Congressional Research Service Reports - 178 Matching Results
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- Constitution of the United States; Recent Writings: Bibliography-in-Brief
- This bibliography contains recent publications discussing the history, development, and application of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
- Discussion Of Constitutional Issues Which May Be Raised By Proposed Lobbying Reform Legislation
- This report consists of discussion of constitutional issues.
- The Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (“Byrd Amendment”)
- This report provides information about The Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act.CDSOA commonly known as Byrd amendment is a U.S law providing for the distribution of import duties collected as a result of antidumping.
- Education Vouchers: Constitutional Issues and Cases
- This report details the constitutional standards that currently apply to indirect school aid programs and summarizes all of the pertinent Supreme Court decisions, with particular attention to Zelman.
- Administrative Appeals in the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service
- This report describes Congressional interest in the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) appeal process due to rumors that it affects the BLM's capacity to handle various resources. Moreover, the report defines what an administrative appeal is, and describes the process required to undertake one. The report also lists the various types of administrative appeals.
- China-U.S. Trade Issues
- This report mainly focuses on China-U.S. Trade Issues. China-U.S. ties have expanded substantially over the past several years. China overtook Japan to become the third-largest U.S.Export market and overtook Canada to become the Largest source of U.S imports.
- Administrative Appeals in the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service
- This report describes Congressional interest in the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) appeal process due to rumors that it affects the BLM's capacity to handle various resources. Moreover, the report defines what an administrative appeal is, and describes the process required to undertake one. The report also lists the various types of administrative appeals.
- The Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (“Byrd Amendment”)
- This report provides information about The Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act.CDSOA commonly known as Byrd amendment is a U.S law providing for the distribution of import duties collected as a result of antidumping.
- Ratification of Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
- No Description Available.
- The Article V Convention to Propose Constitutional Amendments: Contemporary Issues for Congress
- This report looks at how Article V of the Constitution allows Congress to propose amendments -- specifically the process of organizing an Article V Convention, a method that has never been used and which is only briefly outlined in the Constitution.
- The Article V Convention to Propose Constitutional Amendments: Contemporary Issues for Congress
- This report looks at how Article V of the Constitution allows Congress to propose amendments -- specifically the process of organizing an Article V Convention, a method that has never been used and which is only briefly outlined in the Constitution.
- The Article V Convention to Propose Constitutional Amendments: Contemporary Issues for Congress
- This report looks at how Article V of the Constitution allows Congress to propose amendments, specifically the process of organizing an Article V Convention, a method which has never been used and which is only breifly outlined in the Constitution.
- The Article V Convention for Proposing Constitutional Amendments: Historical Perspectives for Congress
- This report identifies and examines historical issues related to the Article V Convention, which allows amendments to be added to the Constitution via Congressional vote or votes by the people.
- The Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence: A Guide to Obtaining Copies
- This report contains a guide to obtaining copies of the constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.
- The European Union’s Constitution
- No Description Available.
- The Article V Convention for Proposing Constitutional Amendments: Historical Perspectives for Congress
- This report offers perspectives for Congress on the Article V Convention, opening with an overview of the provisions in Article V that established the convention procedure. The report further examines its origins at the Constitutional Convention of 1787; the history of the convention alternative, focusing on three major 20th century campaigns to convene a constitutional convention; and the role of the states in the Article V Convention process.
- The Article V Convention to Propose Constitutional Amendments: Contemporary Issues for Congress
- Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides two ways to amend the nation's fundamental charter. Congress, by a two-thirds vote of both houses, may propose amendments to the states for ratification, a procedure that has been used for all 27 current amendments. This report identifies a range of policy questions Congress might face if an Article V Convention seemed imminent.
- Abortion: Judicial and Legislative Control
- This report is about Abortions and Constitution Amendments.
- The Bricker Amendment : Limiting The Treaty Power By Constitutional Amendment
- This report consists of The Bricker Amendment : Limiting The Treaty Power By Constitutional Amendment
- The Origination Clause of the U.S. Constitution: Interpretation and Enforcement
- This report analyzes congressional and court precedents regarding bills under Article I, Section 7, clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution (known as the Origination Clause). It also describes the various ways in which the Origination Clause has been enforced and looks at the application of the Clause to other types of legislation.
