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Congressional Research Service Reports
The Posse Comitatus Act and Related Matters: A Sketch
Date: August 21, 2012
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.
Description: This report examines instances, as approved by Congress, where circumstances warrant a departure from the general rule of the Posse Comitatus Act, wherein the military is typically prevented from direct involvement in civilian affairs.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc122237/
Internet Firearm and Ammunition Sales
Date: August 28, 2012
Creator: Chu, Vivian S.
Description: This report discusses the sale of firearms and ammunition over the Internet, with a focus on the extent to which federal law regulates such activity.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc122247/
Drones in Domestic Surveillance Operations: Fourth Amendment Implications and Legislative Responses
Date: September 6, 2012
Creator: Thompson, Richard M., II
Description: This report first explores the potential uses of drones in the domestic sphere by federal, state, and local governments. It then surveys current Fourth Amendment jurisprudence, including cases surrounding privacy in the home, privacy in public spaces, location tracking, manned aerial surveillance, and those involving the national border. Next, it considers how existing jurisprudence may inform current and proposed drone uses. It then describes the various legislative measures introduced in the 112th Congress to address the legal and policy issues surrounding drones and, finally, briefly identifies several alternative approaches that may constrain the potential scope of drone surveillance.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc122251/
Gun Control Legislation
Date: August 3, 2012
Creator: Krouse, William J.
Description: This report looks at past gun control legislation and also how recent events (such as the shooting in Tucson, Arizona on January 8, 2011 which notably wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords) have influenced current legislation. This report concludes with discussion of other salient and recurring gun control issues that have generated past congressional interest.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc122293/
Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources
Date: September 11, 2012
Creator: Tehan, Rita
Description: This report provides links to selected authoritative resources related to cybersecurity issues, including: legislation, hearings in the 112th Congress, data and statistics, and cybersecurity glossaries.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc122226/
Whistleblower Protections Under Federal Law: An Overview
Date: September 13, 2012
Creator: Shimabukuro, Jon O.
Description: This report provides an overview of key aspects of the 18 selected federal statutes applicable to individuals in certain private-sector industries. It focuses on the protections provided to employees who believe they have been subject to retaliation, rather than on how or where alleged misconduct should be disclosed. In addition, the report also includes an overview of the Whistleblower Protection Act. While state law may also provide whistleblower protections for employees, this report focuses only on the aforementioned federal statutory provisions.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc122254/
Clean Water Act and Pollutant Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Date: September 21, 2012
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Description: This report discusses the total maximum daily load (TMDL) program which regulates pollutants to ensure that water quality standards can be attained; section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to identify waters that are impaired by pollution, even after application of pollution controls. The report focuses on new challenges facing the TMDL program, including more complex TMDLs, larger scale impairments, and nonpoint sources.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc122259/
Federal Efforts to Address the Threat of Bioterrorism: Selected Issues and Options for Congress
Date: February 8, 2011
Creator: Gottron, Frank
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 congressional consideration.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc103084/
Southwest Border Violence: Issues in Identifying and Measuring Spillover Violence
Date: January 25, 2011
Creator: Finklea, Kristin M.
Description: This report looks at the nature of the U.S.-Mexico drug trafficking conflict and assessments of how the conflict could spill across the border.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc103078/
The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)—Responsibilities and Potential Congressional Concerns
Date: February 1, 2011
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
Description: This report looks at inadequacies present in the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) which prevent the Center from adequately performing its duty. These inadequacies include issues with agency organization, lack of resources, and a focus on threats from Yemen over domestic threats.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc103072/