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What is Economic Populism? I saw an article this morning on NBC declaring that Economic Populism Will Be Front And Center for 2016 Elections . It goes into detail about why this will be such an important issue in the coming year. It does not, however, do very much to accurately define what Economic Populism actua...	In the most basic terms, Economic Populism is "commonly defined as: "the political doctrine that supports the rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite.
What are the arguments in favor of the "first past the post" system? With the election results in the UK election finishing up, a lot of people have pointed out that the number of seats some of the parties got in parliament is far disproportionate to their vote share. Thus, ukip got around 10% of the vote (or around 4 ...	The argument FOR the system is that, from a regional perspective, the representative did indeed win the most local votes to represent their community.
Does it matter what is said on the US congress floor? It seems like bills are only put up for vote when the votes for and against are known beforehand. So, does it matter what they debate about during the actual sessions of congress? Is it purely for show? Or is it for their constituencies? Another way of asking my qu...	Congresspeople also rely heavily on their colleagues who are on the committees that go through bills in greater depth, to help them understand bills and the pros and cons thereof.
Is there a symbol for Democracy or Democratic Republic? Is there a symbol or flag for Democracy or a Democratic Republic? This would be something general, not for a political party or country (unless the country happened to adopt a general symbol). <Q> Regime types are abstractions. <S> They don't have symbols, becaus...	Within many democracies, their legislature (the building) is a poignant symbol of their system of government.
Why doesn't Russia join the European Union? Why doesn't Russia join the EU? If they become one of them, then they would not be enemies anymore, right? They have already joined the G-20. Then, they could also join EU, right? <Q> The European Union has very strict standards for joining it, both economical and political...	Besides this, there is a great anti-EU and anti-Western sentiment in Russia, especially concerning some of the EU values like gay rights but also including political and economic. Even if there was interest on both sides (which does not seem to be the case to say the least), it would be very difficult for Russia to do ...
How does the President get last-minute bills when Congress passes them just minutes before a deadline? I understand that the President signs the blue leather-bound enrolled bill, but it doesn't seem possible that the document could traverse the length of Pennsylvania Avenue in just a few minutes in the case of a last-m...	If it is already known in advance that the president intends to sign a given bill, they can prepare the copy that the president signs and have it waiting for Congressional approval.
Does the Republic of China (Taiwan) have any chance at regaining control of mainland China? People's Republic of China (Communist China) is technically a Marxist-inspired revolutionary state that imposed their single party dictatorship in China. The old government is in exile in Taiwan, and became democratic in the mea...	The Republic of China (Taiwan) wasn't democratic when it had control of the mainland, it was essentially a nationalist dictatorship.
Why are some secessionist movements on the left but others on the right? In Europe, Scottish , Catalan , and Basque seperatist movements are primarily associated with left-wing politics. Others, like Lega Nord in Italy or the Vlaams Belang campaigning for a petition of Belgium , are primarily associated with th...	Secessionist movements are largely determined as the opposite of, or at least different from the governing party.
How does the US justify its drone attacks? How does the US justify ethically and legally its drone attacks in the Greater Middle East ( especially in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan)? For instance killing their own citizens in some of the attacks. Source Or killing other people who are there unfortunately at...	The justification is that there are terrorists that are planning attacks on the US or others and by a very stretched definition of imminent threat they pose an imminent threat.
Is ISIS considered a state? The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is "a Salafi jihadi extremist militant group and self-proclaimed caliphate and Islamic state which is led by Sunni Arabs from Iraq and Syria" (Wikipedia). With an ever-expanding territory covering Iraq and Syria and millions of people living there, ...	I would argue that given their clearly defined Wilayahs (regions/areas/prefectures) they have a defined territory
Is cultural assimilation a violation of human rights for immigrants? For immigrants, is it a violation of human rights to use cultural assimilation policies ? <Q> Not necessarily. <S> Your question doesn't take into consideration that assimilation is either willful , an act of volition, or coercive . <S> Take for e...	In summary, there are rules and a recent history, in Europe, of protecting the positive right of everybody, including immigrants, of cultivating their own culture, but there are no rules that forbids initiatives to increase the cultural assimilations of immigrants.
Voting rights for mentally disabled people Can someone enlighten me the rationale behind the fact that mentally disabled citizens are allowed to vote while a 17 year old doesn't have that right, no matter how smart or knowledgeable you are? <Q> The rationale is that the age limit is easy to define. <S> We could deba...	Voting rights for mentally disabled persons are different in different countries.
Why did Rand Paul vote for tobacco subsidies? As I was recently attempting to determine which Republican presidential candidate was least in the pocket of Big Agriculture, I came across Rand Paul's record. It's mostly strongly anti-subsidy except one case where he voted against an amendment that would end subsidize...	He's simply trying to get money for farmers in his state.
