The Supreme Court’s Overruling of Constitutional Precedent

"By exercising its power to determine the constitutionality of federal and state government actions, the Supreme Court has developed a large body of judicial decisions, or “precedents,” interpreting the Constitution. How the Court uses precedent to decide controversial issues has prompted debate over whether the Court should follow rules identified in prior decisions or overrule them. The Court’s treatment of precedent implicates longstanding questions about how the Court can maintain stability in the law by adhering to precedent under the doctrine of stare decisis while correcting decisions that rest on faulty reasoning, unworkable standards, abandoned legal doctrines, or outdated factual assumptions.

Although the Supreme Court has shown less reluctance to overrule its decisions on constitutional questions than its decisions on statutory questions, the Court has nevertheless stated that there must be some special justification—or, at least “strong grounds”—that goes beyond disagreeing with a prior decision’s reasoning to overrule constitutional precedent. Consequently, when deciding whether to overrule a precedent interpreting the Constitution, the Court has historically considered several “prudential and pragmatic” factors that seek to foster the rule of law while balancing the costs and benefits to society of reaffirming or overruling a prior holding:,,"
Supreme Court

Supreme Court October Term 2017: A Review of Selected Major Rulings

"On October 2, 2017, the Supreme Court began one of the most notable terms in recent memory. The latest term of the Court was the first full term for Justice Neil Gorsuch, who succeeded Justice Antonin Scalia following his death in February 2016. The October Term 2017 was also the last term for Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired in July 2018. With nine Justices on the Court for the first time at the beginning of a term since October 2015, this past term witnessed the High Court issuing fewer unanimous opinions and more rulings that were closely divided relative to previous terms.

The increased divisions on the High Court during the October Term 2017 may have been a product of the nature of the cases on the Court’s docket, with the Supreme Court hearing a number of high-profile matters implicating issues of considerable interest for Congress and the public at large. For instance, during its last term, the Court considered a challenge to President Trump’s so-called travel ban, several redistricting disputes concerning partisan gerrymandering, and a dispute that pitted a state government’s interests in enforcing certain civil rights laws against the interests of those who object to same-sex marriage on religious grounds. Some of the Court’s most highly anticipated rulings resulted in opinions where the Justices avoided resolving core issues of dispute, such as the Court’s rulings on partisan gerrymandering, in which the legal challenges were largely dismissed on procedural grounds, or the Court’s opinion in the case of a baker’s refusal to make a cake for a same-sex wedding, which was decided on narrow grounds peculiar to the case before the Court. Nonetheless, the October Term 2017 resulted in several farreaching opinions. Perhaps most notably, the last term for the Court saw the overturning of several long-standing precedents, including (1) two 20th Century cases interpreting Congress’s Commerce Clause power to limit the states’ ability to require certain out-of-state retailers to collect and remit sales taxes; (2) a 1977 ruling requiring nonconsenting members of public employee unions to pay certain fees as a condition of employment; and (3) a longcriticized 1944 case that sanctioned the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II..."
Supreme Court rulings

Take a Bite Out of Rabies!

"September 28 is World Rabies Day. Established in 2007, it aims to raise awareness about rabies and help the world come together to fight this dreadful, neglected disease. The theme for 2018 is ‘Rabies: Share the message. Save a life,’ highlighting the importance of education and awareness to prevent rabies.

In the United States, rabies deaths are very rare thanks to successful animal control and vaccination programs. But around the world, rabies kills more than 59,000 people every year. The most affected countries are in Africa and Asia, and almost half of the victims are children under the age of 15.

The good news is that rabies can be prevented through vaccination of both animals and people. On World Rabies Day, we can renew our commitment to eliminate human rabies deaths. This year’s theme is “Share the message. Save a life.” You can help share the message by getting the facts on rabies prevention and control, and becoming an advocate for rabies elimination. Find events in your area to participate in World Rabies Day activities..."
Rabies

2017 Crime Statistics Released

"Both violent crime and property crime declined in 2017 when compared with 2016 data, according to the FBI’s annual crime statistics released today.

