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Speaker of the House

Speaker of the House

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the highest ranking officer of the United States House of Representatives. The position requires the speaker to head the House as well as the majority political party as well as various procedural and administration functions. The Speaker of the House also leads his or her own congressional district.
The authority of the Speaker of the House is given in Article one, section 2 which specifically states “The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.”
This means that the representatives of the House can choose the Speaker as their presiding officer from the members of the majority party. One elected, the Speaker have the ability to choose other officers such as the clerk for the House, doorkeeper, sergeant at arms, chaplain, and other nonmembers. They can also initiate the process of removing federal officers by a vote and then trial by the Senate.
While a speaker does not officially have to be an elected member of Congress, this has never happened. The Speaker of the House is chosen every midterm election by a vote of the members of the house. After elected the Speaker of the House serves a two year term. While serving, they still act as the representative from their congressional district.
While the Speaker of the House does not always preside over regular meetings, they do often preside over special join sessions of Congress when the House of Representatives hosts the Senate. Here the Speaker of the House will determine when bills should be debated or voted on.
One of the most important features of the position of Speaker of the House is that the Speaker is only behind the Vice president in terms of the line of Presidential Succession, followed by the President pro tempore of the Senate. To date, this succession has never been acted on.
Currently Republican representative John Andrew Boehner from Ohio’s 8th district is the 61st Speaker of the House. Boehner is a graduate of Xavier University who earned a Bachelor’s degree in business. He first worked in the private sector soon ran for public office in 1984 in the Ohio General Assembly.
Boehner was then elected Congress in 1990 where he served on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce as chairman. He was elected as a House Majority Leader in 2006 and finally as the Speaker of the House in 2010. 

John D. Rockefeller

John D. Rockefeller

The Oil Industry’s Revolutionary Man: John D. Rockefeller


Early Life
John D. Rockefeller was born in Richford, New York on July 8, 1839. From an early age, his parents created an understanding of the value of money and how important work and savings were to being successful.  In 1851 his family moved to Owego, New York and a year later he attended Owego Academy where he particularly excelled in arithmetic.
His family then moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1853. Here John D. Rockefeller attended high school between 1853 and 1855. Rockefeller found himself to be particularly apt at math and debate
College and Early Career
John D. Rockefeller completed 10 weeks at Folsom’s Commercial College in the spring of 1855. In  his brief time there he learned bookkeeping, commercial history, penmanship, mercantile customs, and banking  and exchange. He also learned how to properly write up contracts from his father.
At the age of 16, John D. Rockefeller started his job search and through perseverance, obtained a position in 1855 as an assistant bookkeeper at Hewitt and Tuttle. His strong work ethic and honesty impressed his employers and by 1858, he had acquired more responsibilities at Hewitt and Tuttle, such as arranging complicated transportation deals.
John D. Rockefeller began to explore his own trading ventures that he felt he could be successful in. In 1859, John D. Rockefeller started a business with his neighbor, Maurice Clark that commissioned merchants in hay, grain, meats, and other goods. Clark and Rockefeller soon became a very successful and competitive business, which rapidly expanded during the Civil War.
John D. Rockefeller realized that business would be limited in Cleveland with incoming railroad innovations. He shifted his attention away from agricultural products to raw industrial materials that were available in the area. 
John D. Rockefeller’s Shift to the Oil Industry. 
Oil was found in Pennsylvania in 1859, shifting the attention of the economy. In 1865, Rockefeller purchased the firm of Andrews, Clark & Company which handled oil refining and quickly began to extend the company out. With a few changes in partners, the firm became Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler and by 1868, it was world’s largest refiner.
John D. Rockefeller later started the Standard Oil Company of Ohio in 1870, which held one tenth of all the oil business at the time. He then decided to consolidate all oil refining firms to create one large organization, creating Standard Oil in 1871. While Standard Oil was successful for many years after, it was eventually dissolved in the 1890’s.
The End of Rockefeller’s Career
John D. Rockefeller had a partial nervous breakdown in the early 1890’s. Meanwhile his business was so large and he has acquired so much wealth that he did not know what to do with it. Much of it was invested as well as donated to charities. He sold his iron-ore businesses and retired in 1897.
From retirement until his death, John D. Rockefeller participated in many philanthropic activities, for example helping to finance the University of Chicago as well as starting the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
Rockefeller died on May 23, 1937 at the age of 97.

