More Evidence on the Palin Effect
5/25/2012 1:30:02 AM
By Scott Lemieux Last year, I discussed some political science research indicating that, contrary to past findings that vice presidential candidates have little effect on electoral outcomes, John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin actually had a significant (and, as it...

What Does the Public Want In A Justice?
5/25/2012 1:30:02 AM
By Scott Lemieux It has become common for pundits to bemoan the lack of substantive content in the answers given by nominees to the Supreme Court at their confirmation hearings. Indeed, the extent to which nominees have perfected the art...

The President and Executive Power
5/25/2012 1:30:02 AM
By Scott Lemieux Some court observers who might generally be considered allies of President Obama have expressed concerns about the solicitude for executive power shown by Obama's second Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan. There is at least some evidence for...

The Difficulty of Separating Law and Politics
5/25/2012 1:30:02 AM
By Scott Lemieux To follow up on my recent post about judicial decision-making, the upcoming Supreme Court hearings are likely to involve the candidate arguing that there is a splendid isolation between "law" and "politics" on the Supreme Court. Political...

The Beverage Tax
5/25/2012 1:30:02 AM
by Laura McKenna One of the many proposed policies aimed at reducing obesity is a beverage tax. New York State has proposed a one cent tax on sugary drinks. In Diane Sawyer's documentary of Appalachia, she has a long discussion...

The Politics of Public Health
5/25/2012 1:30:02 AM
by Laura McKenna Thanks to Michelle Obama and Jamie Oliver, everybody is talking about obese children and what government can be doing differently. Fatty school lunches, the need for exercise programs, the possibility of a soda tax, and the creation...

Will The Supreme Court Strike Down Parts of the Affordable Care Act? Potential Lessons From Political Science
5/25/2012 1:30:02 AM
By Scott Lemieux The passage of health care reform has led to a considerable amount of speculation about whether the Supreme Court might strike down parts of the legislation. The most plausible constitutional arguments surround the mandate that people who...