Overall violent crime decreased 0.2 percent from 2016 to last year, while property crime decreased 3 percent during that time, according to Crime in the United States, 2017, the FBI’s annual compilation of crime statistics. The information was reported to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program by more than 16,000 law enforcement agencies across the country..."
Crime statistics

Starting Today, New Federal Law Allows Consumers to Place Free Credit Freezes And Yearlong Fraud Alerts

"Starting today, consumers who are concerned about identity theft or data breaches can freeze their credit and place one-year fraud alerts for free.

Under the new Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, consumers in some states – those who previously had to pay fees to freeze their credit – will no longer have to do so.

A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, restricts access to a consumer’s credit file, making it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in the consumer’s name. The new law also allows parents to freeze for free the credit of their children who are under 16, while guardians, conservators, and those with a valid power of attorney can get a free freeze for their dependents.

In addition, the new law extends the duration of a fraud alert on a consumer’s credit report from 90 days to one year. A fraud alert requires businesses that check a consumer’s credit to get the consumer’s approval before opening a new account.

As part of its work to implement the new law, the Federal Trade Commission has updated its IdentityTheft.govwebsite with credit bureau contact information, making it easier for consumers to take advantage of the new provisions outlined in the law..."
Credit freezes

5 Things You Should Know About Epilepsy

"Epilepsy is common, but how much do you know about it? Get the facts about this condition!

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes repeated seizures. There are many different types of epilepsy and many different kinds of seizures. Epilepsy can get in the way of life, mostly when seizures keep happening. To control their seizures, people with epilepsy may take medicine, have surgery, or follow a special diet. Here’s what you need to know:

#1 Epilepsy is common.

In fact, you probably know a few people with epilepsy. In 2015, about 3 million adults (age 18 and older) and 470,000 children (age 17 years or younger) had active epilepsy in the United States.¹ That’s about 3.4 million people, which is more than the number of people who live in Delaware, Montana, and New Hampshire combined.²

#2 Seizures might look different than you expect.

What comes to mind when you think of a seizure? In the movies and on TV, they often show a person falling to the ground, shaking, and becoming unaware of what’s going on around them. That’s one kind of seizure, but it’s not the most common. More often, a person having a seizure may seem confused, stare into space, wander, make unusual movements, or can’t answer questions or talk. Sometimes it is hard to tell when a person is having a seizure, so it’s important to learn how to recognize different types of seizures.

#3 Seizure first aid is easy to give.

About 1 out of 10 people may have a seizure during his or her lifetime.³ That means seizures are common, and one day you might need to help someone. First aid for seizures involves keeping the person safe until the seizure stops on its own and knowing when to call 911 for emergency assistance.

It’s also important that professionals such as school nurses and other school staff, law enforcement, first responders, and childcare workers understand epilepsy and how to offer first aid. CDC supports training programs for these groups through a partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation..."
Epilepsy

Older adult falls

"Join us this year on September 22, 2018—Falls Prevention Awareness Day (FPAD)—as CDC joins with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to increase awareness and to help spread the word about how to prevent fall-related injuries and deaths. FPAD is a great opportunity to share information about resources and strategies and how to prevent falls throughout the year.

Falls are Common

More than one in four older adults fall each year. With more than 10,000 Americans turning 65 each day, falls are a growing and significant public health problem. One of the major risk factors for falls is medications that may change the way a person feels or thinks due to side effects. Because four out of every five older adults take at least one prescription medication daily, and more than one third take five or more each day, this common risk factor for falling demands attention.."
Older adult falls

Vaccination Remains Your Best Flu Protection

"The best way to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications is getting a flu vaccine.

