Abstract This paper is the examination of findings of the Security and Exchange Commission's (SEC), Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) that was formed in September of 1998 to address concerns about various accounting practices. The committee's report, detailing their ten recommendations and the results they hoped to achieve, are examined in detail. The report was issued in February 1999, an since then several rules, regulations and standards have been enacted in the spirit of the committee's recommendations.
From the Paper "The Blue Ribbon Committee's report entitled Report and Recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Improving the Effectiveness of Corporate Audit Committees was issued in February 1999 and consisted of two sections (Grant Thorton). First, ten recommendations for actions to be taken by regulatory or standard setting bodies, such as the AICPA, SEC, NYSE, and NASD were presented (Grant Thorton). Second, five guiding principles for best practices that may be used by companies as building blocks in developing audit committee processes and practices were discussed (Grant Thorton). "
Abstract This paper studies the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. The paper describes the Committee's function to oversee expenditures and examines the degree to which the Committee wield real power over the national budget's purse strings. The paper focuses on the 105th Congress, detailing membership, leadership and issues faced by the Committee.
From the Paper "Because of its large amount of work, the U.S. Senate divides its functions among committees. Each committee has its own guidelines and adopts its own rules. The chair of each committee and a majority of its members control the work of the committee and hire its..."
Abstract This paper explains that many of the corporate requirements came about because the Amex, the NASDAQ and the NYSE wanted to ensure the high quality management of the Board of Director committees. The paper then discusses how board committees are structured, which ones are the most important or significant and which ones are the most likely to be needed based on the type of company. The paper examines several types of board committees, including the audit, compensation, nominating, and other committees. The paper also examines the functions of members of non-profit Board of Directors.
Table of Contents:
Legal/Statutory Basis and Terms of Self-Regulation of Board Committees in the USA
The Board Committees in the USA
Audit Committees in the USA
Compensation Committees in the USA
Nominating Committees in the USA
Other Board Committees in the USA
Advantages, Disadvantages, and Problems of Board Committees in the USA
From the Paper "The standards are designed to show not only that the particular exchange is high quality, but also that it is safe and can be trusted . There is some difficulty with this right now because of the various scandals that took place in accounting firms such as Enron, and many of the changes that are taking place has to do with just such problems. Currently, the corporate governance requirements are a mixture of good governance and competition."
Abstract This paper examines in detail the House Committee on Ways and Means. It looks at who the committee consists of, what the committee does, and a short history on its formation. The paper then examines the committee's relations with the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the President. Finally, the paper examines the life and times of Wilbur Mills, who was the committee chair from 1957 to 1975 and was once called "the most powerful man on the Hill" during his chairmanship, to take a more detailed look into the power the committee carries and its inner workings.
From the Paper "In the Senate, the power of the Ways and Means Committee and the counterpart Senate Finance Committee come together in a joint committee?the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation, which is the oldest joint committee in Congress. In this joint committee, five members from the House, five members from the Senate, and five members appointed by the executive branch representing the general public join to help tax legislation. The most important function of this joint committee is the link it creates between the chambers. It helps to push along the legislative process of tax bills. (Salamon 1975, 421-425)"
Abstract This paper elaborates on the functions, role and division of the Select Committees highlighting their importance by citing examples of committee functions performed in the past.
Abstract This paper will address the COC with the intention of demonstrating the administration processes found in an Olympic committee. It will examine five key points found within the administration proceedings: Policy settings, regulations, management, notable administrative figures and the setting for the administration. It is hoped that through demonstrating the effectiveness of the COC, a better general understanding of the administration proceedings for all Olympic committees may be achieved.
Abstract Developing a cultural competency committee is one alternative in the search for compliance. Recent federal, state, and local laws mandate that multicultural considerations be taken into account in virtually every aspect of public life. This paper discusses how, in the case of behavioral health organizations and agencies, which deal with the most intimate problems of people from many cultures and tradition, not to mention with many different languages as their native tongues, t is paramount to understand all the facets of multiculturalism so that, if the agency decides that instituting a cultural competency committee is the proper course, it will also attend to the proper issues. It looks at one issue that has recently been raised: whether cultural competency and all its ramifications is, in fact, a new twist on racism. Nonetheless, it is clear that behavioral health organizations do deal with many cultures, and approaches must be found to do so in ways that are not discriminatory in intent or in fact.
