Questions tagged [united-states]
Questions relating to the government or the politics of the United States of America
5,723
questions
-3
votes
0answers
14 views
Does the Biden government have a plan to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nukes?
Does the Biden government have a plan to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring a nuclear weapon?
Or do they have a plan for a military strike and regime change in Iran?
How about other countries, ...
0
votes
0answers
9 views
How rigorous an exam is the US Foreign Service Test?
I have read that Megan Markle (aka Duchess of Sussex) did not score highly enough in the US Foreign Service Test to obtain entry to the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer.
This was after ...
16
votes
2answers
2k views
Which governors can flip the Senate as of March 2021?
Currently, the US Senate is split 50-50. If something should happen and one of the Senators die or resign, it's possible that they are replaced by a new Senator from the opposite party, giving one ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
What does “bipartisan support” mean in the United States?
Is there a definition of "bipartisan support"? For the Senate in the US, when can you claim a bill was supported/passed by bipartisanship, and when you can't claim thus?
8
votes
4answers
440 views
Why is Republican targeted messaging around socialism effective among immigrants from socialist or formerly socialist countries?
A major component of Republican political messaging in the last few election cycles has been trying to tie their opponents to socialism or communism, with their target audience particularly being ...
3
votes
3answers
325 views
Why did the U.S. bail out the banks instead of the people owing the mortgage payments?
Why did the U.S. bail out the banks instead of the people owing the mortgage payments? Is it because it would have cost more money to bail out the people, or is it for some other political reasons? ...
5
votes
1answer
220 views
Can a vote-o-rama continue indefinitely and how can it be ended?
Since yesterday, the Senate has been voting on a series of amendments on the coronavirus relief bill, in a process informally called vote-o-rama. The New York Times noted that it ends only "when ...
2
votes
1answer
163 views
How did Joe Manchin, a Democrat, get elected as governor and U.S. senator in West Virginia?
Joe Manchin III, a Democrat, was elected as governor and later as U.S. senator from West Virginia. I typically think of West Virginia as a conservative-leaning state (in the past two decades, at least)...
2
votes
0answers
93 views
S-400 technology transfer to Turkey
As far as I know, the Turkish proposal to purchase Patriot PAC-3 was refused because Turkey wanted a technology transfer, but the USA didn't want to.
Am I correct?
If I am correct, then what is going ...
3
votes
2answers
216 views
What was the original purpose of the reading aloud of a bill in the US Senate before voting; were there rules requiring anyone to listen?
Forbes' Senate Chamber Empties As Reading Of 628-Page Relief Bill Gets Underway begins
Senators vanished from the U.S. Senate chamber on Thursday as clerks begin reading the upper chamber’s 628-page ...
23
votes
1answer
3k views
How did Alaska “change its primary system recently” and was it “to dilute the possibility of a conservative or Trump-inspired challenger”?
Politico's GOP pushes Murkowski to stay in line against Biden’s Covid bill includes the following:
Murkowski is unique, however, and so is her home of Alaska. The state is suffering economically, the ...
1
vote
2answers
177 views
What would the repercussions be for individual Lawmakers if they had actually been communicating with the 'mob' outside the capitol on January 6?
If on January 6, 2021 Senators or Congress people from within the Capitol building had been communicating with the mob outside, what could be the consequences for these actions?
To make matters even ...
3
votes
1answer
99 views
What does taking the oath of office of the president of the United States do?
The Constitution specifies the following:
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:—"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
What happens if a Senate Committee is 50-50 split on a nominee?
I know when the Senate itself is split, the Vice President will cast the deciding vote. But in committee hearings where they're voting to approve Cabinet positions (Such as a Department of Security ...
6
votes
3answers
651 views
Do fewer voting restrictions really make it harder for Republicans to win?
Also, if there is truth behind Republican support to make voting more restrictive for people in general, how long ago might this party have started advocating legislation with more restrictions?
Why
...
2
votes
0answers
101 views
Were there any intra-EU concerns expressed that Germany was practicing dumping prices on aluminium sheets?
Reuters reports on the new anti-dumping duties imposed by the Biden administration on aluminium sheets (worldwide):
The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday issued final anti-dumping duties on common ...
