Congressional Research Service Reports - 583 Matching Results
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- Afghanistan: Elections, Constitution, and Government
- In 2004 and 2005, Afghanistan adopted a permanent constitution and elected a president and a parliament. The parliament is emerging as a significant force in Afghan politics, as shown in debate over a new cabinet proposed in March 2006. However, insurgent violence continues to threaten Afghan stability. See CRS Report RL30588, Afghanistan: Post-War Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy, by Kenneth Katzman.
- Palestinian Elections
- No Description Available.
- Haiti's National Elections: Issues and Concerns
- This report provides an overview of the controversies surrounding the first round of Haitian presidential and legislative voting in late 2010, and concerns related to the second and final round of the elections.
- Congressional Campaign Spending: 1976-1996
- This report presents data on costs of congressional campaigns, in both aggregate and (mean) average terms. The data in this report reflect spending by congressional candidates from funds donated by individuals, political action committees (PACs), parties, and candidates.
- Congressional Primary Dates, 1998
- This report lists the dates of 1998 primary elections and, where applicable, runoff primary dates for the states and the District of Columbia.
- Congressional Primary Dates, 1998
- This report lists the dates of 1998 primary elections and, where applicable, runoff primary dates for the states and the District of Columbia.
- Voting Technologies in the United States: Overview and Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Voting Technologies in the United States: Overview and Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Congressional Primary Dates, 1998
- This report lists the dates of 1998 primary elections and, where applicable, runoff primary dates for the states and the District of Columbia. The election dates listed herein were provided by the respective election offices in the states and the District of Columbia; they are the dates for congressional primaries and for other state offices for which primaries will be held in 1998.
- Congressional Primaries and Filing Deadlines, 2006 Schedule
- This report provides the dates of congressional filing deadlines and primary and runoff primary dates for 2006 for the states, the District of Columbia, and territories.
- Russia’s March 2008 Presidential Election: Outcome and Implications
- This report discusses the campaign and results of Russia's March 2, 2008, presidential election and implications for Russia and U.S. interests. Popular outgoing President Vladimir Putin endorsed his First Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitriy Medvedev, who easily won an election viewed by some observers as not free and fair.
- Guatemala: Political Conditions, Elections, and Human Rights
- This report presents political conditions, elections, and Human Rights of Guatemala.
- Disqualification, Death, or Ineligibility of the Winner of a Congressional Election
- No Description Available.
- Contested Election Cases in the House of Representatives: 1933 To 2007
- This report examines only cases considered by the House of Representatives involving the question of whether a Member-elect was duly elected, that is. questions regarding elections and returns, not questions regarding qualifications.
- Internet Voting: Issues and Legislation
- Among the many issues in the ongoing, national discussion about the Internet is its use in the voting process. Because voting determines who runs the government and entails two absolute requirements--the secret ballot and security from fraud--the stakes are higher than for many other transactions routinely conducted via the internet. Public confidence about Internet security is increasing, but many feel that voting online requires a degree of security from fraud beyond the current standard for everyday internet use.
- The Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine (DRE) Controversy: FAQs and Misperceptions
- As Congress considers proposals relating to DREs, salient issues might include the lack of information about DRE security, especially in relation to other systems and other components of election integrity; potential conflicts with HAVA requirements that might be associated with the proposals; how those proposals might impact voter confidence; and what impacts they might have on future innovation.
- Kenya: Current Conditions and the Challenges Ahead
- This report discusses the current political conditions of Kenya, which has long been an important ally of the United States. The report focuses particularly on the December 2007 elections, which many international observers have declared as rigged and deeply flawed. The report also discusses violence that erupted once election results were announced, as well as U.S. efforts to urge Kenya toward election reforms.
- Campaign Finance: Constitutional and Legal Issues of Soft Money
- The term "soft money" generally refers to unregulated funds for election related activities that are not subject to the Federal Election Campaign Act's (FECA) source restrictions, contribution limits, and disclosure requirements. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, which amended FECA and became effective on November 6, 2002, restricts the raising and spending of soft money. This report contains information on a summary of campaign financing, recent developments, background and analysis, definitions of Hard and Soft money in federal elections, political party soft money, soft money spent on issue advocacy, corporate and labor union soft money, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, and additional related materials.