Introduction and Statement of the Problem
Legacy of Error
Ethnic Composition of U.S. Society
Origins of Multi-Cultural Counseling/Cultural Competency
Review of the Literature
Methodology
Cultural Competency Questionnaire
References
Appendix A
From the Paper "There is almost no area of human life that has not been touched in the past fifty years by the specter of discrimination. Although it would seem amazing to some, the fields of psychology, counseling and behavioral therapies have not gone untouched by racism. Indeed, covert and overt racist behavior and thinking was endemic to the American Psychological Association (APA), the academy and mental health organizations during that period. (Morris & Robinson, 2000, p. 239) It is not surprising then that now, in a more enlightened period, those same institutions would seek to rectify this attitude and behavior. One means of doing that is training and managing for ?cultural competency.? This cultural competency, while needed in general, is assumed also to influence the effectiveness of counseling when it must be done in a multicultural setting. (Morris & Robinson, 2000, p. 239)"
A look at the history of the development of Political Action Committees (PACs), how they operate, and what are the disadvantages and difficulties of having a political system influenced by them.
1,362 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 4 sources, 1999, $ 45.95
From the Paper "With the advent of the information age, and with the virtual necessity of the use of these new media to disseminate information, elections are becoming ever more costly. The 1982 election, an off-year election, cost over $240 Million to conduct. Politicians are scurrying to find new funding sources. A recent trend has been the increase in the proportion of election expenses covered by Political Action Committees, or PACs. These groups represent a group of people with common interests who "want to advance a specific political agenda by contributing to candidates who share their views." PACs are a potent financial tool in elections. The sources of PAC money are manifold and multifarious; many types of PACs exist. As a corollary, many have called into question whether high campaign contributors indeed influence the policies of the candidate in their favor. Further, with the abundance of soft money, campaign contributions are becoming ever more difficult to track or to regulate."
Tags: action, campaign, committee, government, political
Explores the role of big business and Political Action Committee's in America's politics, concentrating on the influence wielded by the tobacco industry and trial lawyers.
1,385 words (approx. 5.5 pages), 6 sources, 2000, $ 46.95
Abstract This paper explores the ramifications of party funding by business and Political Action Committees through an investigation into the Supreme Court's revocation of the FDA's right to regulate the tobacco industry. It explores the historical involvement of the FDA with the industry, through to the stances taken by the Democratic and the Republican parties after revocation. It investigates the reasons behind Big Tobacco funding the Republican party, and the Trial Lawyers' PAC contributing so heavily to the Democratic coffers in the 2000 presidential campaign.
From the Paper "It is a sad fact that less than 50% of Americans vote. The reasons behind this non-participation are myriad, ranging from the view that traditional parties are out of touch with the needs of modern-day society, to the inconvenience of attending mid-week daytime voting stations. One common complaint is the effect of party funding by big business and by Political Action Committees, since the practice implies that money rather than votes wields political influence."
Abstract This paper examines how the Committee of Public Safety was created by the National Convention April 6, 1793 as a strong executive body to take control in post-revolutionary France. It looks at its reign of terror including its military victories and failures, its effect on the economy and its rule of the people through fear.
From the Paper "Once the Committee of Public gained its control over France it began to try to solve many of France's problems. Plans were being created on how to deal with persons who were suspect of counter-revolutionary actions. Many laws had already been passed against emigres and non-juring priests, yet there was no concise law describing how to deal with all suspect persons. The Law of Suspects, created September 17, 1794, was the first attempt to create a legal definition of 'suspects.' This law defined suspects vaguely. Suspects were described as persons who in any way have shown to be federalists or counter-revolutionary; those who could not give a good explanation of their civic duty to the revolution; former nobles and their families who have not shown complete support for the revolution, and those who have been denied the certificate of good citizenship. "
Abstract This report analyzes the Canadian Olympic Committee's (COC) corporate infrastructure, and explores some the methods it employs to attain its strategic goals and objectives, the primary goal being success at the podium. The paper also presents an examination of some of the factors that exist in the external environment that affect the COC's decision-making processes.
Outline:
Introduction
The Mission and Strategy
Corporate Infrastructure
The Standardization and Specialization
Control Systems
Major Decisions
Conclusion
From the Paper "In order to sustain the sports funding models required to ensure that its mission is achieved, the COC routinely engages in joint ventures with partners in the industry. These joint ventures have seen the development of affiliates such as the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games (VANOC), Podium 2010, and Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA). Additionally, the COC has established strategic alliances with others in the sports communities in order to gain the support and sponsorship needed for the development of its ongoing projects. One such project is the upgrading of its website that includes many new features and links to some of its partners."
A review of how the Sarbanes-Oxley Act keeps the corporation's audit committees on track so that illegal activity cannot cause the business financial distress.