U.S. Treasury

U.S. Treasury

The Basics about the U.S. Treasury
The United U.S. Department of the Treasury, or just the U.S. Treasury, is an executive agency that acts as the federal government’s treasury. 
While many of the functions of the U.S. Treasury were being carried out even before the Declaration of Independence was signed, it was officially established in 1789 by the First Session of Congress.
Purpose of the U.S. Treasury
The U.S. Treasury works to maintain a strong economy and promote conditions that allow for stability and growth, while protecting the integrity of the financial system and effectively managing the government’s resources.
The Department works alongside other agencies within the federal government, with foreign governments, and financial institutions across the world to manage economic growth throughout the world.
Some of the responsibilities of the U.S. treasury include mainlining systems within the country’s financial infrastructure, advising the President concerning on issues related to finance or the economy, revenue collection, borrowing funds to run the federal government, and implementing economic sanctions against possible foreign or national security threats to the U.S. government.

Some other tasks of the U.S. Treasury include the following:
• Overseeing coinage and currency production
• Collecting taxes paid to the U.S.
• Supervising national banks
• Investigating and prosecuting those forgers and tax evaders
• Enforcing tax laws and Federal finance laws
• Advising on policies related to domestic and international finance
Organization
The U.S. Treasury is headed by the Secretary of the Treasury.  This position is fifth in line in the U.S. presidential line of succession. Furthermore, the Secretary is traditionally a member of the President’s Cabinet, and after the Clinton administration, a member of the U.S. National Security Council.
The Secretary of the U.S. Treasury manages the U.S. Emergency Economic Stabilization fund and also signs Federal Reserve notes that later go on to become legal tender. As of January 2009, Timothy Geithner has been acting as the Secretary of the Treasury.
After the Secretary of the Treasury, the next positions highest positions are the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, followed by the Treasurer of the United States and the Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Treasury. These positions are currently held by Neal S. Wolin, Rosie Rios, and Mark A. Patterson, respectively.
The U.S. Treasury is organized into two major sections: the Departmental offices along with the operating bureaus. The Departmental Offices are mainly responsible for creating policy and managing the entire department. The operating bureaus execute specific operations given to the department. 
Beyond the major sections, the U.S. Treasury is further divided into divisions which are headed by the Assistant Secretaries. These offices include:
• Domestic Finance
• General Council
• Economic Policy
• International Affairs
• Management
• Tax Policies
• Legislative affairs
• Public Affairs
• Terrorism and Financial Intelligence
• Treasurer of the United States

What Are Government Programs

What Are Government Programs

What are Government Programs?
Within the legal realm of Government Programs, any laws, acts, ordinances, any and all legislation latent within interaction(s) in which the Federal Government of the United States undergoes with regard to its citizens may fall within the scope of Administrative Law and Federal Law. Government Programs are offered in a variety of forms, which typically provide assistance and relief to individuals in need; the nature of being in the state of ‘need’ can vary depending on the expressed details of a given situation – Government Programs can include insurance, financial assistance, housing assistance, and additional compensatory measures.

The Federal Process of Government Programs
Due to the fact that the United States government exists as a conglomeration of three primary branches, the legal process of establishment – and subsequent regulation – of Government Programs is required to adhere to a multilayered procedure adhering to any or all expressed legality; this process takes place as follows with regard to the 3 primary branches of the Federal Government – the Executive, Legislative Branch, and Judicial Branch(s):
Executive Branch
Comprised of the President of the United States, the Cabinet, and Presidential staff and advisors
Responsible for the approval process, as well as the proposal of prospective legislation
Falls under the jurisdiction of Federal Law and Administrative Law
Legislative Branch
Comprised of the United States Congress; the Senate and the House of Representatives
Responsible for the approval process, as well as the proposal for legislation
Falls under the jurisdiction of Administrative Law 
Judicial Branch
Comprised of the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice
Responsible for undertaking, protecting, and upholding legal judicial review with regard to American legislation
Falls under the jurisdiction of Federal Law
Types of Government Programs
The following are some examples of various Government Programs:
Government Program: Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ Compensation is a form of financial restitution that is awarded to an individual who is employed by a company or business subsequent to an injury sustained on company property while performing in a task related to their respective employment; the acceptance of Workers’ Compensation prohibits and individual from partaking in any additional legal recourse filed against the employer in question – such as additional lawsuits and claims
Legal jurisdiction: Employment Law, Labor Law, Administrative Law, Business Law, Business and Finance Law, Commercial Law, Personal Injury
Crimes associated with this program: Workers’ Compensation Fraud

