Category: Federalism
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Abbott Remains Steadfast on Border Policy
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that migrants detained at the U.S. border with Mexico would be bussed to the steps of the capitol building in Washington. Abbott’s move comes in response to the federal government’s decision to end Title 42 in May, which permitted authorities to quickly remove migrants and asylum-seekers. The governor received bipartisan […]
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Abbott Escalates Battle with Federal Government
Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order banning any entity in Texas from mandating the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine mandates became even more contentious when the Biden administration issued its own order that would require most employers to inoculate their workers. Abbott’s order was met defiantly by some Texas-based companies who are already mandating vaccines and […]
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Biden Orders Vaccine Mandate as Delta Cases Surge
A visibly frustrated President Biden issued a sweeping executive order that would mandate the vaccination of approximately 80 million Americans. The order would affect federal workers, but also those businesses employing more than 100 employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is charged with enforcing the new order. The response from business was mixed, […]
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Texas Battered by Winter Storm
A powerful winter storm swept the state of Texas, leaving millions frustrated and reeling from the aftermath. The problems began with failures to the state’s power grid, which forced many Texans to bear the frigid climate without heat. The freezing temperatures also led to significant disruptions in the water supply, leading to a humanitarian crisis. […]
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Texas Legislature Underway as State Challenges Federal Actions
The Texas Legislature started its biennial regular session in January with a robust agenda. With a growing state population and diminished tax revenues, lawmakers will have to do more with less. The pandemic will only complicate the Legislature’s ability to fully respond to the current crisis. The legislative agenda will include perennials, such as the […]
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2020 Elections & Federalism: The Electoral College and Voting Methods
The United States does not have a single national election. When we vote, we are voting not for a person, but rather for a slate of electors pledged to one of the candidates. In all but 2 states (NE and ME) the winner of the popular vote receives all electoral college votes for that state. […]
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Governors Given Plan To Reopen State Economies Amid COVID-19
On April 17, President Trump announced federal guidelines to reopen the economy amid the Coronavirus pandemic. States that meet certain criteria, such as a continuous decrease in positive COVID-19 cases or hospital occupancy over a two-week period, can begin gradually reopening businesses, restaurants and schools. However, some public health experts have warned that many states have […]
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The Death Penalty in California
California governor Gavin Newsom (D) is granting reprieves to all death row inmates in the state and is shutting down the machinery of capital punishment. The governor claims that capital punishment is a racist and unequal system of justice. Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The […]