Abstract The paper states that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on corporation's audit committees has become more structured. The paper discusses that the audit committees should be composed of individuals who are not compensated for their service on this committee or involved in any other conflict of interest with any entity doing business with the organization, since most nonprofit organizations have volunteer board members. This paper demonstrates the many changes that an audit committee will experience through the Sarbanes Oxley Act in order to be successful.
From the Paper "From there, the board and senior management team have been trying to relocate the company into a better position so that the future of the company will be secured. This promising future will be able to support jobs that are available at the present time and create others. "The audit committee, primarily composed of members of the board of directors, plays a critical role in providing oversight over and serving as a check and balance on a company's financial reporting system. The audit committee provides independent review and oversight of a company's financial reporting processes, internal controls and independent auditors. It also acts as a forum separate from management in which auditors and other interested parties can candidly discuss concerns" (Sarbanes-Oxley Act: Audit committee effectiveness = good company management). Along with that, the union has bees trying to characterize the employees in a losing situation due to the fact that it has not a part of the decisions of the senior management team. In the past, they have given up certain benefits to create an atmosphere of give and take; however they have been feeling that they have been taken advantage of by not being included in the current company decisions."
Tags: organization, nonprofit, organizations, volunteer, board, members
Abstract This paper examines the reasons why the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee at its October 2000 meeting decided to leave the Federal Funds Rate target (and by extension the money supply target) unchanged as well as looking at what might have prompted the Fed Open Market Committee to increase the Federal Funds Rate or Discount Rate as well as what might have prompted them to decrease the Federal Funds Rate or Discount Rate ? and what other actions might have accompanied either an increase or decrease.
From the paper:
"To understand the Fed's decision in October it is necessary to understand how the office functions in general. As the central banking authority of the United States, the Federal Reserve acts as a fiscal agent for the U.S. government; it also serves as custodian of the reserve accounts of commercial banks, makes loans to commercial banks, and is authorized to issue Federal Reserve notes that constitute the entire supply of paper currency of the country. The system comprises the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the 12 Federal Reserve banks, the Federal Open Market Committee, the Federal Advisory Council, and, a Consumer Advisory Council along with several thousand member banks. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System determines the reserve requirements of the member banks within statutory limits, reviews and determines the discount rates established by the 12 Federal Reserve banks, and reviews the budgets of the reserve banks."
Abstract The paper explains the biggest change in local government legislation over the past thirty years,namely, that British local authorities must now have formal constitutions, designed to streamline decision-making and make the process more open and accessible to the public. The author points out that, in addition to basic rules and regulations, the constitution describes the four basic elements through which the Council operates: the full Council, Council Committees, the Executive and Overview, and Scrutiny Committees. The paper relates that, within most London boroughs, services must cater to exceptionally diverse resident communities where social exclusion remains a daily reality, and the need to attract business and investment is a priority.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Council
Council Committees Executive
Overview and Scrutiny
Rules and Regulations
Livability and Leadership
From the Paper "Livability is a local issue, however, and it remains for local government to take the initiative on an agenda that has tended to sit relatively low on the managerial priority list. As an issue that is key to people's awareness of their area and the delivery of their local politicians, it should be a priority for the perception-bound politician concerned with his mandate. High profile elected mayors in the US have built their reputations on liveability issues; for example Guiliani's "zero tolerance" approach to street crime in New York, or Daley's "urban renaissance" in Chicago, achieved through new partnership working and the injection of new sources of funding."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that the American Medical Association (AMA) first arose as a loose association of medical professionals and scientists in 1847. The writer points out that the group was intended to increase the standards of medical and biological education in North America, but was considered both impractical and utopian by many. The writer then looks at the mission of the organization today and discusses the political action committee's activities. The writer maintains that from Medicare to animal testing to malpractice insure, the AMA and the American Medical Association political action committee, which are, for all intents and purposes, one in the same, have served their beneficiaries as well as possible, through lobbying and outward pressure. The writer concludes that their methods may have brimmed over the line of constitutionality at points, but that should not mar the AMA's record because, as a political action committee, it has done all in its power to legally and persuasively enact legislature to assist America's doctors.
From the Paper "Current president of the AMA, Ronald M. Davis, gave a speech in 2005, which highlighted the organization's illustrious history more than any political or economic agendas. At Smith Davis's initial meeting, over two hundred and fifty delegates from twenty-eight states voted to elect Nathanial Chapman the organization's first president. His first actions included those that would be deemed necessary by burgeoning doctors; the condemnation of secretive and patent medicine, which robbed business, and the establishment of a code of medical ethics and the world's first Committee on Medical Ethics to enforce the doctrines. By the end of the nineteenth century, the groundwork had been laid for the organization's present political sphere of influence."