Why do we have borders? From a Cameroonian refugee. Why do we have borders ? A reporter interviews a Cameroonian refugee. What he says in the video sounds like, "The sky is open and only one thing, why do we divide it and have borders ?" "Why should we forbid a human being from crossing a border ?" So yes, i...	If you allow everybody to enter your Country you lose control and bad things may happen: economic troubles, political crises, loss of political authority, violence, etc.
What is the political system where there is a 'friendly' dictatorship Is there a word for a kind of government where leadership is not elected, but the rulers are not harsh or violent? I am thinking of a 'just dictatorship', if you will. <Q> Look at Singapore under Lee Kwan Yew. <S> Termed a "benevolent dictatorship". ...	There is the word " benevolent dictator ".
Where does North Korea find scientists to develop its missiles? Where does North Korea find scientists to develop its missiles in order to continue the development of their scientific research? Do they have any education background or they hire foreign scientists? If they hire, from where and how? <Q> They were like...	Moscow may have allowed several North Korean nuclear researchers to work at Russian nuclear sites, including a scientist who is under United Nations Security Council sanctions.
Why do governments still assume that "the more land, the better"? There is constant political struggle for land between two or more nations around the world, where two different countries claiming to own a land area even though another country controls (or "occupy") it. Whenever a region asks for independence, usually ...	Usually the territory in question has some economic or strategic value beyond the land itself that makes it worth acquiring.
Is there a precise definition of what a "landslide election victory" is? E.g. in an election dominated by X parties (or candidates), is there some (even rough) threshold Y% of the votes at which we can say a certain party (or candidate) had a "landslide election victory"? 60%? 70%? Or is it just a very loose figure-of...	Although it differs from nation to nation because of differences in election practices, a Landslide Victory occurs when a candidate receives a Super-majority of the votes (2/3rds or 66%-67% (rounded, though most people will say 66% is enough of a gap, despite being slightly short) or better)
What is ISIS fighting for? I can't find anything on the subject that isn't extremely biased in either direction... Can anyone give me a down to earth answer to what ISIS's ideology is, what exactly are they fighting for? They must have a cause, because you can't rally that many people behind a mindless killing spree. <...	Their ultimate goal is to fulfill an apocalyptic prophecy of global conflict with "Rome" (the West but also apostatic Islam); followed by the rise of anti-Messiah and divine intervention to help the ISIS triumph. In general - and in conjunction of what "real" Caliphate is - fully establish the ways and laws of Shariah ...
Why does the election worker cover the slot on a ballot box? When I last voted in a national election (in Germany, in case it matters) I observed that the election workers (the people who checked my documents, gave me my ballot paper, etc) would keep the slot of the ballot box covered with a sheet of paper until a vote...	The election helper who puts the piece of paper over the ballot box is responsible for monitoring compliance to this and prevent non-compliant voters from putting their ballot paper into the box.
Why didn't anyone at Volkswagen blow the whistle? The egregious cheating on emissions causes me to ask what the differences are between the US and Europe both culturally and legally. Specifically there is no legislation protecting whistle-blowers from retaliation in the EU and Germany as there is in the US, but I don't...	No one else was predisposed to look for the cheat, and to a degree, that sort of behavior by the CEO of a corporation with the reputation of Volkswagen would normally be considered unthinkable. German authorities, such as Kraftfahrtbundesamt (for motorized traffic), are even today extremly unwilling to enforce the limi...
Approaches to increase the voter turnout Over the last 40 years, voter turnout has been steadily declining in the established democracies. This trend has been significant in the United States, Western Europe, Japan and Latin America. It has been a matter of concern and controversy among political scientists for several...	Well, voting is compulsory in Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. I'd recommend a change to the voting system, one that would allow for a third party.
Why doesn't Turkey invade Syria and destroy ISIS? Turkey has a very large military, easily capable of destroying ISIS. Perhaps the Russian involvement in Syria makes things more complicated, but that's relatively recent. Turkey was already spending huge amounts of money to house millions of Syrian refugees. I strongly ...	Turkey has no national interest in fighting against ISIS.
What is "The Post" in "First Past The Post" voting? In First Past The Post voting: Voters put a cross on a ballot paper next to their favoured candidate and the candidate with the most votes in the constituency wins. – electoral-reform.org.uk What does "The Post" refer to? It sounds intuitively like it would be a ...	"First Past The Post" voting is simply "whoever gets the most votes".
