As we approach the 2018 midterms, we’ve been hearing the term “civic duty” used in a lot of different contexts. Most recently in the ongoing drama surrounding the Supreme Court, then-nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and accusations of sexual assault. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford has said that civic duty motivated her to come forward with her claim […]
You may not know it, but there’s a new game in town when it comes to how we vote — “ranked choice voting” (RCV) or “instant runoff” voting could be coming to save a democracy near you. RCV is a procedural change in how we vote (I know, yaaawn), but it may actually be the […]
These days, the political world seems like it’s actively trying to age us. The corruption, the scandals, the conflict and tension, it all seems like more than any one of us should willingly expose ourselves. So I’m not surprised when people ask us what makes LawMaker different? Are we just another social network to fight […]
By Amit Thakkar | LawMaker, Founder & CEO | February 27, 2019 The 2020 election cycle is ramping up and things are about to get loud. More know-nothing pundits, more water-cooler punditry, and more people telling you that the candidate you like is a sell-out, a puppet, a bleeding-heart, a fascist — or even worse […]
What is the difference between a federal, state, and local law? The US government is split into federal, state and local bodies that all set budgets, levy taxes, and make laws. Each body has different responsibilities that all function simultaneously. The Tenth Amendment of the US Constitution delegates powers not expressly granted to the federal […]
Not all policies are created equal. Whether they are being crafted by elected officials, lobbyists, or everyday Americans, there’s a lot that differentiates a good policy from a bad one. The goal of all policies, whether created on LawMaker or by lobbyists, is to engage an elected official with a policy idea they can turn […]
“Men are so simple, and so subject to prone to be won over by necessities, that a deceiver will always find someone who is willing to be deceived.” — Machiavelli Here’s an intellectual exercise for today’s political times. Should lying be allowed in politics? Turn on the news. In one hour, we will experience […]
On Wednesday, April 25, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) unveiled her plan for a set of financial services that she has proposed be provided at US Postal Service branches across the country. Gillibrand’s Postal Service Act would have the 30,000 USPS branches offer checking accounts, savings accounts, and small loans to Americans who can’t afford to take part […]
If you read the major headlines at a newsstand tomorrow morning, you’d most likely assume that the political powers in Washington, DC, have the only political impact on Americans. The goings on at the White House, and the wheelings and dealings of the US Senate and House of Representatives, take center stage each day […]
Since so few people know we exist yet, I suppose I’m writing this for history’s sake. One day, LawMaker is going to be a huge success…or abject failure…and this first post will offer a couple choice quotes to whoever is writing the habitual annual article about the potential for political technology to save our democracy. […]