I'm thinking of creating a political parody website that may step on some toes and/or trademarks. I have a few technical and legal questions about how best to go about this. [more inside]
posted by Riki tiki on Dec 22, 2009 - 6 answers

Recently some controversial legislation was passed by my county board. The opposition is using the time it was passed - early in the morning, after hours of public testimony - as a point of criticism. I am at a loss to understand why this is a talking point. Can you help me understand it? [more inside]
posted by yomimono on Nov 11, 2009 - 11 answers

An intern at work is dressing very inappropriately. Is there any way I can tell her nicely to tone it down? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 21, 2009 - 45 answers

Who were these "celebrated authors" James Madison was referring to in The Federalist Paper No. 14? [more inside]
posted by Myles on Jun 15, 2009 - 8 answers

ForA(Best)FriendFilter: What can a smart, idealistic kid do out of college in the DC area which relates to law & the study of the constitution? [more inside]
posted by tmcw on Dec 24, 2008 - 9 answers

PoliticsLawFilter: Dick Cheney's lawyer, David Addington, wrote a series of papers/statements/memos that ostensibly change an existing law. How can one lawyer, or even a team of lawyers, change a law by simply writing a memo? Is this even possible? [more inside]
posted by zardoz on Dec 21, 2008 - 16 answers

Recent dramas have used (without ambiguity) the name and image of real living figures and events in fiction and film. How this is legally possible? Is it covered by Fair Use? [more inside]
posted by Hugobaron on Nov 5, 2008 - 17 answers

I'm looking for a listing, preferably something with citations of the actual state laws, of when each state changed it's laws to allow for the direct election of electors in the electoral college.
posted by phrontist on Oct 22, 2008 - 1 answer

My dear friend wishes to be governor someday of his state. He is certain law school is the "best path" to attain this goal. Those who have gone to law school (and those who have an opinion) is this necessarily true? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 5, 2008 - 18 answers

Would an oath of office be considered a verbal contract with the constituents represented by that office? If so, would violation of that oath be grounds for a class action lawsuit for breach of contract? This came to mind when examining the voting records of Obama and McCain, and noticing that both have missed a significant percentage of votes during this term of Congress, and that the Senate Oath of Office includes the phrase "... and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter..."
posted by Morydd on Jul 25, 2008 - 11 answers

Can anyone tell me the percentage of children of illegal immigrants who attend college? Specifically in Texas. We are arguing the HB 104 (in state tuition bill) in my government class and I need to know how many children of illegal immigrants who were not born in the US actually attend institutions of higher education....
posted by madmamasmith on Mar 22, 2008 - 12 answers

Can you think of any examples of "jawboning" from history? [more inside]
posted by yesno on Mar 6, 2008 - 4 answers

Say that a (US) presidential administration was doing something it wasn't supposed to be doing. Could a future presidential administration find this out and prosecute the former administration's officials? [more inside]
posted by ontic on Mar 27, 2006 - 15 answers

Truth in (political) advertising... [more inside]
posted by Rothko on Oct 30, 2005 - 5 answers

So there's a grand jury that the special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald has empaneled. 23 members, residents of Wahington D.C. Some questions. [more inside]
posted by Gyan on Oct 25, 2005 - 10 answers

When did the practice of refusing to comment on a given issue due to pending litigation become an acceptable response? Is this a fairly recent development -- a result of living in a sue-happy nation? Is it just the vogue rhetoric of avoiding even a minimal amount of accountability? Or is it something else? For the lawyers out there, what are the ramifications of commenting? ... especially with cases like those involving the government?
posted by fourstar on Jun 29, 2005 - 4 answers

What's so great about the U.S. constitution? From a political science perspective, a legal perspective, a historical perspective? Non-USians without a written constitution especially invited to reply.
posted by insideout on Dec 4, 2004 - 33 answers

What constitutes treason in your country?
posted by Cryptical Envelopment on Dec 1, 2004 - 21 answers

ElectionFairnessFilter. So i just voted (yay) and noticed something odd - a man in the polling place sitting quietly behind a MoveOn PAC sign. I didn't think we in the US could have anyone inside the polling place advocating a specific voting paradigm (even if I do think it's a good paradigm to support), and so I wasn't surprised when a lady complained and an officious-looking man walked over to talk to the seated gentleman - but after a short conversation, they let him stay. Anyone know what gives here? Why would they not ask him to leave?
posted by caution live frogs on Nov 2, 2004 - 15 answers