection of materials for locating information on foreign countries and international organizations. In the general information section, it presents sources giving an overview of politics, economics, and recent history. A specialized information section cites sources on human rights, immigration, international organizations, military strengths, terrorism, and other topics. Included are titles of some of the most frequently consulted bibliographic sources that are availab… more
Date: August 8, 2006
Creator: Torreon, Barbara Salazar
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Chemical Weapons Convention: Issues for Congress

Description: The CWC bans the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons by members signatories. It also requires the destruction of all chemical weapons stockpiles and production facilities. Neither the United States nor Russia will be able to meet the original CWC’s deadlines for destruction of their CW stockpiles, and have been granted extensions to at least 2012. The Convention provides the most extensive and intrusive verification regime of any arms control treaty, extending its … more
Date: July 8, 2003
Creator: Bowman, Steven R.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Countries of the World and International Organizations: Sources of Information

Description: This report provides a selection of materials for locating information on foreign countries and international organizations. In the general information section, it presents sources giving an overview of politics, economics, and recent history. A specialized information section cites sources on human rights, immigration, international organizations, military strengths, terrorism, and other topics. Included are titles of some of the most frequently consulted bibliographic sources that are availab… more
Date: August 8, 2006
Creator: Torreon, Barbara Salazar
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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