What is meant when people say that "infrastructure is crumbling"? Lots of people say that the US infrastructure is crumbling. In my area (PA) the local townships handle this, which got me wondering: What are people referring to when they say "the infrastructure is crumbling"? When is infrastructure a local concern v...	When people say our infrastructure is crumbling it is literal.
Can/do representatives move between the senate and the house in US congress? Are there examples of individuals moving between the Senate and the House in the US government (specifically in the past 20 years)? <Q> Yes, people serve in both the house and the senate. <S> I can't find a list that only lists those that have...	It is very common for Representatives to become Senators.
What are the potential benefits of a successfully implemented Islamic State? Hypothetically, what positive aspects could come out of the next 50 years of Middle Eastern-US policy if ISIS is successfully able to create and defend territory between Iraq and Syria? <Q> It will possibly attract the most radical and hardlin...	It will be a counterbalance to Shia axis (an effective one, unlike the current Sunni powers that basically are largely ineffectual and mostly amount to asking for help from USA).
Why do policemen in Germany still carry lethal firearms instead of non-lethal ones? The death penality is abolished in Germany. Wouldn't it be prudent to also outlaw the killing of criminals in danger situations when it would be possible to stun them efficiently in the same time? <Q> The difference is that when someone...	However, there are still situations where less violent options are far more likely to endanger the officers or civilians and thus using a gun is the prudent option, which for that reason is not being outlawed.
Why run for president if you have no chance to be elected? Jim Gilmore and George Pataki are currently running for president but have virtually no chance of winning the primary. I doubt most voters would even be able to pick them in a lineup. They are not really campaigning, they don't have any organization, so why no...	The idea is that at least during your active campaign, you can try and get issues out in the open and hopefully get other, more viable candidates to address the issues.
How do the Iowa caucuses differ from other elections in voter behavior? The Iowa caucuses are of course different than other primaries and elections. Democratic ballots are not secret. However, the time costs are greater. A lot of research on voter participation mentions the importance of social pressure and how electi...	In short, individuals who vote in both [primary and general] elections are not much different than individuals who vote only in the general election.
Why are there so few Islamic parties in Europe? Many European countries have major parties which call themselves "Christian". But Wikipedia only lists 5 parties in all of Europe with an Islamic agenda, and 3 of them as defunct, leaving only " Party of Democratic Action " in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the " Finnish Is...	It's because Muslims go to areas where there are others like them. The bigger reason is that to my knowledge all or most large parties with "christian" in their name in Europe are somewhat conservative, right of center parties that don't practice a christian identity politics. Finally, many of the countries of origin h...
Is there any recourse to remove a dissatisfactory president even if he hasn't broken the law? So, lets say a certain wig-wearing candidate were elected president, and he decided to (contrary to certain campaign promises) not commit several violations of the constitution into law; Lets say he was a fantastic president, ...	The Constitution allows presidents to be removed if the House of Representatives votes on articles of impeachment, and if two-thirds of the Senate, after a trial, votes to convict.
Why is Iowa the first state to hold a caucus/primary? There seems to be a huge benefit to Iowa in being first, as they get a lot of attention from the media and the candidates in the run-up to the caucuses. Whose decision is/was it that they should be first? Could another state's parties just decide they want that ...	There are strong advantages to candidates winning early so that they can concentrate on the general election.
What are the differences (in principles and in practice) between direct democracy and anarchy Following Wikipedia, [d]irect democracy (also known as pure democracy)[1] is a form of democracy in which people decide (e.g. vote on, form consensus on) policy initiatives directly. (...) [D]irect democracy might entail pa...	In a direct democracy, there is a social consensus between all citizens that following majority decisions is mandatory, even for those people who voted against them.
If I register for a party and vote in its primaries, am I obligated to vote for the same party in the general elections? So, lets say I register for Party , and vote in the primaries for a candidate. If that candidate doesn't proceed to the general elections, is there any reason that I am obligated to then vote for th...	So, you can vote for whoever you like in the primaries, and still vote for whoever you like in the general election.
What social class would Marx consider himself a member of? Marx considers various social classes in The Manifesto of the Communist Party , among them: the bourgeoisie, the proletariat, the middle class, and the 'dangerous' classes of social scum. Marx was in a fairly high position in his life, but I do not believe he ...	Karl Marx would consider himself a member of the middle class.
Why was the statement "When You're White You Don't Know What It's Like To Be Poor" so controversial? The statement: "When You're White You Don't Know What It's Like To Be Poor" . Why are so many people getting mad at Bernie Sanders for this? I thought America was finally ready to move on from its racist past. Why d...	At the heart of it, it is an inaccurate statement that presupposes all white people are wealthy.
