The arrival of a new president brings with it much change. The White House issued 26 Executive Orders on the first day of the new term on a range of topics including immigration, the economy, crime, energy, the environment, and government operations. This rush of presidential actions in just the first week of the new term has many people asking questions: What exactly is an Executive Order, and how does it differ from other presidential actions? What legal authority grants the president powers to issue such orders? What legal weight do Executive Orders and other actions carry? Can they be challenged and how? With the glossary below and links to further reading, we attempt to answer these questions.
Read moreDetention & Deportation Defense: Know Your Rights
For information about the rights that are guaranteed to all people living in the U.S. regardless of immigration status, as well as a variety of Know Your Rights guides for people who are confronted by police or Immigration and Customs Enforcement in their homes, at work, while driving, or out in public spaces, please consult the list of resources within.
Read moreTake It Down: AI & Deepfakes
Last week, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and several bipartisan colleagues introduced a bill to protect victims of cyberbullying and “revenge porn,” also known as non-consensual intimate imagery. The bill, Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act, or TAKE IT DOWN Act, will, if passed, require a “covered platform,” such as a website, online service, or mobile app, to establish procedures for removal and remove the imagery and any copies upon a valid request from the identifiable individual within 48 hours of the request.
Read moreThe Heimlich Maneuver at 50
To mark the 50-year milestone of the Heimlich Maneuver’s introduction, and to recognize the legacy of Dr. Henry Heimlich himself, we at the Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library are sharing resources. Read more to learn about the Good Samaritan Law in Texas, restaurant liability for choking incidents, and other related issues at the intersection of public health, safety, and law, including the debate surrounding Heimlich’s technique and what the Red Cross currently recommends when administering aid in choking incidents.
Read moreLegislative Special Sessions in Texas
The Texas Legislature meets for five months once every two years. With that being said, if laws need to be added, changed, or removed outside of this five month period, the governor can call a special session. The governor is the only person who can call for this special session and he also “has unilateral authority to decide what type of policies are in play for the special session.” Special sessions are quite common. In fact, one has just been called by Governor Abbott after the completion of the regular legislative session in May.
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