Government Program: Unemployment Insurance
This Government Program allows individuals who have been ‘laid-off’ or wrongfully-terminated from their respective place of employment access to government-provided compensatory means; Unemployment insurance is typically calculated in accordance with past income
Legal jurisdiction: Employment Law, Administrative Law, Business Law, Business and Finance Law, Commercial Law
Crimes associated with this program: Unemployment Fraud

Government Program: Welfare
This Government Program allows individuals are in the midst of enduring financial hardship or insolvency the ability to receive government funding in the form of monies and residence; welfare payments are calculated as per the presumed need of the individual recipient
Legal jurisdiction: Administrative Law, Property Law
Crimes associated with this program: Welfare Fraud

Texas Filibuster Kills Anti-Abortion Bill

Texas Filibuster Kills Anti-Abortion Bill

Austin, TX—A lone Texas legislator held an 11 hour solo filibuster on Tuesday night, in a successful attempt to stop the state from passing one of the nation's most restrictive anti-abortion laws.

According to Texas state law, the bill was required to pass by midnight on June 26 in order to go to Governor Rick Perry's office for a signature.  The new law would have required all abortion clinics to meet a series of onerous requirements, which pro-choice advocates in the state say would have made it difficult for any clinic in the state to remain open.  It would also have implemented a blanket ban on all abortions performed at more than 20 weeks' gestation.  Perry, an abortion opponent, was expected to sign the bill. 

Texas Senator Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, faced an uphill battle when it came to filibustering the bill.  While Americans may be more used to federal filibusters, which allow U.S. Senators to talk about nearly anything—even just to read the phone book—Texas has substantially stricter rules when it comes to the filibuster.

While Texas senators are allowed to have the floor to speak for an unlimited amount of time, they are subject to a “three strikes” policy.  If they go off-topic three times, they are required to sit down.  Unlike their counterparts in Washington, state senators in Texas are not allowed to eat or drink during the filibuster process.

After 11 hours, Davis had used her three strikes: two by discussing topics that the legislature decided were not relevant to the abortion bill, and once by having another legislator assist her in putting on a back brace.  According to the strict Texas filibuster rules, sitting down or leaning on the podium during a filibuster allows the filibuster to come to an end.

When Republicans issued the third strike to Davis, they were able to make a vote on whether to end her filibuster.  However, several of Davis's fellow Democrats assisted by asking questions relating to parliamentary procedure, making several motions that delayed the vote for an additional two hours.

By the time the bill was up for vote, midnight had nearly arrived.  During the course of the vote, spectators at the legislature began what has become known as the “people's filibuster,” vocally disrupting the legislators in order to gain a few crucial minutes.

While the legislature initially declared that the bill had passed, subsequent examination revealed that it had in fact been passed after the midnight deadline, rendering it dead.  While the victory caused an outpouring of support for Wendy Davis, the celebration was short-lived: Rick Perry has announced that he intends to hold an additional special session of the legislature in order to pass the abortion restrictions.

Texas Mayor Arrested for Stealing Money from Toyah

Texas Mayor Arrested for Stealing Money from Toyah


On November 30, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas announced that Bartolo Sanchez, the mayor of Toyah, Texas, was arrested for fraud and identity theft charges.  He is suspected of stealing $300,000 from the city through fraudulent mileage reimbursement claims and personal expenditures while using the city’s funds.  


Toyah is located about 22 miles west of Pecos, Texas.  The city covers about 1.6 square miles and has a population of about 100.  According to court documents, Sanchez entered into a settlement agreement with Chesapeake Operating Inc without knowledge of the Toyah City Council.  The company gave Sanchez $228,132.54 for surface damages caused by Chesapeake vehicles, but Sanchez placed the money in a Toyah bank account he formed.  


Sanchez is also suspected of writing checks to himself from city accounts because he had signatory authority on all city bank accounts.  The checks were mainly written for false mileage reimbursement claims, but other checks had nothing to do with city business.


