Court Cases
What is the court case that legalized abortion in all 50 states?
Roe v. Wade (1973)
What would a "DIY State" approach look like for AI policy?
No government regulation, let private companies make decisions for themselves (probably no government data collection either)
Name two policy levers that could be "pulled" when it comes to immigration policy
How many immigrants are allowed in the US and from what country, deporting vs arresting vs granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants, benefits that immigrants are eligible for, paths to citizenship
What income support program has wide bipartisan support?
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
What was the result of the expiration of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994?
Gun deaths increased
What Supreme Court case stated that state regulation of abortion could not impose "undue burden?"
Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)
With the topic of immigration, what would a "Daddy State" approach look like?
Social contract: only allow immigrants with particular skills sets
Name a specific policy lever that was pulled in reference to the Inflation Reduction Act (2022)
Subsidizing solar energy and EVs, focus on disadvantaged communities (transportation, pollution, energy efficient affordable housing), funding to support environmental resilience in rural communities
What are some conflicting values at play when it comes to the issue of artificial intelligence?
Safety vs. privacy; government regulation vs. free market; data privacy vs. tailored recommendations
What is the name of the legislation related to climate that provided subsidies for clean energy technologies and also allowed oil drilling on federal land?
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
Name one of the court cases discussed related to voting rights.
Shaw v. Reno (1993), Shelby County v. Holder (2013), Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission (2023), Alexander v. South Carolina Conference of the NAACP (2023), Kirkpatrick v. Preisler (1969), Rucho v. Common Cause (2019)
Is old-age social security policy in our country operating under a "Nanny State," "Daddy State," or "DIY State" perspective?
Daddy state - if you don't have enough work credits, you are not eligible for Social Security!
Name 3 policy levers that policymakers can choose when it comes to the topic of abortion.
When an abortion can take place, what kind of abortion is legal, who is required to perform an abortion, what are the exceptions for abortions, what must a person go through before receiving an abortion
How can a climate policy be framed in a way to achieve bipartisan support?
Green energy, creating jobs, stronger infrastructure, strengthening rural communities
What is the name of the California legislation that created a board to address and prevent racial profiling in the criminal legal system?
Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA)
What was the Supreme Court case that determined that states could not ban firearms on the basis of the Fourteenth and Second Amendments?
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
With the topic of income supports, what would a "Daddy State" policy look like? (Can be one that currently exists or one that you make up)
TANF: must work to receive assistance; EITC: must work to receive benefit; a policy that provides support only if you have children/if you work/if you comply with the rules
Share three policy levers that can be pulled related to the topic of criminal justice
Parole (mandatory vs discretionary, how long, how frequent); Pay to stay fees; felony voting; crime prevention policies; wrongful conviction policies
Propose a bipartisan solution to maintain Social Security solvency (make sure SS doesn't run out of $)?
Tax investment income, but only over a certain threshold, progressive payroll tax (probably a pretty high income where the increased taxes begin), change benefit formula so that extremely high earners do not receive as much SS
Sections 4 and 5 of the Voting Rights Act are (basically) no longer in effect. What did these sections require?
Identified states were required to obtain preclearance from the federal government before changing their voting practices or laws.
What was the decision made in the District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) case?
HINT: this case is related to the topic of firearms
Protects an individual's right to bear arms, not just a collective militia's right
What would a "Nanny State" approach look like for the topic of voting?
Everyone's right to vote is protected; it's easier to vote absentee; same-day voter registration
Name three policy choices that could be made to make Social Security solvent for longer (AKA not run out of $)
Decrease benefit amounts, increase payroll tax (for all incomes or just some incomes), raise retirement age, tax investment income
When it comes to the topic of immigration, give an example of a common value or policy decision.
Don't separate families; make the legal immigration process easier/faster; pathway for citizenship for Dreamers
What is the name of the legislation that allows police to hold individuals (who have committed a crime and who they think are in the country illegally) until their immigration status can be checked? HINT: Arizona law
SB 1070 or Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act