All Questions
677
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
14
votes
0
answers
228
views
Has an MP ever made use of the House of Lords Precedence Act to sit in the House of Lords?
During Business Questions on December 2nd, the Lord President of the Council - Jacob Rees-Mogg - was teased by the SNP's Pete Wishart about an alleged £6 million loan from his company Saliston Ltd, as ...
CDJB♦
- 96.1k
13
votes
0
answers
368
views
How is the Chinese officialdom, press, or intelligentsia discussing Russia's possible use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war?
It's certainly known that the Chinese press and officials have openly blamed NATO and the USA more specifically for the war in Ukraine.
On the other hand, China officially has a "no first use&...
- 125k
11
votes
1
answer
347
views
Checks against corruption in Gaza, and their effectiveness
What checks to corruption (if any) are there to the Hamas regime in Gaza, and how effective are they?
Related: Checks against corruption in the Palestinian Authority and their effectiveness
- 327
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Would Obama viewing Trump's tax returns be seen as overstepping his authority?
26 U.S. Code § 6103(g)(1) says that the President can request tax return information from the IRS:
Upon written request by the President, signed by him personally, the Secretary shall furnish to the ...
- 1,258
10
votes
0
answers
829
views
English version of mindmap on Xi Jinping Thought
According to an article in Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, China's People’s Daily published a quite complicated mindmap to summarize and explain Xi Jinping's Thought. What are the key points of ...
- 1,121
9
votes
0
answers
172
views
Has there been research on the effects of the Presidential Records Act on White House decision making?
The Presidential Records Act mandates the preservation of all presidential records. At least in theory this means that the only Presidential communications immune from further scrutiny are phone calls ...
- 48.6k
9
votes
0
answers
178
views
What stalled Croatia's application to the EEA?
I found out from Wikipedia:
Croatia's accession to the EU obliges them to apply for membership in the European Economic Area (EEA). The Croatian government submitted their application on 13 September ...
- 125k
8
votes
0
answers
144
views
Why did African Americans and Native Americans vote too oppositely on the Affirmative Action poll?
I found a tabular analysis on Wikipedia about affirmative action. It shows: "Supporters and opponents of affirmative action in California 2020".
Popular Group
For Affirmative Action
Against ...
- 337
8
votes
0
answers
179
views
Why does industrial actions in France seem to happen more frequently, visibly, and intensely than other EU states?
Obviously asking due to ongoing protests against pension reform in France.
This might be just a perception issue, but it seems France has a reputation of having more frequent, visible, and intense ...
- 8,689
8
votes
0
answers
338
views
Did Saudi Arabia end up paying Egypt for Tiran and Sanafir islands?
Now that its been 5 years since the transfer of Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia, its a bit unclear how much money ended up being transferred between the two countries.
In 2016, it was ...
- 48.6k
8
votes
0
answers
131
views
What caused the momentum for EU directives on blind-spots of vehicles in the last 20 years
During the last 20 years European laws on blind-spots, areas of road the driver cannot see, have become more strict.
The original directive is from 1971 (71/127/EEG). But then there are changes in ...
- 525
8
votes
0
answers
182
views
What is the United States' true 'real politik' position on the recent Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict?
The re-emergence of hostilities in 2020 between Armenia and Azerbaijan reportedly resulted in thousands of casualties for both sides; while I do not want to comment on the orgins of the conflict and ...
8
votes
1
answer
191
views
Did Russia publish a detailed report as to who sabotaged the gas and electricity pipelines to Georgia in 2006? Was Georgia convinced?
In January 2006:
Four explosions on Russia's side of the border created the shortages, Georgian and Russian officials said. The first two occurred at roughly the same time, before sunrise, severing ...
- 125k
8
votes
2
answers
283
views
What are the most influental groups advocating for a global government?
Are there political groups (grassroots or organized) that advocate for a global government, and if so, which are the most influental by number of members and/or in financial terms?
- 231
7
votes
0
answers
236
views
What is the origin of the 'no photography' rule in the House of Commons?
While reading through Hansard to research a separate question, I came across the following exchange:
Mr Speaker: Order. Someone has flashed a camera. It is quite serious to take photographs in the ...
CDJB♦
- 96.1k
7
votes
0
answers
109
views
Has any recent academic research been done on the comparative performance of FOIA response speeds by different European governments?
Recently, I took part in a large, international investigative journalistic project on dumps of oily waste water by ships. In that context, I did a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request to the ...
- 167
7
votes
0
answers
144
views
Is this variant of STV used anywhere else?
