Utah State Law Library

Daylight Saving Time has arrived again starting this Sunday, March 14, at 2 am when clocks move forward one hour. In a previous post, we discussed the laws that first enacted Daylight Saving.

Why is Daylight Saving Time so early in the year? The Energy Policy Act of 2005 changed Daylight Saving dates in 15 U.S.C. §260a(a) to the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November starting in 2007. Previously, Daylight Saving Times were scheduled the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October. This law also gave Congress the authority to reverse its decision to change Daylight Saving dates.

The U.S. Department of Energy studied the effects of these changes and published a report. Among its findings:

• Changes in gasoline consumption were small.
• Electricity usage decreased .03% in 2007.
• Electricity savings were slightly larger during the March Daylight Saving date than the November date. Northern sections of the United States experienced more electricity savings than southern sections.
  

Posted by Joanne Gialelis at 01:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Did you know that you can read and comment on proposed federal regulations?

The Federal Register, which provides announcements about proposed regulations, is available on the Office of the Federal Register website and the Government Printing Office's new FDSys database. Look for the link that invites you to submit your comments.

The Federal Register is published each week day, with notices, proposed and final regulations grouped together by agency. You can sign up to receive the Federal Register table of contents by email each day.

You can also search Regulations.Gov (also on Twitter) for proposed or final rules, submit comments, and even search public comments by keyword. Last year over 400,000 public comments were submitted through the website. The site even provides an instructional video to help you learn more.

Regulations.Gov accepts user suggestions. Create an account to comment on how to improve the website.

Posted by Joanne Gialelis at 08:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Two important Utah "State of..." addresses have already been delivered during this first week of the legislative session. Tonight, President Obama delivers the State of the Union address to the nation.

If you missed either Utah "State of..." speeches, you can read them in their entirety online. On Tuesday night, Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert delivered the State of the State address to the Utah legislature. Read the text of his speech here. Governor Herbert is required by the Utah Constitution to make an annual report to the legislature about the condition of the state.

On Monday, during the opening day of the legislature, Chief Justice Durham presented the State of the Judiciary address, which is also now available online. The State of the Judiciary address has been presented to the legislature since 1976, the first speech given by Chief Justice Swan. Court rule gives the duty of presenting the State of the Judicary address to the presiding officer of the Judicial Council, who is the Chief Justice, unless she is unable to perform her duties.

Tonight, you can live stream President Obama's State of the Union address or read the full-text version online after the speech. The President is required by the U.S. Constitution to give a report to Congress about the State of the Union - the fact that it happens every year is tradition and not mandated by law. Check out this New York Time's article for a brief history of the State of the Union.

Posted by Mari Cheney at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Some of the most popular tourist attractions in Washington D.C. are the original documents that led to the creation of the United States, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, located at the National Archives. The National Archives and Records Administration will ban personal photography and filming in exhibit areas of the National Archives beginning February 24, 2010. This new rule was announced in the January 25, 2010 edition of the Federal Register.

NARA wants to protect these rare documents from the effects of photographic flash. It is also prohibiting personal filming in response to written visitor logs that demanded it be eliminated. This is in contrast to only three opposing comments from citizens received during the 60 day comment period after the initial announcement of the proposed rule.

In case you can't visit the National Archives before February 24th with your camera, you can always avoid the crowds and view founding documents online at the National Archive's website and learn more about them through their online exhibits.

Posted by Joanne Gialelis at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The new year is a time for many people to make New Years' resolutions. Make it one of your resolutions to get counted in the 2010 Census.

The decennial, or every ten year, census is the official count of all U.S. residents. It is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. The first census was conducted in 1790. Information collected by the census helps determine how federal funding is distributed for infrastructure and services. Census participation is required under Title 13, Section 221 of the United States Code.

Census questionnaires will be sent to all residences by March 2010, and should be mailed back by April 1st. You can preview the form here.

Census information isn't just important for counting today's population. It can be useful to anyone conducting family history research. Some historic Census records can be found at the Utah State Archives and the Utah State History Research Center. Also, the Utah State Library's Pioneer databases offers Utah library cardholders and residents access to Heritage Quest Online, a database where you can search federal census records from 1790 to 1930.

Posted by Joanne Gialelis at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Planning to buy gift cards for friends or family members this holiday season? The Federal Reserve Board has recently proposed rule changes to the Federal Reserve System's Electronic Funds Transfer regulation (12 CFR Part 205) that would limit the service and inactivity fees that can be placed on gift cards unless cards have been inactive for more than a year, there is no more than one fee per month, or if fees are fully disclosed to the consumer. The rules would also require expiration dates of cards be no less than five years from the date issued or date funds were last added.

You can read the full text of the proposed rules in the November 20th, 2009, issue of the Federal Register.