- Education Vouchers: The Constitutional Standards
- This report sketches the constitutional standards that apply to public aid to sectarian schools and especially to programs of indirect assistance such as education vouchers.
- Ecuador: Political and Economic Situation and U.S. Relations
- This report provides information about the Political and Economic Situation and U.S. Relations on Ecuador. Ecuador is an oil-producing country that has experienced ten years of political and economic stability.
- Banning Crush Videos: Legislative Response to the Supreme Court’s Ruling in U.S. v. Stevens and Lingering First Amendment Questions
- No Description Available.
- The European Union’s “Constitution”
- No Description Available.
- Constitutional Authority Statements and the Powers of Congress: An Overview
- This report provides an overview of Congress's powers under the Constitution and their role in interpreting the nation's founding document. It examines House Rule XII, clause 7(c), discussing the results of a recent study conducted by CRS of Constitutional Authority Statement (CAS) that were submitted during the last six months of the 114th Congress, and concludes by discussing trends with regard to the House's recent CAS practices and by providing considerations for congressional personnel drafting CASs.
- Gun control: The constitutionality of federal prohibitions on the mere possession of firearms as an exercise of the commerce power
- This report proposes federal gun control legislation that has taken a variety of forms and each alternative has posed its own constitutional questions.
- Education Vouchers: Constitutional Issues and Case
- This report details the constitutional standards that currently apply to indirect school aid programs and summarizes all of the pertinent Supreme Court decisions, with particular attention to Zelman.
- A Constitutional Newsman's Privilege
- This report outlines the constitutional privilege of journalists to refuse questioning by a grand jury in a court of law.
- Enforcing Immigration Law: The Role of State and Local Law Enforcement
- This report provides information about The Role of State and Local Law Enforcement on Enforcing Immigration Law.
- Presidential Tenure: A History and Examination of the President's Term of Office
- This report summarizes the ongoing debate on presidential tenure, mainly concerning proposed amendments for a six-year presidential term. In addition, the author presents arguments both for and against a six-year presidential term.
- A Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Background and Congressional Options
- One of the most persistent political issues facing Congress in recent decades is whether to require that the budget of the United States be in balance. Although a balanced federal budget has long been held as a political ideal, the accumulation of large deficits in recent years has heightened concern that some action to require a balance between revenues and expenditures may be necessary. This report provides an overview of the issues and options that have been raised during prior consideration of proposals for a balanced budget constitutional amendment.
- A Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Background and Congressional Options
- One of the most persistent political issues facing Congress in recent decades is whether to require that the budget of the United States be in balance. Although a balanced federal budget has long been held as a political ideal, the accumulation of large deficits in recent years has heightened concern that some action to require a balance between revenues and expenditures may be necessary. This report provides an overview of the issues and options that have been raised during prior consideration of proposals for a balanced budget constitutional amendment.
- Super-Majority Voting Requirement for Tax Increases: An Overview of Proposals for a Constitutional Amendment
- No Description Available.
- Victims' Rights Amendment in the 106th Congress: Overview of Suggestions to Amend the Constitution
- No Description Available.
- Victims' Rights Amendment: Proposals to Amend the United States Constitution in the 106th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Super-Majority Voting Requirement for Tax Increases: An Overview of Proposals for a Constitutional Amendment
- No Description Available.
- A Tax Limitation Constitutional Amendment: Issues and Options Concerning a Super-Majority Requirement
- Proposals to limit the federal government’s authority to raise taxes have been made several times in recent years. Most frequently, these proposals call for limits on Congress’s ability to pass revenue measures. Typically, limitation proposals would allow increases in tax revenues only under one of two circumstances. First, tax revenues could increase under existing tax laws as a result of economic upturns. Alternatively, they could increase because of a new law, but only if it were passed by a super-majority (typically two-thirds or three-fifths). Questions about how such proposals might be applied in practice have not been clearly answered. Congress has previously considered such proposals in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001. In each case the proposal has failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary for passage. Most recently, the House considered H.J.Res. 96 on June 12, 2002. The measure failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds, 227-178. This report will be updated to reflect any further legislative actions on such proposals.