In the rules of a political party in my (U.S.) state, a procedure for intra-party elections in which multiple positions are to be filled is described which is clearly a variant of the single ...
7
votes
0
answers
189
views
Are prisoners of war paid by their captors today?
The Third Geneva Convention calls for all POWs to receive a monthly allowance from their captors, separate from anything they may be paid for working while imprisoned, “to enable prisoners to improve ...
- 241
7
votes
0
answers
152
views
What have been the largest hostile cross-benches in Australian senate / house of review history?
The Australian federal Senate is a house of review, elected from multiple member state electorates. It is usually comprised of a Government (often in minority), an Opposition (in lesser minority), ...
- 4,303
7
votes
1
answer
237
views
How much of Democrats' advantage with young voters is because of race/ethnicity?
Democrats in the United States have done better with young voters than in the past, and that gap appears to be widening. However, data suggests that some (though not all) of that gap is because of ...
- 11.8k
6
votes
0
answers
114
views
Who is supposed to be giving orders to the remaining Afghan diplomats of the pre-Taliban government?
As outlined in What's the point of continuing not to recognize the Taliban government of Afghanistan?, the Taliban government is not recognized by any nation in the world. However the previous ...
- 48.6k
6
votes
0
answers
83
views
In the Dutch senate elections, how is the weighting for the electoral college for non-residents determined?
In The Netherlands, the Senate is elected by members of the provincial parliaments as well as the electoral colleges for the Senate, where the electoral colleges represent voters who do not live in a ...
- 46.9k
6
votes
0
answers
411
views
What happened to the passport of Prince Charles when he became King Charles III?
Queen Elizabeth II (of the UK and other assorted Commonwealth realms) somewhat famously did not have a passport. (The theory being that passports are technically issued in the Monarch's name, so it ...
- 251
6
votes
0
answers
37
views
How does the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) interact with member state ETSs
I am trying to understand whether an EU member state Emissions Trading System (ETS) would compound on top of the broader EU ETS or whether they are mutually exclusive. For example, does a German plant ...
6
votes
0
answers
147
views
How do US states maintain a secret ballot using Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail?
How have US states implemented Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail in their voting systems? In particular, how is the secrecy of votes insured?
I note that it would be compromised if bulletins where ...
- 161
6
votes
0
answers
120
views
Is there any modeling on who would be the Condorcet winner in the French Presidential election?
The French Presidential elections use FPTP with a run off round, so directly determining the Condorcet winner is obviously impossible. But I wonder if pollsters have done any modeling to determine the ...
- 48.6k
6
votes
0
answers
163
views
What were the repercussions of Saddam Hussein's Iraq switching from USD to EUR in 2000?
In 2000, Saddam Hussein switched to selling petroleum in Euros. At that time it was considered an financially unwise decision, but later it was reported to have won Iraq handsome profits.
How exactly ...
- 1,242
6
votes
0
answers
253
views
Why is it that for Indian Muslims in rural areas, wealth and upward social mobility are not associated with greater female seclusion?
India has one of the lowest female labour participation rates in the world (ref), this twitter thread says that as Indian families become wealthier, they tighten female mobility to buy respectability ...
- 2,064
6
votes
0
answers
128
views
How did Denmark manage to create multiple strong and enduring political parties despite having a 2% electoral threshold?
The current Folketing (Danish Parliament) has a 2% electoral threshold for its levelling seats. This means that any party that has received 2% of the national vote share can get into the Parliament.
...
- 8,689
6
votes
0
answers
120
views
Has an electoral ceiling ever been implemented or proposed?
The concept of electoral threshold is well established. What about the upper limit though? I mean a reduction of possible party/block power grasp to say 40% and transferring power to smaller players.
...
user39377
6
votes
0
answers
133
views
What level of autonomy does the autonomous region of Xinjiang really have?
What level of autonomy does the autonomous region of Xinjiang really have?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_regions_of_China
Autonomous regions, prefectures, counties, and banners are covered
...
- 14.5k
6
votes
0
answers
91
views
How much of votes in the European Parliament fall on party (group) lines as opposed to country (groups) lines?
Some votes in the European Parliament fall on geographical/country lines. I'm pretty sure (many) others probably fall on a more traditional ideological (e.g. left-right) divide between EP party groups ...
- 125k
6
votes
0
answers
150
views
How strong is the association between the complexity of the electoral process and beliefs in voting fraud?
It's been suggested in a fairly upvoted answer to a related question that the complexity of the electoral/voting process is a main driver in beliefs in voting fraud, at least in developed countries.
...
- 125k
6
votes
0
answers
127
views
Do swing states in the US count their votes faster due to external pressure?
