Search Results

open access

Protecting Consumers and Businesses from Fraudulent Robocalls

Description: This report discusses efforts by Congress and the Federal Communications Commision (FCC) to combat robocall scams and prevent them from reaching consumers. It includes an overview of what robocallls are, their legitimate uses, regulation, and complaint procedures for consumers.
Date: August 1, 2018
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Water Infrastructure Financing: History of EPA Appropriations

Description: The first section of this report includes a table that summarizes the history of appropriations for both wastewater and drinking water infrastructure programs. The next section discusses several historical developments in water infrastructure funding. The last section contains a detailed chronology of congressional activity regarding wastewater and drinking water infrastructure funding for each fiscal year since the 1987 CWA amendments.
Date: August 1, 2018
Creator: Ramseur, Jonathan L. & Tiemann, Mary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Flying Cars and Drones Pose Policy Challenges for Managing and Regulating Low-Altitude Airspace

Description: This report discusses the possibility that flying cars may soon become a reality. Development and marketing efforts are bringing to the fore new policy and regulatory challenges regarding the control of low-altitude airspace, safety, noise, privacy, and landowner rights. They also are raising new questions about the appropriate roles of federal, state, and local authorities in regulating and managing these operations.
Date: July 23, 2018
Creator: Elias, Bart
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Proposals to Impose Sanctions on Russian Sovereign Debt

Description: This report discusses sanctions the U.S. imposes against Russia. The United States imposes sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals and entities for aggression against Ukraine, election interference, malicious cyber activity, human rights violations, weapons proliferation, and other activities. Some Members of Congress are proposing additional sanctions in response to continuing objectionable behavior by the Russian government. One proposal is to sanction new debt issued by the Russian gove… more
Date: August 6, 2018
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran Sanctions

Description: This report discusses U.S. sanctions against Iran and the 2016 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement which led to the lifting of sanctions based on nuclear proliferation in Iran. The bulk of the report outlines the various sanctions against Iran and their current implementation status, international efforts to bring about compliance, and their effects. Recent discussions regarding President's Trump announcement that the U.S. was decertifying the nuclear agreement and the … more
Date: August 7, 2018
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress such as: Arctic sovereignty claims; commercial shipping through the Arctic; Arctic oil, gas, and mineral exploration; endangered Arctic species; and increased military operations in the Arctic that could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation or competition.
Date: August 1, 2018
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Military Commission Judges Do Not Have Unilateral Power to Punish for Contempt

Description: This report discusses the case of Baker v. Spath, in which Brigadier General (Gen.) John G. Baker, Chief Defense Counsel of the Military Commission System, prevailed in his habeas case against a military commission judge who sentenced him to 21 days' confinement and fined him $1,000 for contempt.
Date: July 18, 2018
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Who Interprets Foreign Law in U.S. Federal Courts?

Description: This report discusses the interpretation of foreign law, from routine breach of contract and tort claims to complex cases implicating the judicial branch's role in international affairs. In Animal Science Products, Inc. v. Hebei Welcome Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., the Supreme Court announced the standard of deference for U.S. federal courts to apply when considering a foreign government's interpretation of its own law.
Date: July 9, 2018
Creator: Mulligan, Stephen P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran Nuclear Agreement and U.S. Exit

Description: This report discusses the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and various options for possible U.S. withdrawal if President Trump decided to try to reimpose sanctions on Iran.
Date: July 20, 2018
Creator: Kerr, Paul K. & Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

UPDATE: Public Sector Union Dues: Grappling with Fixed Stars and Stare Decisis (Part I)

Description: This report discusses the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of "Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council." In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that public-sector agency fee arrangements violate the First Amendment, overruling its 1977 decision in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education.
Date: June 27, 2018
Creator: Killion, Victoria L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. Sanctions on Russia: An Overview

Description: This report provides an overview of U.S. sanctions imposed against Russia for aggression against Ukraine, election interference, malicious cyber activity, human rights violations, weapons proliferation, and other activities.
Date: July 26, 2018
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E. & Welt, Cory
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Media Consolidation: United States v. AT&T and Implications for Future Transactions

Description: This report discusses the proposed merger of AT&T, Inc. (AT&T) with Time Warner Inc. (Time Warner), after one of the most closely watched antitrust trials in recent memory. This report first outlines current Section 7 doctrine and then discusses the particularities of the government's case against AT&T and Time Warner and the court's decision to allow the transaction to proceed. Finally, it analyzes the decision's implications for the media industry and future antitrust cases, and identify pote… more
Date: July 16, 2018
Creator: Ruane, Kathleen Ann
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

UPDATE: Supreme Court Takes Fourth Amendment Case about Cell Phone Location Data

Description: This report provides an update to a June 2017 report on the Carpenter v. United States case on government collection of cell phone location information. On June 22, 2018, the Supreme Court held in a 5-to-4 decision in Carpenter v. United States that government acquisition of historical cell site location information (CSLI) constitutes a Fourth Amendment search. The Court further held that the government needs a warrant supported by probable cause.
Date: June 26, 2018
Creator: Harrington, Ben
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

UPDATE: Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador: Key Takeaways and Analysis

Description: This report is an update to a February 2, 2018 report discussing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations and answering questions regarding the recent termination of TPS for El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Sudan. The update discusses the termination of TPS for Nepal and Honduras.
Date: June 8, 2018
Creator: Smith, Hillel R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Mexico's Immigration Control Efforts

Description: This report discusses the surge in unauthorized migration from Central America into Mexico and the U.S that began in 2014. Topics covered include Mexico's southern border plan, human rights concerns, and U.S. policy and developments under the Trump Administration.
Date: August 1, 2018
Creator: Seelke, Clare Ribando
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

An Overview of U.S. Immigration Laws Regulating the Admission and Exclusion of Aliens at the Border

Description: This report discusses U.S. immigration law as it relates to the Trump Administration's zero tolerance policy to criminally prosecute migrants who unlawfully enter the United States at the southern border; a policy which has led to the separation of children from parents awaiting prosecution for unlawful entry.
Date: June 25, 2018
Creator: Smith, Hillel R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran Nuclear Agreement

Description: This report discusses the Iran nuclear agreement that was made on July 14, 2015 and the lifting of sanctions related to their nuclear weapons programs which occurred on January 16, 2016. It also outlines Iran's obligations under the agreement and Congressional discussion of adjustments to the agreement or withdrawal.
Date: May 25, 2018
Creator: Kerr, Paul K. & Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Rise and Decline of the Alien Tort Statute

Description: This report explains the original purpose of the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), restrictions placed on the ATS by the Supreme Court, the effect of the recent case Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC, and the response from Congress.
Date: June 6, 2018
Creator: Mulligan, Stephen P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran: U.S. Economic Sanctions and the Authority to Lift Restrictions

Description: This report identifies the legislative bases for sanctions imposed on Iran, and the nature of the authority to waive or lift those restrictions. It includes two tables that present legislation and executive orders that are specific to Iran and its objectionable activities in the areas of terrorism, human rights, and weapons proliferation.
Date: May 10, 2018
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen