The latest on SB4, the Texas push to control the U.S. border Andrea Silva - April 9, 2024 State efforts to override federal immigration policies tend to backfire, research shows.
Why Donald Trump is happy a Colorado judge called him an insurrectionist Andrew Rudalevige - November 28, 2023 What happens when Trump's 2024 candidacy confronts the 14th Amendment?
Why Democrats won’t outmaneuver Tommy Tuberville Sarah Binder - September 20, 2023 There are risks to changing Senate rules.
Why the president can’t just fire bureaucrats Andrew Rudalevige - September 20, 2023 The "unitary executive theory" has its limits
150 years ago, Frederick Douglass predicted the United States’ dilemma today Alan Coffee - August 5, 2021 Douglass foresaw three possible paths for an irreconcilably divided U.S. Which will it take this time?
Why do so few Black women serve in high-level federal posts? Taneisha N. Means - June 23, 2021 My research finds that their confirmations take much longer than average, despite their excellent qualifications.
Juneteenth brings together many celebrations, and reminders of the work still ahead Sheena Harris and Keneshia N. Grant - June 18, 2021 For Black Americans, freedom is tied to location — not a date in June
Redistricting might gain Republicans a few seats in Congress. Their real gains will be in state legislatures. Michael Latner, Anthony Smith, Anthony McGann, and Alex Keena / Managing Editor - May 4, 2021 In some states, GOP supermajorities may allow them to ignore Democratic governors.
Biden’s commission is examining Supreme Court term limits. Those could have unintended consequences. Maya Sen, Kyle Rozema, Daniel Epps, and Adam Chilton - March 31, 2021 Congress — and the states — won’t easily support the idea.
What you need to know about the 25th Amendment, Section 4 Joel Goldstein - January 7, 2021 It isn’t like impeachment. And this provision has never been put to the test.
Netflix has India’s ruling party outraged about a ‘love jihad’ plot. What is love jihad? Laura Dudley Jenkins - December 30, 2020 This conspiracy theory functions much as did the ‘anti-Sharia’ laws passed in U.S. states, demonizing and legitimizing antagonism toward Muslims
Here’s the problem Biden faces if he picks current lawmakers for his Cabinet. Jonathan Spiegler, Jacob Smith, and Aidan Floyd - December 1, 2020 Let’s count the ways to lose control of a House, Senate or governor’s seat.
Mike Lee is more of a democrat than he realizes David Stasavage - October 9, 2020 Democracies were once more decentralized - and ineffective - than they are today
How Congress is pushing back against Trump’s unprecedented use of emergency powers Elizabeth Goitein - September 24, 2020 Unless the laws change, future presidents are more likely to exploit emergency powers, now that Trump has ended the tradition of restraint.
Republicans’ Supreme Court gambit may backfire. Here’s how. Robinson Woodward-Burns - September 23, 2020 Democrats can play constitutional hardball, too
Mary Shelley foresaw the pandemic — and how we’ve divided into bitter factions Alan Coffee - May 6, 2020 The author of ‘Frankenstein’ criticized the 18th-century belief that reason would win the day
Is Trump admitting defeat with his new U.S. visa rules? Anna Law - January 27, 2020 President is making it harder for pregnant women to visit, but birthright citizenship remains untouched
The U.S. might ratify the ERA. What would change? Lisa Baldez - January 22, 2020 Here’s what we can learn from states that already have equal rights amendments.
What to expect when you’re expecting a Senate impeachment trial Steven Smith - January 10, 2020 Yes, there are some rules. The Senate can change them.
The ‘skinny’ articles of impeachment mean more than you may think Sarah Burns - December 13, 2019 Here’s how they’re like — and unlike — past impeachment charges.
Boris Johnson’s campaign rhetoric reveals why there’s a constitutional crisis over Brexit Julia Rone - December 3, 2019 The nation is split over who should rule, the people or Parliament.
The Pentagon is moving money to pay for Trump’s border wall. Here are the consequences. Alice Hunt Friend - September 5, 2019 This politicizes the military even more. It also has constitutional problems.
Democrats want to make D.C a state. Here’s what it would take. Jeffrey W. Ladewig - June 18, 2019 And here’s what it would do to the other states’ seats in Congress.