On a related question Why do California and New York need so much time to count their votes compared to other states? Arcanist Lupus left the following comment:
Critically, on a macro scale nobody ...
- 48.6k
6
votes
0
answers
115
views
Quantifiation of the actual impact of purging of registration rolls on US elections
Eligibility to vote in the US is affected by two federal laws, NVRA and HAVA. Under NVRA, voters can be purged from the rolls under a variety of complicated criteria and processes, with the law ...
user5526
6
votes
0
answers
272
views
Which EU country has the most violent police force?
I hope this is the right sub to post this in.
I am looking for a peer-reviewed study which compares the number of violent incidences committed by police officers against civilians in different EU ...
- 169
6
votes
0
answers
130
views
What was the US election with the highest number of cancelled primaries and caucuses?
Primaries and caucuses in the US can get cancelled and some did get cancelled, e.g.:
The shutdowns aren’t without precedent. Some of the states forgoing Republican nomination contests have done so ...
- 125k
6
votes
0
answers
403
views
Has the media reevaluated Schiff's statements in light of the fact there was a second whistleblower?
Only a few days ago the Washington Post gave Schiff "four pinocchios" for his statements regarding his early contacts with the whistleblower. Interestingly, this sentence was part of the WaPo ...
- 125k
6
votes
0
answers
260
views
Is the GUE-NGL unwilling to advise against Brexit? If so, why?
130 of the eighth and current European Parliament's 751 members have signed a letter urging the UK to reconsider its decision to withdraw from the EU. All are members of EPP, S&D, ALDE or Greens-...
- 2,147
6
votes
0
answers
74
views
What effect will the Saudi modernization initiative have on foreign workers?
One of the components of MBS's modernization initiative was adding/raising taxes for family members of foreign citizens. They are also going to ban foreign nationals from engaging in some specific ...
user17569
6
votes
0
answers
279
views
Does the US give full, unfettered access to the NCIC database to anyone other than Canada?
I know that the US shares full, real time access to the US NCIC database with Canada, but does it give this type of access to any other countries?
Many people seem to think that any immigration ...
- 61
6
votes
0
answers
6k
views
What is the "It was my understanding, that there would be no math" quote based on?
There is a notorious SNL skit where Chevy Chase portrays Gerald Ford at a debate, and to a budgetary question replies:
It was my understanding that there would be no math during the debates. Now, I ...
- 241
6
votes
0
answers
371
views
How have the people living in "jungle" squatter camps around Calais been obtaining food and medicine?
Does the French government allow those living in the "Jungle" and similar squatter camps to claim benefits?
How have the "jungle people" been obtaining food and having their medical needs met? Have ...
- 10.6k
6
votes
0
answers
142
views
How many cities around the world has been successfully applied the ISO 37120 standard?
How many cities around the world has been successfully applied, True social changes, political changes, economic changes and changes in education, Improving Quality of Life and Social Welfare under ...
6
votes
0
answers
242
views
Why does the USDA specify 'American Indian/Alaska Native' foods as a separate food group?
I was recently looking at the USDA Nutrient Database and I noticed that they categorized 'American Indian/Alaska Native' as a separate food group. For example, what is the difference between 35137 - ...
- 161
6
votes
0
answers
122
views
What is PRC's stance on reforms in the United Nations Security Council?
What are the People's Republic of China's thoughts in the UNSC about:
Reforms in the veto policy of the P5;
Reforms in the number of Permanent members; and
Reforms in the number of Non-Permanent ...
- 61
6
votes
1
answer
345
views
How can the EU leaders assure their commitment to the climate goals while they keep investing so much money on fossil fuels?
The REPowerEU plan was recently drafted by the EU authorities to address the energy crisis triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Among the other things it plans to add 10 Billion Euro to what ...
- 6,660
6
votes
1
answer
245
views
Why does the Indian government seem reluctant to appoint a new CDS?
The post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) remains vacant after the death of India's first CDS, General Bipin Rawat, in December 2021.
The post was advertised to be extremely crucial when it was created....
- 385
6
votes
1
answer
207
views
Was the timing of the armed response to defend the Capitol within the requirements specified in security protocols?
The Department of Defense posted a detailed planning & execution timeline¹ for the National Guard’s involvement in the deadly siege of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
What struck me most was ...
5
votes
0
answers
63
views
How has the Chinese Politburo's approach to governance and economic policy changed under Xi Jinping's leadership?
There has been a lot of discussion in the Western media about the change in the politburo's approach to governance in general, especially how China became a lot more assertive. The term wolf warrior ...
- 14.5k