Issues & Answers

Public policy discussion and debate

The vision of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy is to create a space where important policy decisions affecting our future are made through a process of civil discussion, critical analysis of facts, and informed participation of all citizens.

Our Issues & Answers online webcasts advance that vision by providing a way for citizens to learn about public policy issues affecting them by hearing from experts in the field and engaging with balanced and fact-based discussion and debate at a time and place convenient to them.

Pros & Cons of Open Primaries & Ranked Choice Voting

Do open primaries and ranked choice voting have the potential to improve American elections, or will they create more problems than they solve? Kevin Meyer, former lieutenant governor of Alaska; Steve Goldstein, executive director of Save Democracy AZ; and Jaime Molera, former Arizona superintendent of public instruction, join the O’Connor Institute

The Future of the Court

In April 2021, President Joe Biden issued Executive Order 14023 forming the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States. Join us in welcoming Professor Cristina Rodríguez and Mr. Adam White for an online conversation and diverse perspectives on the Future of the Court.

Campaign Contributions: Disclose or No?

To elucidate the matter of Campaign Contributions and present the strongest positions for their opposing opinions, Terry Goddard and Jon Riches engage in a moderated, online debate.

Previous In Person Public Policy Forums

ISSUES & ANSWERS FORUM

Census 2020: Arizona Congressional and Legislative Redistricting

March 5, 2020 | Phoenix, Arizona

The O'Connor Institute presented an Issues & Answers Forum on "Census 2020: Arizona Congressional and Legislative Redistricting." A distinguished panel consisting of Joseph Kanefield (Chief of Staff to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich), Mary O'Grady of Osborn Maledon, and R. Stanton Jones of Arnold Porter in Washington, D.C. shared their experiences on the topic and the mechanics of how redistricting will play out in Arizona over the next year.

Mr. Kanefield and Ms. O'Grady discussed in detail how Arizona's past two Independent Redistricting Commissions functioned in 2000 and 2010, and how the next Commission is expected to complete its work. Mr. Jones shared his experiences working on the prominent Pennsylvania redistricting case in 2018 and explained how in most states, the legislatures undertake the redistricting process in a more partisan way than Arizona's independent commission. Steve Goldstein of NPR/KJZZ served as moderator for the in-depth discussion. To view a video of the Forum, click on the link to the right.

 

Rule Of Law Town Hall Series

The Sandra Day O’Connor Institute is pleased to currently collaborate with the International Bar Association on a national series of Town Hall discussions focused on the Rule of Law. This series debuted on Constitution Day, September 17, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona and is currently traveling the country.

Most recently the Rule of Law Town Hall visited Dallas, Texas were an esteemed panel gathered at the George W. Bush Presidential Center on February 12, 2020.

The panel included:

Judge Patrick Higginbotham, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
Harriet Miers, J.D., former White House Counsel to President George W. Bush
Mike Wilson, Dallas Morning News Editor
Jeffrey Kahn, SMU Dedman School of Law Constitutional Law Professor
Homer Moyer, Moderator and Past Chair, IBA Rule of Law Forum

To view the full discussion click below.

RuleOfLawDallas Feb122020CROP
Public Policy Forum flyer picture

Issues & Answers Forum: Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana

Event Recorded September 13, 2016 

The Sandra Day O'Connor Institute, in collaboration with the ASU Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Maricopa County Bar Association, presented the Issues & Answers Forum, featuring credentialed panelists who provided fact-based information for the Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act which will appear on the Arizona November 8th ballot.

To view the 90 minute public policy forum discussion and audience Question & Answer session please click on the links below:

O’Connor Institute Issues & Answers Forum Part 1

O’Connor Institute Issues & Answers Forum Part 2

O’Connor Institute Issues & Answers Forum Part 3

Public Policy Forum flyer from 2016

The Role of the Independent Voter and Dark Money in Elections

O’Connor Institute collaborated with NPR local affiliate KJZZ to present this 2014 election season Issues & Answers Forum to a full house.

Open Primaries

National speakers from California and other states who have adopted Open Primaries were invited by the O’Connor Institute to discuss the ‘Pro’s and Con’s’ – benefits and consequences of an Open Primary system. A standing room only crowd filled the hall for this 2012 presentation and discussion.

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