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UChicago’s Weekly Civics Briefing
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Power Moves: Article II of the Constitution
The Constitution organizes the three branches of the U.S. Federal government. Article II of the Constitution focuses on the Executive Branch, laying out its powers and limitations. The President has many privileges, including executive orders. However, the constitution does not directly define executive orders. Article II simply states that the President “shall take care that laws be faithfully executed.” Since executive orders are frequent and do not require Congressional approval, making them somewhat controversial, we have created a table showing Joe Biden’s responses to President Trump’s Orders.
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Timeline of Trump’s Most Notable Executive Orders and Biden’s Responses
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Date
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Trump’s Executive Order:
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What Order Means:
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Joe Biden’s View
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January 20th, 2017
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Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal |
To “minimiz[e] the economic burden” of the ACA and increase states’ abilities to waive or delay implementation.
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Biden opposes this Executive Order. He would like to expand the ACA.
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January 24, 2017
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Expedits the Dakota Access and Keystone XL’s construction processes through use of the Army for Civil Works and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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Biden has gone on record condemning the construction of both pipelines.
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January 25, 2017
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Directs the secretary of homeland security to begin funding and planning for the U.S.-Mexico border wall and removal of funding for “sanctuary” cities.
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March 6, 2017
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Bans all travel from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen for the purpose of protecting the nation from “foreign terrorist entry.” |
Biden has called the ban “racist and xenophobic” and opposes the travel restrictions. |
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FEDERAL NEWS
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FBI Investigates Three Senators
On Wednesday night, Senator Richard Burr’s (R-N.C.) cell phone was confiscated by the Justice Department for their ongoing investigation into his stock trades prior to coronavirus. On February 13th, a week before the stock market fell, Burr sold a large portion of his business stocks that were strongly affected by the spread of coronavirus. On Thursday, Burr stepped down as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee due to the investigation. Other senators are under scrutiny for insider information, such as Senators Feinstein (D-C.A.) and Loeffler (R-G.A), who are both cooperating with the FBI. In January, Feinstein’s husband, an investment banker, sold shares in a biotech company. Feinstein voluntarily overturned documents to the FBI on Thursday, claiming she had no involvement. In March, Loeffler sold millions of dollars in stocks after receiving coronavirus briefings and has also turned in documentation to the FBI while continuing to deny any wrongdoing.
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Whistleblower Testifies in Front of Congress
On Thursday, whistleblower Rick Bright, the former Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the federal government’s preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic and the circumstances surrounding his demotion. Bright claimed that his transfer to the National Institutes of Health was a retaliatory demotion in response to his unwillingness to make hydroxychloroquine publicly available. During his testimony, Bright claimed that the administration displayed “indifference” toward the pandemic, leading to severe under preparedness. Some conservatives criticized Bright for politicizing the COVID-19 response and being no more than a disgruntled employee.
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Trump Removes State Department Inspector General
Late Friday evening, President Trump announced in a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi the removal of State Department Inspector General Steve Linick at the request of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Linick will be replaced in 30 days by Ambassador Stephen Akard. This follows a series of firings of watchdogs and whistleblowers after impeachment proceedings ended in February. On Saturday, Congressional Democrats announced that an investigation would take place.
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STATE NEWS
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A Guide to the Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is part of the bicameral legislature of the Illinois General Assembly. Consisting of 118 representatives from different districts throughout Illinois that are redistricted every decade, individuals serve for two-year terms with no limits. Representatives must be 21 years of age and a resident of the district for which they are running. Since 1992, the House has been in Democratic Party control for one cycle in 1994. Most famously, Abraham Lincoln began his political career here as a member of the Whig party in 1834.
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Unemployment Skyrockets
As Illinois’s processed unemployment claims surpassed one million, the state launched Get Hired Illinois, a website designed to connect people of all backgrounds to job opportunities. Employers may also host trainings and similar events on the website. Coursera, a training course platform in partnership with several colleges, including UChicago, will also be available to all unemployed Illinoisans through the end of this year. The Get Hired Illinois and Coursera announcements came after many people reported they could not reach the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The IDES hired a hundred more callers, paying each approximately $55 an hour, to help with high call demands of people trying to file for unemployment. But even then, most people could not reach the IDES. On May 11th, gig workers and independent contractors were allowed to file for unemployment, which contributed to an influx of calls to the IDES.