-10
votes
2answers
299 views
Has the freedom of speech been compromised in the US? [duplicate]
Freedom of speech is defined as:
The right to express any opinion in public without censorship or
restraint by the government, protected in the United States as a right
under the First Amendment to ...
1
vote
0answers
190 views
Do liberals pay more in charitable donations than conservatives in the United States? [closed]
A major topic of political divide in the US is the notion of paying more in taxes so that the poorest and weakest in society can benefit from services such as welfare, healthcare, etc.
Typically, it ...
3
votes
1answer
295 views
What is the deal with the U.S. Senate's Parliamentarian?
Recently the role of the Senate Parliamentarian has become a focal point in the upcoming 2021 COVID stimulus package. Specifically, the Senate Parliamentarian has ruled against allowing a $15 minimum ...
12
votes
2answers
389 views
What are the possible downsides for Puerto Ricans if Puerto Rico becomes a state?
My impression from reading about Puerto Rican views on statehood is that besides the pro-statehood and the pro-independence camp, there also is significant support for the status quo. Of course, some ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Are there limits on how frequently budget reconciliation can be used to pass bills?
I've heard that it is difficult or impossible to use budget reconciliation more than once or a few times per fiscal year, but are there hard rules that limit the frequency of its use to pass Senate ...
73
votes
7answers
14k views
Why does Donald Trump wield influence over Republican Congressmen & Senators?
Given that Donald Trump lost the recent Presidential election, why is it that congressmen continue to visit Mar-A-Lago? In what way is Donald Trump a power broker? What is it that congressmen seek ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
Why did the US recognize PRC when it was concerned about the spread of Communism?
Here is mentioned that:
In the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations,
dated 1 January 1979, the United States transferred diplomatic
recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The US ...
8
votes
5answers
566 views
If the Vice President undisputedly murdered the sitting President, is there anything stopping them from becoming President?
If the Vice President murdered the sitting President in cold blood for all to see, would they still become President? Would they simply get sworn in or is there a mechanism to stop them?
2
votes
2answers
444 views
Do users of F-16s need the USA's permission to use them in attack roles?
Document reveals official US position on F-16s
Are users of F-16 fighter planes obliged to take the USA's permission to use them in attack roles?
I am especially curious about Turkey and Pakistan.
P....
-2
votes
0answers
126 views
What specific actions did President Donald Trump take (or not take) that led to an “inept” and “dishonest” response with “excess” deaths? [duplicate]
Background
Both the Scientific American and the New England Journal of Medicine each stated that
Donald Trump handled the U.S's response to COVID-19 with either great incompetence or actively negative ...
8
votes
3answers
3k views
Why doesn't China allow American social media companies to operate in China?
As far as I realize, being an authoritarian regime, China is continuously concerned with the uprising. So, they do not want to let the free flow of information and western thought process "...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
Can vice president/security advisor or secretary of state be chosen from the opposite party?
As the title indicates,
Can vice president/security advisor or secretary of state be chosen from the opposite party?
If so, has there ever been an example?
9
votes
1answer
1k views
If I do not have an ID, how can Michigan check that I did not attempt to vote multiple times at different locations?
Background
In Michigan, if someone did not bring their photo ID with them, they are free to sign an affidavit as state below on the Michigan Secretary of State website:
Voting Without Photo ID
If ...
20
votes
1answer
2k views
Where do I find when the next congressional hearing about an issue I'm following is? (e.g. Gamestop)
How do I find out when the next US congressional hearing is regarding ___?
This is not a question for discussing current events surrounding Gamestop and Robinhood.
I expected "when is the next ...
3
votes
2answers
383 views
What is the dominant rationale for student loan forgiveness among academics and politicians?
I understand that President Biden has been discussing the possibility of loan forgiveness for student loans. This has also increasingly become a topic of debate in recent years as student loans have ...
-1
votes
2answers
149 views
How are the electors of the electoral college selected?
How are the electors for each party selected in the US presidential election?
0
votes
3answers
3k views
Which generating units did the DOE authorize to operate at maximum capacity in Texas?
Although Texas' ERCOT is not subject to FERC regulations, there are apparently emergency DOE orders that apply to some Texas generating facilities nonetheless:
Under FPA section 202(c) during the ...
7
votes
2answers
201 views
What does the Texas Reliability Entity do exactly? Can it enforce NERC standards in Texas?
