Partisan Political Activities and Federal Workers: Questions in the 2016 Election

"As Election Day nears, interest in the Hatch Act’s regulation of government employees’ political activities peaks, with a number of issues raising congressional interest. Are federal officials permitted to appear with candidates for partisan political election at public events? Can federal entities endorse a candidate for partisan political election? The following Q&A addresses the issues implicated by these questions.

How does the Hatch Act regulate federal employees’ ability to engage in the political process? 

Federal law, commonly known as “the Hatch Act,” has regulated federal executive branch employees’ participation in partisan political activities for over a century. Although it originally applied a broad ban on all voluntary, outside activities in politics, subsequent amendments in 1993 and 2012 have allowed most federal employees to engage in a wide range of voluntary, partisan political activities in their time off-duty, away from their federal jobs, and off any federal premises. Some strict limitations still apply, however, to employees of certain designated agencies (e.g., certain law enforcement and national security agencies)..."
Political activities and federal workers

Iran: Politics, Gulf Security, and U.S. Policy

"Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, a priority of U.S. policy has been primarily to reduce the perceived threat posed by Iran to a broad range of U.S. interests, including the security of the Persian Gulf region. U.S. officials also express a broad range of concerns about Iran’s human rights abuses. The implementation of a July 14, 2015, “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action” (JCPOA) nuclear agreement between Iran and six negotiating powers appeared to represent an opportunity to reduce the long-standing U.S.-Iran enmity and construct a new relationship..."
Iran

Demographic and Economic Profiles of Washington’s Electorate

"In advance of the Washington caucus on March 26 and primary on May 24, the Census Bureau presents a variety of statistics that give an overall profile of the state’s voting-age population and industries. Statistics include:

• Voting-age population and estimate of eligible voters (i.e., citizens age 18 and older).
• Breakdown of voting-age population by race and Hispanic origin (Hispanic origin and race alone) (race alone or in combination).
• Selected economic characteristics, including median household income and poverty.
• Selected social characteristics, including educational attainment.
• County Business Patterns (providing information on employment by specific industries).
• Statistics on voting and registration..."

Washington electorate

Iraq: Politics and Governance

"Iraq’s sectarian and ethnic divisions—muted toward the end of the 2003-2011 U.S. military intervention in Iraq—are fueling a major challenge to Iraq’s stability and to U.S. policy in Iraq and the broader Middle East region. The resentment of Iraq’s Sunni Arabs toward the Shiitedominated central government facilitated the capture in 2014 of nearly one-third of Iraqi territory by the Sunni Islamist extremist group called the Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIL, ISIS, or the Arabic acronym Da'esh). Iraq’s Kurds are separately embroiled in political, territorial, and economic disputes with Baghdad, but those differences have been at least temporarily subordinated to the common struggle against the Islamic State.

U.S. officials assert that the Iraqi government must work to gain the loyalty of more of Iraq’s Sunnis—and to resolve differences with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)—if an eventual defeat of the Islamic State is to result in long-term stability. Prospects for greater intercommunal unity appeared to increase in 2014 with the replacement of former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki with the current Prime Minister, Haydar al-Abbadi. Although both men are from the Shiite Islamist Da’wa Party, Abbadi has taken some steps to try to compromise with Sunnis and with the KRG. However, a significant point of contention with the KRG remains the KRG’s marketing of crude oil exports separately from Baghdad..."
Iraq

Presidential Nominating Process and the National Party Conventions, 2012: Frequently Asked Questions

"This report provides answers to frequently asked questions about the presidential nominating
process, including how the delegates to the national conventions are chosen, the differences
between a caucus and a primary, national party rules changes for 2012, and the national
conventions themselves. It is not a comprehensive report on all aspects of the presidential
nominating process..."

Polling Places - Wisconsin

In addition to providing polling places for Wisconsin citizens, the Wisconsin Government Accountably Board includes information on campaign finance, election results, new voter ID law, recall campaigns, voter registration, etc.

10 Most Unusual Presidential Candidates.
Whereas were are in the middle of another presidential campaign, here is a look
at some unusual candidates from the past.
courtesy of CheapService.com