Government Legislation

Terrorism
commentary
The Christchurch Massacre Was Another Internet-Enabled Atrocity
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Mar 20, 2019
The Hill
Terrorism has become an internet-enabled abuse—incited, propagated, and sometimes organized and concealed by online activity. Who should be held accountable for abusive content, the author or the publisher? And what role should the government play in regulating it?
Read More »

Firearms
blog
New Insights on Gun Policy in America
Apr 22, 2020
RAND's Gun Policy in America initiative aims to establish a shared set of facts about gun policies. Recently, researchers completed an update and expansion of their synthesis of all available scientific evidence on the effects of 18 classes of gun laws.
Read More »
Democracy
commentary
Freedom of the Internet 'Press'
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Aug 10, 2018
The Hill
The First Amendment protects the rights of companies such as Facebook and YouTube to publish what they choose. Arguing against this right could lead to government regulation over digital media. It could also further degrade the reliability of online information.
Read More »
Gun Violence
essay
More Research Could Help Prevent Gun Violence in America
Jul 10, 2018
Both sides of the gun policy debate agree on what the objectives of any policy should be. But they disagree over which policies would best achieve those goals. Current evidence for or against most gun proposals is weak, contradictory, or nonexistent. Only research can show what does—and doesn't—work.
Read More »
Gun Violence
commentary
How to Bring Facts into the Gun Policy Debate
Andrew R. Morral @AndrewMorral
Mar 9, 2018
USA Today
As debate continues to rage over the causes and prevention of gun violence, it's worth asking how science can help lawmakers and the public resolve longstanding disagreements that have stood in the way of solutions.
Read More »
National Security Organizations
commentary
Reauthorizing DHS: Contemplating Major DHS Organizational Realignments
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Oct 30, 2017
The National Interest
As Congress considers DHS reauthorization, having clear organizational realignment principles could help assess the degree to which expectations will be met. Those principles could examine whether mission effectiveness would improve and whether implemented changes would introduce new issues.
Read More »
Homeland Security Legislation
commentary
Reauthorizing DHS: Aligning Requirements, Research, Development and Acquisition
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Oct 23, 2017
The National Interest
As part of the discussion about reauthorizing the Department of Homeland Security, Congress might want to consider how to improve acquisitions. Rather than focusing only on the steps in the acquisition process, that discussion could also include consideration of pre and post-acquisition activities.
Read More »
Homeland Security Legislation
commentary
Reauthorizing DHS: Improving Operational Control
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Oct 23, 2017
The National Interest
One area of focus in the debate on reauthorizing the Department of Homeland Security should be its role in directing homeland security operations. The debate should include a comprehensive discussion of the future role for the department headquarters.
Read More »
Homeland Security Legislation
commentary
Reauthorizing DHS: The Case for Reauthorization
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Oct 20, 2017
The National Interest
Reauthorization of the Department of Homeland Security is vital to clarifying responsibilities and setting expectations for the continued evolution of the department. Policymakers might also wish to conduct an external review, which could help inform a broader future reform bill.
Read More »
European Union
commentary
'Better Regulation': Why Timmermans Should Go Beyond the Regulatory Scrutiny Board
Stijn Hoorens @StijnHoorens
May 27, 2015
EurActiv
Promoting the 'Better Regulation' agenda in the EU could be given a real boost by turning the proposed Regulatory Scrutiny Board into an impartial evidence and scrutiny centre, putting high-quality and objective impact assessment at the heart of the legislative process.
Read More »
Politics and Government
commentary
Farsighted Leadership in a Shortsighted World: Looking Beyond the 2012 U.S. Election
Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich
Sep 20, 2012
RAND Review
As the U.S. presidential election draws close, there is increasing demand for simple answers to complex questions, immediate solutions to entrenched challenges, and ten-second sound bites to sum it all up. For nearly 65 years, RAND has focused on big, long-term, core public policy issues and has cultivated the farsighted perspectives required to address them.
Read More »
Counterterrorism
commentary
A Final Word on the NDAA
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
May 7, 2012
Foreign Affairs
While I have no doubt of Levin's determination to protect the constitutional rights of American citizens, incremental adjustments and seemingly small compromises, each sensible under the circumstances, can have a cumulative effect that erodes the very liberty we are trying to protect, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.
Read More »
Counterterrorism
commentary
The NDAA Makes It Harder to Fight Terrorism
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Feb 1, 2012
Foreign Affairs
Much of the debate over this bill has focused on the political issue of executive authority versus rule of law. In doing so it has overlooked the indirect and insidious effects the new law may have on the United States' largely successful counterterrorist campaign, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.
Read More »
Government Legislation
commentary
How Whistleblower Rule Enables Corporate Compliance
Michael D. Greenberg, Donna C Boehme
Jun 14, 2011
Bloomberg Government
The kerfuffle over Dodd-Frank conceals broad agreement that corporate fraud and misconduct are bad and that internal compliance mechanisms are intended to protect companies as well the community at large from bad behavior, write Michael Greenberg and Donna Boehme.
Read More »
commentary
A House Divided: Polarization and Partisanship
James A. Thomson @thomson0145
May 14, 2010
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Certainly, ideology should play a role in public policy decisions. But when many policies—regardless of their merits—are simply off-limits for ideological reasons, then the nation as a whole has a problem, writes James A. Thomson.
Read More »

Understanding Media Use and Literacy in Schools

The Strategic National Stockpile and COVID-19

Demystifying the Belt and Road Initiative

Will the Real Kim Yo Jong Stand Up?

Rethinking the Role of the Strategic National Stockpile

The Policy Currents Podcast

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Developing Strategies for Summer Learning

Government Legislation

The Christchurch Massacre Was Another Internet-Enabled Atrocity

New Insights on Gun Policy in America

Freedom of the Internet 'Press'

More Research Could Help Prevent Gun Violence in America

How to Bring Facts into the Gun Policy Debate

Reauthorizing DHS: Contemplating Major DHS Organizational Realignments

Reauthorizing DHS: Aligning Requirements, Research, Development and Acquisition

Reauthorizing DHS: Improving Operational Control

Reauthorizing DHS: The Case for Reauthorization

'Better Regulation': Why Timmermans Should Go Beyond the Regulatory Scrutiny Board

Farsighted Leadership in a Shortsighted World: Looking Beyond the 2012 U.S. Election

A Final Word on the NDAA

The NDAA Makes It Harder to Fight Terrorism

How Whistleblower Rule Enables Corporate Compliance

A House Divided: Polarization and Partisanship

Connect

Contact Us

I am interested in

Follow

Stay Informed

Resources

Site Information