Are government ministers elected anywhere? I am just curious if there is a country or any state entity in the world where government ministers (equivalent of US department secretaries) are actually elected vs being appointed by the president or legislatures. <Q> Many US states elect certain cabinet officers. <S> The At...	In Switzerland: Federal ministers are elected, but by the parliament.
Has a presidential candidate ever lost his home state and went on to win the presidential election? I have been watching the new season of House of Cards. At one point, after his father's picture with a KKK member is shown, the polls show that he might lose his home state. It got me thinking, has a candidate ever ...	James K Polk , from North Carolina, lost his home state but won the election of 1844 .
Can a US official be charged and tried in court without first being impeached? For example, could Bill Clinton have been charged with perjury in the standard judicial system, even while sitting President? Or is impeachment and removal a prerequisite for judicial proceedings? <Q> Governor Rod Blagojevich was charged an...	A US official can be charged and tried in court without going through the impeachment process at all.
Why didn't Liberal states all have state run health care? For many years, there were attempts at making national health care coverage, which finally passed as the ACA. The ACA ("Obamacare") was controversial vis a vis constitutionality (it won by a five-four margin at the Supreme Court for a different reason than that...	It's generally too expensive for a state government to fund the insurance subsidies required to implement state run health care.
Why are participants in US presidential debates forbidden from asking each other questions? To cite from wikipedia : The format of the presidential debates, though defined differently in every election, is typically more restrictive than many traditional formats, forbidding participants to ask each other question...	The purpose of the debates is to give the audience the opportunity to directly compare the positions of the candidates.
Can presidential pardons be made and then classified as secret to avoid making the pardon public? In a discussion about the current election and the possibility of an indictment being handed down after a candidate was nominated, the possibility was raised that the President may have already issued a pardon, classified...	The President can issue a pardon whether there has been an indictment or not.
How does a person become stateless? Despite international conventions with provisions against statelessness, how does a person lose their only citizenship, or be born without citizenship, today in this day? Is it possible? What are the factors that affect a person becoming stateless? <Q> Wikipedia has a section about...	But to summarise it, the main reasons are Conflict of laws for example, if you are born in a country which does not recognise the Jus Soli (getting nationality from the place where you are born) and the country of your parents does not recognise the Jus Sangui , inheritance of nationality.
Shouldn't anarchism be far-right, since right-wing politics opposes "big government"? Shouldn't anarchism be far-right, since right-wing politics opposes "big government" and favours less government influence? Anarchism has basically no government influence, so shouldn't it be the most radical viewpoint on the right?...	Anarchy is, always has been and always will be 100% right wing, in fact extreme right wing.
How come ISIS does not attack China or Japan or other Asian countries? How come ISIS does not attack China or Japan or other Asian countries? Do they have no hatred for Asian countries? Is it solely the Western society that they are after? But that wouldn't make sense: they bomb Middle Eastern targets, as well as Ea...	Because China didn't participate in dropping bombs on Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan, China don't care about what happens in the middle east, they are busy fighting their own inside terrorism (for them, terrorism is anyone that have thoughts, say things, or their behavior show that they are against the rule of the com...
Why did the UK Conservative government push through gay marriage? There seems to be a widespread sense that the Conservative UK government pushed through legislation to legalise gay marriage. There appeared to be no great angst with the status quo for gay couples (civil partnerships). Contrariwise, gay marriage was ...	In summary, David Cameron pushed the legislation for equal gay marriage through against the opposition of his own party, but with general parliamentary and UK wide popular support, most likely because he agreed with the mood of the country that it was the right thing to do.
Why does Daesh not attack or even threaten to attack Israel? How come Daesh/ISIS does not attack Israel, who are supposed to be their worst enemy? Precision: I'm not asking the reason for the other way around, why isn't Israel attacking IS I'm asking why isn't IS threatening a country like Israel which is on a long ...	The US is concerned that a coalition revolving around a fight with DAESH would be compromised if the coalition included Israel, hence the lack of air strikes from Israel. The most likely reason is that the areas they occupy aren't that close to Israel. As another answer alluded to, inspiring local attackers is difficul...
Could Alaska leave the US, or would it have to buy its way out? Whilst reading a list of minor (compared to the big two) US parties, I noticed there's an Alaskan Independence Party . Given that the US bought Alaska from Russia , would they legally be free to leave, or is Alaska property? <Q> First, the case of Alask...	So no, Alaska cannot buy itself from the USA because it is not for sale, Spain has no repurchase option for the Southwest
Can the British public request a General Election? As some of you may know, as a result of the Panama Papers leak, David Cameron admitted that he profited from his father's Panama offshore trust. Among much confusion and anger, some members of the public have been protesting and pushing for his resignation. And altho...	A petition cannot possibly force early elections.