Fall brings cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, and football games. It also means another flu season is upon us. Last year’s was rough. The CDC classified 2017-2018 a high severity season with high levels of outpatient clinic and emergency department visits for influenza-like illness, high influenza-related hospitalization rates, and widespread influenza activity across the United States for an extended period. The CDC estimates the flu caused between 140,000 and 710,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths annually in the U.S. since 2010. While estimates for last season won’t be available until later in the fall, it’s likely that last season was record-breaking across both of these key indicators used to track severity. It’s not possible to predict how severe the upcoming season will be, but we know that the best way to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications is a flu vaccine..."
Flu vaccine

Lab Quality Program Important to Newborn Screening

"Learn about one of the nation’s most successful public health programs for newborn screening – CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health Lab Quality Program.

CDC’s Division of Laboratory Sciences in the National Center for Environmental Health plays an important role in newborn screening by offering the Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Program (NSQAP) to local, state, and international laboratories, and assuring newborn screening test results are as accurate as possible.

Shortly after a baby is born, a health professional takes a few drops of blood from the baby’s heel. The blood sample is sent to a state laboratory to be analyzed for several severe disorders. This process, known as newborn screening, is one of the nation’s most successful public health programs because the early identification of severe disorders has led to timely intervention and life-saving treatments for newborn children. A big part of the success of newborn screening in the laboratory is CDC’s NSQAP. This voluntary, non-regulatory program helps state health departments and their laboratories maintain and enhance the quality of test results.

Joanne Mei leads NSQAP in the Newborn Screening and molecular Biology Branch in CDC’s Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health. The program’s role, she says, is simple: “We exist to help newborn screening labs minimize the risk of making errors.”.."
Newborn screening

2019 Medicare and You

View and 2019 edition of Medicare and You, an annual publication detailing medicare benefits.
Medicare

Chicken & Food Poisoning

"ALERT: Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections linked to Kosher Chicken.

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to kosher chicken. This outbreak is a reminder that raw chicken products can have germs that spread around food preparation areas and can make you sick.

Americans eat more chicken every year than any other meat. Chicken can be a nutritious choice, but raw chicken is often contaminated withCampylobacter bacteria and sometimes with Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens bacteria. If you eat undercooked chicken or other foods or beverages contaminated by raw chicken or its juices, you can get a foodborne illness, which is also called food poisoning.

That’s why it’s important to take special care when handling and preparing chicken.

You Can Take Steps to Prevent Food Poisoning

If chicken is on your menu, follow these tips when shopping, cooking, and eating out to help prevent food poisoning:

• Place chicken in a disposable bag before putting in your shopping cart or refrigerator to prevent raw juices from getting onto other foods.
• Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling chicken.
• Do not wash raw chicken. During washing, chicken juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils, and countertops.
• Use a separate cutting board for raw chicken.
• Never place cooked food or fresh produce on a plate, cutting board, or other surface that previously held raw chicken.
• Wash cutting boards, utensils, dishes, and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing chicken and before you prepare the next item.
• Use a food thermometer to make sure chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
• If cooking frozen raw chicken in a microwavable meal, handle it as you would fresh raw chicken.  Follow cooking directions carefully to prevent food poisoning.
• If you think the chicken you are served at a restaurant or anywhere else is not fully cooked, send it back for more cooking.
• Refrigerate or freeze leftover chicken within 2 hours (or within 1 hour if the temperature outside is higher than 90°F)..."
  Chicken & ood poisoning

International Data Base

"The International Data Base (IDB) was developed by the U.S. Census Bureau to provide access to accurate and timely demographic measures for populations around the world.  The database includes a comprehensive set of indicators, as produced by the U.S. Census Bureau since the 1960s.  Through sponsorship from various U.S. Government agencies, the IDB is updated on a regular basis to provide information needed for research, program planning, and policy-making decisions, in the U.S. and globally.

