As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), P.L. 111-148, as amended, Congress enacted a “minimum coverage provision,” which compels certain individuals to have a minimum level of health insurance (i.e., an “individual mandate”). Individuals who fail to do so may be subject to a monetary penalty, administered through the tax code. … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Petition A request or plea sent to one or both chambers from an organization or private citizens’ group asking support of, or opposition to, particular legislation or favorable consideration of a matter not yet receiving congressional attention. Petitions are referred to appropriate committees. Petitions are … Read more
Free Speech: Terminiello v. Chicago, 337 U.S. 1 (1949) What’s the Biggest Threat to Free Speech? Accordingly, a function of free speech under our system of government is to invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it induces a condition of unrest, creates dissatisfaction with conditions as they are, … Read more
Attack Ads, Circa 1800 In Defense of Negativity: Attack Ads in Presidential Campaigns Presidential Debates: Fifty Years of High-Risk TV All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business The Election of 1800 Explained … Read more
The Constitution of the United States: Amendment 1 (Amendments 1-10 are known as the Bill Of Rights) There is no, “Trust us, changes are coming” clause in the Constitution. To the contrary, the Bill of Rights itself, and the First Amendment in particular, reflect a degree of skepticism towards governmental self-restraint and self-correction. Roman … Read more
The Constitution of the United States: Amendments 1-10 are known as the Bill Of Rights (The Preamble to The Bill of Rights) Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine. THE Conventions of a number of the … Read more