Questions tagged [us-state-laws]
Questions related to any laws enacted by any of the 50 states in the United States. Use the [united-states] tag alongside this.
13
votes
4answers
2k views
Can state governments be overthrown without national government involvement?
It is my understanding that the state and national government of the United States are separate entities (that's what federalism is, combining smaller states into a larger one).
Could unhappy ...
14
votes
1answer
695 views
Have congressional Republicans taken a position on whether they will give “consent” to the United States Climate Alliance as an interstate compact?
The United States Climate Alliance is an effort by state governments to support the Paris Climate Accord and help reduce emissions in the United States. There is however a constitutional problem with ...
5
votes
1answer
155 views
Felony disenfranchisement laws
Why is it that for felony disenfranchisement only certain rights seem to be lost and they differ state by state.
Such as voting, jury duty, weapons. But some rights are never affected such as ...
3
votes
2answers
138 views
If a law is found to be unconstitutional; can an amendment to the state constitution matter?
In the general sense, let's say a state law is passed, and the courts decide that the law is unconstitutional because the United States constitution prohibits such laws. Can a state amend its own ...
2
votes
2answers
146 views
Can a person be elected to a Minnesota state office if there are fewer votes for them than blank votes?
On my ballot for Minnesota are a lot of state-level positions (judges, a representative, county sheriff) where the incumbent is running unopposed. If there are fewer votes for them than blank votes, ...
3
votes
0answers
342 views
Why doesn't the USA split into “Divided States of America” to achieve political autonomy? [closed]
While the disagreements between political parties have naturally always been present in the USA, their differences were historically nuanced, and Representatives of both parties regularly found common ...
11
votes
3answers
651 views
Why did Mississipi ratify the 13th Amendment so late?
I read recently - to my surprise - that Mississippi ratified the 13th Amendment to abolish involuntary servitude and slavery in 2013. In fact, there was a move to ratify it in 1995, but the paperwork ...
35
votes
8answers
11k views
Why is bestiality illegal in the United States?
This is a question I have wondered more than once while browsing statute. Many states have laws against bestiality. For the life of me, I have never heard of this practice actually occurring and I ...
5
votes
2answers
679 views
How would the United States of America grant Puerto Rico statehood?
What would need to happen for Puerto Rico to be the 51st State of the U.S.A.?
Statehood movement in Puerto Rico.
After their last hurricane how would the help from the US differ if they were a ...
3
votes
4answers
357 views
Why does each US state handle car registrations and driver licensing separately rather than delegating it to the federal government?
Despite the high level of economic integration between US states, for some reason all of them insist on having their own rules for driver licensing and car registration. When moving to a different ...
3
votes
1answer
109 views
To what extent does the Governor of a US State have official interactions with Senate and House members from that state?
Naturally, the various politicians from a State have some interaction with one another for the sake of furthering their State's interests. They probably coordinate even more commonly if they are from ...
-4
votes
1answer
221 views
Which states do not recognize or have not designated a special day of observance for Juneteenth Independence Day?
Which states do not recognize or have not designated a special day of observance for Juneteenth Independence Day?
3
votes
2answers
237 views
What prevents states and counties in the US from combining drivers license and registration data?
When stopped for a traffic infraction in the United States most (all?) officers ask for license and registration. They are legally allowed to demand this information on request as a condition of ...
5
votes
1answer
175 views
What happens to existing state laws if a state splits (United States)
Brought to mind by this question regarding the vote for splitting of California into three states.
What happens to existing California state laws if it is split into three states? Does each state ...
2
votes
1answer
117 views
Can I vote for candidates from a different district in the New Jersey democrat primaries?
New Jersey is having democrat primary voting tomorrow. Can I only vote for the candidates that live in my district?
For example, if I live in District 1, can I only vote for candidates in District ...
16
votes
3answers
3k views
What are the powers of mayors in the US?
I know very little about US government and state system and only in general.
I heard that, for example, US town mayor also rules town police and can change taxes. Is it true? The fact about ruling ...
9
votes
1answer
468 views
What are the arguments for and against Statutes of Limitations?
