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Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 114th Congress

Description: This report discusses border security, interior enforcement, visa security, asylum, and other immigration-related issues that have received legislative action or are of significant congressional interest in the 114th Congress.
Date: September 9, 2016
Creator: Bruno, Andorra; Argueta, Carla N.; Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Garcia, Michael John; Kandel, William A. & Siskin, Alison
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Recent State Election Law Challenges: In Brief

Description: This report begins by setting forth key constitutional provisions relevant to recent state election law challenges. Next, it discusses federal statutory provisions contained in the Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act and briefly examines pertinent Supreme Court precedent. Then, based on that legal framework, it provides an overview of several recent challenges to state election laws in Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas that resulted in major decisions by the variou… more
Date: November 2, 2016
Creator: Whitaker, L. Paige
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Legislative Proposals Seek Statutory Protections Related to Removing a Special Counsel

Description: This report discusses the current rules for special counsels investigating executive branch officials and new proposed laws regarding special counsels and the process required to remove one from their position.
Date: August 22, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Update: The Microsoft Ireland Decision: U.S. Appeals Court Rules that ECPA does not Require Internet Service Providers to Produce Electronic Communications Stored Overseas

Description: This report discusses the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the case of "Microsoft Corporation v. United States" where the court ruled that the U.S. could not enforce a subpoena asking Microsoft to retrieve emails stored on a server in Ireland. On June 28, 2017 the United States filed for reversal of the decision through a writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court.
Date: June 28, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act: Innovation Issues

Description: This report provides an overview of the the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA). It begins by offering a brief overview of the patent system, then identifies and reviews the specific components of this legislation in greater detail. The report closes with further considerations.
Date: January 15, 2014
Creator: Thomas, John R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Class Action Lawsuits: A Legal Overview for the 115th Congress

Description: This report serves as a primer on class action litigation in the federal courts. It begins by discussing the purpose of class actions, as well as the risks class actions may pose to defendants, class members, and society at large. The report also discusses the prerequisites that a class action must satisfy before a court may "certify" it--that is, before a federal court may allow a case to proceed as a class action. An Appendix to the report also contains a reference chart that graphically illu… more
Date: April 11, 2018
Creator: Lewis, Kevin M. & Freeman, Wilson C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The H-2B Visa and the Statutory Cap: In Brief

Description: This report discusses H-2B visas for temporary non-agricultural workers and the statutory cap on the number issued each year along with recent extensions of the cap number due to high-demand from U.S. employers.
Date: April 17, 2018
Creator: Bruno, Andorra
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Statutory Interpretation: Theories, Tools, and Trends

Description: This report begins by discussing the general goals of statutory interpretation, reviewing a variety of contemporary as well as historical approaches. The report then briefly describes the two primary theories of interpretation employed today, before examining the main types of tools that courts use to determine statutory meaning. The report concludes by exploring developing issues in statutory interpretation.
Date: April 5, 2015
Creator: Brannon, Valerie C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Government Contract Bid Protests In Brief: Analysis of Legal Processes and Recent Developments

Description: This report briefly analyzes the varying legal procedures applicable to bid protests under each forum, which may be relevant to Congress as it assesses potential reforms to the bid protest process. First, the report provides an overview of bid protests generally and the legal procedures applicable to bid protests made in each forum. Next, the report analyzes the legal distinctions among these forums. Finally, the report discusses recent legislative developments affecting bid protest procedures … more
Date: January 19, 2018
Creator: Carpenter, David H. & Schwartz, Moshe
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Logan Act: An Overview of a Sometimes Forgotten 18th Century Law

Description: This report discusses the Logan Act, including a brief explanation of some of the constitutional concerns that surround the law. This report concludes with a discussion of what Congress could do to modify the statute to make it less susceptible to some of these concerns.
Date: January 12, 2018
Creator: Freeman, Wilson C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY2000-FY2015

Description: This report shows in tabular form how much the Administration requested and how much Congress appropriated for U.S. payments to the multilateral development banks (MDBs) since 2000. It also provides a brief description of the MDBs and the ways they fund their operations.
Date: January 26, 2015
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Terminating Contracts for the Government's Convenience: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report provides answers to 12 questions regarding termination for convenience -- the exercise of the government's right to bring to an end the performance of all or part of the work provided for under a contract prior to the expiration of the contract "when it is in the Government's interest" to do so -- frequently asked by congressional committees and staff. These questions and their answers address everything from the contractual and other bases for the government's right to terminate to… more
Date: February 3, 2015
Creator: Manuel, Kate M.; Lunder, Erika K. & Liu, Edward C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Body Armor for Law Enforcement Officers: In Brief

Description: This report contains an overview of the Matching Grant Program for Law Enforcement Armor Vests (BPV program). It also provides a discussion of data on law enforcement agencies that require their officers to wear armor vests while on duty, research on why officers may choose to wear armor vests, research on the life cycle for armor vests, data on the use of body armor by law enforcement officers who were killed with a firearm, and research on the effectiveness of armor vests.
Date: January 13, 2015
Creator: James, Nathan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Pandemic Flu and Medical Biodefense Countermeasure Liability Limitation

Description: This report analyzes Division C of the Department of Defense Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, P.L. 109-148, which was signed into law on December 30, 2005, and which limits liability with respect to pandemic flu and other public health countermeasures.
Date: February 12, 2010
Creator: Liu, Edward C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY1998-FY2009

Description: This report shows in tabular form how much the Administration requested and how much Congress appropriated during the past 11 years for U.S. payments to the multilateral development banks (MDBs). It also provides a brief description of the MDBs and the ways they fund their operations.
Date: February 3, 2010
Creator: Sanford, Jonathan E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration Reform Issues in the 111th Congress

Description: This report synthesizes the multi-tiered debate over immigration reform into key elements: legal; immigration; legalization; immigration control; refugees, asylees, and humanitarian migrants; and, alien rights, benefits and responsibilities.
Date: February 2, 2010
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 111th Congress

Description: The 111th Congress has considered various immigration issues and has enacted a number of targeted immigration provisions. It has passed legislation to extend the life of several immigration programs--the E-Verify electronic employment eligibility verification system, the Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program, the Conrad State J-1 Waiver Program, and the special immigrant visa for religious workers--all of which are currently authorized until September 30, 2012. Among the other subjects of … more
Date: May 6, 2010
Creator: Bruno, Andorra; Ester, Karma; Haddal, Chad C.; Kim, Yule; Lee, Margaret Mikyung; Siskin, Alison et al.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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