Abstract This paper details racial profiling and civil rights. The writer uses New Jersey as an example of a state which has confessed to using racial profiling its African Americans and pulling them over on the highway based on color and not on motive or suspicion. The paper explores the many facets of the problem and a proposed solution.
From the Paper "Treating someone differently because they LOOK different than the mandated acceptable look is exactly what the Jews went through during the Nazi regime. Americans pride themselves on not allowing such mindsets to enter the nation , yet the blatant racial profiling so openly violates the civil rights of minorities that is should be an easy answer. Unfortunately its not easy to answer because the denial is still there. As America moves toward the future it takes with it lessons of the past and the racial profiling issue smacks so closely to the Nazi practices that it should not take long to be recognized and stopped."
Abstract The ownership of guns by the public has been a topic of much needed debate for quite some time now. Various organizations and support groups have been in action for the pro or anti views on whether a citizen should be allowed to own and keep a gun at his person or his property. The paper discusses that many of the people who own guns do so for hunting, self-defense or for their collecting pleasure. But there have been numerous cases in which the use of the gun has resulted in the death of another person. The author of the paper argues in favor of tighter laws and regulations that would result in a limited number of people buying the guns and thus control the distribution of guns so that they do not fall into the wrong hands.
From the Paper "In addition, although we hear a great deal about the tens of thousands who die from gunshot wounds, we don't hear enough about the countless tens of thousands of others who are injured by gunshot wounds. Increasingly, hospital emergency rooms are getting better at treating gunshot wounds, which leads to less gunshot deaths. For this reason, looking at gunshot deaths alone is misleading, and only a small part of the picture. (Kleck) Residents of homes where a gun is present are 5 times more likely to experience a suicide rather than residents of homes without guns."
Abstract This paper discusses pros and cons of Title IX. It examines its effect on collegiate athletics and predicted problems with the future. The writer presents problems with proportions and quotas and how the Bush administration addresses this issue.
From the Paper "Passed in 1972, Title IX is a set of federal provisions that seek to level the playing field for both male and female athletes throughout the country. Title IX mandates equal opportunities for participation for both genders in educational programs that receive federal funding. However, from the very beginning this legislation has been involved in a whirlwind of controversy, largely because of the incredible grey area it attempts to sift through. While most of Title IX's critics even agree it is worthwhile, the debate has been in the criterion for and application of the mandates. Now, in light of newly filed lawsuits and a recently formed federal review commission, Title IX is back in the limelight again."
Tags: athletics, college, collegiate, female, funding, legislation, olympics, sports, women
Focus on speech codes on college campuses to control speech demeaning to any group. Discusses legal history, pro & con arguments. Concludes codes to control "hate speech" not a good idea.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 5 sources, 2001, $ 39.95
From the Paper "Americans value the freedom of speech assured them in the U.S. Constitution, but they also seem to accept that there are some boundaries to freedom of speech, though what those boundaries are is controversial and may shift over time. One issue of free speech today is described under the title "Political Correctness," or "PC." It is defined as efforts by certain political groups, primarily those on the left, to enforce some form of speech code in order to control speech to ban any term or phrase that might be considered demeaning to any group in society, so-called "hate speech." One of the problems with these efforts is the vagueness of the terms used to define it--what is "demeaning," and how is it to be decided when a given phrase is demeaning or not? Richard Goldstein writes ..."
From the Paper "The issue to be discussed is whether or not homosexuals should be allowed to marry one another. The main reason why those in the gay community have called for the right to marry is usually not from a desire to be married as such but because of the desire for various social and economic benefits denied to gay people because they cannot marry. For some in the gay community, demands for gay marriage may in fact be a form of challenge to the "straight" community. For those who are truly serious about the issue, however, what is important is the attempt to secure for homosexual partners rights that are taken for granted by heterosexual married couples, such as the right to inheritance, to insurance benefits, for one partner to visit the other in a hospital, and so on. Society to date has deemed marriage to mean more than this and to have at least the..."
From the Paper " This study will examine Tang Dynasty law and courtroom procedures, focusing on the use of torture as a legal tactic, as described in Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, translated by Robert Van Gulik. Van Gulik, translating this work in 1949, takes an extraordinarily understanding attitude toward his subject, which would seem to call more for horror. The Tang system of justice held that the defendant could not be found guilty without confessing, and if he would not confess, then he had to be tortured until he confessed. In fact, from the moment the defendant enters the courtroom, he has to kneel down on the bare floor in front of the bench, and remain this way for the duration of the case. Everything is calculated to impress the defendant with his own insignificance (xviii)."
