Constitution Archives

The Supreme Court has agreed to bypass lower appeals courts and review a case about a question on the 2020 census asking about citizenship status.

Social Justice

Immigrant Rights Groups File a Lawsuit Challenging the Census’ Citizenship Question

The suit's plaintiffs say the question could discourage certain ethnic minorities from completing the census due to fears that their responses could be used against them.

Rebecca Worby

Maureen Ui Fhearraigh casts her ballot paper as voting takes place a day earlier than on the mainland, on May 24th, 2018, in Gola Island, Ireland.

News in Brief

Viewfinder: Voting for an Abortion Referendum Begins in Ireland

Maureen Ui Fhearraigh casts her ballot paper as voting takes place a day earlier than on the mainland, on May 24th, 2018, in Gola Island, Ireland.

Pacific Standard Staff

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Make America Great Again Rally on March 10th, 2018, in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.

Social Justice

Church and State: Is the Trump Administration Giving Religion an Outsized Role in Public Policy?

Based on recent actions by the president, it appears Trump's idea of creating opportunities for religious values in America involves turning religion into an arm of the state.

Chayenne Polimédio

A pro-choice activist holds a sign in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on January 22nd, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

Social Justice

A Federal Judge Blocks a Ban on Down Syndrome Abortions in Ohio

The temporary ban on the law will benefit women who have sought abortions with the belief or knowledge that the fetus has Down syndrome.

Candace Butera

An honor guard stands next to the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights on July 4th, 2001, at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

News in Brief

Should We Fear Article V?

We're closer to a constitutional convention, where any new amendment could be put before a simple majority vote, than you might realize.

Seth Masket

Economics

How Trump Could Have Benefited from Tax Loopholes in the U.S.

Donald Trump's supporters crowed when leaked pages of his 2005 return showed he paid a hefty amount of taxes. But the returns for the following years, which remain secret, likely include some hefty refunds of that payment.

Allan Sloan

News in Brief

The Toughest Death of 2016: the Democratic Norms That (Used to) Guide Our Political System

We end the year in a dramatically weaker position than we entered it in. By Seth Masket (Photo:…

Pacific Standard Staff

News in Brief

Could Overturning 185 Years of Precedent Let Donald Trump Keep His Businesses?

Another view of the clause in the Constitution regarding payments from foreign countries would let Trump off the…

Pacific Standard Staff

Environment

Is Water a Fundamental Human Right?

On a search to find our right to clean drinking water in U.S. and international law.

Brian Palmer

News in Brief

Could Scott Walker’s Legal Victory Expand PAC Superpowers?

Proponents of tighter reins on political money worry that a Wisconsin ruling about the governor’s recall campaign could carry seeds of another Citizens United.

Robert Faturechi