Briefs

Article III of the Constitution establishes the judicial branch and designates U.S. Congress shall have the power to establish district courts and courts of appeal. Once these courts are established, they require judges to conduct courtroom proceedings. Judges adjudicate legal cases, but how are judges selected and appointed?

National and state offices draw a lot of attention, but we cannot overlook the importance of positions at the local level and the direct influence they have on communities. The purpose of The Policy Circle Engagement Guides is to provide context and resources related to local level engagement opportunities, so you can have a say in what’s happening in your community, be an informed community member, and build your network and social fabric. This guide focuses on local boards, commissions, and committees, their role in the community and government, and what to consider if you are interested in being involved.

Mental health is an issue that affects every facet of our lives. To be a thriving society, individuals need to feel in balance with their emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing, and have the ability to cope with challenges they face so they can reach their full potential. The goal of this brief is to define mental health, examine the current landscape of the impact of and challenges presented by mental health problems, and highlight solutions that may inspire you to act on this issue.

Each state offers various amenities and lifestyles, from tax rates to climate. In the United States, we have the freedom to move within our state or move to a different one. Domestic migration patterns have shifted in the last decade. Where are people leaving from and where are they going? What are the factors driving people away from, or towards, a certain location? What are the effects of state to state migration and how does it affect the country as a whole?

National and state offices draw a lot of attention, but we cannot overlook the importance of positions at the local level and the direct influence they have on communities. The purpose of The Policy Circle Engagement Guides is to provide context and resources related to local level engagement opportunities, so you can have a say in what’s happening in your community, be an informed community member, and build your network and social fabric. This guide focuses on neighborhood associations, their role in the community, and what to consider if you are interested in being involved.

Although opioids can be effective in treating chronic pain, they also pose risks to patients due to their highly addictive properties. These risks have fueled the U.S. drug crisis that kills thousands of Americans each year. What are the root causes of the drug crisis? What is the role of government, industry, and individuals in trying to help Americans facing this public health emergency?

America has always been considered the land of opportunity. Unfortunately, individuals can find themselves trapped in a spiral of poverty preventing them from reaching their full potential. This brief covers what human creativity can accomplish in an entrepreneurial economy regarding the issue of poverty.

A series of crises around the globe - from Afghanistan and Ukraine to Syria, Yemen, and Venezuela - have resulted in the largest refugee population since WWII. America's refugee policies are a key component of our immigration laws, which are frequently debated but rarely updated in meaningful ways. How does the U.S. welcome and support individuals and families that arrive in the U.S. seeking to build new lives? What are the legal differences between a refugee and an asylum seeker? How has the refugee population grown and changed in recent decades? What roles do businesses, communities, and nonprofits play in supporting these groups? What role does the government and legal system play in shaping existing policies and the path forward? What can citizens do to address refugee crises?

Government assistance programs, sometimes referred to as social safety net programs, are various programs meant “to protect low-income Americans from poverty and hardship,” with the goal of getting Americans back on their feet, or to protect those without “sound body and mind” with a minimum standard of living. How are these programs structured and funded? How is success measured? What are the long-term financial outlooks?

It is difficult to think about a neighborhood or community without thinking about its schools. When families make decisions about moving, for example, school districts are always part of the decision making process. Schools are a kind of social infrastructure, which Eric Klinenberg, sociologist and author of Palaces for the People, describes “as veritable glue that connects us and binds us together in our communities.”

The same word has been used to describe China, the former U.S.S.R., Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, Sweden, Iceland, and Denmark: Socialism. Today, it has entered policy discussions in the United States. What exactly is socialism? What do people mean when they talk about socialism?

In the 1950s, Venezuela was the fourth wealthiest country in the world. Today, Venezuela is poorer than it was prior to the 1920s, its infrastructure is deteriorating, and its economy has been shrinking since the turn of the century. Hyperinflation (out of control price increases) has left the currency worthless and made it almost impossible for Venezuelans to afford basic necessities. Millions have fled the country’s inhospitable conditions. How did the country go from having a GDP on par with that of the United States, New Zealand, and Switzerland to having almost 90% of the population living in poverty?