Want to comment on these proposed rules? Submit your views and read other people's comments through the Federal Reserve's Rulemaking Proposals page. Comments can also be submitted online through Regulations.Gov. You must submit your comments by December 21, 2009.

Posted by Joanne Gialelis at 08:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday - November 1st - at 2:00 am. For many of us that means turning clocks back one hour. Why do we do this?

Daylight saving originated with the Standard Time Act of 1918, P.L. 65-106. This law was repealed the next year, but was made law again with the Uniform Time Act of 1966. The law was codified as 15 U.S. Code §260 et seq.

To see how this law has changed over time, visit the law library and we'll show you how to use HeinOnline, or our print versions of the U.S. Code and U.S. Statutes at Large.

Want to learn more about the history of daylight saving? Check out these resources:

• The Astronomical Applications Department of the U.S. Navy has a brief Daylight Time information page, with a link to current laws.
  
• The Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement has created a web exhibit about daylight saving, including which countries worldwide recognize it.

  
  

  Posted by Joanne Gialelis at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Monday October 5th (the first Monday in October) is the start of the new term of the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court website provides information about the history of the court, its members, oral argument calendar and slip opinions.

Last week the U.S. Postal Service issued a series of commemorative stamps honoring four U.S. Supreme Court Justices: Joseph Story, Louis D. Brandeis, Felix Frankfurter and William J. Brennan Jr.

The U.S. Postal Service press release provides the following information about the honored justices:

Joseph Story (1779-1845)
Joseph Story ranks as one of the nation’s most influential jurists. The author of dozens of volumes of legal commentary, Story, who viewed law as a science, gave shape to American jurisprudence while also making the law more accessible to practicing attorneys. His devotion to the uniform enforcement of federal regulations by all the states helped establish the preeminence of the Supreme Court.

Louis D. Brandeis (1856-1941)
Louis Brandeis was the associate justice most responsible for helping the Supreme Court shape the tools it needed to interpret the Constitution in light of the sociological and economic conditions of the 20th century. “If we would guide by the light of reason,” he once exhorted his colleagues, “we must let our minds be bold.” A progressive and champion of reform, Brandeis devoted his life to social justice.

Felix Frankfurter (1882-1965)
Felix Frankfurter was arguably one of the most enigmatic and controversial figures ever to sit on the Supreme Court. As the Court’s strongest proponent of judicial restraint, Frankfurter, who served 23 years as an associate justice, believed that judges should disregard their own social views when making decisions. “History teaches,” he wrote, “that the independence of the judiciary is jeopardized when courts become embroiled in the passions of the day.”

William J. Brennan Jr. (1906-1997)
William J. Brennan Jr. was the author of numerous landmark decisions and the inspiration behind many others. He believed that law is an essential force for social and political change. The Court’s most determined opponent of the death penalty, he championed equal rights for all citizens and steadfastly regarded the Constitution as a living document that should be interpreted to fit modern life.

Posted by Jessica Van Buren at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Federal Computer Week recently listed the top 10 federal agencies with the most Facebook fans as well as well as the top 10 federal agencies with the most followers on Twitter.

Agencies with the most Facebook fans include:
White House
Marine Corps
Army

Agencies with the most followers on Twitter include:
White House
CDC Emergency
NASA

You don't have to have a Facebook or Twitter account to view updates on either service. However, if you would like to make a comment on a Facebook page or send a message to a Twitter account, you'll need to sign up. And if you're signing up for Facebook, become a fan of the Utah State Law Library as well!

Posted by Mari Cheney at 09:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yesterday's post on Constitution Day listed four questions that may appear on the naturalization test immigrants must take in order to become U.S. citizens.

Did you get them correct?

Q: If the president and vice president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
A: The Speaker of the House.

Q: The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
A: 435.

Q:We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
A: Six years.

Q: What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
A: Speech, religion, assembly, press, and petition the government.

Posted by Mari Cheney at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On September 17, 1787 - 222 years ago - the delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the U.S. Constitution. Five years ago Congress designated Thursday, September 17th as Constitution Day, a day to recognize the importance of this enduring document.

To become a United States citizen, immigrants must pass a test that includes questions about the Constitution, U.S. history and the structure of our government. The testing officer asks up to 10 out of 100 questions that are available for immigrants to study prior to the test.

Take a sample naturalization test online or check out these sample questions:

1) If the president and vice president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
2) The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
3) We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
4) What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

Check back tomorrow for answers.

Posted by Jessica Van Buren at 02:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Law Library of Congress provides RSS feeds that allow you to monitor the most recent bills and resolutions considered on the floor of both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. The library also provides a feed that provides information about chamber action, committee meetings, and joint meetings of Congress.

Check out all the feeds available through the Library of Congress, or narrow your feed topic to legal issues.

If you're new to RSS feeds and want to read about how feed readers can keep you up to date with information, check out the Library of Congress' explanation about RSS feeds.

Posted by Mari Cheney at 03:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)