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.
127
questions
2
votes
1
answer
156
views
Have other US state governors tried to invoke executive privilege previously, or is Florida's DeSantis the first? If so, are some successful?
Politico's January 13, 2023 DeSantis administration wants to keep some things private includes the following:
Keep pushing— In a line of recent cases, including one that goes before a Leon County ...
- 13.5k
6
votes
1
answer
489
views
What are the specifications of Texas's new motto law?
Texas has a new law requiring public schools to display "In God We Trust" posters if donated.
What are the specifications of an item that would be required for mandatory display? I've seen ...
- 2,007
32
votes
4
answers
6k
views
What would happen if an American state didn’t follow a ruling by the Supreme Court?
If the Supreme Court decided that same-sex marriage was a right on the federal level, what would happen if a specific state decided not to follow their ruling?
What power does the federal government ...
- 1,669
2
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Can a state delegate the creation of a law to an unelected agent such as the Supreme Court?
This is with regard to the constitutionality of "trigger laws" such as those that went into effect, automatically, after the overturn of Roe vs. Wade.
I am neither a lawyer nor a politician, ...
- 272
22
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Has any US state passed a law in a language other than English?
There is an interesting question on the Law stack exchange: "If Congress [of the United States of America] passed a bill written in Spanish, would it be valid?" (the answer appears to be '...
- 1,489
43
votes
3
answers
6k
views
If Roe is overturned, what is the legality of laws prohibiting crossing state lines for abortion?
States such as Missouri are planning to make it illegal for a citizen of Missouri to go to a different state to get an abortion if Roe is ultimately overturned. It attempts to evade legal challenge by ...
- 10.4k
11
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Georgia Secretary of State's power to enforce the 14th amendment of the US constitution re. deny Marjorie Taylor Green's right to run for re-election?
In CNN's Attorney grills Marjorie Taylor Greene about her false stolen election remarks at about 03:35 reporter Amara Walker says:
Now the judge is expected to make a decision early next month on ...
- 13.5k
2
votes
1
answer
142
views
Why did the Unruh Act exclude sale of buildings and real property?
Inspired by this question on law.stackexchange, but I think my question fits better on politics.
From this answer, "sales of residence are exempt from the deceptive trade practices provisions of ...
- 123
40
votes
6
answers
10k
views
How do the Republicans' recent laws make it harder for Democratic voters to vote?
I read this BBC article, but it's not totally clear for me why the recent voting rights laws passed in more than a dozen Republican-controlled state legislatures affect the Democratic base, but not ...
- 4,183
3
votes
1
answer
202
views
Did the US Supreme Court's recent ruling sidestep the issue of judicial review? (Whole Women's Health v. Jackson; challenge to Texas S.B. 8)
The following questions and their extensive answers cover the background of the issues well:
How close does the Texas law that bars most abortions after six weeks come to saying 'Defendants can&#...
- 13.5k
-1
votes
5
answers
436
views
Why do the states have such heavy support banning abortion?
The political dynamic in the United States is that a small group of elites, the Supreme Court, has to read the tea leaves of the Constitution and extract imputed rights out of it that include the ...
- 5,104
3
votes
1
answer
303
views
Why doesn't the Governor of the US state of Idaho fire the Lt. Governor for insubordination? Can they be punished in any way at all?
Idaho Public Radio's McGeachin and Little battle over COVID-related executive orders — again details a situation where as soon as Idaho's Governor left the state on official business the Lieutenant ...
- 13.5k
1
vote
1
answer
124
views
Balanced budget (amendments) in U.S. States
I understand that 43 out of 50 U.S. states are constitutionally required to have balanced budgets. Are there identifiable trends in how and when these states implemented the requirement in their ...
- 7,900
30
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Why is avoidance of judicial review of the Texas abortion law and other future US state laws so concerning to the US department of justice?
From CNN's video coverage of US Attorney General Merrick Garland announcement of its lawsuit against the state of Texas:
Q: ...several GOP lawmakers who said that they will follow Texas’ lead, and I ...
