Posted on · Amid recent developments in the news, there have been examples of Americans citing their Constitutional rights in ways that suggest they don’t know what’s actually in the U.S. Constitution. We discuss a few such examples, and seek to debunk some common misconceptions about what the language in the Constitution actually states. We welcome your questions […]
Posted on · Delegates of the Green Party met at the University of Houston on Saturday (Aug. 6, 2016) to nominate Dr. Jill Stein as their presidential candidate. The Green Party is one of a few so-called “third parties” that have sought to make inroads in recent election cycles, with varying success. On this edition of Houston Matters, […]
Posted on · The US Supreme Court this morning (June 27, 2016), in a 5-3 ruling, struck down two provisions of a Texas law regulating abortion: one requiring doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admissions privileges within 30 miles; the other requiring clinics that provide abortions to meet the standards of outpatient surgical centers. The state argued […]
Posted on · The U.S. Supreme Court this morning (June 27, 2016), in a 5-3 ruling, struck down two provisions of a Texas law regulating abortion: one requiring doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admissions privileges within 30 miles; the other requiring clinics that provide abortions to meet the standards of outpatient surgical centers. The state argued […]
Posted on · On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down decisions in two of the three pending major cases tied to Texas. The court deadlocked 4-4 on President Obama's plan that would have shielded millions of immigrants from deportation. And, in a 4-3 decision, the court upheld the affirmative action program at the University of Texas. Joining […]
Posted on · Judges for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard oral arguments last week (May 24, 2016) over a challenge to the state's voter ID law. Plaintiffs allege the requirement violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by making it more difficult — specifically for African Americans and Latinos — to cast […]
Posted on · Judges for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard oral arguments last week (May 24, 2016) over a challenge to the state's voter ID law. Plaintiffs allege the requirement violates section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, by making it more difficult — specifically for African Americans and Latinos — to cast […]
Posted on · Gov. Greg Abbott last week (Jan. 8, 2016) joined the ranks of Republicans pushing for the first U.S. Constitutional Convention in more than 200 years. He called on Texas to take the lead in pushing for numerous constitutional amendments that would give states power to ignore federal laws and override decisions made by the U.S. […]
Posted on · Religiously-themed license plates are generally not an issue in the separation between church and state. But there is one Texas plate that could fall into a gray area.
Posted on · The U.S. Supreme Court last week (Dec. 8 and 9, 2015) heard oral arguments in two cases that stem from Texas. One, Evenwel v. Abbott, deals with how legislative districts are drawn – and it could have a profound effect on future elections. The other, Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, deals with affirmative […]
Posted on · The U.S. Supreme Court last week (Dec. 8 and 9, 2015) heard oral arguments in two cases that stem from Texas. Evenwel v. Abbott deals with how legislative districts are drawn and could have a profound effect on future elections. Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin deals with the use of affirmative action in […]
Posted on · Nine more Syrian refugees are scheduled to arrive here in Houston today, after U.S. District Judge David Godbey Wednesday denied Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's request for an emergency order blocking them. Paxton submitted then withdrew a similar request last week. The Attorney General's back-and-forth actions are not, of course, the only mixed messages coming […]
Posted on · On Tuesday, the family of Sandra Bland filed a federal lawsuit against the Texas Department of Public Safety, a state trooper, two jailers and the Waller County Jail in connection with Bland's death while in jail custody following her July 10 arrest. Bland's family say they still haven't received enough answers about her death and […]
Posted on · What would you add to the Constitution if you could?
Posted on · The U.S. Supreme Court issued the last of its opinions for this term on Monday. Many of the High Court’s decisions this term carry big implications for the nation — and for the state of Texas in particular. Among the highlights: the court determined bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional, that health care subsidies acquired […]