Regulations.gov

On January 18th, 2011, President Obama issued Executive Order 13563, directing “regulatory agencies to base regulations on an “open exchange of information and perspectives” and to promote public participation in Federal rulemaking.” (via beSpacific)

The result, is a major redesign of the website Regulations.gov. The website includes new search tools, social media connections and better access to regulatory data. Users are encouraged to leave comments on the regulations as they appear on the website to provide feedback to our representatives in Congress.

FAQ

Do My Comments Make a Difference?

Yes. Public participation matters. Democratic, legal, and management principles justify why public comments make a difference in regulatory policy. Public participation is an essential function of good governance. Participation enhances the quality of law and its realization through regulations (e.g. Rules). To learn more about public participation, view the fact sheet “Public Comments Make a Difference”.

You can search regulations by name, by subject, or by date posted: withing 90 days, 30 days, 15 days, 7 days, past 3 days. There is even a section named Learn, that is devoted to instruction on the regulations procedure in government: The Pre-Rule -> Proposed Rule -> Final Rule -> Long Term Action -> Completed.

JFK Library to Release Jackie O’s Papers

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum today announced that it has opened and made available for research the first section of the Personal Papers of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. This portion of the collection features never-before-seen historic records from Mrs. Kennedy’s years as First Lady, including material relating to her efforts to restore the state rooms of the White House and her highly acclaimed televised tour of the First Family’s home, which aired on February 14, 1962 – fifty years ago tomorrow.

via JFK Presidential Library Press Release on Feb 13th, 2012

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was only 31 when she first entered the White House in 1961, but was soon determined to restore the White House with antiques and emblems that best represent American’s history. The papers provide insight into the First Lady’s plans and designs for redecorating the White House with details of her hands-on work in the project.  The papers document her interest in such topics as: the restoration of the White House, travel, State visits, arts and culture, press coverage, and her involvement in a variety of cultural projects, organizations and associations. These papers are a valuable asset to history enthusiasts.

 

Friday Funnies: 3 Story Tower Made of 15,000 books about Honest Abe

Just how much has been written about the man who Lincoln Law School of San Jose is named after? Here are a few visuals to help put it in perspective.

This 3 story tall tower of books, featuring 15,000 different titles about President Lincoln is on display at the new Washington DC Center for Education and Leadership. The museum is focused on Lincoln’s legacy and will open later this month. It sits across the street from Ford’s Theatre, the site of Lincoln’s assassination.

Take Your CLE Classes Online via Lincoln Law School of San Jose

Lincoln Law School of San Jose is proud to announce the launch of it’s new CLE site. The online classes are available to the public. This powerful new resource will help registrants stay ahead of the curve on the latest legal resources through a series of online courses, while earning CLE units.

You can access the website and catalog of classes two ways:

1. From our Homepage at http://www.lincolnlawsj.edu/

Go to Curriculum, and click on the 5^th option – Online CLE

or

2. Go here

Although still under construction, anyone who registers is able to enroll in a number of classes being offered. We currently have over 300 courses online, including podcasts and webcasts. Payments are accepted via Paypal. When you find a course of interest, click on the details link to find out more information.. Please note that you will have to register for the course in order to access the materials associated with each program. Certificates of completion will be available after you attend the full class. Simply click +Add to Cart and follow the check-out steps.

Members of the Lincoln Law School Alumni Association will receive a discount.

Senate Floor Live Streaming

You can now add Senate floor meetings to your list of online government streaming bookmarks. Via the Senate website, you can watch the Senate floor proceedings live, search and watch from the archive, and browse through the archive by date. Thomas.gov already streams live footage of House Committee Meetings and a link for C-SPAN2 footage.

Also, don’t forget to check out the Senate’s Active Legislation page.  This page provides an excellent rundown of what is happening in the current Congress, along with a key to help citizens identify a bill’s status at a glance.

What the Internet Knows About You – Sarah Downey

I came across a very insightful Q&A between Forbes contributor Jason Oberholtzer and Sarah Downey (author of the FTC complaint against people search website, BeenVerified.com by Abine Inc.,) regarding Internet privacy, people search sites, background checks, Facebook and how to protect your online identity.

In the exchange Oberholtzer and Downey discuss the different yet common uses of the Internet (Facebook, e-mail, shopping, etc) and how to protect one’s private information when surfing the web and how to be aware of the personal information traps online.

Read the full Q&A

Follow Us online!

You can now keep track of Lincoln Law School of San Jose via Twitter @LincolnLawSSJ for the latest blog posts and updates on school events and activities.

Make sure to Like us on Facebook as well.

Prop 8 Deemed Unconstitutional by 9th Circuit Court

In a groundbreaking decision in what has been one of California’s most heated and controversial battles, the 9th Circuit Court ruled in a 2-1 vote that Proposition 8, which aimed to amend California’s constitution to ban gay marriage, is unconstitutional.

“Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples,” said Judge Stephen Reinhardt in the majority opinion. (via SF Gate)

According to the New York Times, proponents of Prop 8 can either appeal to a larger panel of 9th Circuit Court judges, or take the case to the US Supreme Court.

UK High Court Rulings, Now Via Twitter

The UK Supreme Court recently launched a Twitter account and will soon begin tweeting about its latest judgements. (The Next Web)

The @UKSupremeCourt has 8 tweets so far regarding Lord Reed’s swearing-in ceremony at the Supreme Court, and a little over 4 thousand followers.

US History – Infographic

via Buzzfeed, a series of US maps highlighting state positions on various controversial and progressive movements of civil rights and liberties throughout American history.

The maps cover:

• Slavery Laws
• Women’s Suffrage
• Segregation Laws
• Interracial Marriage Law
• Gay Marriage Rights