On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the constitutionality of independent redistricting commissions to redraw electoral districts. The ruling was a major victory for voters, because it also validated the citizen initiative process and the voter's right to decide how they are governed.

After a week of significant wins at the Supreme Court, President Obama's approval rating edged above the 50 percent mark for the first time in two years, according to a new CNN/ORC report.

This news has analysts buzzing with interpretations and projections for 2016.

A recently released EPA study shows that climate change threatens American lives and the U.S. economy.

Global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could prevent annually 13,000 deaths from bad air quality, 1,700 deaths from extreme heat and cold in 49 major U.S. cities, a loss of 360 million labor hours and between $507-$700 million from poor water quality, according to the study. This is not shocking information, according to Dr. Robert Lawrence, director at the John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.

Arizona Public Media reported last week that former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson is once again leading an effort to implement a top-two primary in Arizona similar to the electoral systems in California and Washington state.

National Journal reported Tuesday that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA Court, or FISC) authorized the continuation of the NSA's bulk collection of American phone records, despite calls from members of the legislative branch to cease these activities immediately.

From the National Journal:

As the June 30 deadline for passing a budget approaches in Pennsylvania, faith group leaders and advocates from around the state are holding events at the capitol in Harrisburg as part of the #MoralTakeover campaign to demand adequate funding for the state's public schools.

When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes. Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain.― Napoléon Bonaparte

Napoléon was probably crying sour grapes at the fact that his military campaigns in Europe were often funded by the bankers in the countries he was trying to subdue -- and that money always has its price politically.

As the number of Republican presidential candidates grows on a seemingly daily basis, the Democratic field is slowly becoming more crowded. It now includes Hillary Clinton, Martin O'Malley, Lincoln Chafee, and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision was a strong affirmation of California’s independent redistricting process and constitutional right of voters to prevent self-interested gerrymandering by state legislatures.

Without a doubt, the court granted a victory to the power of voters and their authority to enact important reforms through voter-led initiatives.