Separation of powers
FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2020, file photo the Supreme Court is seen at sundown in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Supreme Court: Mortgage overseer structure unconstitutional

By Jessica Gresko Jun. 23, 2021 04:34 PM EDT

Lawmakers dismiss criticism of emergency spending law

By James Macpherson Jun. 22, 2021 02:24 PM EDT
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota legislative leaders on Tuesday dismissed criticism of a new limits on emergency spending by a governor-led panel, saying...

Panel delays funding requests due to law that sets limits

By James Macpherson Jun. 16, 2021 02:07 PM EDT
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A commission that reviews emergency spending requests said Wednesday that it would not approve the allocation of millions of federal...

Editorial Roundup: Florida

By The Associated Press Jun. 09, 2021 07:10 AM EDT
South Florida Sun Sentinel. June 4, 2021. Editorial: Our kids’ education should be based on fact, not propaganda ' Editorial ...

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2021, file photo, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele speaks before the start of vaccination of medical staff with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Atlacatl Medical Unit of the Salvadoran Social Security Institute in San Salvador, El Salvador. Allies of Bukele, including his Cabinet chief, have been included in a list of senior officials in Central America deemed corrupt by the U.S. State Department, according to a copy of a report obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez, File)
US steers El Salvador funding away from government

By Marcos Aleman May. 21, 2021 06:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 12, 2021 file photo, Gov. Tom Wolf speaks at an event in Mechanicsburg, Pa. Beyond the local races on ballots, Pennsylvania’s primary election will determine the future of a governor’s authority during disaster declarations. Voters statewide Tuesday, May 18 will decide four separate ballot questions, including two on whether to give state lawmakers much more power over disaster declarations. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
Pennsylvania voters impose new limits on governor's powers

By Marc Levy And Michael Rubinkam May. 19, 2021 10:15 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 25, 2020 file photo, Pennsylvania Sen. Kim Ward, of the 39th district, attends a hearing of the Pennsylvania State Senate Majority Policy Committee in Gettysburg, Pa. Republican lawmakers across the country have tried to roll back the emergency powers that governors wielded during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they ordered businesses and schools shut and mask-wearing in public. On Tuesday, May 18 Pennsylvania’s GOP-controlled Legislature is taking its case to voters, in twin constitutional amendments on the primary ballot that would give lawmakers much more power over disaster declarations, whether another pandemic or a natural disaster. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
1st ballot test of governor's pandemic powers starts in PA

By Marc Levy May. 13, 2021 08:00 AM EDT

Editorial Roundup: Pennsylvania

By The Associated Press May. 12, 2021 09:00 AM EDT
York Dispatch. May 5, 2021. Editorial: Merging Pa. universities a good idea, but more college changes are needed Our...

Idaho governor signs bills trimming emergency powers

By Keith Ridler May. 11, 2021 02:39 PM EDT
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Gov. Brad Little has signed four watered-down versions of previous bills that he vetoed on limiting a governor’s powers during...

FILE - In this April 23, 2021, file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Big Sur, Calif. A California appeals court has upheld Newsom's emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic. The 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento ruled Wednesday, May 5, 2021, for the Democratic governor in a lawsuit brought by two Republican lawmakers. (AP Photo/Nic Coury, File)
Court upholds California governor's use of emergency powers

By Don Thompson May. 05, 2021 03:26 PM EDT

NJ high court upholds virtual grand juries in criminal cases

By David Porter Apr. 28, 2021 01:32 PM EDT
New Jersey’s Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously rejected a constitutional challenge to the use of virtual grand juries during the COVID-19 pandemic. ...

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2020 file photo, a group gathers as boxes filled with petition signatures are delivered by Unlock Michigan to the Michigan Department of State Bureau of Elections in Lansing, Mich. A group trying to repeal an emergency powers law that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used for months to issue coronavirus restrictions cleared a key hurdle Monday, April 19, 2021 when the Michigan elections bureau said it collected enough petitions. (Rod Sanford/Detroit News via AP)
Drive to repeal law Whitmer used in pandemic clears hurdle

By David Eggert Apr. 19, 2021 04:05 PM EDT

FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, file photo, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly receives a COVID-19 vaccine injection in Topeka, Kan. In March 2021, Kelly enacted a law giving legislative leaders power to revoke her emergency orders. Top Republican lawmakers immediately used it to scuttle a Kelly order meant to encourage counties to keep mask mandates in place. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Lawmakers seek long-term limit on governors' emergency power

By David A. Lieb Apr. 10, 2021 10:34 AM EDT

Editorial Roundup: Ohio

By The Associated Press Apr. 05, 2021 09:00 AM EDT
Cleveland Plain Dealer. April 4, 2021. Editorial: Lt. Gov. Jon Husted covers himself in shame by not disavowing ‘Wuhan Virus’ tweet ...

FILE - This July 30, 2020, image taken from video by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services shows Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers in Madison, Wis. The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, struck down Gov. Evers' statewide mask mandate, ruling that the Democrat exceeded his authority by issuing the order. The 4-3 ruling from the conservative-controlled court is the latest legal blow to attempts by Evers to control the coronavirus. (Wisconsin Department of Health Services via the AP, File)
Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down governor's mask mandate

By Todd Richmond Mar. 31, 2021 10:04 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks to reporters in Little Rock, Ark. Hutchinson on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, signed into law legislation banning nearly all abortions in the state, a sweeping measure that supporters hope will force the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit its landmark Roe v. Wade decision but opponents vow to block before it takes effect later this year. (AP Photo/Andrew Demillo, File)
Arkansas governor: No local mask mandates when state's ends

By Andrew Demillo Mar. 23, 2021 06:05 PM EDT

FILE - Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks about the coronavirus pandemic and vaccine distributions during a news conference at the state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Responding to concerns from state officials, the U.S. Treasury Department said Wednesday, March 17, 2021 that states can cut taxes without penalty under a new federal pandemic relief law — so long as they use their own funds to do so. Gov. Hutchinson said formal guidance from the Treasury Department will be critical in determining how much flexibility exists for states. (AP Photo/Andrew Demillo, file)
Hutchinson vetoes coronavirus bill to refund business fines

By Andrew Demillo Mar. 22, 2021 08:17 PM EDT

FILE — In this July 23, 2018, file photo, Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle presides over a court case in Nashville, Tenn. Almost every Tennessee House Republican says hearings should be held for the removal of Ellen Hobbs Lyle, who expanded absentee voting in the 2020 election due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking warnings from legal experts that lawmakers are seriously considering an unprecedented breach of judicial independence. (Larry McCormack/The Tennessean via AP, File)
Election office aided push to oust judge over voting ruling

By Jonathan Mattise And Kimberlee Kruesi Mar. 17, 2021 12:19 PM EDT

President Nayib Bukele holds his ballots as he prepares to vote in local and legislative elections, at a polling station in San Salvador, El Salvador, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. El Salvador went to the polls in legislative and mayoral elections that could break the congressional deadlock that has tied the hands of President Nayib Bukele. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)
El Salvador awaits what president will do with new power

By Marcos Alemán Mar. 12, 2021 06:48 PM EST

Ohio governor will veto health restrictions without deal

By Andrew Welsh-Huggins Mar. 12, 2021 09:51 AM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A bill restricting governors' abilities to issue public health orders during a pandemic is unconstitutional and a violation of the...