Examines the history and evolution of the black codes (from the Civil War to the 1990s) designed to keep African-Americans second-class citizens after the emancipation.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 6 sources, 1999, $ 47.95
Abstract The Civil War ended slavery, but it did not give African-Americans equality. Southern whites, upon regaining power in the late 1870s and early 1880s, instituted black codes, also known as "Jim Crow" laws.
From the Paper "The Civil War ended slavery, but it did not give African-Americans equality. Southern whites, upon regaining power in the late 1870s and early 1880s, instituted black codes, also known as "Jim Crow" laws. Those statutes, coupled with racist terrorism and official indifference (if not hostility), relegated African-Americans to permanent second-class status for decades, until the U.S. Supreme Court began dismantling "Jim Crow" in the 1950s. This paper will analyze the impact and the legacy of Jim Crow laws, from their birth in the 19th century, their death in this century, and their lingering effect as the new millennium dawns.
After the Civil War, Congress passed (and the states ratified) three amendments to the U.S. Constitution: the thirteenth, which ended slavery; the fourteenth, which barred discrimination based on race; and the fifteenth, which ..."
Abstract The paper discusses how law is a powerful cornerstone of society, establishing both an orderly set of rules and regulations as well as serving as an impetus for social change. Over the past few decades, the law has brought many advances in society, from preserving a woman's right to choose an abortion (Roe v. Wade), ordering public schools to desegregate (Brown v. Board of Education), and from increasing awareness regarding sexual offenders. The paper shows, however, before these social changes could occur and laws could be enacted, a tragic event (such as a murder, racial tensions, etc.) frequently had to occur. In the case of Megan's law, a little girl had to be violently raped and murdered before legislators decided to reform the laws concerning sexual offenders. This paper analyzes and examines the multitude of issues related to Megan's Law. Part II provides an overview of Megan's Law. In Part III, the pros and cons of sex offender registration and public notification are outlined and evaluated. Lastly, this paper concludes with recommendations for improving Megan's Law.
From the Paper "While there are numerous advantages to Megan's Law, there are disadvantages as well. Critics of Megan's Law call it a ?modern-day scarlet letter,? a probation that in effect never ends. (Pitts). As such, Megan's Law arguably contradicts the notion that after an individual has paid his/her debt to society, he/she is entitled to a second chance without fear of vigilantism. (Pitts, BBC). Opponents of Megan's Law argue that it is not highly effective, especially given that only 80% of pedophiles comply with registration requirements in the United States, compared with 97% in the United Kingdom. (BBC). Additionally, opponents of Megan's Law point out that most cases of child abuse occur within the family, and suggest that victims may remain silent if they believe a family member will be denounced. (BBC)."
Tags: federal, legislation, Kanka, Ex, Post, Facto, Supreme, Court
Abstract This paper analyzes Frederick Douglass' famous anti-slavery speech on July 5, 1852 which claimed free blacks and slaves were not Americans because Constitutional benefits and protections granted to whites were not given to blacks. It examines his accusations that America had always had double standards and it had never been sincere and true in implementing liberty, equality and justice. The paper continues to back his claim with examples from David Walker's appeal against the apparent injustice of the white man and the writings of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, a militant civil rights fighter.
From the Paper "We can clearly see that Douglass' aim was to uncover the injustice and hypocrisy of American liberty and equality, its empty slogans and hollow mockery. By doing this Douglass not only inciting his black fellow men to rebel against such unjust and oppressive system but also uncovering the naked truth to the authority and to the people who are celebrating the Independence Day. Douglass by referring to past is pointing out to the systematic development of slavery in the United States. "
From the Paper "This introduction to law, legal institutions and the legal environment will focus on the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case of Roe versus Wade. After describing the case, the effect of the case on religions in the United States will be discussed. This will be followed by discussion of the effects of this case on the freedoms enjoyed by Americans, particularly the rights of privacy and freedom of choice for the individual.
Roe versus Wade was the outgrowth of an unmarried pregnant woman filing a class action suit in the Dallas, Texas, federal district court. Wade is the name of the District Attorney involved in the suit, while Roe is a pseudonym used by the plaintiff in filing suit. The suit sought a declaratory judgment that the Texas criminal abortion laws were unconstitutional. Texas enacted its law in 1854, and the laws stood unchanged since (...)"