Following the 2005 EPAct, the NERC is authorized to set mandatory reliability standards for power companies subject to FERC's jurisdiction.
Texas's ERCOT is itself not subject to FERC regs, but NERC ...
25
votes
3answers
9k views
Why has Pakistan never faced the wrath of the USA similar to other countries in the region, especially Iran?
As far as I understand, the USA's Middle East policy more or less revolves around Israel and its security. The countries which had antagonistic policies toward Israel were either taken out by Israel ...
0
votes
3answers
464 views
What are US Senators expected to do during a natural calamity in their home state?
Recently Ted Cruz was spotted on a plane to Cancun, which was criticized as the state is currently in a state of emergency due to power failures. But what exactly is a US Senator expected to do in a ...
13
votes
5answers
2k views
How long do states have to vote on Constitutional amendments passed by congress? Are there any in limbo?
I am curious to know if states have a specific timeline for voting to ratify a Constitutional amendment and if there are any that have been passed by congress but not enough states have voted to allow ...
24
votes
1answer
3k views
Why would the Lincoln Project campaign *against* Sen. Susan Collins?
As I understand it, The Lincoln Project is anti-Trump Republicans.
So why would they campaign against Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)? And not only that, but campaign the hardest of any Senate election?
I ...
55
votes
7answers
9k views
What does Texas gain from keeping its electrical grid independent?
A recent article by the Texas Tribune explains why Texas has its own electrical grid:
The Texas Interconnected System — which for a long time was actually operated by two discrete entities, one for ...
3
votes
1answer
84 views
How are members and chairs of subcommittees appointed by their party caucus/conference in the U.S. Senate?
There are many subcommittees in the U.S. Senate. On the third of February, 2021,
the committees were reorganized to reflect the new Democratic majority in the Senate. Since then, some subcommittees ...
-1
votes
2answers
285 views
Why allow congress to impeach an official if accused doesn't necessarily have to have committed a crime?
Background
Impeachment may be conducted by congress for the following reasons outlined in the U.S. Constitution:
Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 of the United States Constitution provides:
The House ...
1
vote
0answers
12 views
Can Trump be criminally prosecuted for acts commited when he was president? [migrated]
Just after voting to acquit Trump, GOP senate leader Mitch McConnel said:
We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being ...
3
votes
2answers
354 views
Are there legal penalties for lies (etc.) in a US Senate impeachment trial?
Suppose an impeachment of POTUS has progressed to the senate trial. And suppose that one of the representatives of one side or the other is shown to have lied, falsified evidence, covered up evidence, ...
7
votes
2answers
392 views
Why isn't there a bigger presence of 3rd parties in the US Senate or House of Representatives?
Many people say that voting for a 3rd party in a presidential election is pointless. And under the rules, this is pretty true as it is a winner takes all system.
The Senate and House of ...
2
votes
0answers
61 views
US Senate Floor Leaders: What happens if there is a substantial third party? [duplicate]
According to the US Senate's web site,
Leadership
The floor leaders and whips of each party are elected by a majority vote of all the senators of their party assembled in a conference or, as it ...
34
votes
4answers
5k views
Why is the Constitutionality of an Impeachment and Trial when out of office not settled?
The US Senate has voted 3 times, once in 1876 and twice in 2021, that impeachment and trial of an official who has left office is acceptable.
Despite this, Mitch McConnell voted to acquit Trump in ...
24
votes
1answer
7k views
How does the Democratic Party have a majority in the US Senate?
According to Wiki, Democrats have a majority in the Senate despite only having 48 seats. Why are the two independent senators being counted as Democrats? Please explain it at a level for a non-US ...
1
vote
0answers
71 views
Does the presidential line of succession skip those who aren't Americans by birth? [duplicate]
The United States has a predefined presidential plan of succession should both the President and Vice President be removed from office (encapsulating all reasons here). For example, it goes as follows:...
4
votes
0answers
191 views
Do Americans want to abolish the two-party system? If no, why not? If yes, why do they take actions that only strengthen it? [closed]
Most countries have figured out that a two-party system is pretty inefficient. One could write a book or two about why this is so, but suffice it to say that a two-party system is too coarse to ...
6
votes
1answer
464 views
Why do so many Sheriffs run unopposed in the US?
I read that nearly 60% of the incumbent Sheriffs run unopposed. Why is that?