Mike Pence has lasted 2 years as Trump’s VP. That may be his main accomplishment. Joel Goldstein - January 18, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82747" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump and Vice President Pence
The 5 surprising things about the new USMCA trade agreement Chad Bown - October 9, 2018 There’s a new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement after more than a
Congress has three tools to counter Trump on Russia Douglas Kriner - July 20, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75955" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump and Russian President Vladimir
The Equal Rights Amendment is one state from ratification. Now what? Robinson Woodward-Burns - June 20, 2018 [caption id="attachment_74733" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Activists from a variety of women’s
President Trump says he could pardon himself. Shades of Nixon reemerge from behind the curtain. Andrew Rudalevige - June 5, 2018 [caption id="attachment_59384" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Richard Nixon says at a
With (or without) Gina Haspel at CIA, could Trump revive the torture program? Elizabeth Arsenault - May 8, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72744" align="aligncenter" width="960"] CIA Deputy Director Gina Haspel. (CIA/AP)[/caption]
Attacking Syria wasn’t legal a year ago. It’s still not. Andrew Rudalevige - April 13, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72115" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.S. Navy sailors staff the Arleigh Burke-class
The census has always been political. Especially when it comes to race, ethnicity, and national origin. Shom Mazumder - March 30, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68907" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In 2015, activists hold signs during
Could Trump be the president who finishes off the State of the Union address? Andrew Rudalevige - January 31, 2018 Last night, President Trump became the latest commander in chief to
Trump’s judicial nominations would put a lot of white men on federal courts Rorie Solberg and Eric Waltenburg - November 28, 2017 [caption id="attachment_49518" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The Supreme Court building. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)[/caption]
For women’s equality day, here’s the key question: Was women’s suffrage a failure? Kevin Corder and Christina Wolbrecht - August 26, 2017 [caption id="attachment_45738" align="aligncenter" width="800"] League of Women Voters members in
Here’s everything you need to know about how the Constitution created the judicial branch, in a 15-minute video Andrew Rudalevige - July 26, 2017 Welcome back to The Monkey Cage’s weekly presentation of Founding
Why does Congress have such a hard time passing laws? Let’s blame the Constitution. Andrew Rudalevige - July 11, 2017 [caption id="attachment_58773" align="aligncenter" width="960"] (iStock)[/caption] Welcome back to The Monkey
Puerto Rico votes on statehood on Sunday — for the fifth time. Here’s what’s at stake. Katy Collin - June 10, 2017 [caption id="attachment_59539" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People carry a large Puerto Rican
So what exactly counts as an impeachable offense? Keith Whittington - May 24, 2017 The U.S. Constitution’s provision that federal officers are impeachable for
A Trump moratorium on international treaties could roll back human rights — here at home Emily Ritter and Courtenay Conrad - March 1, 2017 [caption id="attachment_40399" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Somali refugee girls attend Koran classes
Muslims are the least popular religious group in the U.S. They’re disliked even more than atheists. Kerem Kalkan - February 23, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54549" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Khizr Khan, whose son, Humayun S.M.