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Returning to Non-COVID-19 Treatments
As of May 11, Illinois has allowed doctors and hospitals to resume elective surgeries. Elective surgeries are defined as all pre-planned surgeries and procedures that are not urgent. During the pandemic, only life-threatening procedures, not just those related to COVID-19, have been allowed. Illinois joins 37 other states in laying out plans for elective surgeries— state-by-state information can be found here. Previously, most patients were restricted to telemedicine as hospitals focused on fighting COVID-19. Although it will be difficult to schedule visits, doctors say they are keeping up by working longer hours.
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CHICAGO NEWS
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Lightfoot Unveils Plan to Re-Open Chicago
Last Friday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled a framework for reopening the city in a joint announcement with the Chicago Department of Public Health. The “Protecting Chicago Framework,” like Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s statewide reopening plan, is a five-phase process. For now, Lightfoot said, the city will stay in Phase 2, requiring non-essential workers to stay home if possible. Lightfoot also provided information about Phase 3, which consists of cautious reopening of businesses that can maintain health guidelines. Residents must still practice social distancing and wear masks. Every 14 days, the Chicago Department of Public Health will evaluate whether the City may move into Phase 3 based on a set of epidemiological factors, including the COVID-19 case rate, hospital capacity, and testing capacity.
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City Council Grapples with COVID Unemployment Toll
This week, Chicago city government advanced measures aimed at curbing the COVID-19 unemployment toll— which, by some estimates, is projected to put 37% of Illinois jobs at risk. One relief package, crafted by Mayor Lightfoot and approved by the City Council Aviation Committee on Friday, would waive April and May rent for airport restaurants and stores, provided they keep their employees. Chicago’s Aviation Commissioner estimated that concession sales at Midway and O’Hare Airports are at 10% and 30% of their normal averages, respectively. Chicago City Council also amended its fair workweek ordinance to allow businesses to adapt to COVID-19 “without fear of lawsuit”; effective until January 1. The ordinance no longer requires employers to give workers at least two weeks’ notice of weekly schedules or compensation for last-minute schedule changes.
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Zoom City Council
Amid the pandemic, Chicago City Council has transitioned into meeting virtually via Zoom. It is also a new way for the community to communicate with the Council regarding public issues amid the health crisis. One popular topic among members of the public was the request to shut down General Iron industries, a metal shredder that has continued to operate during the pandemic. Speakers claim that General Iron practices emit unhealthy air and foul smells throughout the Pilsen and Lincoln Park neighborhoods. The company has responded, claiming it is an essential service in keeping the city clean and waste free.
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ELECTION 2020
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Special Elections in Wisconsin and California
On Tuesday, May 12th, both California and Wisconsin held special elections to fill vacant seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republican Mike Garcia won the House seat in California’s 25th Congressional District, defeating democratic candidate Christy Smith. This election marks the first time the G.O.P. has flipped a Democratic held seat in California since 1998. Both of these candidates will be running again in November for a full term. In Wisconsin, Republican State Senator Tom Tiffany beat Democrat Tricia Zunker in Wisconsin’s Seventh Congressional District. As the first two congressional elections during the coronavirus pandemic, these elections shed light on how campaigning and voting may occur in November.
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A Problem of Presidential Importance
With an estimated vaccine timeline of one to two years, Donald Trump and Joe Biden must recognize their campaign strategies. On May 15, senior campaign officials of the Democratic candidate stated that they planned to station “over 600 organizing staff responsible for battleground states.” While the Biden campaign has yet to confirm plans to resume in-person campaigning, staffers have stated that they have doubled the size of their digital team. President Donald Trump, known for his large rallies with crowds of supporters that helped him win the 2016 election, has also had to change his re-election strategy. Trump has acknowledged the loss, stating, “I think that would be a big… disadvantage to me if we didn’t [have rallies].” Given the uncertainty surrounding coronavirus, one thing is certain: Biden and Trump will have to readjust their campaigns in this new virtual world.
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