Data included in the IDB consist of indicators developed from censuses, surveys, administrative records, and special measures of HIV/AIDS-related mortality.  Through evaluation and adjustment of data from these sources, measures of population, mortality, fertility, and net migration are estimated for current and past years and then used as the basis for projections to 2050..."
International statistics

Congressional Research Service Reports Now Available Online

[This is a guest post by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden].
"I’m pleased to announce that, for the first time, the Library of Congress is providing Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports to the public. The reports are available online at crsreports.congress.gov. Created by experts in CRS, the reports present a legislative perspective on topics such as agriculture policy, counterterrorism operations, banking regulation, veteran’s issues and much more.

Founded over a century ago, CRS provides authoritative and confidential research and analysis for Congress’ deliberative use.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 directs the Library to also make CRS reports publicly available online. We worked closely with Congress to make sure that we had a mutual understanding of the law’s requirements and Congress’ expectations in our approach to this project.

The result is a new public website for CRS reports based on the same search functionality that Congress uses – designed to be as user friendly as possible – that allows reports to be found by common keywords. We believe the site will be intuitive for the public to use and will also be easily updated with enhancements made to the congressional site in the future.

Moving forward, all new or updated reports will be added to the website as they are made available to Congress. The Library is also working to make available the back catalog of previously published reports as expeditiously as possible. More details about this process can be found on the site’s Frequently Asked Questions page.

CRS reports supplement the official congressional information the Library provides on its congress.gov website.

In keeping with our desire to engage users with the Library and its materials, we are happy to see these reports put to the widest use possible. I hope that you find them a useful addition to the many resources available to you from the Library of Congress..."
Congressional Research Service

Antibiotic Resistance: A Global Threat

"Antibiotic resistance requires a collaborative approach across countries to detect, prevent, and respond to these threats. Global leaders are joining CDC’s AMR Challenge by committing to action across healthcare, food, communities, and the environment (soil and water) to accelerate the fight.

Antibiotic resistance, when germs (i.e., bacteria, fungi) develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them, is a top threat to the public’s health and a priority across the globe. In the U.S. alone, it causes more than 2 million infections and 23,000 deaths per year. Worldwide, antibiotic resistance threatens our progress in healthcare, food production, and ultimately life expectancy.

Antibiotic resistance has been found in all regions of the world. Modern travel of people, animals, and goods means antibiotic resistance can easily spread across borders and continents. Collaborative, coordinated efforts will help slow the development and spread of antibiotic resistance and protect people.

CDC Collaborates to Support Global Action

Through CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative, the agency collaborates with countries throughout the world to improve antibiotic use, track resistance, and implement infection prevention and control activities in healthcare settings, where antibiotic resistance can emerge and amplify the spread.

CDC shares expertise and deploys experts to investigate and contain resistance outbreaks, and assists other countries as they:

• Implement infection prevention and control programs, and antibiotic stewardship programs in healthcare settings
• Establish or strengthen national tracking systems to respond rapidly to outbreaks, identify emerging pathogens, and track trends
• Enhance laboratory capacity to detect and report resistance
• Develop and implement national action plans to address the threat of antibiotic resistance..."
  Antibiotics

Costs of Government Interventions in Response to the Financial Crisis: A R

"In August 2007, asset-backed securities (ABS), particularly those backed by subprime mortgages, suddenly became illiquid and fell sharply in value as an unprecedented housing boom turned into a housing bust. Losses on the many ABS held by financial firms depleted their capital. Uncertainty about future losses on illiquid and complex assets led to firms having reduced access to private liquidity, sometimes catastrophically. In September 2008, the financial crisis reached panic proportions, with some large financial firms failing or needing government assistance to prevent their failure.