Sanchez forged a second signature required on all checks issued to himself.  


Sanchez is charged with one count of bank fraud, one count of wire fraud, and four counts of aggravated identity theft.  He faces up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud, up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud charge, and a mandatory two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft charge.  


Sanchez is assumed innocent until proven guilty.  


The case was investigated by the FBI.  Assistant United States Attorney Austin Berry is prosecuting the case for the government.  


Sanchez’s charges and crimes were announced by United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Morgan.  


Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

Electoral System of Australia

Electoral System of Australia

 


Summary of Electoral System of Australia

Many regard the electoral system of Australia as one of the best voting systems in the entire world.  The voting system is often required under law, and preferential voting elects the candidate with the most votes, regardless of jurisdiction. 

Compulsory Voting

Voting for federal, state, and territory legislatures is required under Australia law.  Voting in municipalities is often required as well.  During the most recent federal election, about 95 percent of the population voted.  Only 5 percent of the population left a ballot blank or failed to properly fill out the ballot. 

If a citizen of Australia fails to vote, they are subject to a $20 fine.  Prosecution is allowable under Australian law, but prosecution does not usually occur. 

Preferential Voting

Preferential voting is used in federal, state parliament, and municipal elections throughout Australia.  The electoral system of Australia is also used in political party elections, trade unions, churches, company boards, volunteer organizations, and sports clubs.  There are two types of preferential voting used in Australia: ‘full’ preferential voting and ‘optional’ preferential voting. 

In full preferential voting, all of the number-one votes are counted for each candidate.  The election goes to the candidate with the majority of the vote (51%).  If none of the candidates have a majority, the candidate with the least votes is excluded right away.  The votes for the excluded candidate then go to the second preference of the voter as described on the ballots.  The process continues until a candidate has over half of the total votes. 

Full preferential voting is used for the federal House of Representatives and the following lower houses: Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory.  Optional preferential voting is used in the lower houses of New South Wales and Queensland. 

Determination of Parliamentary Seats in Australia

The majority of parliamentary seats are determined by proportional representation in Australia.  Proportional representation lets the party’s percentage of overall votes determine the number of seats—40% of the vote ensures 40% of the seats.  There are two variants used in Australia as well, which include the ‘Senate’ model and the Hare-Clark system. 

The Senate model makes it easier for a minor party and independent to win seats.  The system makes it hard for a major party to control the Senate and throughout the following upper houses: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. 

The Hare-Clark system lets party members fight for seats as often as compared to fighting for seats against an outside opponent.  This system lets minority governments operates more than compared with preferential voting.  This system is used for the Tasmanian House of Assembly and the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. 

Electoral System of Australia: The Breakdown

Commonwealth House of Representatives: preferential, full allocation

Commonwealth Senate: proportional representation, Senate model

New South Wales Legislative Assembly: preferential, optional allocation

New South Wales Legislative Council: proportional representation

Victoria Legislative Assembly: preferential, full allocation

Victoria Legislative Council: proportional representation, Senate model

Queensland Legislative Assembly: preferential, optional allocation

Western Australia Legislative Assembly: preferential voting, full allocation

Western Australia Legislative Council: proportional, Senate model

South Australia House of Assembly: preferential, full allocation

South Australia Legislative Council: proportional, Senate model

Tasmania House of Assembly: proportional, Hare-Clark model

Tasmania Legislative Council: preferential voting, partial allocation

Northern Territory Legislative Assembly: proportional, full allocation

Australian Capital Territory: proportional, Hare-Clark model

Source: https://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/electoral_system.html

 

United States to Become Energy Independent by 2035

United States to Become Energy Independent by 2035


On November 12, 2012, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that North America will become the largest net oil exporter by 2035.  In a time where fuel and energy costs are at the center of most debates, there is finally good news for the United States.  


The IEA reports that global demand for oil will reach 99 million barrels per day.  Oil from unconventional sources and deepwater wells will help meet the demand, but the world will rely more heavily on OPEC supply.  The IEA predicts that Iraq will account for 45% of the increase in oil production by 2035, and the country will be the second-largest exporter—eventually overtaking Russia for the second spot behind North America.  