Can the courts protect democracy? Yes, but they need these three supports. Kirk Randazzo and Douglas Gibler - February 17, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54277" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Rebecca Rossof, visiting San Francisco from Chicago, carries
The Supreme Court will examine partisan gerrymandering in 2017. That could change the voting map. Bernard Grofman - January 31, 2017 [caption id="attachment_53367" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The U.S. Capitol (Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images)[/caption]
The electoral college is a medieval relic. Only the U.S. still has one. Josep Colomer - December 11, 2016 The U.S. electoral college is a medieval relic. For several
Trump/Hitler comparisons are overstated. How did Hitler actually consolidate power? Sebastian Schutte - November 22, 2016 [caption id="attachment_49957" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Donald Trump speaks during a campaign
To win, Trump needs to get non-college grads to the polls. Here’s why that will be hard. Barry Burden - June 13, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42024" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Graduating student Kaspar Wittlinger holds his
Here’s why Obama honored Cuban hero José Martí in Havana Joshua Simon - March 23, 2016 [caption id="attachment_37806" align="aligncenter" width="908"] President Obama attends a ceremony at
Okay, so what would a Trump presidency be like? Paul Sracic - March 2, 2016 Donald Trump is now the clear favorite to win the
Is it crazy for Michael Bloomberg to run for president? Maybe not. Robert Shapiro - January 23, 2016 [caption id="attachment_34718" align="aligncenter" width="908"] (REUTERS/Stephane Mahe)[/caption] Today's report that former
Will Venezuela’s government have a majority or a supermajority? That matters. Here’s why. John Carey - December 7, 2015 [caption id="attachment_33253" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles speaks
What the movie ‘Suffragette’ doesn’t tell you about about how women won the right to vote Dawn Teele - November 1, 2015 [caption id="attachment_31593" align="aligncenter" width="908"] (Focus Features)[/caption] “Deeds, not words.” In
Trump thinks that being born in the U.S. shouldn’t make you a citizen. Changing that would be very hard. Anna Law - August 21, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28831" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Juan Jose Gutierrez leads a coalition
Trump thinks that being born in the U.S. shouldn't make you a citizen. Changing that would be very hard. - August 21, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28831" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Juan Jose Gutierrez leads a coalition
The House is picking a fight with ‘sanctuary city’ ordinances. How is this like the fugitive slave laws? Allan Colbern - August 13, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28500" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Demonstrators picket against the possible arrival
The House is picking a fight with 'sanctuary city' ordinances. How is this like the fugitive slave laws? - August 13, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28500" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Demonstrators picket against the possible arrival
Would “concealed carry” have stopped Dylann Roof’s church shooting spree? David Fortunato - June 22, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26365" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] This Feb. 4, 2013, photo illustration
Would "concealed carry" have stopped Dylann Roof's church shooting spree? - June 22, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26365" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] This Feb. 4, 2013, photo illustration
The Supreme Court just gave presidential power a passport Andrew Rudalevige - June 9, 2015 [caption id="attachment_25841" align="alignleft" width="300"] Some parts of presidential foreign policy
Why most American Jews vote for Democrats, explained John Sides - March 24, 2015 [caption id="attachment_22939" align="alignnone" width="620"] President Obama takes the stage to
What happens when a president is sick? Kim Yi Dionne - March 11, 2015 [caption id="attachment_22520" align="alignnone" width="620"] In this Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015,
Read and explore the world’s constitutions at this Web site - December 16, 2014 223 years ago today, the American public woke up to
Read and explore the world's constitutions at this Web site John Sides - December 16, 2014 223 years ago today, the American public woke up to
Welcome to the most unrepresentative Senate election since World War II Patrick Egan - November 3, 2014 With less than 24 hours to go before Election Day
What The Economist could have read before suggesting that U.S. slavery wasn’t all bad Chris Blattman - September 5, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15315" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A sugar plantation on the island
Forget Susan B. Anthony Corrine McConnaughy - March 31, 2014 [caption id="attachment_8777" align="alignleft" width="247"] Woman suffrage monument in the U.S.
Heard through the Marble - March 28, 2013 The Monkey Cage welcomes back Emory University's Tom Clark for
Evaluating Forecasts of the Supreme Court’s Health Care Ruling John Sides - July 19, 2012 This is a guest post by my colleague Brandon Bartels.
Why Is Inequality Higher in America? Henry Farrell - January 12, 2012 The Linz and Stepan article that I linked last week
When Cosmopolitan Helped Change the Constitution Henry Farrell - January 7, 2011 An interesting story from Pepper Culpepper's (very good) "new book":http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521134137?ie=UTF8&tag=henryfarrell-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0521134137
Well, How Did We Get Here? The Rise of the 60-Vote Senate Gregory Koger - August 25, 2009 Last Thursday, I made the case for the constitutionality of
The Fundamentals of Filibustering Gregory Koger - August 19, 2009 1) Definition If we want to understand filibusters, it helps
The political penumbra of the political science of voting Andrew Gelman - January 3, 2009 A couple of months ago, my article on the probability
Public Opinion about the Rights of Guantanamo Detainees John Sides - June 18, 2008 bq. Most Americans oppose last week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling