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.
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Can Democratic proposals for consistent minimum standards for voting rules succeed? [closed]
Democrats have bitterly complained about the wave of new rules about voter registration and access to polling stations being enacted by many state republican administrations after the 2020 elections. ...
51
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8answers
8k views
What is the rationale behind making it illegal to hand out water to voters in line in Georgia?
From S.B. 202 (emphasis added):
No person shall solicit votes in any manner or by any means or method, nor shall any person distribute or display any campaign material, nor shall any person give, ...
1
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1answer
450 views
What contributing factors would make the Florida “gain time” bill be signed into law in 2021?
A.) Are there contributing factors that would effect whether the Florida “gain time” bill will be passed by the House in 2021? Is so, what are they at this current time? I heard that some House ...
5
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1answer
145 views
Could a state governor use their pardon power to perform controlled experiments on sentencing policy?
My understanding is that state governors have roughly unilateral power to pardon state crimes. (First of all, is this true?)
If so, suppose that a governor were to announce something like the ...
2
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2answers
97 views
What does “H St Aff” mean as an action taken on a proposed bill (Idaho)?
Idaho's legislature is in session. I've been monitoring their activity on this page. I can usually tell what abbreviations for actions taken on bills mean at a glance, but this one has me stumped:
...
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2answers
198 views
Can there be an administrative organization inside the US, above the state level? [closed]
According to the question about chairman West's phrase:
Perhaps law-abiding states should bond together and form a Union of states that will abide by the constitution
Is it constitutionally possible ...
9
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2answers
393 views
Can members of the Wayne County Canvassing Board rescind their votes?
A couple days ago, all four members of the Board of Canvassers of Wayne County, Michigan voted to certify the results of the 2020 Presidential Election. Now the two Republican members of the ...
2
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1answer
293 views
What is the mechanism to invalidate a (US) election result? [duplicate]
Inspired by this tweet:
In Detroit, there are FAR MORE VOTES THAN PEOPLE. Nothing can be done
to cure that giant scam. I win Michigan! -@realdonaldtrump
Let us, for the sake of argument, assume the ...
8
votes
2answers
668 views
How are U.S. states allowed to put marijuana legalization on ballots when it's against federal law?
Five states will now legalize marijuana for both recreational and medical use.
During the November elections, A majority of New Jersey and Arizona residents voted yes on ballot measures to make ...
22
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2answers
1k views
If every legal challenge that Trump has mounted since the election succeeds, could he win the presidency?
I am not certain of exactly which legal cases he has launched, but let us imagine that all of them (recounts, discarding votes, etc.) are decided in his favo(u)r, exactly as he wishes.
In that case, ...
asked Nov 9 '20 at 9:55
Mawg says reinstate Monica
3,3052 gold badges16 silver badges28 bronze badges
20
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2answers
2k views
Why does New Mexico resolve election ties with a game of Poker?
I just learned today that, according to the New Mexico Constitution, if an election ends in a tie, the race will be decided by a game of chance, either a coin-flip, high-card draw, or a single hand of ...
5
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1answer
229 views
Why do many states in the US often elect state cabinet members?
When I first learned various states hold elections for state cabinet positions I was puzzled, because there are no such elections for federal secretaries. Why do so many states do it like this, ...
11
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1answer
232 views
Why do some states forbid per-kWh by anyone but the utility monopoly?
I was reading this article on EV-charger pricing schemes. There are some vague references to states requiring per-minute pricing, but 0 explanations of that thing. A little research has suggested ...
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1answer
147 views
Maximum fetal age for legal abortion in the USA?
Of all the places that permit abortion in the USA, which ones have the maximum fetal age for legal abortion?
Say State A allows abortion when the age of the fetus is less than 20 weeks, and State B ...
5
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2answers
58 views
How does one efficiently go about researching the history of a specific issue across state legislatures?
I am attempting to research a certain political issue across state legislatures.
Specifically, I'm attempting to compile information regarding which states have debated a specific issue in their ...
3
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0answers
48 views
Which states have weakened police unions’ collective bargaining power over disciplinary issues?