Why do US Presidents take credit for legislations? I have seen so often presidents take credit for major legislations. But other than cases like budget bills which originate from the president, presidents just happen to be there and don't have a good justification or support to veto when a bill is passed. Shouldn't th...	The President is usually the figurehead of a Nation, As the holder of the highest office, the President is the government in the mind of some people.
Supreme court case for disqualifying from rights In a discussion I had recently about gun rights, someone brought up a United States Supreme Court case in which it was determined that an individual could become disqualified from particular rights. With the right to bear arms, for example, certain restrictions have been...	Richardson v. Ramirez , a 1974 Supreme Court case, held that: California, in disenfranchising convicted felons who have completed their sentences and paroles, does not violate the Equal Protection Clause.
Why Saddam Hussein was captured but Assad is still spared by America? There were 2 major reasons for capturing Saddam: Possessing WMDs (Never proved completely) Killing Shias by ChemicalWeapons In the neighbourhood of same Iraq, Bashar Al Assad has been doing exactly the same to Sunni/Christians by using both Che...	The primary reasons are changes in USA opinion in general and the specific differences between Bush and Obama.
Does the UK still use propaganda? Can you recall anything that was propaganda that the UK government has espoused? I am sure it didn't just stop after WW2 but they have got so good at it I find it hard to find good examples that are obvious enough to show people. <Q> Yes. <S> Government propaganda is government fun...	Advertising can also be considered propaganda.
Why is China opposed to India's membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)? China is leading opposition to a push by the United States and other major powers for India to join the main club of countries controlling access to sensitive nuclear technology, diplomats said on Thursday as the group discussed India's member...	China remains wary about India's bilateral relations with the US. China is simply adhering to rules sketched out by NSG to become a member.
Is it only the UK who is holding a referendum to stay or leave the EU? If so, why? Is the UK the only country holding a referendum on staying or leaving the EU? If so, why is only the UK doing this? This question isn't a duplicate of this one , which asks why other countries in Europe can't vote on changes to prevent...	It may be that after a UK exit, other countries might re-evaluate their position or even the desirability of the EU.
Are there examples of when Parliament decided against the results of a Referendum? For those hiding under a rock, the UK’s future in the EU is being decided right now by means of a referendum. This, coupled with the constant talk of a plebiscite for marriage equality in Australia got me thinking. Generally, referendu...	One of the most obvious examples would be the referendum on USSR preservation . Sweden's referendums are advisory , although the political parties may volunteer to bind themselves to the referendum result. The 2004 Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was killed by two referenda held in France and the Netherla...
Could Westminster block the possibility of a referendum on Scottish independence? With the recent events of the Brexit, the SNP want another referendum. Is it possible that Westminster would block this possibility? How could Scotland become independent without the approval ofWestminster? Another question: Would...	If the referendum passed a majority in favour of leaving the UK, then Westminster could prevent it by force.
Could the UK re-join EU after leaving? Let's assume that Article 50 is invoked and UK officially leaves EU For some reason, both UK populace (a large share) and enough powers that be or popular will in EU, decide that UK ought to re-join EU, 1,2 or 5 years down the road. So far I heard tons of people asserting tha...	The UK can absolutely reapply to the European Union if they so choose.
Now since David Cameron is bound to leave the PM position, does he also give up his seat in the house? I’m an American and not familiar with UK’s Parliament. However, I know that the Prime Minister is chosen from the elected MP’s in the House at a given time. When PM Cameron leaves later, does he have to also step aw...	He is an elected Member of Parliament as voted by his constituency ; he has not resigned his seat in Parliament, so he will continue to be Member of Parliament, albeit as a backbencher , with no official governmental office but with full voting rights.
Can a General Election be called by a new Prime Minister? There has been much speculation that an incoming prime minister (be it Gove, May or one of the other candidates) will want to call an early General Election (to establish legitimacy and perhaps to capitalise on the Labour Party's divisions) Is this a realistic...	The fixed term Parliament act does not allow for the Prime Minister to call a general election without first consulting Parliament.
Is there a Muslim majority country where Israel (and Jews) is received positively? The common perception is that muslims don't perceive Israel (and Jews) in favorable light. But is there a Muslim majority country where Israel (and Jews) is received in positive light overall? <Q> A 2005 Pew Research survey on Islamic ...	It seems the Ottoman Empire was more friendly towards the Jews than the Christian majority nations of the time, but unfortunately it was not the case in the era of the so-called "secular" Republic of Turkey under the one-party regime of Atatürk, and then İnönü (successive leaders of CHP, now the main opposition party, ...