Initially, the government approach was largely ad hoc, addressing the problems at individual institutions on a case-by-case basis. The panic in September 2008 convinced policy makers that a system-wide approach was needed, and Congress created the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in October 2008. In addition to TARP, the Treasury, Federal Reserve (Fed) and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) implemented broad lending and guarantee programs. Because the crisis had many causes and symptoms, the response tackled a number of disparate problems and can be broadly categorized into programs that (1) increased financial institutions’ liquidity; (2) provided capital directly to financial institutions for them to recover from asset write-offs; (3) purchased illiquid assets from financial institutions to restore confidence in their balance sheets and thereby their continued solvency; (4) intervened in specific financial markets that had ceased to function smoothly; and (5) used public funds to prevent the failure of troubled institutions that were deemed systemically important, popularly referred to as “too big to fail.”.."
Financial crisis

U.S. Constitution Annotated

"This edition of the Congressional Research Service's U.S. Constitution Annotated is a hypertext interpretation of the CRS text, updated to the currently published version. It links to Supreme Court opinions, the U.S. Code, and the Code of Federal Regulations, as well as enhancing navigation through search, breadcrumbs, linked footnotes and tables of contents..."
U.S. Constitution

Adults: Protect Yourself with Pneumococcal Vaccines

"Many adults are at risk for pneumococcal disease. Two vaccines provide protection against this serious and sometimes deadly disease. Talk to your doctor to make sure you are up to date on these and other recommended vaccines.

Each year in the United States, pneumococcal disease kills thousands of adults. Thousands more end up in the hospital because of pneumococcal disease. It can cause severe infections of the lungs (pneumonia), bloodstream (bacteremia), and lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Vaccines are the best way to prevent pneumococcal disease.

Two vaccines help prevent pneumococcal disease:

• PCV13 (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)
• PPSV23 (pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine)

PCV13 protects against 13 strains of pneumococcal bacteria and PPSV23 protects against 23 strains of pneumococcal bacteria. Both vaccines provide protection against illnesses like meningitis and bacteremia. PCV13 also provides protection against pneumonia.

These vaccines are safe, but side effects can occur. Most side effects are mild, such as arm swelling or soreness, and do not affect daily activities.."
Pneumococcal vaccines

Gynecologic Cancer Awareness

"All women are at risk for gynecologic cancers, and risk increases with age. You can lower your risk for some of these cancers.

“I had fibroids for years, but it was abnormal heavy bleeding that led me to see my doctor,” said Brenda. “I had already gone through menopause, but would occasionally have very, very heavy bleeding. I learned that I had uterine cancer.

“I had surgery to remove the cancer. I didn’t require further treatment. It’s been 10 years and I am cancer-free. I am blessed that I have a supportive network of friends and family that I could rely upon. I often share my story with folks in my community to help raise awareness.

“I encourage women to listen to their bodies. As women, we think we need to do it all. Be sure to find time for you; find space for you; enjoy you! Start with self-care and self-healing. If you aren’t well, you can’t do anything for anyone else.”

What Are Gynecologic Cancers?

Gynecologic cancers are cancers of women’s reproductive organs. The five main types are cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancer..."
Gynecologic cancer

Arthritis Across America

"One in 4 US adults are living with arthritis. Lifestyle programs can help ease arthritis pain and improve joint function.

More than 54 million US adults have arthritis. Lifestyle management programs, including physical activity and self-management education, can ease arthritis pain and improve the quality of life for people with arthritis.

New Arthritis Data

CDC researchers recently updated the Chronic Disease Indicator (CDI) database with new 2016 data. CDI acts as a tool for chronic diseases and risk factors that have a substantial effect on public health. These indicators are essential for surveillance, prioritization, and evaluation of public health interventions.

According to 2016 CDI data:

• The states with the highest rates of arthritis in the United States include: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
• 12 states have greater than 26.5% of adults living with doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
• Over 28% of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis in the United States are physically inactive.
• Over 32% of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis in the United States reported that they are in poor health..."
  Arthritis

Sickle Cell Awareness

"CDC is working to raise awareness about sickle cell disease. You can help by reading and sharing our resources with friends and family.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that is present at birth and affects approximately 100,000 Americans. CDC is committed to studying SCD and other blood disorders in order to improve the health and care of people with these conditions.

