PRO&CON® Extras
Obama Announces Major Changes in No Child Left Behind
Saying “Congress hasn’t been able to do it, so I will,” President Obama announced that he is waiving central provisions of the No Child Left Behind law, the signature education policy achievement of the George W. Bush Administration. Although the original bill passed Congress with bipartisan support, the law has since become controversial, with many charging that the program is too focused on standardized testing and that it intrudes too much on local control of education. The May 2008 Congressional Digest, titled “No Child Left Behind Revisited,” covered the Pro & Con debate on the question “Should Congress Make Fundamental…
Read more...NASA Announces Design for Deep-Space Rocket
NASA has just announced plans for the most powerful rocket since Saturn V flew the first astronauts to the Moon. The agency says that the new Space Launch System (SLS) will allow humans to travel farther into space than anyone has ever ventured before, including to an asteroid by 2025 and Mars a decade later ― goals set by President Obama. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said, “The launch system will create good-paying American jobs, ensure continued U.S. leadership in space, and inspire millions around the world. President Obama challenged us to be bold and dream big, and that’s exactly what…
Read more...EU Embargoes Syrian Oil
As the unrest in Syria continues unabated and the number of civilian deaths grows — now over 2,200, according to the United Nations — the international community has begun to increase pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. On Saturday, the European Union instituted a ban on petroleum imports from Syria (although a full ban won’t be instituted until November, as Italy lobbied to allow existing import contracts be fulfilled). The United States has already instituted its own oil ban, but the EU’s actions will likely have a more significant effect on Syria’s economy. While the United States does not directly…
Read more...Welcome to Our Newly Redesigned Website!
On this 90th anniversary of our founding, Congressional Digest continues to change with the times, while still bringing you our trademark impartial, timely coverage of key controversies before Congress, the Supreme Court, and international forums. Knowing that our readers depend on us for thorough research and a balanced presentation of the Pros & Cons of today’s important debates, we’ve rebuilt our site to make it much easier to find, read, and download our publications. These improvements include: Better navigation Easy-to-use search engine Expanded database of material Enhanced blog with links to primary sources And last but not least, a new…
Read more...Court Gives Minors Added Protection During Police Questioning
Last week, in the case of J.D.B. v. North Carolina, the Supreme Court issued a closely decided ruling that law enforcement and judges need to take the age of suspects into consideration when deciding whether they should be informed of their Miranda rights during police interrogation.
Read more...Court Rules for Ashcroft in Material-Witness Case
On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled 8-to-0 that John Ashcroft cannot be held personally liable for alleged abuse of material-witness detention powers. (Justice Kagan recused herself because of her involvement in the case as U.S. Solicitor General.)
Read more...Health Care Reform Challenge Reaches Fourth Circuit
Earlier this week, the legal challenge to last year’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act moved one step closer to the Supreme Court. A three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals heard oral arguments for two lawsuits against the landmark health care reform bill — one brought by the State of Virginia and the other by Liberty University, a small religious-affiliated school located in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Read more...Supreme Court Debates looks at Miranda
Rules of evidence and what police must say and do during the arrest process have been an area of concern for the U.S. Supreme Court more or less since the founding of the Nation. The words “you have the right to remain silent” have been a staple of police TV dramas and movies ever since the Supreme Court formulated specific language to be used in custodial arrest procedures in the Miranda v. Arizona (1966).
Read more...The Next Fiscal Showdown: Raising the Debt Ceiling
With little time to recover from the eleventh-hour budget agreement that averted a government shutdown, Congress will soon be forced backed to the bargaining table as the Nation comes closer to its statutory debt ceiling of $14.3 trillion – the current legal limit on how much money the United States can borrow.
Read more...House Votes Against “Net Neutrality”
Overshadowed by the suspense over keeping the government running beyond the April 8 continuing resolution deadline was a House vote that same day on “net neutrality.”
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