- Kenya: Current Conditions and the Challenges Ahead
- This report discusses the current political conditions of Kenya, which has long been an important ally of the United States. The report focuses particularly on the December 2007 elections, which many international observers have declared as rigged and deeply flawed. The report also discusses violence that erupted once election results were announced, as well as U.S. efforts to urge Kenya toward election reforms.
- A National President Primary? Presidential Primary Legislation in Congress: 1945-1968
- This report documents various ways presidential elections have changed over the years and how it has effected voters in the country.
- The Electoral College: A Selected Bibliography
- This report provides a bibliography of resources related to the electoral college divided by resource type.
- Hurricane Sandy and the 2012 Election: Fact Sheet
- Report examining what actions the federal government might take to respond to Hurricane Sandy's impact on the November 6, 2012, election.
- The Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine (DRE) Controversy: FAQs and Misperceptions
- Most voting systems used in U.S. elections rely on computers in some way. The most computerized is the direct recording electronic voting machine, or DRE. In this system, votes are recorded directly onto computer memory devices. This report discusses questions that arise frequently with respect to the controversy surrounding DREs. Possible misperceptions in the debate can be classified into three categories: those relating to DREs themselves, those that relate to paper audit trails, and those that relate to recounts and audits.
- Elections in States Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
- The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita created staggering problems and challenging conditions for the people of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, as well as for the state and local governments there. Many problems were immediately apparent, whereas others that involved ongoing government functions, such as elections, were less obvious at first. This report discusses the challenge of running elections in the many affected communities.
- 2008-2009 Presidential Transition: National Security Considerations and Options
- This report is concerned with the first presidential transition in a post-9/11 world. The report describes the domestic and foreign policy security challenges that will be left over for the new administration, and the security anxiety of foreign influence on the U.S. election.
- The Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine (DRE) Controversy: FAQs and Misperceptions
- This report addresses various questions regarding Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machines (DREs). Questions that arise frequently with respect to the controversy surrounding DREs and possible misperceptions in the debate can be classified into three categories: those relating to DREs themselves, those that relate to paper audit trails, and those that relate to recounts and audits.
- Federal Election Commission: Membership and Policymaking Quorum: In Brief
- This report discusses the Federal Election Commission's structure, membership, and quorum requirements and what happens if they lose their policymaking quorum.
- Foreign Money and U.S. Elections
- This report provides an overview of the prohibitions on foreign money under federal campaign finance law.
- Kenya: The December 2007 Elections and the Challenges Ahead
- This report discusses an overview of the December 2007 elections and the challenges of Kenya.
- Federal Voluntary Voting System Guidelines: Issues
- This report discusses the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG), which are a set of technical standards for voting systems that use computers to assist in recording or counting votes. Systems covered include most used in the United States—not only DREs (direct recording electronic systems) such as touchscreen voting machines, but also optical scan and punch card systems. Hand-counted paper-ballot and lever-machine systems, which do not involve computers, are not covered. However, they are used by a small and decreasing number of election jurisdictions.
- Special Elections and Membership Changes in the 103d Congress, First Session
- This report provides information on membership changes in the first session of the 103d Congress through special elections for vacancies in the House of Representatives and appointments and special elections for vacancies in the Senate .
- Presidential Candidates 1972: A Guide to Information Sources
- This report provides sources of information on 1972 presidential candidates.
- S. 382--The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 "Guidebook" for Candidates for the U.S. Congress
- This report is on S. 382--The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 "Guidebook" for Candidates for the U.S. Congress.
- Congressional Authority to Standardize National Election Procedures
- Recent events surrounding the Presidential election have led to increased scrutiny of voting procedures in the United States. This report focuses on the constitutional authority and limitations that might be relevant to attempts by Congress to standardize these and other procedures.
- Internet Voting: Issues and Legislation
- No Description Available.
- Congressional Authority to Standardize National Election Procedures
- Recent events surrounding the Presidential election have led to increased scrutiny of voting procedures in the United States. This report focuses on the constitutional authority and limitations that might be relevant to attempts by Congress to standardize these and other procedures.