Online Resources

• Sickle Cell Trait Toolkit is a collection of fact sheets about sickle cell trait.
• Sickle Cell Disease National Resource Directory is a listing of national agencies, specialty healthcare centers, and community-based organizations that provide services and resources for people affected by SCD. The goal of this directory is to help people find SCD services and resources. Users can search for Providers/Sickle Cell Centers, Non-Profits/Associations/Foundations, and Support Groups within their state.
• Stepping Up: A 2-part video series for teenagers & young adults with SCD shares the stories of Kevin and Calvanay about their transition to adult care, how it has affected them and how they’ve overcome challenges. Spanish transcripts of the videos are available online.
• Provider Training Video Series: “Reducing Complications of Therapeutic Blood Transfusions in Sickle Cell Disease” is a four-part educational video series for healthcare providers. Created in collaboration with the CDC and the Georgia Health Policy Center, the training series is designed to provide information about and strategies for reducing transfusion complications in people with SCD. For CME/CNE credits, go to cdc.gov/TCEOnline, click search and type in the course number and the module title. The course number starts with a ‘WD’ and is followed by 4 numbers.
• In a CDC Expert Commentary on Medscape about transfusions in SCD, Dr. Mary Hulihan, a Health Scientist in the Division of Blood Disorders at CDC discusses scenarios in which transfusions are appropriate for people with SCD, the complications associated with transfusions, and how to reduce the risk of complications from transfusions.
• SCD Resources in Spanish are available on our Spanish webpage. You can find free, informative materials on SCD, such as fact sheets and infographicsin Spanish..".

Sickle cell

BAMS State of the Climate

"2017 was one of three warmest years on record, international report confirms

BAMS State of the Climate 2017

It’s official: 2017 was the third-warmest year on record for the globe, trailing 2016 and 2015, according to the 28th annual State of the Climate report. The planet also experienced record-high greenhouse gas concentrations as well as rises in sea level.

The annual checkup for the planet, led by scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information and published by the Bulletin of the American Meteorology Society, is based on contributions from more than 500 scientists in 65 countries and offers insight on global climate indicators, extreme weather events and other valuable environmental data..."
Climate status

An Assessment of MINORITY VOTING RIGHTS ACCESS in the United States

"Congress has directed the United States Commission on Civil Rights (“the Commission”) to annually examine “Federal civil rights enforcement efforts.” 1 In this report, the Commission examines minority voting rights access through the lens of the federal government’s enforcement of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 since the 2006 reauthorization of its special provisions.2 On February 2, 2018, the Commission held a field briefing in Raleigh, North Carolina. 3 The Commission heard testimony from 23 voting rights experts, including former United States Department of Justice (DOJ or Department) officials from both Republican and Democratic administrations, state election officials, and voting rights experts and advocates. 4 The Commission also heard from 33 members of the public, and received 31 post-briefing written statements in connection with this investigation. The Commission invited officials from relevant offices within the DOJ, but they declined the Commission’s invitation to testify at our field briefing. The Department provided data and documents, which are discussed in Chapter 5. The Department also reviewed a draft of this report and provided comments. The Commission draws this report from the above-referenced sources and independent research. Further, the Commission has considered and been informed by voting rights reports from its State Advisory Committees (SACs).5.."
Minority voting access

Federal Role in U.S. Campaigns and Elections: An Overview

"Conventional wisdom holds that the federal government plays relatively little role in U.S. campaigns and elections. Although states retain authority for most aspects of election administration, a closer look reveals that the federal government also has steadily increased its presence in campaigns and elections in the past 50 years. Altogether, dozens of congressional committees and federal agencies could be involved in federal elections under current law.

