Special note to readers of Testifying Before Congress and anyone searching for information about congressional hearings, witnesses and testimony: The following information is made available to you as part of the author’s promise to provide periodic updates, revisions and additions to the content of the book (see Appendix Thirteen, page 398, “Keep Up-to-Date”), and especially … Read more
Filibuster / Unlimited Debate Creative Commons License photo credit: PatrickRohe When a senator is recognized to speak on a pending measure, few limitations are placed on her. Debate is generally unlimited on all pending measures. A senator may yield to another senator for a question, but the senator still controls the floor. One of the … Read more
Under certain circumstances, congressional committee staff members may choose to depose potential witnesses and scheduled witnesses. The purpose of such depositions is to gather information in order to prepare for a hearing. This is more common in investigative hearings. photo credit: Vincent van der Pas Formal in nature, such questioning of a witness is the … Read more
Arresting Your Cash: How Civil Forfeiture Turns Police Into Profiteers The Washington Post has an interesting report about the huge amount of money that Fairfax County spends to go after gambling. The story cites critics who ask “why law enforcement spends valuable time and money on combating sports gambling.” The answer is obvious … Read more
10 Rules for Dealing with Police (Full-Length) 10 Rules for Dealing with Police – “10 Rules for Dealing with Police, the new film from Flex Your Rights, premiered at Cato earlier this week. If you’re interested in knowing more about how to defend your rights during encounters with law enforcement, this is a … Read more
The Constitution of the United States: Amendment 5 (Amendments 1-10 are known as the Bill Of Rights) (5th Amendment) Amendment V. (Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings) No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising … Read more
The Constitution of the United States: Amendment 4 (Amendments 1-10 are known as the Bill Of Rights) (4th Amendment) Amendment IV. (Search and Seizure) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon … Read more
Advocates of liberty and limited government should not concede the concept of “law and order” to those who engage in “excessive use of police powers.” Those who actually believe in law and order would hold police and prosecutors, as well as criminal suspects, to the rule of law; and that seems to be what the … Read more
In a brilliant pair of videos, Prof. James Duane of the Regent University School of Law and Officer George Bruch of the Virginia Beach Police Department present a forceful case for never, ever, ever speaking to the police without your lawyer present. Ever. Never, never, never. “Law prof and cop agree: never ever ever ever … Read more