This is a short reminder that, at the Library’s request, Beyond Labels will be held from 10:00 to 12:00 for the month of August. So please plan to arrive 30 minutes early today.
For July 24: Legislative Abdication
To what extent has the US House of Representatives and Senate abdicated its constitutional responsibilities in the last 50 years? Some obvious examples are declaration of war powers and budget but there are more subtle legislative abdications.
What are possible explanations of this phenomenon and what are some possible mechanisms for “reconstitution” of these responsibilities?
To what extent has the executive and judicial branch assumed the void? For instance, recent administrations have expanded executive orders and made questionable recess appointments. In some cases the court has redefined what might have been a legislative prerogative as in the health care “tax.” In other cases, like recess appointments, the court has ruled against the executive over-reach while leaving the definition of “recess” ambiguous.
Yet the legislative branch continuously declines to assert its prerogative to legislate in a way which would reclaim it’s authority. (In this case the Congress might have itself defined “recess” legislatively.) There are other examples where Congress has neglected opportunities to reassert its power in relation to the other two branches.
For July 17: Voting in the US (and Maine?)
Next Monday, we plan to discuss a variety of topics and current events having to do with the US voting system. Possible sub-topics include:
- OK, so the Russians tried to “hack” our election. What happened, and what can be done to safeguard the integrity of the system?
- Every ten years, there’s a scramble to gerrymander congressional districts. While some of the most egregious cases are being resisted by the courts, there must be a better way. What is it and how could it be implemented (assuming the Dems and Reps wouldn’t be big fans of a more neutral system)?
- Maine’s voters have approved a ranked choice voting system, which will presumably be implemented over time as constitutional issues are resolved. Is this a “better way” to tally votes, and should it be adopted by other states?
- What other safeguards are appropriate or necessary to ensure that our elections are free and fair?
See you next week!
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