In 1812, the Boston Gazette published an editorial cartoon in response to a redistricting plan signed into law by Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry. The cartoon depicted a portion of Essex County in Massachusetts seemingly haphazardly drawn into a district that...
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Redistricting is the act of using census data to assign geographical boundaries for electoral districts. Originating from a simple constitutional mandate designed to ensure equal access to the government, the modern process is often criticized as a tool for political...
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) has developed since it first passed in 1974. Some of the most pressing and evolving issues today pertain to marriage statuses under ERISA, the impact of the Affordable Care Act, if any, on...
In the four decades since the passage of ERISA, the US Supreme Court has granted certiorari to many cases dealing with the interpretation and application of the law. The Court's jurisprudence guides the District and Circuit courts in understanding how...
At the height of the Great Depression, US President Franklin Roosevelt requested legislation to aid Americans in times of economic need. On August 14, 1935, Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. The original Act provided benefits to workers...
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act is a complex piece of legislation that Congress passed in 1974 to ensure that the pensions of private sector employees had stability and protection. The legislation only applies to private companies, leaving public employees'...
The War Powers Clause is found in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the US Constitution. It reads, "The Congress shall have Power... To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land...
The US Constitution granted separate war powers to both Congress and the President, and neither branch has refrained from exercising those powers. During the 19th century, Congress formally declared three wars and authorized the president to engage in...
The separation of powers doctrine incorporated into the US Constitution includes the ability to declare and enter war. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the ability to declare war. Article II, Section 2 grants power of the...
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 resulted from a constitutional battle between the legislative and executive branches in how the United States should commit to military conflicts. Congress traditionally held the power of declaring war, but it has not declared...
