Over the course of American history, there have been efforts to ensure all citizens have the right to vote. However, there is still one final group in the United States that has been unfairly disenfranchised: former felons.
Tag: United States
Climate Change as a Priority in Future Global Elections
In last year’s 117th Congress, 139 out of 535 elected officials (~25%) refused to acknowledge the existence of climate change. It is important to note that these 139 representatives have collectively received $61 million in lifetime contributions from the coal, oil, and gas industries.
Choosing How to Choose: Alternative Electoral Systems
While there is likely no single reform that could solve all the problems with American politics, it could be good to look at some alternative voting systems that could be implemented in the United States. The majoritarian electoral system used in the US is not the only type that is used across the world, after all.
Culture War: Americans are Redefining What it Means to Disagree
From candy wrappers to how we educate our children, the culture war in the United States has taken over politics on the state and national levels, and the implications of this are larger than many think.
Enlarging the House
The House of Representatives is legally mandated to contain 435 seats pursuant to the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929. This mandate on the number of congressional districts has remained stagnant despite the fact that the average population in each congressional district has nearly tripled from 280,675 persons in 1930 to more than 760,000 persons today.
Minting the Coin: A Debt-Ceiling Panacea or a Trillion-Dollar Boondoggle?
Could minting a single trillion-dollar coin help the Biden administration circumvent political and economic havoc?
The Tennessee Three
Declarations of fascism rang throughout the chamber of the Tennessee House of Representatives on April 3 as House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) called for a vote on three resolutions to expel three Democrats for “disorderly behavior.”
A House Divided: Is Congress Fueling or Reflecting Polarization in the US?
If you ask any politically aware person about the state of American politics today, they will likely characterize it with one word: polarization.
SCOTUS Hears Arguments in Moore v. Harper: Independent State Legislature Doctrine May Have Implications for Federal Election Processes
At stake? Democracy itself—a broad adoption of the ISL doctrine could result in rogue legislatures stripping previously-guaranteed voting rights protections from the state constitution with no ability for state courts to protect these rights.
How Chinese President Xi’s Reelection May Impact Taiwan and the US
Xi Jinping holds the three highest positions in the Chinese Communist Party, wielding more power than any of his predecessors, and he might be here to say.
Binghamton University Alum Hakeem Jeffries Becomes New House Minority Leader in Democratic Leadership Shakeup
With Jeffries becoming more prominent in American politics now than ever before, Happy Medium offers a profile of the congressman as a politician and as a Binghamton alum.
2022 Midterm Elections Recap
HM Political Director Bryan Goodman breaks down what happened in November and what it means going forward.
The “Great Debate” Between College Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians Marks a New Era of Cross-aisle Collaboration at BU
A debate between the three organizations sparked discussions about some of the most hot-button issues of the midterm elections.
Let’s Talk About Gerrymandering
“Courts ought not to enter this political thicket.”
What Special Congressional Elections Tell Us About the Midterms
Political Director Bryan Goodman breaks down recent election results and examines data suggesting a current ‘blue shift’ in favor of Democrats.
SCOTUS Reform: Historical Attempts
With the recent Dobbs v. Jackson decision that overturned the previous abortion rulings in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, calls for structural reform to the Supreme Court have increased.
New Yorkers Who Held Power and Made History in Congress
With the midterm elections around the corner, we look back at some of the most influential and groundbreaking politicians that New York has sent to Washington.
Before Redistricting Commissions Put an End to Gerrymandering, They Have to Actually Work
Following the 2020 census, redistricting commissions set to work to redraw voting district lines—to varying degrees of success.
What is in the SCOTUS Leak? A Deep Dive into the Dobbs v. Jackson Draft Opinion
Our political director read the leaked draft opinion and reports back on the important details, including the ramifications the decision may have on LGBTQ+ rights.
Federalism and the Battle Over Abortion Laws
As an individual’s right to make private choices regarding their body becomes increasingly threatened, especially for the most vulnerable members of America’s population, the question remains: how did the Supreme Court become America’s self-proclaimed authority on abortion rights?
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