Legislation and Policy Brief

Upcoming Event

Our 2021-22 symposium dates are still being determined.

Recent Event

Presidential Powers Under the Constitution>

Friday, March 3, 2020
12 pm EDT
American University Washington College of Law, Room Warren NT01

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Previous Events

30 Years of Disruption: from Betamax to Aereo

Wednesday, March 19, 2014
12 pm - 2 pm EDT
American University Washington College of Law, Room 603

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Betamax decision. Since then, technology has evolved at an incredible pace. The wide adoption of the Internet was arguably the most revolutionary, enabling startups to disrupt existing industries and changing our lives at the most fundamental levels. Our copyright laws are in constant friction with technology, causing problems for new entrants and incumbents alike. With the House of Representatives undertaking a comprehensive review of the nation's copyright laws, the Department of Commerce conducting its own inquiry into digital copyright, a constant stream of litigation, and a post-SOPA public paying more attention to this space than ever before, how will we deal with the issues new technology will raise?

Electronic Privacy: What Can We Expect in the Age of WikiLeaks and PRISM?

Monday, October 21, 2013
12:00 PM - 02:00 PM
American University Washington College of Law, Room 603

Is electronic privacy important to you? What weight should national security be given when considering our right for electronic privacy? How have recent events involving Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, WikiLeaks, and the NSA’s mass surveillance programs affected the national discussion on electronic privacy?

Join us to hear from a panel of experts, moderated by WCL Professor Stephen Vladeck, tackling these questions and more. Speakers include:

Alan Butler
Appellate Advocacy Council at the Electronic Privacy Information Center

Jake Laperruque
Fellow on Privacy, Surveillance and Security for the Center for Democracy & Technology

Spike Bowman
Former Deputy, National Counterintelligence Executive;
Former FBI Deputy General Counsel, National Security Law

Video and photos from the event can be found at the Symposium page on our blog!

FOURTH AMENDMENT IN THE MODERN AGE: DOG SNIFFS, STOP AND FRISKS

Monday, October 21, 2013
12:00 PM - 03:00 PM
6th Floor Student Lounges
American University Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

Presented by the Legislation and Policy Brief along with the Criminal Law Brief.

Speakers include:
Glenn Ivey, Leftwich & Ludaway LLC
Professor Andrew Ferguson, UDC David A. Clarke School of Law
Detective Grapes, K9 Officer along with his K9
Duncan Getchell, Solicitor General of Virginia
Jim Harper, Cato Institute

Photo gallery is posted at our blog.

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CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND CITIZENS UNITED

Wednesday, November 14, 2012
12:00 PM - 03:00 PM
American University Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

Photo gallery and video are posted at our blog.

ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND THE 2012 CAMPAIGN

Monday, March 5, 2012
12:00 PM - 02:30 PM
American University Washington College of Law, Room 603
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

For more details, see the program agenda or watch video.

CAPITOL HILL CAREER PANEL

Presented by the Legislation and Policy Brief
September 27, 2011 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
American University Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Room 101

On Tuesday, September 27, the Legislation and Policy Brief presented HOW WE HIRE: CAPITOL HILL. The panel discussed employment opportunities for law students looking to work in legislation careers on Capitol Hill. The event was moderated by Professor Bill Yeomans, Fellow in Law and Government, at American University, Washington College of Law. It also featured such esteemed panelist as: Margaret Caravelli, Majority Chief Counsel, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; Kai Hirabayashi Labor Counsel U.S. Senate HELP Committee; Bobby Vassar, Minority Chief Counsel, U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.

For more details, see the panel handout or watch video.

A PREVIEW OF THE 112TH CONGRESS: ISSUES & CONFLICTS

Presented by the Legislation and Policy Brief
February 8, 2011 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
American University Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Room 603

The symposium will examine the potential legislative issues likely to come before the 112th Congress. The specific portfolio of issues to be examined will be determined based on the partisan makeup of the two Houses. Potential issues to be examined may include: comprehensive immigration reform; clean energy and environment; the war in Afghanistan; budgetary policy and taxation; ongoing healthcare reform; and economic issues.

PANEL 1: ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY PANEL (10:00AM-11:00AM)

Moderator: William Snape, Fellow in Environmental Law, American University Washington College of Law

Panelists include: David Doniger, Policy Director, National Resources Defense Council; Joshua Zive, Lobbyist, Bracewell & Guiliani; Robin Bravender & Darren Samuelsohn, Reporters, Politico; James Day, Adjunct Professor, American University Washington College of Law

BREAK (11:00AM-11:15AM)

PANEL 2: HEALTHCARE IMPLEMENTATION/REFORM (11:15AM-12:15PM)

Moderator: Corrine Parver, Executive Director, Health Law Project, Program on Law and Government, American University Washington College of Law

Panelists include: Janet Adamy, Staff Reporter, The Wall Street Journal; Taryn Morrissey, Assistant Professor, American University School of Public Affairs; Katherine Hayes, The George Washington University

LUNCH (12:15PM-1:30PM)

PANEL 3: DEFICIT REFORM (1:30PM-2:30PM)

Moderator: Andrew Pike, Director of the Law and Business Program, American University Washington College of Law

Panelists include: Eugene Steuerle, Senior Fellow, The Urban Institute; Austin Smythe, Staff Director, House Budget Committee; Diane Lim Rogers, Chief Economist, The Concord Coalition

BREAK (2:30PM-3:00PM)

PANEL 4: CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING (3:00PM-4:00PM)

Moderator: William Yeomans, Fellow in Law and Government, American University Washington College of Law

Panelists include: Rob Ritchie, Executive Director, FairVote; Bob Edgar , President and CEO, Common Cause; Bruce Cain, Heller Professor of Political Science & Director of the UC, Washington Center; Mark Braden, Baker & Hostetler LLP; Benjamin Ginsberg, Partner, Patton Boggs LLP

Register for this event at https://www.wcl.american.edu/secle/cle_form.cfm