Congress faces a complex mix of traditional oversight areas with developing ones throughout the elections field. Reports of foreign interference during the 2016 election cycle, and concerns about future interference, have raised the profile of campaigns and elections policy in Congress, at federal agencies, and beyond. As Congress considers these and other developing issues, this report provides the House and Senate with a resource for first understanding the current campaigns and elections regulatory structure. The report addresses those areas of law and public policy that most directly and routinely affect American campaigns and elections. This includes six broad categories of law through which Congress has assigned various agencies roles in regulating or supporting campaigns, elections, or both. These are campaign finance; election administration; election security; redistricting; qualifications and contested elections; and voting rights.

No single federal agency is in charge of the federal role in campaigns and elections, just as multiple statutes address various aspects of the field. The Election Assistance Commission and Federal Election Commission are devoted entirely to campaigns and elections. Congress has charged other departments and agencies—such as the Department of Justice, Department of Defense, and component organizations comprising the Intelligence Community—primarily with responsibilities for other areas of public policy, but also with supporting or administering campaigns and elections policy in specific cases. Other agencies or statutes may be relevant in specific cases..".
"

Campaigns and elections

Supreme Court Appointment Process: Senate Debate and Confirmation Vote

"The procedure for appointing a Justice to the Supreme Court is provided for in the U.S. Constitution in only a few words. The “Appointments Clause” in the Constitution (Article II, Section 2, clause 2) states that the President “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint ... Judges of the supreme Court.” While the process of appointing Justices has undergone some changes over two centuries, its most essential feature— the sharing of power between the President and the Senate—has remained unchanged: to receive lifetime appointment to the Court, one must first be formally selected (“nominated”) by the President and then approved (“confirmed”) by the Senate.

For the President, the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice can be a notable measure by which history will judge his Presidency. For the Senate, a decision to confirm is a solemn matter as well, for it is the Senate alone, through its “Advice and Consent” function, without any formal involvement of the House of Representatives, which acts as a safeguard on the President’s judgment. This report provides information and analysis related to the final stage of the confirmation process for a nomination to the Supreme Court—the consideration of the nomination by the full Senate, including floor debate and the vote on whether to approve the nomination.."
Supreme court appoitnment

Income and Poverty in the United States: 2017

"This report presents data on income, earnings, income inequality, and poverty in the United States based on information collected in the 2018 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements (CPS ASEC) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highlights

Income:

• Median household income was $61,372 in 2017, an increase in real terms of 1.8 percent from the 2016 median of $60,309.  This is the third consecutive annual increase in median household income.
• The 2017 real median income of family households increased 1.4 percent from 2016 to $77,713.  Real median income for married-couple households increased 1.6 percent between 2016 and 2017.
• The real median income of households maintained by non-Hispanic Whites ($68,145) and Hispanics ($50,486) increased 2.6 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively, between 2016 and 2017.  This is the third annual increase in median household income for these two groups. Among the race groups, households maintained by Asians had the highest median income in 2017, $81,331.
• The real median income of households maintained by a native-born person increased 1.5 percent between 2016 and 2017, while the 2017 real median income of households maintained by a foreign-born person was not statistically different from 2016..."
  Income and poverty

Warning Letters and Civil Money Penalties Issued to Retailers for Selling JUUL and Other E-Cigarettes to Minors

"June 2018 – September 2018

In the largest coordinated enforcement effort in the FDA's history, the agency issued more than 1,300 warning letters and civil money penalty complaints (fines) to retailers who illegally sold JUUL and other e-cigarette products to minors during a nationwide, undercover blitz of brick-and-mortar and online stores this summer:

• See sample warning letter (PDF - 168 KB)
• Retailers who received 1,300+ warning letters and civil money penalty complaints (fines) (CSV)

April 2018 – June 2018

FDA issued warning letters (PDF) and civil money penalties (CMPs) in April - June 2018 as part of a concerted effort to ensure youth are not able to access these products. These retailers sold e-cigarettes—including JUUL products—to minors..."
E-Cigarettes