- Super-Majority Voting Requirement for Tax Increases: An Overview of Proposals for a Constitutional Amendment
- No Description Available.
- A Tax Limitation Constitutional Amendment: Issues and Options Concerning a Super-Majority Requirement
- Proposals to limit the federal government’s authority to raise taxes have been made several times in recent years. Most frequently, these proposals call for limits on Congress’s ability to pass revenue measures. Typically, limitation proposals would allow increases in tax revenues only under one of two circumstances. First, tax revenues could increase under existing tax laws as a result of economic upturns. Alternatively, they could increase because of a new law, but only if it were passed by a super-majority (typically two-thirds or three-fifths). Questions about how such proposals might be applied in practice have not been clearly answered. Congress has previously considered such proposals in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001. In each case the proposal has failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary for passage. Most recently, the House considered H.J.Res. 96 on June 12, 2002. The measure failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds, 227-178. This report will be updated to reflect any further legislative actions on such proposals.
- Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power
- This report discusses state and federal legislative power generally and focuses on a number of these "federalism" cases. The report discusses state and federal legislative power generally, and focuses on a number of these "federalism" cases.1 Issues addressed include congressional power under the Commerce Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment; limits on congressional powers, such as the Tenth Amendment; state sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment; and grant condition imposed under the Spending Clause.
- Amendments in the House: Types and Forms
- This report describes the types and forms of amendments in the House, including distinctions, degrees, forms, and scopes of amendments.
- Constitutional Standards and Procedures for the Involuntary Civil Commitment of the Mentally Ill
- A report on psychiatric hospitals and patients that focuses on civil commitment, specifically a state's basis for commitment, the standards of civil commitment, and constitutional procedures.
- The Amending Process in the Senate
- This report describes the amending process in the Senate, including debating amendments, classification, precedence, amendment trees, restrictions, and voting.
- Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power
- This report discusses state and federal legislative power generally and focus on a number of these "federalism" cases.
- The Power of Congress to Enact Amnesty Legislation
- This report discusses Congress' power to use amnesty, and provides Court cases where the guidelines for amnesty are defined.
- A Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Background and Congressional Options
- One of the most persistent political issues facing Congress in recent years is whether to require that the budget of the United States be in balance. Although a balanced federal budget has long been held as a political ideal, the accumulation of large deficits in recent years has heightened concern that some action to require a balance between revenues and expenditures may be necessary. The debate over a balanced budget measure actually consists of several interrelated debates, which this report addresses.
- The European Union's Reform Process: The Lisbon Treaty
- This report provides information on the Lisbon Treaty and possible U.S.-EU implications that may be of interest to the 111th Congress.
- Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power
- The lines of authority between states and the federal government are, to a significant extent, defined by the United States Constitution and relevant case law. In recent years, however, the Supreme Court has decided a number of cases that would seem to reevaluate this historical relationship. This report discusses state and federal legislative power generally, focusing on a number of these "federalism" cases.
- Campaign Finance Reform: Constitutional Issues Raised by Disclosure Requirements
- Campaign finance reform legislation often contains provisions that would impose additional reporting and disclosure requirements under the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA). For example, S. 27 (McCain/Feingold), would require disclosure of disbursements of expenditures over $10,000 for “electioneering communications,” which are defined to include broadcast ads that “refer” to federal office candidates, with identification of donors of $500 or more. S. 22 (Hagel/Landrieu) would increase and expedite current disclosure requirements under FECA. H.R. 380 (Shays/Meehan) would lower the current FECA threshold for contribution reporting from $200 to $50 and impose reporting requirements for soft money disbursements by persons other than political parties. This report will discuss some of the constitutional issues relating to these and other such disclosure requirements.
- Armed Career Criminal Act (18 U.S.C. 924(e)): An Overview
- This report briefly explores the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), 18 U.S.C. 924(e), which requires imposition of a minimum 15-year term of imprisonment for recidivists convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). Section 924(e) applies only to those defendants who have three prior state or federal convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses. The report includes descriptions of constitutional challenges to the application of section 924(e), which have been generally unsuccessful.