- Congressional Authority to Standardize National Election Procedures
- Recent events surrounding the Presidential election have led to increased scrutiny of voting procedures in the United States. This report focuses on the constitutional authority and limitations that might be relevant to attempts by Congress to standardize these and other procedures.
- Internet Voting
- No Description Available.
- Internet Voting
- No Description Available.
- Electoral Votes by State: Changes Resulting from the 1980 Census
- This report presents a chart and a U.S. map describing the electoral votes by state and the changes resulted from the 1980 census.
- Campaign Finance Reform: A Legal Analysis of Issue and Express Advocacy
- Issue advocacy communications have become increasingly popular over the federal election cycles. Often these advertisements could be interpreted to favor or disfavor certain candidates, while also serving to inform the public about a policy issue. However, unlike communications that expressly advocate the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, the Supreme Court has ruled that issue ads are constitutionally protected First Amendment speech and cannot be regulated in any manner. According to most lower court rulings, only speech containing express words of advocacy of election or defeat, also known as “express advocacy” or “magic words” can be regulated as election-related communications and therefore be subject to the requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA). Unlike express advocacy communications, therefore, issue ads may be paid for with funds unregulated by federal law, i.e., soft money
- The Electoral College: Reform Proposals in the 108th Congress
- American voters elect the President and Vice President of the United States under a complex arrangement of constitutional provisions, federal and state laws, and political party practices known as the electoral college system. Despite occasional close elections, this system has delivered uncontested results in 46 of 50 elections since adoption of the 12th Amendment, effective in 1804. Throughout this period, nevertheless, it has been the subject of persistent criticism and many reform proposals. Related measures fall into two basic categories: those that would eliminate the electoral college and substitute direct popular election of the President and Vice President, and those that would retain the existing system in some form and correct perceived defects.
- Ukraine’s Presidential Elections and U.S. Policy
- This report discusses Ukraine's presidential elections, held on October 31 and November 21, 2004. The report discusses the election's importance in Ukraine's political transition, the conduct of the elections, and the political crisis that emerged after the elections. It also addresses U.S. policy on the elections, and congressional action.
- Peru: 2006 Elections and Issues for Congress
- Peru held the first round of national presidential and parliamentary elections on April 9, 2006. No presidential candidate won over 50%, so a run-off election is necessary. The results among the top three candidates were so close, however, that election officials may not know until the end of April which two candidates will be in the run-off in late May or early June. It appears that populist Ollanta Humala will be one of the two candidates. The other will be either Lourdes Flores Nano, a conservative, or left-of-center former president Alan Garcia. Congressional concern regarding the elections will likely focus on the impact the winning candidate would have on the U.S. relations with Peru
- Super PACs in Federal Elections: Overview and Issues for Congress
- Report exploring super Political Action Committees, what they are, how they developed, how much they raised and spent during the 2010 election cycle, and a preliminary analysis of the 2012 cycle.
- Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935-2010 (74th-111th Congresses)
- This report discusses how lame duck sessions occur, and the background of the lame duck sessions between 1940 and 2010. A “lame duck” session of Congress occurs whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected, but before the term of the current Congress ends.
- Federal Role in U.S. Campaigns and Elections: An Overview
- This report provides a resource for understanding the current campaigns and elections regulatory structure. It addresses those areas of law and public policy that most directly and routinely affect American campaigns and elections: campaign finance; election administration; election security; redistricting; qualifications and contested elections; and voting rights.
- Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues in the 115th Congress
- This report examines the political and economic environment in Latin America and the Caribbean and U.S. policy toward the region in the 115th Congress, highlighting congressional interest and legislative action.
- The National Popular Vote (NPV) Initiative: Direct Election of the President by Interstate Compact
- This report monitors the National Popular Vote's (NPV) progress in the states. It includes sections that provide brief background on the electoral college, history of the National Popular Vote concept, more detail on the NPV initiative, pros and cons for the NPV, legal issues, and concluding observations.
- Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections
- This report provides data on current Latin American and Caribbean leaders and the date of their last election as well as the next scheduled election.