- 13.5k
4
votes
1
answer
318
views
Are there constitutional arguments for preventing/avoiding judicial review of state law in some scenarios? Are there any historical examples of this?
From CNN's video coverage of US Attorney General Merrick Garland announcement of its lawsuit against the state of Texas:
Q: ...several GOP lawmakers who said that they will follow Texas’ lead, and I ...
- 13.5k
28
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What arguments have been made to support the Texas abortion law's private enforcement provisions, beyond evading review?
Texas Senate Bill 8, which practically bars abortions in the state, has an unusual* provision whereby civil claims against abortion providers can be asserted by private plaintiffs not involved in or ...
- 1,130
-1
votes
2
answers
331
views
What's the most extreme way the states of the United States can ensure compliance to a vaccine mandate for all adults? [closed]
What's the most extreme way the states of the United States can insure compliance to a vaccine mandate for all adults?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobson_v._Massachusetts
Jacobson v. ...
- 12.7k
4
votes
1
answer
260
views
Does arresting specific types of people for voting illegally discourage those types of people from voting?
There were instances where voters were arrested for voting illegally in the state of Texas. Many of these arrests involve black and other nonwhite Democratic voters according to reports.
Texas found ...
- 11.7k
2
votes
1
answer
214
views
How can POTUS legally prevent/change state National Guard movements/actions?
According to some news from the Texas-Mexico border, some other states, including Texas and South Dakota, are sending their troops to the Texas border to support border patrol agents.
I don't think ...
- 11.6k
3
votes
2
answers
176
views
What can individual state governments do to combat court case backlogs?
Many people say that states have a problem administering justice due to a large and growing number of cases that have yet to be tried.
Increasing funding to the state's courts system seems like an ...
- 1,681
17
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Why are American states permitted to vote their own election laws?
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday that the Department
of Justice would be suing the state of Georgia over its recent voting
rights changes. While the case is obviously directed at the ...
- 12.7k
-2
votes
1
answer
420
views
What would be the *political* ramifications of a former US President being charged under state law?
The State of New York, for example has an attorney general who said that there will be an investigation into Trump's activities. There are rumors that this type of action could eventually result in ...
- 11.7k
26
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How do states with no state income tax like Florida or Texas generate tax revenue?
How do states with no state income tax like Florida or Texas generate tax revenue? Do they have higher property tax or sales tax?
I compared their property and sales taxes with other states with ...
user38056
54
votes
8
answers
9k
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, ...
- 1,745
1
vote
1
answer
620
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 ...
Rebecca
5
votes
1
answer
171
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 ...
- 153
2
votes
2
answers
108
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:
...
- 189
-3
votes
2
answers
207
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 ...
- 11.6k
2
votes
1
answer
300
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 ...
- 434
9
votes
2
answers
804
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 ...
- 4,787
22
votes
2
answers
2k
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, ...
21
votes
2
answers
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 ...
- 25.8k
5
votes
1
answer
251
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, ...
- 241
11
votes
1
answer
296
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 ...
- 1,069
-4
votes
1
answer
572
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 ...
- 1,228
5
votes
2
answers
68
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 ...
- 283
3
votes
0
answers
59
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 ...
- 8,711
1
vote
1
answer
59
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 ...
- 111
12
votes
1
answer
388
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 ...
16
votes
4
answers
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 ...
- 2,389
3
votes
1
answer
210
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 ...
- 4,792
32
votes
8
answers
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, ...
- 436
4
votes
1
answer
142
views
Who draws county lines?
Within a state, which government institution is responsible for drawing and determining the boundaries of county lines?
- 141
3
votes
2
answers
116
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 ...
- 139
3
votes
1
answer
214
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
votes
1
answer
230
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 ...
- 118k
3
votes
1
answer
512
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 ...
- 25.8k
57
votes
8
answers
13k
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
1
answer
212
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 ...
- 5,187
28
votes
2
answers
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 ...
- 472