Matt Yglesias, liberal political columnist for Vox, just tweeted this:
Months into the era of everyone reading White Fragility and posting Black Lives Matter memes and declaring racism a public ...
1
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1answer
58 views
Voting for 2020 presidential election during out of state move [closed]
I imagine that I will be moving states before the 2020 Election Day, and I don’t want to do a mail in ballot, just because I think there’s going to be a lot of BS around that this year. If I’m a tax ...
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0answers
157 views
Why don't majors/governors order their state police to arrest unmarked federal agents? [closed]
I wonder why the local US governors/majors, which reject federal agents on their streets, don't just order their local police force to arrest all people, which exercise violence and don't wear any ...
12
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1answer
373 views
Covid-19 public data accuracy, disclosure, and transparency
With the unprecedented move of the Trump administration to have state Covid-19 data sent to HHS instead of the CDC it warrants to know if any rules\regulations will work differently with this change ...
asked Jul 15 '20 at 18:42
The 'Bernie Sanders' Party
2,4441 gold badge11 silver badges35 bronze badges
15
votes
4answers
3k views
How can grand jury secrecy rules block release of Trump financial records?
This NY Times article discussing the Supreme Court ruling that Trump cannot block release of financial records clarifies that this "probably means the records will be shielded from public ...
3
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1answer
201 views
In Kentucky, who is responsible for closing a polling location?
For in person voting tomorrow, Kentucky (USA) will have roughly 200 out of the normal ~3,700 polling locations open.
Was a single person responsible for this decision, such as the Kentucky secretary ...
32
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8answers
5k views
Is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact constitutional?
I read recently that Colorado will have a version of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact on their ballot in November. Considering that this bill functionally eliminates the Electoral College, ...
4
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1answer
130 views
Who draws county lines?
Within a state, which government institution is responsible for drawing and determining the boundaries of county lines?
3
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2answers
91 views
What is the difference between voting for presidential nominee vs. voting for delegates in Maryland?
On my ballot in Maryland for the presidential primary, there are separate questions to vote for the presidential nominee directly, and to vote for specific delegates to the convention. The delegates ...
3
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1answer
200 views
How can a Governor enforce “Shelter in Place Orders” if cities or States' Attorneys refuse to enforce them?
I've seen reports of state's attorneys and cities refusing to enforce state Stay at Home orders. If a governor was so inclined, are there actions they could take against the state's attorneys and ...
5
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1answer
208 views
Why are some Covid-19 tests excluded in some US states?
For example, the LabCorp COVID-19 RT-PCR has been EUA-approved by the FDA, but it lists as exclusion criteria the following:
Exclusion:
• Live in MD, NJ, NY or RI
meaning that people who live in ...
3
votes
1answer
475 views
In Massachusetts, if a US Senator resigns midterm, how is their replacement selected?
Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, is generally considered a top contender to be Joe Biden's running mate. If she was elected Vice President, she would have to resign her ...
56
votes
8answers
12k views
In most U.S. states, female genital mutilation is illegal. So why is male circumcision legal?
Hello new users from around the Stack Exchange Network
We are aware that this question is about a very emotionally laden topic. So we would like to make sure you are aware of the purpose of ...
1
vote
1answer
189 views
Does the US government have any plan to punish Equifax for failure to stop Chinese breach?
I read about how Equifax was hacked by Chinese hackers and stole the data of over 146 million Americans, a hack that was partially only possible because Equifax made simple security mistakes like ...
28
votes
2answers
5k views
What would happen if every state had a law requiring it hold the nations first primary?
Quoting https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/11/politics/iowa-new-hampshire-primary-monopoly/index.html:
The vote-counting meltdown in Iowa's antiquated and haphazard caucus system -- a process used partly ...
3
votes
0answers
138 views
How do Oregon's mayoral elections work?
I'm writing an RPG campaign that takes place in a city of Oregon. However, taking a look in lists of mayors of some cities, I found that some mayors have mandates of only one year, despite others ...
