Tie-breaking Pence

8 Feb 20178 Feb 2017

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/07/opinion/mike-pence-the-tiebreaker.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/betsy-devos-confirmed-donald-trump-education-secretary-mike-pence-vote-senate-a7567856.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38875924 Mike Pence cast a historic vote just over two weeks into Trump's presidency - he cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate to confirm a cabinet nominee.…

The Trump Victory

1 Feb 2017

7 Reasons Trump won - http://www.npr.org/2016/11/12/501848636/7-reasons-donald-trump-won-the-presidential-election Race, Gender, Education statistics - http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/behind-trumps-victory-divisions-by-race-gender-education/ Election in maps - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-37889032 Election analysis - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/us-election-results-and-state-by-state-maps At this point, I am confident that most politics…

Obama’s First Veto Override

6 Oct 2016

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/29/us/politics/senate-votes-to-override-obama-veto-on-9-11-victims-bill.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/09/27/senate-poised-to-vote-to-override-obamas-veto-of-911-bill/ As they said they would, the House and the Senate delivered an overwhelming veto override of Obama on the 9/11 victims bill, far beyond the 2/3rds required. This…

Obama’s potential veto

21 Sep 201622 Sep 2016

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/09/20/mcconnell-says-he-expects-senate-has-votes-to-override-veto-of-911-bill/?wpisrc=nl_politics-pm&wpmm=1 An interesting and useful example has arisen this week relevant for studies of the US Constitution and the powers of Congress and President - Congress have passed a law…

A growth in Obama’s power thanks to the GOP

22 Apr 201624 May 2016

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/04/barack-obama-gop-most-powerful-213814 As the end of Obama's Presidency draws ever nearer, there are doubtless going to be a range of articles evaluating his time in office. This article is fascinating however…

The Role of Impeachment

22 Apr 201624 May 2016

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/04/donald-trump-2016-impeachment-213817 This fascinating article form Politico looks at whether Donald Trump could be impeached if he were to become US President. It is useful to students when looking at the…

Civil Rights vs. Religious Rights – You Decide…

15 Apr 201624 May 2016

The so called ‘bathroom law’ in North Carolina (otherwise known as HB2) has hit the headlines of late on this side of the pond, but state’s-side  a battle is shaping…

The President and Congressional Persuasion

14 Mar 201624 May 2016

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/03/obama-mcconnell-meet-supreme-court-scalia/471750/ How the President and Congress work together can be difficult for students to give examples for as it is so often sometime that takes place behind closed doors. The…

The imperial Presidency

14 Mar 201624 May 2016

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/03/quick-limit-the-power-that-trump-or-clinton-would-inherit/472743/?utm_source=SFTwitter http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/08/opinion/limit-the-next-presidents-power-to-wage-drone-warfare.html?_r=0 This article looks at the growth of presidential power across the Bush and Obama presidencies (and with the looming threat of a Trump presidency!). It argues that these…

Supreme Court and Abortion

7 Mar 201624 May 2016

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-supreme-court-divided-over-abortion-rights-battle-a6907816.html http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/03/us/politics/supreme-court-abortion-texas.html?_r=1 http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/02/us-supreme-court-whole-womens-health-v-hellerstedt/471546/ http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/03/04/3754680/breaking-supreme-court-reopens-clinics-closed-by-anti-abortion-law/ (Well worth watching the video in the New York Times link above!) On Tuesday 1 March 2016, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case…

Obama’s Final Year

24 Feb 201624 May 2016

Final Year analysis - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obamas-final-year-in-office-shaping-up-to-be-one-of-genuine-relevance/2016/02/20/7b047fee-d5c3-11e5-9823-02b905009f99_story.html Guantanamo Bay -https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/white-house-unveils-plan-for-closing-military-prison-at-guantanamo-bay/2016/02/23/3860f408-da35-11e5-81ae-7491b9b9e7df_story.html In reviewing the power of a President, the best students will comment that power is fluid - it not static for the…

The Death of Antonin Scalia

24 Feb 201624 May 2016

The death of Scalia made headlines across UK and US media outlets, and dominated Twitter as the story broke. It's importance should be clear to students of Politics and we…

Supreme Court and Climate Rules

12 Feb 201624 May 2016

BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35538350 Atlantic - http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/02/the-supreme-courts-devastating-decision-on-climate/462108/ NY Times - www.nytimes.com/2016/02/10/us/politics/supreme-court-blocks-obama-epa-coal-emissions-regulations.html The Supreme Court dealt a huge blow to Obama this week - they have halted the implementation of the Clean…

The US Electoral System (and 2016!)

1 Feb 201624 May 2016

Does America need to change the way it elects Presidents? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/the-reporters-35365848 How does the US Presidential election work? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35356941 An idiot's guide to primaries and caucuses -http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35350890 As we kick…

State of the Union 2016

14 Jan 201624 May 2016

Guide to policy -http://www.vox.com/2016/1/13/10759062/state-of-the-union-2016-policy All of Obama's SotU by  numbers -https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-sotu/speech/ Analysis of 2016 SotU - http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/us/politics/obama-state-of-the-union.html Obama's win and losses in all SotU speeches - http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/state-of-the-union-2016-proposals-217600 Despite the hype,…

Obama tries again on Gun Control

11 Jan 201624 May 2016

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/05/politics/obama-guns-legal-challenge/index.html http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/05/politics/obama-executive-action-gun-control/index.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35211294 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35236630 A very emotional President Obama has tried again to restrict the ease of access to gun by introducing executive orders which would expand background checks and…

Supreme Court avoid guns

9 Dec 201524 May 2016

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-wont-review-laws-banning-so-called-assault-weapons/2015/12/07/b562678e-96fb-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3_story.html Fascinating decision by the call this week; you should know that the SC hears very few cases each year compared to the number they received, so rejecting a case…

Syrian Refugees and Congress

1 Dec 201524 May 2016

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/20/house-democrats-refugee-bill-social-media-backlash http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/house-set-to-pass-bill-limiting-syrian-refugees-216035 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34870724 The House of Representatives passed a bill which would make it more difficult for Syrian refugees to gain entry to the USA. It is not yet law…