US Case Studies

Is America’s ‘Shadow Docket’ a Vital Emergency Tool or a Threat to Judicial Legitimacy?

Issue 10, 02 Jun 25: Are US courts powerless to stop President Trump's rapid deportations?

Issue 9, 15 May 25: Were President Trump's ‘liberation day’ tariffs the actions of an 'imperial president'?

Extended version (with further information on tariffs): Were President Trump's ‘liberation day’ tariffs the actions of an 'imperial president'?

Issue 8, 30 Apr 25: What approach to federalism is President Trump taking in his second term?

Issue 7, 31 Mar 25: Have Biden and Trump proven that it's time for the president’s pardon power to be revoked?​

Issue 6, 25 Feb 25: What does the fate of Trump's most controversial cabinet nominees tell us about Senate oversight?

Issue 5, 29 Jan 25: Were Trump's day one executive actions those of a 'dictator'?

Issue 4, 16 Dec 24: Was there a realignment in 2024?

Issue 3, 05 Dec 24: Is the Electoral College still fit for purpose?

Issue 2, 07 Oct 24: Supreme Court 'Key Case' case study - Trump v. United States (2024)

Issue 2, 07 Oct 24: Supreme Court 'Key Case' case study - United States v. Rahimi (2024)

Issue 1, 26 Sep 24: Supreme Court 'Key Case' case study - Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (2024)

Issue 1, 26 Sep 24: Supreme Court 'Key Case' case study - ​Grants Pass v. Johnson (2024)

2024/25 series: Trump v. United States (2024)

2024/25 series: United States v. Rahimi (2024)

2024/25 series: Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (2024)

2024/25 series: Grants Pass v. Johnson (2024)

​2023/24 Series: National Pork Producers v. Ross (2023)

​2023/24 Series: Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard​ (2023)

2023/24 Series: Trump v. Anderson (2024)

2022/23 Series: Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022)

2022/23 Series: New York State Rifle and Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen (2022)

Issue 9, 23 May 24: Why is President Biden struggling to spend the money he asked for?

Issue 8, 05 May 24: Why are the Biden Administration’s new electric car rules a key election issue?

Issue 7, 22 Apr 24: Supreme Court 'Key Case' case study - Trump v. Anderson (2024)

Issue 5/6, 04 Mar 24: How has the Biden administration cancelled even more student debt?

Issue 4, 31 Jan 24: Is populism still the dominant force in US politics?

Issue 3, 05 Dec 23: What does 2023's historic 'motion to vacate' tell us about the Republican Party?

Issue 2, 10 Oct 23: ​Supreme Court 'Key Case' case study - Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard​ (2023)

Issue 1, 19 Sep 23: Supreme Court 'Key Case' case study - National Pork Producers v. Ross (2023)

Issue 10, 06 Jun 23: Why did the US come so close to a historic default?

Issue 9, 25 May 23: How much would the repeal of the 1991 & 2002 AUMFs really limit the Commander-in-Chief?

Issue 8, 28 Apr 23: Why are the "waters of the United States" such a controversial issue?

Issue 7, 31 Mar 23: Why has 'equity' become one of the most divisive words in US politics?

Issue 6, 16 Feb 23: Does the 2023 House speaker election bode well or poorly for the 118th Congress?

Issue 5: 02 Feb 23: Does the Respect for Marriage Act protect same-sex marriage rights?

Double Issue 3 & 4, 09 Dec 22: 2022 Midterm Election Update

Issue 2, 27 Oct 22: Is President Biden unconstitutionally wielding the ‘power of the purse’?

Issue 1, 23 Sep 22: ​Was the Supreme Court’s 2021-22 term a turning point?

Issue 10, 04 Jul 22: Is the Biden administration misusing the Defense Production Act?

Issue 9, 27 May 22: Has the leak of the Supreme Court's Dobbs opinion "changed the institution fundamentally"?

Issue 8, 28 Apr 22: Should Justice Thomas have recused himself from cases related to the 2020 elections?

Issue 7, 24 Mar 22: Has the US Supreme Court become too deferential to assertions of state secrets privilege?

Issue 6, 28 Feb 22: Why are Democrats and Republicans so divided over voting rights legislation?

Issue 5, 28 Jan 22: Has the US Supreme Court given a green light to new forms of voter suppression?

Issue 4, 15 Dec 21: Has the US entered an era of polarised/ punitive federalism?

Issue 3, 24 Nov 21: Why has infrastructure spending become so divisive?

Issue 2, 20 Oct 21: Are partisan fights over the debt ceiling dangerous or necessary?

Issue 1, 21 Sept 21: ​Can the US Supreme Court really 'strike down' laws?

Issue 11, 14 Jul 21: How well does the US Supreme Court protect the rights of students?

Issue 10, 30 Jun 21: Has the US Supreme Court become the ‘religious liberty court’?

Issue 9, 27 May 21: Will the return of earmarks improve representation or fuel corruption?

Issue 8, 26 Apr 21: Are the main parties beginning to change their approach to welfare?

Issue 7, 19 Mar 21: Has the Supreme Court just approved "a radical expansion" of judicial power?

Issue 6, 26 Feb 21: Why can so much of Donald Trump’s legacy be erased with the stroke of a pen?

Issue 5, 22 Jan 21: How did President Trump's power and influence change following the 2020 elections?

Issue 4, 15 Dec 20: Do voter fraud claims strengthen or weaken the case for electoral reform?

Issue 3, 30 Nov 20: How did the core voting coalitions change in 2020?

Issue 2, 27 Oct 20: Will Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation further politicise the US Supreme Court?

Issue 1, 21 Sept 20: Have 2020's virtual nominating conventions proven their status as partisan infomercials?