FedSoc Events

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Funding the Government: The Budget Process and Omnibus Spending Bills Sep 23, 2017

Show notes

Each year, the U.S. Congress is responsible for developing a federal budget and must pass 12 bills to appropriate the next year’s discretionary federal spending. These bills reflect the priorities of the Members and the Congressional budget process is intended to allow for separate inspection and approval of proposed expenditures. -- For the first two hundred years of our nation’s history nearly every federal budget was proposed, considered and accepted in this fashion. However, since the late 1970s, the Congress has frequently forgone the traditional budgeting procedure and chosen to utilize omnibus spending bills. Omnibus packages offer members of Congress an expedited voting process, combining what is ostensibly all 12 appropriations bills into one decision presented to the whole. This methodology saves the Legislative Branch a great deal of time. -- Some contend that the resulting bills are too long and virtually no Congressional office can give them proper attention before a vote. Others contend that the density of omnibus spending bills create a public smokescreen, burying controversial measures, avoiding scrutiny, and tacking on wasteful appropriations intended to favor specific constituents or special-interest groups. Further arguments highlight the structural weaknesses that occur when spending decisions are separated from the committees that are charged to provide oversight. -- Join the Federalist Society’s Article I Initiative as our panel deliberates this important contemporary topic. Does the current appropriations process and eventual omnibus legislation improve how our Congress functions or weaken it? Does the apparent efficiency come at the expense of proper deliberation and scrutiny? -- Featuring: David Hoppe, President Hoppe Strategies and Professor Frances Lee, Professor of Government and Politics, University of Maryland.

A Conversation with Senator Rand Paul Sep 07, 2017

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The George Washington University Law School (GW) Federalist Society Chapter presents a conversation with United States Senator Rand Paul moderated by GW Professor Orin Kerr. Senator Paul will discuss Congressional authority under Article I and will field questions from the audience. -- Speakers: Professor Orin Kerr, Fred C. Stevenson Research Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School and Hon. Rand Paul, United States Senator, Kentucky.

Occupational Licensing, Antitrust, and Innovation 8-9-2017 Aug 14, 2017

Show notes

Every state has laws or regulations that require individuals seeking to offer a certain service to the public first to obtain approval from the state before they may operate in the state. Recent years have seen a significant proliferation of such laws, with less than 5% of jobs in the American economy requiring a license in the 1950’s to between 25-30% today. Although licensing in some occupations may benefit the public by reducing information asymmetry and/or ensuring a minimum quality level for a particular service, the significant growth in the number of occupations governed by some form of licensing requirements poses a potential threat to competition and consumer welfare. Our panel of experts will discuss these important issues. -- This event took place at Crowell & Moring in Washington, DC, on August 9, 2017. -- Featuring: Hon. Maureen Ohlhausen, Acting Chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission; James Cooper, Associate Professor, Scalia Law School at George Mason University; and Sarah Oxenham Allen, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Moderator: Koren W. Wong-Ervin, Director, Global Antitrust Institute, Scalia Law School at George Mason University. Moderator: Lisa Kimmel, Senior Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP.

2017 Annual Supreme Court Round Up 7-13-2017 Jul 28, 2017

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On July 13, 2017, Miguel Estrada of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP delivered the Annual Supreme Court Round Up at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

The Constitutional War Powers of the Executive and Legislative Branches 7-7-2017 Jul 13, 2017

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What kind of war power does the Constitution grant the President and Congress? What limitations apply to each branch concerning the power to declare war and the use of military force? Over time, how has the Framers’ understanding been followed and in what ways has it been ignored? Do the founding principles regarding these topics still have application to our modern era? Join us for an insightful discussion with Former Congressman Mickey Edwards and National Review Institute Senior Fellow Andrew C. McCarthy. -- This event was held on July 7, 2017, at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. -- Featuring: Hon. Mickey Edwards, Former Congressman, Vice President and Program Director, Rodel Fellowships In Public Leadership, Aspen Institute and Andrew C. McCarthy, Senior Fellow, National Review Institute. Moderator: Nate Kaczmarek, Deputy Director, Article I Initiative, The Federalist Society.

Beyond the Yates Memo: A New Era of Enforcement? 6-13-2017 Jun 16, 2017

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In this sequel to our panel last year on “The Limits of Federal Criminal Law,” we ask a distinguished panel to discuss how enforcement policy is evolving under Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Is the Yates Memo targeting individual employees of a corporation still operative? Do the speeches of the new Attorney General give any insights into future enforcement tendencies? -- This event was held on June 13, 2017, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. -- Featuring: Hon. Alice Fisher, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP; Matthew S. Miner, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; and Hon. George J. Terwilliger III, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP. Moderator: Hon. Richard J. Leon, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The State of Antitrust Enforcement 6-9-2017 Jun 16, 2017

Show notes

Antitrust policy during much of the Obama Administration was a continuation of the Bush Administration’s minimal involvement in the market. However, at the end of President Obama’s term, there was a significant pivot to investigations and blocks of high profile mergers such as Halliburton-Baker Hughes, Comcast-Time Warner Cable, Staples-Office Depot, Sysco-US Foods, and Aetna-Humana and Anthem-Cigna. How will or should the new Administration analyze proposed mergers, including certain high profile deals like Walgreens-Rite Aid, AT&T-Time Warner, Inc., and DraftKings-FanDuel? -- This lively luncheon panel discussion covered these topics and the anticipated future of antitrust enforcement. This event was held on June 9, 2017, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. -- Speakers: Albert A. Foer, Founder and Senior Fellow, American Antitrust Institute; Prof. Geoffrey A. Manne, Executive Director, International Center for Law & Economics; and Hon. Joshua D. Wright, Professor of Law, George Mason University School of Law. Moderator: Hon. Ronald A. Cass, Dean Emeritus, Boston University School of Law and President, Cass & Associates, PC.

Keynote Address by Mick Mulvaney 5-17-2017 Jun 07, 2017

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The Barriers to the American Innovation Economy 5-17-2017 Jun 07, 2017

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The Fifth Annual Executive Branch Review Conference will examine the changing and often convoluted relationship between the legislative and the executive branches in the United States government. The Conference began with this opening address by Senator Mike Lee and concluded with a closing address by OMB Director Mick Mulvaney. -- This panel of the 2017 Executive Branch Review Conference was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. on May 17, 2017. -- Featuring: Ms. Sally Greenberg, Executive Director, National Consumers League; Mr. Robert Fisher, Senior Vice President, Federal Government Relations, Verizon; Mr. Abbott "Tad" Lipsky, Acting Director of Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission; and Mr. Bret Swanson, Visiting Fellow, Center for Internet, Communications, and Technology, American Enterprise Institute. Moderator: Hon. Kathleen Q. Abernathy, Former Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission.

Judicial Deference and Congressional Action 5-17-2017 Jun 07, 2017

Show notes

The Fifth Annual Executive Branch Review Conference will examine the changing and often convoluted relationship between the legislative and the executive branches in the United States government. The Conference began with an opening address by Senator Mike Lee and concluded with a closing address by OMB Director Mick Mulvaney. -- This panel of the 2017 Executive Branch Review Conference was held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. on May 17, 2017. -- Featuring: Hon. Ronald A. Cass, Dean Emeritus, Boston University School of Law and President, Cass & Associates, PC; Prof. John O. McGinnis, George C. Dix Professor in Constitutional Law, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law; Prof. Richard Pierce, Lyle T. Alverson Professor of Law, George Washington University Law School; and Mr. M. Edward Whelan, President, Ethics and Public Policy Center. Moderator: Hon. Thomas B. Griffith, United States Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit.

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