Government

short readsApr 23, 2014

Americans keen on space exploration, less so on paying for it

Americans are consistently more likely to say that the U.S. spends too much on space exploration than too little.
short readsApr 22, 2014

Supreme Court says states can ban affirmative action; 8 already have

Tuesday’s Supreme Court decision upholding Michigan’s ban on affirmative action affects more than college admissions, and more than just Michigan. Seven other states have similarly broad bans in their constitutions or statute books, and opponents of affirmative action have called on other states, and the federal government, to follow suit.
short readsApr 10, 2014

Gay marriage battle moves back to courts

A federal appeals court today will hear arguments in a constitutional challenge to Utah’s same-sex marriage ban – the first of five court challenges to state bans taking place over the next two weeks. This flurry of court activity comes on the heels of a number of other decisions striking down same-sex marriage bans in […]
short readsApr 10, 2014

What kinds of Supreme Court cases interest Americans? Not campaign finance

The public paid relatively little attention to last week’s major Supreme Court ruling striking down campaign contribution limits, but other high-profile cases do get a lot of attention.
short readsApr 4, 2014

WashPost/Kaiser: Many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans bring home the burdens of war

Veterans returning from serving in Iraq or Afghanistan say they have found re-entering civilian life to be difficult. A significant share says they have experienced outbursts of anger in daily life. Others say their mental or emotional health is worse since their time in the service, or that they have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.
reportApr 1, 2014

Catholics, other Christians support immigration reform, but say faith plays small role
short readsMar 25, 2014

After Hobby Lobby, a nonprofit legal challenge to the contraception requirement

Even though the two cases heard by the Supreme Court involve for-profit businesses, the rulings in Hobby Lobby and Conestoga on the contraceptive requirement could impact subsequent cases involving nonprofits like Little Sisters of the Poor.
short readsMar 24, 2014

5 questions about the Hobby Lobby case and contraceptive coverage

A Q & A about the two related cases that will be argued before the Supreme Court on Tuesday involving a challenge to regulations in the Affordable Care Act requiring many employers to include free coverage of contraceptive services in their employees’ health insurance plans.
fact sheetMar 20, 2014

Health Care Law’s ‘Contraception Mandate’ Reaches the Supreme Court

On March 25, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases challenging regulations arising from the Affordable Care Act. Both cases involve for-profit businesses whose owners object – for religious reasons – to free coverage of contraceptive services in their employees’ health insurance plans.
short readsMar 19, 2014

Religious police found in nearly one-in-ten countries worldwide

As of 2012, at least 17 nations have police that enforce religious norms. Religion police forces are most common in the Middle East and North Africa, and are also found in the Asia-Pacific and in sub-Saharan Africa.