Academic

Working Papers

Lowande, Kenneth and Nicholas Birdsong. 2025. “Presidential Capacity.” Working Paper.

Law Journals

Harper Ho, Virginia. 2020. “Disclosure Overload? Lessons For Risk Disclosure & Esg Reporting Reform From The Regulation S-K Concept Release.” Villanova Law Review 65 (credited research or editing contributions only).

Yung, Corey. 2017. “Rape Law Gatekeeping.” Boston College Law Review 58: 205-256 (credited research or editing contributions only).

Hall, Caleb. 2016. “A Right Most Dear: The Case For A Constitutional Environmental Right.” Tulane Environmental Law Journal 30: 85-109 (credited research or editing contributions only).

Outka, Uma. 2016. “The Obama Administration’s Clean Air Act Legacy And The Unfcc.” Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law 48: 109-125 (credited research or editing contributions only).

Policy Journals

Tier, Melissa. 2021. “Overcoming Contemporary Reform Failure Of The National Flood Insurance Program To Accelerate Just Climate Transitions.” Princeton Journal of Public and International Affairs 32 (credited research or editing contributions only).

Grey Literature

50-State Surveys

Birdsong, Nicholas. May 2020. “Legislative Oversight Of Emergency Executive Powers.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. April 2020. “Coronavirus And State Legislatures In The News.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. October 2019. “Dual Office-Holding Restrictions.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. April 2019. “Voting Recusal Provisions.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. March 2019. “Conflict Of Interest Definitions.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. February 2019. “Representing Others Before Government.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. February 2019. “State Ethics Oversight Agencies.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. February 2019. “Revolving Door Prohibitions.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. February 2019. “Recovery Of Legal Fees: Frivolous Or Unsuccessful Complaints.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. January 2019. “State Ethics Commissions: Powers And Duties.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. December 2018. “Legislators’ Personal Financial Disclosures: Client Identification Requirements.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. December 2018. “Blind Trusts.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. November 2018. “Legislators’ Personal Financial Disclosures Income Requirements.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. November 2018. “Legislator Gift Restrictions Overview.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. November 2018. “Legislators’ Personal Financial Disclosures: Household Member Information.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. October 2018. “Lobbyist Registration Requirements.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. October 2018. “State Ethics Commissions: Jurisdiction.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. October 2018. “Nepotism Restrictions For State Legislatures.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. October 2018. “Honorarium Restrictions.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. August 2018. “How States Define ‘Lobbying’ And ‘Lobbyist’.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. August 2018. “Limitations On Public Funds For Lobbying.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. July 2018. “Legislators’ Personal Financial Disclosures: Agency Connections.” NCSL.org.

Birdsong, Nicholas. July 2018. “Penalties For Violations Of State Ethics And Public Corruption Laws.” NCSL.org.

Magazine Articles

Birdsong, Nicholas. February 2020. “What’s (Un)Ethical About Lobbying?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. November 2019. “Should Payment For Legislative Testimony Be Disclosed?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. November 2019. “What About That Second Job?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. September 2019. “How Does Separation Of Powers Relate To Ethics?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. July 2019. “Is There An Ethical Duty To Be Civil To Our Rivals?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. May 2019. “What Does ‘Due Process’ Really Mean?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. March 2019. “What Can You Do About Social Media Trolls?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. January 2019. “Is It Better To Be Ethical Or Appear Ethical?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. September 2018. “Is Humility A Vice Or A Virtue For Elected Leaders?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. July 2018. “Do Legislators Have A Right To Privacy?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. June 2018. “Why Do People Do Unethical Things?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. May 2018. “Why Do Legislative Ethics Matter?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. April 2018. “Can You Spot Ethical Pitfalls?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. March 2018. “How Does Ethics Oversight Work?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. Spring 2017. “Research In The Era Of ‘Fake News’” Hearsay Magazine.

Birdsong, Nicholas. February 2017. “When Should A Legislator Use A Blind Trust?” State Legislatures Magazine.

Two-Page Issue Briefs

Birdsong, Nicholas. July 2020. “Balancing Legislative And Executive Powers In Emergencies.” NCSL LegisBrief.

Birdsong, Nicholas. February 2020. “Limiting Political Activity For Nonpartisan Staff.” NCSL LegisBrief.

Birdsong, Nicholas. August 2019. “Reinforcing Government Ethics With Layered Oversight.” NCSL LegisBrief.

Birdsong, Nicholas. January 2019. “Preventing Conflicts Of Interest With Blind Trusts.” NCSL LegisBrief.

Podcasts

Birdsong, Nicholas and Megan McClure. September 2020. “Building Democracy Episode 3: Westward Expansion.” NCSL Podcast.

Birdsong, Nicholas, Megan McClure and John Mahoney. April 2020. “Building Democracy Episode 2: The Story of Legislatures Through the Revolution.” NCSL Podcast.

Birdsong, Nicholas, Megan McClure and John Mahoney. January 2020. “Building Democracy Episode 1: The Story of Legislatures.” NCSL Podcast.

Blog Posts

Birdsong, Nicholas and Megan McClure. April 2020. “Building Democracy Podcast Episode 2: The Story of Legislatures Through the Revolution.” The NCSL Blog.

Birdsong, Nicholas. July 2019. “Potus Can’t Block Critics on Twitter, Says Federal Appeals Court.” The NCSL Blog.

Birdsong, Nicholas. July 2019. “6th Circuit Finds Ethics Laws Constitutional.” The NCSL Blog.

Papers

Birdsong, Nicholas. February 2015. “The Consequences of Economic Inequality.” Seven Pillars Institute for Global Finance and Ethics (featured in The Wealth Gap, Greenhaven Publishing (2017), ISBN: 1534500340).