Democracy

Former Bush and Reagan Lawyers Break Ranks to Endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, Citing Threats to Democracy

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Washington, D.C. – In a striking deviation from party allegiance, a group of twelve lawyers, who previously served under the Reagan and Bush administrations, formally endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for presidency on Friday. Their open endorsement letter, aired across various platforms, casts a significant shadow over the growing fissures in the Republican Party as former President Donald Trump eyes a return to office. The core of the endorsers’ argument is a stark warning about the perceived dangers of reinstating Donald Trump into the White House. “We believe that returning former President Trump to office … Read more

Controversial Israeli Bill Seeks to Fire Academics for ‘Supporting Terror,’ Sparking Claims of McCarthyism and Democracy Erosion

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JERUSALEM, Israel — Israel’s education minister and the national union of students have endorsed a draft law which critics, including leaders of the country’s top universities, are condemning as a restrictive measure on academic freedom and an echo of historic McCarthyist tactics. The proposed legislation, which has passed the first of four required readings by the Knesset, would empower a government-appointed committee to dismiss academic staff found to be expressing “support for terror.” Under the draft law, if universities failed to comply with dismissals ordered by this committee, they would face potential cuts in funding. … Read more

Public Safety and Rule of Law: Key Priorities for Improving Democracy, New Study Finds

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Public safety and the rule of law are significant factors in improving democracy in many countries, according to a survey conducted in 24 nations. In middle-income countries like Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, and South Africa, safety issues, such as reducing crime and supporting law enforcement, were particularly prominent. In Greece, Poland, and Kenya, concerns about the rule of law were ranked high among the changes needed for improving democracy. However, in most other countries, reforming the justice system itself was not seen as crucial. In Israel, judicial system reform was the top … Read more

University of Maryland Law Professor Maxwell L. Stearns Proposes Revolutionary Plan to Strengthen American Democracy

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Baltimore, Maryland – Maxwell L. Stearns, the Venable, Baetjer & Howard Professor of Law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, has proposed a radical solution to repair America’s broken democracy in his latest book, “Parliamentary America: The Least Radical Means of Radically Repairing Our Broken Democracy.” Drawing on his extensive research and travels to different democracies around the world, Stearns advocates for transforming the U.S. government into a parliamentary system. Stearns recently discussed his ideas at a Zócalo and Los Angeles Times event titled “Would Parliamentary America Have More Fun?” … Read more