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Enforcing Interstate Compacts In Federal Systems, Michael Osborn
Enforcing Interstate Compacts In Federal Systems, Michael Osborn
Indiana Journal of Constitutional Design
The central goal of a federal system is for local government units to retain degrees of independence, specifically over matters of importance to that local unit. A logical corollary to that independence is the ability for local units to negotiate and contract with other local units on matters of importance. Therefore, it is not surprising that almost every federal system allows, either implicitly or explicitly, member states to form binding compacts with other states, the union government, or municipalities.1 Some federal democracies even allow member states to compact with foreign governments. Furthermore, almost every federal constitution includes a provision outlining …
Answering The Call: A History Of The Emergency Power Doctrine In Texas And The United States, P. Elise Mclaren
Answering The Call: A History Of The Emergency Power Doctrine In Texas And The United States, P. Elise Mclaren
St. Mary's Law Journal
During times of emergency, national and local government may be allowed to take otherwise impermissible action in the interest of health, safety, or national security. The prerequisites and limits to this power, however, are altogether unknown. Like the crises they aim to deflect, courts’ modern emergency power doctrines range from outright denial of any power of constitutional circumvention to their flagrant use. Concededly, courts’ approval of emergency powers has provided national and local government opportunities to quickly respond to emergency without pause for constituency approval, but how can one be sure the availability of autocratic power will not be abused? …