Congressional Research Service Reports - 22 Matching Results

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Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance

Description: This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, as well as the Afghan government. This report also discusses Afghanistan's relationship with the United States, particularly U.S. efforts to urge President Hamid Karzai, to address corruption within the Afghan government. The report also includes discussion of election fraud and corruption in Afghanistan.
Date: November 22, 2013
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Automated Political Telephone Calls ("Robo Calls") in Federal Campaigns: Overview and Policy Options

Description: This report provides an overview of how automated political calls are used in federal campaigns, including attention to recent spending estimates and polling data regarding these calls. The report also discusses legislation that would affect the calls, with descriptions of various policy options and how the options or their regulation may be related to campaign finance law and to the First Amendment.
Date: March 22, 2010
Creator: Garrett, R. S. & Ruane, Kathleen Ann
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Brazil's October 2014 Presidential Election

Description: This report briefly discusses the results of Brazil's recent elections and potential policy shifts.
Date: October 22, 2014
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Campaign Finance Bills in the 105th Congress: Comparison of H.R. 2183 (Hutchison -Allen), H.R. 3526 (Shays-Meehan), and Current Law

Description: As pledged by Speaker Gingrich, the House renewed consideration of campaign finance reform in May 1998. The principal bill is H.R. 2183, known as the freshman bipartisan bill, introduced July 17, 1997, by Messrs. Hutchinson and Allen. Selected floor amendments and substitutes will be in order. The legislation that has generated the most publicity in the 105th Congress has been the McCain-Feingold bill (S. 25), offered on March 19, 1998, as H.R. 3526 by Messrs. Shays and Meehan;1 this has also b… more
Date: July 22, 1998
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Campaign Finance: Constitutional and Legal Issues of Soft Money

Description: Prior to enactment of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), P.L. 107-155, the term “soft money” generally referred to unregulated funds, perceived as resulting from loopholes in the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), 2 U.S.C. §§ 431 et seq. Generally, the intent of BCRA, (effective Nov. 6, 2002), which amends FECA, is to restrict the raising and spending of soft money. This Issue Brief discusses constitutional and legal issues surrounding two major types of soft money that BCRA … more
Date: January 22, 2004
Creator: Whitaker, L. Paige
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Campaign Finance Reform and Incentives to Voluntarily Limit Candidate Spending From Personal Funds: Constitutional Issues Raised by Public Subsidies and Variable Contribution Limits

Description: The Supreme Court in Buckley v. Valeo ruled that spending limits, including the amount a candidate can spend on his or her own campaign from personal funds (also known as personal fund expenditure limits) are unconstitutional. The Court did, however, uphold a system of spending limits, on the condition that they are voluntarily accepted in exchange for some form of public financing. As a result of these Court rulings, the concept of various incentives toward voluntary compliance with a personal… more
Date: March 22, 2001
Creator: Whitaker, L. Paige
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Canada's October 2015 Elections

Description: This report discusses the political climate in Canada, leading up to Canada's next election, scheduled for October 19, 2015. The outcome of the election may have implications for the United States, which is Canada's largest trading partner, largest energy consumer, and NATO ally.
Date: September 22, 2015
Creator: Meyer, Peter J. & Fergusson, Ian F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Electoral College: How It Works in Contemporary Presidential Elections

Description: This report provides information about the electoral college, its origins, who makes up the college today, the 2012 presidental election, and calls for the reform of the electoral college.
Date: October 22, 2012
Creator: Neale, Thomas H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Federal Election Commission: Overview and Selected Issues for Congress

Description: The report provides background information about key areas of controversy and context that might be relevant for Congress as the House and Senate approach their oversight duties, appropriate funds, consider nominations, and explore options for restructuring the FEC or maintaining the status quo.
Date: December 22, 2015
Creator: Garrett, R. S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Funding of Presidential Nominating Conventions: Overview and Policy Options

Description: This report provides an overview and analysis of two recurring questions surrounding the federal government's role in financing presidential nominating conventions. First, how much public funding supports presidential nominating conventions? Second, what options exist for changing that amount if Congress chooses to do so? Both issues have generated controversy in the past and continue to be the subject of debate.
Date: August 22, 2008
Creator: Garrett, R. Sam & Reese, Shawn
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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House and Senate Vacancies: How Are They Filled?

Description: This report discusses how vacancies in Congress are filled when a Senator or Representative dies, resigns, declines to serve, or is expelled or excluded from either house. The Constitution requires that vacancies in both houses be filled by special election, but in the case of the Senate, it empowers state legislatures to provide for temporary appointments by the state governor until special elections can be scheduled.
Date: January 22, 2003
Creator: Richardson, Sula P. & Neale, Thomas H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks

Description: This report discusses Iraq's political system, which has been restructured through a U.S.-supported election process. The Iraqi government is increasingly characterized by peaceful competition rather than violence, but sectarianism and ethnic and factional infighting still remain. This report discusses issues relating to opponents of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and also discusses the atmosphere of nationwide provincial elections.
Date: April 22, 2009
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Voting Rights Act of 1965: Background and Overview

Description: This report provides background information on the historical circumstances that led to the adoption of the VRA, a summary of its major provisions, and a brief discussion of the U.S. Supreme Court decision and related legislation in the 113th Congress.
Date: July 22, 2014
Creator: Coleman, Kevin J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Zimbabwe: 2008 Elections and Implications for U.S. Policy

Description: This report provides an overview of Zimbabwe's March 2008 elections. The report discusses the power-sharing agreement, the transitional government, cholera outbreak, international reactions, and U.S. policy on Zimbabwe.
Date: May 22, 2008
Creator: Ploch, Lauren
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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