The demand for natural gas will increase 50% by 2035.  The demand will be 5 trillion cubic meters by 2035, and half of the production will come from the United States, Australia, and China—with the United States producing the most.  The demand for coal will increase by 21 percent as well, but the majority of coal demand comes from China and India.  


Renewable energy is predicted to by the second-largest power source in the world by 2015, and renewable energy will be equivalent with the amount of energy produced by coal by 2035.  Increases in nuclear energy will likely occur in China, Korea, and Russia.  


IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven states: “North America is at the forefront of a sweeping transformation in oil and gas production that will affect all regions of the world, yet the potential also exists for a similarly transformative shift in global energy efficiency.  This year’s World Energy Outlook shows that by 2035, we can achieve energy savings equivalent to nearly a fifth of the global demand in 2010.”


Source: International Energy Agency

Director of CIA Resigns Amid Sex Scandal

Director of CIA Resigns Amid Sex Scandal


General David Petraeus resigned from his duty as CIA director on November 9, 2012, after an FBI investigation dug up information about an affair between Petraeus and his biographer, Paula Broadwell.  Petraeus did not break any laws while committing the affair, but he decided to resign because of what he called his “extremely poor judgment.”


During a statement on November 9, 2012, Petraeus stated: “Yesterday afternoon, I went to the White House and asked the President to be allowed, for personal reasons, to resign from my position as D/CIA.  After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair.  Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours.  This afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation.”  


General Petraeus was known for his genius in combat.  He commanded the 101st Airborne during the Iraq invasion in 2003, and he was considered a hero by many troops serving in the war.  


Petraeus’ wife, Holly Petraeus, is often considered a model for the “military wife.”  She and David Petraeus have been married for 37 years and moved their family over 20 times throughout his career, and she was always seen closely by David as he was building his career.  


There is some concern with how the FBI handled the investigation and how Petraeus resigned.  Congress was never notified about Petraeus’ activities during the investigation, and members are now asking for more information about the investigation into Petraeus’ activities.  


In the end of his statement to the public, Petraeus stated, “As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our Nation’s Silent Service, a work force that is truly exceptional in every regard. . . .Thank you for your extraordinary service to our country, and best wishes for continued success in the important endeavors that lie ahead for our country and our Agency.”


Source: Central Intelligence Agency

Victory in Delaware: Marriage Equality Comes to the First State

Victory in Delaware: Marriage Equality Comes to the First State

 

 
Marriage equality is on the verge of becoming the law of the land in the state of Delaware, as the Delaware Senate just passed the landmark legislation by a vote of 12 to 9. 
 
A half hour after the Senate vote, Governor Jack Markell signed the legislation into formal law on the steps in the lobby of the state’s Legislative Hall. 
 
Today’s historic victory for the gay and lesbian community follows a remarkable undertaken led by a number of gay advocacy groups in the nation’s first state. Thousands of Delaware residents volunteered, participated in phone backs, canvassed communities, and contacted their legislators to secure the momentum this bill required to become a reality. Delaware state officials including Governor Jack Markell, Attorney General Beau Biden and Rep. Melanie Smith advocated for the bill. 
Delaware officially becomes the 11th state in the U.S. to permit gay marriage. Republican Senator Catherine Cloutier and Democratic Senator Bethany Long provided the key swing votes in favor of the gay marriage legislation. Cloutier was the only Republican to vote “yes” in the Senate and one of two in the entire General Assembly to approve the bill.
 
According to the prospective law, residents of Delaware will be permitted to enter into same-sex marriages starting on the 1st of July. The law will provide a mechanism for converting existing same-sex civil unions in the state to full-fledged marriages. 
“I strongly believe that this is the right thing for the state of Delaware,” Markell said following the vote. 
 
The same-sex marriage bill was originally introduced in the Democrat-controlled Legislature last month, just a year after the state began recognizing same-sex civil unions. Supporters for the bill argued that same-sex couples deserve the same rights and respect of married couples. Supporters also noted that if the Supreme Court of the United States strikes down the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits married gay couples from procuring federal benefits, civil unions would not offer tax benefits or protections under federal law to same-sex couples in the state of Delaware. 
 
According to the bill, no new civil unions will be created in the state of Delaware after the 1st of July, and existing civil unions will be converted into traditional marriage over the next year. The new law also states that civil unions established in other states will be treated the same as marriages under the new statute.  
 
Source: Human Rights Campaign