I was reading this article earlier today about the alleged Golden State Killer which mentioned that the State of California passed a law a few years ago which eliminated the Statute of Limitations for ...
1
vote
3answers
419 views
Does separation of church and state in the US apply in public schools?
This is specific to holidays that are celebrated by public schools where only one religion is represented, i.e. Easter, Christmas, etc.
Are public schools supposed to be a neutral ground when it ...
2
votes
3answers
561 views
What could be done to US states that openly allow non-citizens to vote?
I saw this question about what states that don't use voter ID do to ensure non-citizens don't vote, and the answer seems to be little, if anything. Given the current political climate (where some ...
3
votes
1answer
193 views
What are the legal/political uses of the American Civil War as a precedent?
I was reading an article about attorney general Jeff Sessions addressing the state of California regarding the state's recent laws on immigration. In summary, these laws make it illegal for a private ...
25
votes
2answers
6k views
Why do so many US States have a relaxed vehicle inspection policy?
According to Wikipedia, many US states have a relaxed policy for car inspection regulations:
Maryland requires an inspection prior to registration or transfer of
ownership only. Several states ...
0
votes
1answer
318 views
Gerrymandering Information [duplicate]
Periodically, there are news stories about gerrymandering. There are cases currently before as well as cases recently decided by the Supreme Court. There's also the issue of the party in power ...
4
votes
3answers
329 views
In U.S. , what happens when a party doesn't endorse first-term president as nominee in the next election?
Let's assume that a president of U.S. who has been elected for the first term isn't nominated by his own party in the second term then what will happen?
Has this happened before in U.S. elections?
4
votes
1answer
216 views
What motivation, if any, was given for Alabama's write-in vote law?
In 2016, Alabama passed a law stating that write in ballots are not to be counted unless the total number of write-in votes is greater than the difference between the two leading candidates, and not ...
35
votes
4answers
5k views
In the US, what is the role of and relationship between federal law and state law?
(This is an attempt at a canonical question about an important distinction in US law and politics that is different than many other countries. It was suggested by this comment on another question. I'm ...
3
votes
2answers
153 views
Looking for details about the Ga. 11/7/2017 general election
According to http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/elections/2017_elections_and_voter_registration_calendar, there's a general election on 11/7/2017. No other information is listed, not even which districts ...
2
votes
1answer
117 views
Do any states require a resignation in order to run for office?
Based on a faulty memory, I suggested on a comment to this answer that there might be states which permit someone to run for two offices at once. That was obviously incorrect.
What I was actually ...
4
votes
1answer
548 views
Why does Georgia not have a hate crime statute?
Context
Reading Man who threw boiling water on gay couple will spend 40 years in prison:
The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes Wednesday before finding
Martin Blackwell guilty of eight ...
-5
votes
1answer
285 views
Why isn't the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights Taught more comprehensively in schools? [closed]
It's hard to protect what you don't know exists. Most Americans, at best, only have superficial knowledge of a few rules and rights from tv shows. How can something so incredibly fundamental and ...
5
votes
2answers
511 views
Can Florida ban Trump from visiting?
Trump's consistent weekend trips to Mar-a-Lago in Florida are apparently wreaking havoc on the economy of the city it's in, Palm Beach.
This is of course due to the fact that his visit, due to his ...
11
votes
5answers
2k views
Since they have large autonomy, are U.S. states responsible for international policy and relations in any way?
I never see States' representatives at international meetings or in any diplomatic relations. Are they responsible in any way for foreign policy?
5
votes
2answers
240 views
Instant runoff voting in US presidential elections
User Thunderforge recently remarked: (emphasis mine)
Of interest, Maine approved a ballot measure for Instant Runoff Voting for U.S. Senate, Congress, Governor, State Senate, and State ...
5
votes
2answers
944 views
Why does mostly liberal California vote for death penalty?
On Election Day 2016 in California:
Proposition to legalize cannabis won
Proposition to repeal death penalty lost
The rest of the propositions were mostly liberal, and most of them won; also the ...