Which US-style presidential democracies have survived long-term? In an episode of The West Wing, Toby remarks (IIRC) that "only four US-style presidential democracies have lasted longer than thirty years" -- he was arguing that a parliamentary democracy is an inherently better (or at least more stable) system because t...	Some close runners-up might be: Mexico (1988 - the previous election was acknowledged to have been fraudulent) Brazil (1989)
What domestic benefits might Putin expect from endorsing Trump? This is a follow up from my other question . The answers in the linked question agreed that Putin's incentives for endorsing Trump were primarily domestic, such as pushing anti-U.S. government propaganda in Russia. Are there more details on this? What oth...	Locally for Russia it would meanmore international cooperation which is used by Putin and his circlefor personal enrichment.
Does Citizens United create a back channel for foreign nationals to funnel money into electoral campaigns in these United States? It has been suggested by Barack Obama, political pundits, and recent questions and comments on this stack, that the Citizens United decision made it possible for foreign nationals to donate ...	A domestic subsidiary of a foreign corporation (or a domestic corporation owned by foreign nationals) may make donations and disbursements in connection with state or local elections (if permissible under state and local law) provided that: These activities are not financed in any part by the foreign parent or owner; a...
What economic benefits are there, if any, to a US alliance with Israel? US and Israel have been allies for decades. What are benefits for the US besides having military bases and political reasons? In essence, what are the economical benefits? What does Israel export into the US? <Q> A major boost to US defense ind...	The United States as well as the international community have a number of economical incentives to ensuring the continuation of the state of Israel as it far outperforms its neighbors in almost every sector.
Why does the US government not enforce federal laws against Colorado's legalization of marijuana? As far as I know, possession and trade of marijuana is illegal in the United States according to federal law. However, the state of Colorado ( as well as some others ) recently legalized marijuana for recreational use . ...	As long as benefit outweighs cost from the federal and state governments' point of view, the federal government is less likely to enforce the federal law.
Why hasn't South Korea restored its monarchy? I can understand North Korea not wanting to restore the Korean monarchy to its country, as I assume they are officially opposed to feudalism, but I don't understand South Korea not doing so. Korea lost its monarchy because of its annexation by Japan, which I suspect is vie...	In conclusion, even if the Koreans wanted their monarchy back, they would have a hard time finding a good candidate for the throne.
Has the way Unemployment is measured changed in the last 8 years? Unemployment has been around 5%. I have a conservative friend who keeps claiming that this is untrue, and that the current administration is changing how unemployment is surveyed or calculated for their own benefit. Is this true? If so, in what way can...	The calculation of the Unemployment Rate has not changed for a very long time.
Is a former U.S. president in any way barred from becoming a cabinet member? May a former U.S. president be part of a successor's administration? More specifically, may Hillary Clinton make Barack Obama a member of her cabinet? Are there even any historic precedents for such a move? <Q> The relevant legislation appear...	For purposes of this question, it doesn't matter; either way a former President could be appointed to a cabinet position without running afoul of term limits to the Presidency.
Why is North Korea developing nukes? North Korea threatens to start a war by working to develop nukes. These nukes, however, are tiny compared to larger nuclear powers. Their largest nuke is 10kT compared to 15,000 kT for the largest US nuke (they could probably beat that now). North Korea is also struggling to deve...	Because nuclear weapons are the only way that a country the size of North Korea can reliably deter an overwhelmingly larger and more powerful nation like the United States from attacking it.
Why would the Russian Annexation of Crimea be illegal? Hillary Clinton answered a journalist's question about Trump appearing on the Larry King Show, a Russian State TV program. She called the annexation of Crimea was illegal. But, there was a legal process for it ( the 2014 Crimean referendum ). Why would it be illega...	First of all, the referendum was illegal according the Ukrainian law, because in that country a referendum cannot be conducted in a part of a country separately.
Should an elected official feel obligated to vote on an issue based on the majority opinion of his constituents? I am framing this in an idealized situation with the following assumptions: The official never lies. (I did say this is an idealized situation) The official honestly and openly presented his position on t...	If the Congressperson made their position on the issue clear during the campaign, and got elected despite holding an opposite view than most on this one issue - then they are 100% free to vote their conscience as their constituents knew this to be your position on this issue, and still elected you as you were their ove...
What are implementation details of Taiwan independence? "Taiwan independence" means different things to different people. In a China mindset , it is used in the sense similar to that of "Tibetan independence movement", with the premise that Taiwan is part of China (though they know actually it is not), and separatis...	For Taiwan to achieve formal de jure independence, Taiwan would need to rename the government and define its territory.
When is the authority to launch a nuclear strike transitioned? At what exact moment in a presidential transition does the outgoing president lose and the incoming president gain the authority to launch a nuclear strike? <Q> The Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution specifies that The terms of the President a...	At exactly noon on the January 20th following a US presidential election (per section 1 of the 20th amendment to the constitution), the incoming president takes the oath of office, and presto, he's the president and the previous president is out of a job.
