As the president and the Senate prepare to fill the current vacancy on the Supreme Court, the issue of what consideration should be given to a nominee's judicial and constitutional philosophy has entered the public debate once again. Some have argued that it is improper for the Senate to consider such factors; others respond that the Senate cannot fulfill its responsibilities unless a nominee's views are given open and rational consideration. Can such consideration take place without subjecting nominees to “litmus tests” or requiring them to make commitments as to how they might rule on an issue that may come before them? These are among the topics that Senator Schumer and our distinguished panel will address. They will also discuss a letter to be released at the event from over 100 legal scholars to the Senate Judiciary Committee, proposing 10 questions related to judicial and constitutional philosophy which they urge the committee to ask of every judicial nominee.

Over the past several decades, democracy has taken root or been re-established in a number of countries with support from other democratic states and private groups. While the increase in the number of democracies worldwide has been widely heralded, very little has been written on how democracy can be protected and sustained where it has been chosen by the people of a state. Coups d'etat and the erosion of democratic freedoms and institutions remain the most salient threats to democratic governance around the globe. How can democratic states protect themselves and secure more effective international action against such threats?

CNOOC's bid for UNOCAL has forced a number of issues vital to U.S.-Chinese relations to the surface: the tension between integrating China globally and the current accounts deficit that potentially gives China significant influence over the U.S. economy; the national security implications of an economically and militarily strong China; and the rising global demand for oil and whether it will be a future source of conflict. The Center for American Progress brings together three leading experts on China and U.S. politics to discuss the role of energy policy in Chinese national security policy and China's relations with the United States.

The spread of extreme anti-American sentiment in Muslim-majority countries has become a key national security problem for the United States. Since the war in Iraq, negative attitudes towards the United States across the world have increased dramatically. This hostility is an important factor in recruitment by terrorist networks with a global reach like Al Qaeda. The Center for American Progress brings together three experts who have worked on initiatives to develop practical strategies for improving the image of the United States in Muslim-majority countries.

Among the unconventional weapons that a terrorist could use to attack the United States, a radiological weapon, or "dirty bomb," is the most likely. Despite the clear threat, there are major gaps in U.S. and international efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to a radiological attack. Efforts to control devices that house radiological materials, known as "radiological sources," are just getting off the ground. There is no domestic mechanism for reliably tracking the location and condition of all radiological sources and the situation is often worse in other countries. Detecting and intercepting illicit shipments need better coordination and more resources. The United States currently lacks the capacity to respond effectively to a radiological attack.