5
votes
1answer
176 views
Passing state laws that conflict with federal laws. How is it possible? [duplicate]
California passed a law this election year allowing the recreational use of marijuana. However, at the federal level, marijuana is still illegal. How can states pass laws that conflict with federal ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
How can Indiana already be won even though only 8% of polls have reported?
Not that I would expect Indiana to swing blue here, but with 8% of polls reporting, Donald Trump has already clinched Indiana.
NY Times
How does this happen?
3
votes
2answers
242 views
Reasons for the Dakota pipeline protest?
This has been a major issue and has been on the news for weeks now. Both sides obviously have their reasons. My question is, who has the legal right to the land? I heard Congress appropriated the ...
17
votes
3answers
2k views
Why does the US government not enforce federal laws against Colorado's legalization of marijuana?
As far as I know, possession and trade of marijuana is illegal in the United States according to federal law. However, the state of Colorado (as well as some others) recently legalized marijuana for ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Can a bill that has passed the US Senate or House expire?
The Senate passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 in 2013; however, the house has still not acted on it. Is it possible for the bill to expire? ...
1
vote
1answer
382 views
Why are female offenders given lessor sentences for the same crime than men…?
I'm particularly talking about student teacher relationships. Females are usually given less sentences for the same/similar crime. Couple of years ago I found my former high school teacher had an ...
10
votes
1answer
462 views
Why are emergency service professionals exempt from CA prohibitions on texting while driving?
When I first read the article headlined "Police Officer Will Not Be Charged For Killing Napster Exec While Texting And Driving — Because It's Apparently OK For Police To Do That" I expected it would ...
4
votes
1answer
946 views
Why is Nevada asking Congress for permanent DST in Pacific Time, instead of adopting Mountain Time and abolishing DST on their own?
Reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time_in_the_United_States, it is my understanding that Uniform Time Act of 1966, as per the weights-and-measures power, prohibits the states from ...
0
votes
1answer
479 views
Why do different states have different rules about delegate allocation for the presidency?
There are fifty states in America, plus some territories and other locations that are given delegates for the primaries. Yet they each have different rules about how delegates are allocated. Why?
11
votes
6answers
637 views
Why should I care about federal vs state rights?
The premise behind most arguments about Obamacare, and other programs is that it's a "Federal" vs "State" rights issue.
I come from a corporate business background, and it seems to me that if enough ...
3
votes
2answers
379 views
What do people against state recognition of same-sex marriage think of the fourteenth amendment in US law?
From Christianity SE. Please migrate me to Law SE if needed. Thanks.
From what I understand, the fourteenth amendment in American law is interpreted by the SCOTUS to be implying that bans on same-sex ...
3
votes
1answer
812 views
How does “equal protection under the law” mean same-sex couples have as much of a right to marry as heterosexual couples?
First of all, I regard homosexuals as brethren & sisters. I respect their desire to marry, as I know of no way in which their lifestyle choices (of which being homosexual is not one) will affect ...
5
votes
1answer
405 views
Does a state have a right to criminalize someone's illegal presence within their borders?
Suppose the state of Texas, disappointed by the US federal government's handling of illegal immigration, decides to enact a law that criminalizes one's illegal presence within the state. Meaning if ...
4
votes
1answer
284 views
US Supremacy Clause: does it apply for administrative law?
According to Wikipedia,
The Supremacy Clause is the provision in Article Six, Clause 2 of the
United States Constitution that establishes the United States
Constitution, federal statutes, and ...
12
votes
3answers
900 views
Why do US local laws vary so much regarding the Second Amendment but so little regarding the First Amendment?
The Second Amendment to the US Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms. Although the Constitution applies to all the United States, individual States, cities and other jurisdictions vary ...
4
votes
1answer
144 views
Could a US state forbid a too-large-to-fail bank from operating in its jurisdiction?
There's been suggestions for years about how the US federal government should break up companies that are "too big to fail", i.e. their failure would pose a systematic risk to the entire economy. The ...
8
votes
2answers
536 views
Why do people say the Indiana Religious Freedom Act will be used to discriminate against gays?
Indiana's recent Religious Freedom Restoration Act has cause a bit of a stir. Political leaders such as Clinton, business leaders such as Benioff and Cook, celebrities as well as protestors have all ...