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0answers
72 views
Can US States regulate their citizens’ actions in other states? [duplicate]
I believe that the US government holds that it can regulate its citizens’ actions beyond its borders. Is it possible for a US state to do similarly? For example, say that SCOTUS overturned Roe v Wade ...
4
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1answer
139 views
Does the electoral college (or a similar system) apply to US governor elections?
I'm following the live results of the Kentucky and Mississippi elections for governor etc, and I notice that while the Republican nominee has won the majority of the precincts, what they're reporting ...
1
vote
1answer
134 views
Can special prosecutor Dan Webb charge Jussie Smollet? [closed]
In a case that made political headlines, actor Jussie Smollett was charged with making false statements to Chicago police about a supposed hate crime he had experienced. But then the Illinois State ...
4
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2answers
369 views
In terms of US politics, has protecting taxicab operations from competition been a left-wing policy?
Because of the limited space available, the title could be raising an unanswerable question. Given changes over time and the variety of viewpoints within the left wing, the answer could depend on ...
9
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1answer
259 views
Which US states prohibit vote trading by elected officials?
Apparently vote trading is illegal in California when done by elected officials:
Recent amendments to the Penal Code extended the prohibition to local officials:
Any member of the legislative body ...
3
votes
2answers
125 views
Which US state constitutions don't have a legislative privilege (“speech or debate”) clause?
I read that
The United States Constitution and forty-three state constitutions
include a Speech or Debate Clause granting legislators a legal privilege for
their legislative work.
Which US ...
3
votes
2answers
479 views
Can a state judge throw the U.S. President in jail for contempt of court?
In USA there is this concept or "rule of law" that includes the principle that no one is above the law.
About this the book "A Companion to the US Constitution and Its Amendments" (by John R. Vile) ...
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3answers
264 views
Why states don't charge head taxes to reduce poverty? [closed]
Under current system, in most democracy, all people have a right to move anywhere.
People in California have a right to move to Texas and via versa.
We know that poor people are more likely to ...
1
vote
2answers
193 views
When I register for voting in Massachusets with a telephone number on the “Do Not Call” registry, do I have to check the “unlisted phone number” box?
Background
In March 2003, the Do Not Call registry was signed into law by president George W. Bush. This law allowed the FTC to create a voluntary registry of phone numbers whereby some entities ...
5
votes
1answer
9k views
How many US states still prohibit transportation of alcohol across state lines without a license, even for personal use?
Apparently Ohio still prohibits transportation of alcohol (even for personal use) across its state lines, without a license ("H permit"), while Pennsylvania legalized it in 2015/2016 and ...
9
votes
3answers
480 views
Is the President of the United States bound by state laws?
The state of New York is currently in the process of passing a law allowing Congress to access the state tax returns of elected officials and top appointed officials. This is seen as a potential "end-...
4
votes
1answer
244 views
Oregon household medical visits to familes with newborn children. Voluntary or mandatory?
Oregon's SB 526 has gained much controversy. The bill, if passed, is supposed to implement home visits by nurses/other-medical-professionals to families with newborn children. According to Patrick ...
29
votes
4answers
12k views
Why are Kinder Surprise Eggs illegal in the USA?
In the USA, Kinder Surprise Eggs are banned by the government. What is the reason?
10
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3answers
2k views
Why are drinking laws so strict in the USA?
In the USA, alcohol laws are very strict and specific, while in most other parts of the world they are very lax. What's the reason?
4
votes
2answers
386 views
Can a city in Colorado decide to legalize more drugs?
Colorado and many other states legalize weed.
I wonder, just like some states in the United States can legalize weed, can some cities in those states decide to legalize other drugs too?
4
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2answers
416 views
Can the US states veto Congress legislation?
As said in the title:
Can the US states veto laws approved by the Congress?
For instance, the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 while it gave 90% of the funding from a Highway Trust Fund, however, ...
-1
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1answer
161 views
Can the Virginia State Government have a public referendum on 3rd trimester abortion: simply yea or nay?
Can the Va voters vote "yea"or "nay" to 3rd trimester abortion? Whether this would be binding or non-binding. Thanks
13
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4answers
3k 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
813 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 ...