Why does Russia need to win Aleppo for the Assad regime before they can withdraw? I just read this very interesting article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/19/russia-taunts-us-with-biggest-military-offensive-since-the-cold/ And the author stated that Russia need to win Aleppo for the Assad regime before they...	Aleppo is generally seen as the last urban center of non-ISIS, non-Kurd resistance to the Assad regime.
Where do Secret Service names come from? " Secret Service name ". For Clinton it is "Evergreen" and for Trump it is "Mogul". Questions: Who gives these names? For me the phrase "Evergreen" has more positive sense than "Mogul". But I don't know if it comes true for US culture? <Q> It's a Secret Service code na...	These not-so-secret names are chosen by officials at the White House Communications Agency, which was not inclined to comment on the selection process. Generally, the primary protectee (i.e. POTUS, VPOTUS, a presidential candidate) is given a name that is reflective of them and their past history or in jokes (i.e. Reag...
Why do organizations and people try to convince others to vote in the US election? Many organizations (including Google on their home page) encourage people to vote in the US election without specifying a candidate or political party. Why is this done? Are they assuming that the users of the site are more likely to s...	*, there are two possible rationales: Google altruistically wants to encourage democracy Since democracy only works if people vote, Google is encouraging us to do our civic duty and choose the candidates we think will best represent the country.
How did Hillary Clinton win the popular vote but lose the election (2016)? I saw on the news that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost the election, how does this happen? I'm not familiar with the USA presidential election system. <Q> Donald Trump won more than a majority of the electoral college votes. <S> ...	The simple version being that each state has a block vote based on its population which it allocates according to its own majority vote.
Are all popular votes counted even when one candidate has an insurmountable lead? Much has been made of the recent election since Clinton seems to have won the "popular vote" while Trump won the vote for the electoral college. I wonder, though, if this is actually true or if we can really definitively know. Once a st...	Every vote is counted .
Why Would the President-elect have a Transition Visit before December 19? I understand that the President-elect is not officially elected until December 19 - why would there be a transition visit to the White House if that's the case? Isn't it technically premature? <Q> Although the Electoral College has the ability to...	The sooner a new Commander In Chief can get up to speed and start governing (and less time spent getting acclimated and settled in), the more productive an administration can be.
Does Mike Pence have a chance of being elected as POTUS by the House? My question was spurred by reading this article which describes the voting mechanisms of the electoral college. The article was shared by a friend who believed it was a way for Clinton to be elected as President, but after reading the article, it s...	It's conceivable but really unlikely that enough faithless electors would vote for Pence over Donald Trump.
Is the Russian legislature unusually enthusiastic about Trump's victory? It has been widely reported that, upon the announcement of Donald Trump's victory in the American presidential election, the Russian Duma erupted into applause . These reports are sometimes alarmist in tone, and some commentators have used them ...	I've actually never heard of any country's parliament to applaud the election of a US president.
Could California Ratify the Paris Agreement? While not a member of the UN itself, the implementation of AB 32 effectively satisfies all the requirements of the Paris Agreement. The state, being so large, contributes to 6.61% of the US emissions, which is considered 17.89% , or about 1.18% total, replacing Italy a...	Only countries and some international organizations can be parties to international law and treaties, so formally only secession could make California a formal signatory of the Paris Agreement.
Why countries selling passports is bad? I recently read The Sink which you can find here . It explained countries "sell" passports (maybe also citizenship) to people with enough money. I believe it is still possible today, with Dominica charging $175,000 for example shown here . In the book it explains how they cer...	In general there are concerns from USA about people who seek such citizenship, for example, to bypass economic sanctions (not just terrorists and criminals).
Taking over cellphone when texting while driving The following appeared on the national news site of the Netherlands this morning: Minister Schultz zint op maatregelen om te voorkomen dat een automobilist onder het rijden kan appen of sms'en. De minister vraagt telecombedrijven een techniek te ontwikkelen die de tele...	All smart phones capable of operating "WhatsApp or sending texts while driving" have GPS sensors that can determine whether or not the smart phone is in motion. This is a tricky matter because it crosses legislative boundaries, but my hunch is no, this is disallowed.
Why is Cuba still leasing Guantanamo Bay to the US? During the last decade and a half, the US has housed prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and has been leasing it from the Cuban government for 55 years. Cuba has never cashed the checks Castro was very anti-imperialism and US. So why has the Cuban government not asked the...	The simplest answer for why the US holds Guantanamo Bay is because they can.
How is it possible to know your vote was _not_ counted? In any of the 50 states in 2016 how often is it possible to know your vote was not counted? (Note that this question is similar to How do I know that my vote was counted? , and superficially seems logically equivalent.) It's based on a comment to another qu...	You can check if you're voted if you use provisional ballots or absentee ballots, you can check if your vote is received Usually , if it's received, your vote is counted.
The US Congress has passed a restoration of sanctions on Iran; can the President veto it? The US senate has passed (99 to 0) an extension of the sanctions against Iran. President Obama could veto the bill before it becomes law. The veto can be overridden. What then? What tools does the President have against ...	If the Congress overrides the veto by a two-thirds majority in each house, it becomes law without the President's signature.
Is passing extension of sanctions on Iran against JCPOA? US senate passed extension of sanctions on Iran. Assume that it become a law. Is it against JCPOA ? What is arguments of both sides? <Q> Iran is subject to Western sanctions for multiple reasons, including state-sponsored terrorism and violations of the NPT. <S>...	First of all, what the Senate passed is a law that allows the POTUS to enforce the sanctions . The JCPOA does not force the USA to accept trade with Iran, so any sanction to that effect will not conflict with the JCPOA.
Interdependence and independence of powers How can the judiciary branch be independent while still being interdependent of the other two serving as check and balance? Could the other two branches be similarly independent and interdependent at the same time? Could there exist a theoretical fourth branch standing in the ...	For the judiciary, it is independent when it is capable of deciding cases without regards to the will of either the executive or legislative branch. Each branch is interrelated - they have to be in order for government to function - but they are each empowered with unique roles.
Has a court ever struck down an election result in the United States? A number of observers have raised the issue of court challenges to the 2016 US presidential election results. Various rationales might be employed. For instance, Harvard Law prof. Larry Lessig has discussed the possible unconstitutionality of winn...	Typically, a court can only overturn an election when it's clear that some irregularities caused the election to be decided unfairly.
Why is First past the post used in so many countries? First past the post is used in the vast majority of countries, despite its numerous crippling flaws. Such countries include: Canada, USA, Bangladesh, India, Jamaica, Kuwait, Liberia, Mexico, Pakistan, Phillipines, Singapore, UK and many more. On the other hand, most...	First Past The Post in single winner voting areas does have a number of advantages, which many of the commonly proposed alternatives do worse on:
Why do some countries recognise Taiwan as the sole legitimate government of China? There are some countries that recognise Taiwan (Republic of China) as the sole legitimate government of China instead of the People's Republic of China. Recently, just a few days ago, São Tomé and Príncipe switched its recognition from ...	A few recognize Taiwan due in exchange for favors from Taiwan - usually in the form of money.
Did China censor Obama's inauguration in 2013? Apparently China censored the 2017 Presidential inauguration of the United States, forbidding media outlets from streaming the event or publishing photographs of it. Only reprints of state-written reports are allowed. Did China censor the 2013 inauguration as well, or onl...	There isn't any definite article that states if China broadcasted that year's inauguration.
What reason would the Obama Administration have for releasing $221M to Palestine, right before leaving office? I had just learned of this from Bradley's question here . What reasons would that administration have for suddenly giving such a large amount of money to a country in direct conflict with one of its only all...	The Obama administration had for some time been pressing for the release of the money for the Palestinian Authority, which comes from the U.S. Agency for International Development and is to be used for humanitarian aid in the West Bank and Gaza, to support political and security reforms as well as help prepare for good...
where can I get a live feed or current site listing ALL executive orders including as they are presented and signed? I think executive orders are a good indicator into the mind of a president and his administration. I wasn't able to see a sequential list, from newest to oldest. Where can I find this? <Q> Further you ...	Wikipedia has a good list of executive orders here , which is kept reasonably up to date by the community.
Can sitting US presidents repeal their own Executive Orders? I was just wondering if sitting US presidents can repeal their own executive order? For example, a president issued an executive order (forget the content). Can the same president revoke that executive order say after 2 days? <Q> A president can issue an exe...	A sitting US president can repeal any executive order, theirs or their predecessors.
Why does the failure of a Trident test matter when we are going to replace it anyway? So a Trident nuclear weapons test failed a few months ago and this has only just come to light. However, as far as I know, they want to replace the Trident system for something new anyway. Surely this failure is a good thing as now ...	A failure in the Nuclear Weapon program, for any country, erodes the confidence the Government and Populace can place in that country's Military.
Why is voter registration necessary in the US voting system? In Europe I lived in different countries and I was always able to vote (national and local elections in my home country, and local elections elsewhere) without having to do anything beforehand: the day of the election I present myself to the polling place, I ...	In European countries it is usually mandatory to register your place of residence with the local municipality .

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