From the Paper "Voting has been a major issue for black Americans in this century, although the 15th Amendment, which was ratified in 1870, provides that neither the federal government nor any state shall deny the right to vote on account of race or color. It specifically authorized Congress to enforce its provisions by legislation.. Nevertheless, especially in the South, white people denied blacks the right to vote, using everything from literacy tests to physical harm. In 1965, however, the Voting Rights Act was passed, and it suspended in certain areas the use of literacy tests and similar devices as prerequisites to registration and voting and provided for the appointment of federal examiners to register persons who met valid state voting requirements.. This act was a departure from the acts of 1957- ... "
This paper discusses the ramifications of smoking cigarettes in public places: Dangers of secondhand smoke, history, health effects, deaths, counter-arguments, tobacco industry views, lawsuits, regulation and legal ban.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 12 sources, 1995, $ 79.95
From the Paper "This paper will discuss the ramifications of smoking cigarettes in public places. The thesis of-this paper is that smoking tobacco in public places is detrimental to everyone's health. This paper will point out how secondhand, or passive, smoke is dangerous and adversely affects people's health. This paper will also discuss the hazards smoke from cigarettes poses to nonsmokers. The discussion will be divided into the following five parts: the first part will introduce the paper's thesis; the second part will present the arguments against smoking and secondhand smoke; the third part will refute the arguments against smoking; the fourth part will present responses to the arguments against smoking; and the conclusion will take the ... "
Abstract This paper points out that by acting on behalf of a large group, the labor unions have more power than if the employees acted alone. This paper describes and compares United Airline's and Ford Motor Company's labor practices and problems. This paper presents an ideal employer-labor relationship.
From the Paper "Congress, starting to feel pressure for groups like the AFL, created the U.S. Department of Labor. The department has a mandate to protect and extend the rights of wageworkers. A children's bureau was created. In 1914, the first law to protect workers was enacted, the Clayton Act said that ?the labor of A Human Being is not a commodity or an article of commerce.? Because of this change in the legal status of work and labor, those things were no longer subject to the Sherman Act provisions that had been the legal basis for injunctions against union organizations. The Clayton Act allowed for strikes, boycotts, peaceful picketing and dramatically limited the use of injunctions in labor disputes."
Abstract This paper examines the issue of gun control and whether or not federal legislation will help curb the availability of guns that have lead to an explosion of violence across the country. The author argues that the lack effective legislation that oversees the distribution and monitoring of guns has lead to an explosion in the crime rates over the past two decades. The author presents some of the arguments on both sides of the issue with the help of crime rate statistics and political testimony given on Capitol Hill from the period after September 11. The paper also examines Second Amendment rights regarding the right to bear arms and analyzes some of the different arguments that have been presented that can be transferred to the issue of gun control. The paper also presents some discussion of the NRA, including a short history, its policy goals and record of increased involvement in the shaping of any and all policy regarding guns in the United States. The author sharpens their argument against gun control through a discussion of the fact that terrorist handbooks often note how easy it is to acquire weapons in the United States.
From the Paper "It would use a Canadian technology called IBIS (Integrated Ballistics Identification System), currently used by 233 local law?enforcement sites around the United States, to produce a 360"degree photographic image of the bullet or shell casing. The software then would translate the picture into a digital signature, which could then be compared with other crime"scene evidence. If a national database were created, bullets or casings recovered from a crime scene could then be traced to the point of purchase, which would give detectives new leads. The databases that exist are quite small because only two states?"Maryland and New York"?require handgun manufacturers to fire the weapons and record the signature. When critics point out that the current database has solved no crimes and so such a system should not be implemented any more widely, they are obfuscating the issue just as they do when they say gun control in one or two states has not stopped crime. What is needed is a national solution so such arguments would be sown up for the falsehoods they are (Alter 41)."
Abstract Almost three decades after the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade case legalizing abortion in America, the issue remains the greatest moral flashpoint facing America today. This paper examines the underlying ethical arguments of both sides of the abortion debate, using Ronald Dworkin's "sanctity of life" principles. By ?abortion,? this paper includes all forms of abortion, from early fetal abortion through the RU46 drug to late-term abortions, from abortions out of "convenience" to abortions in cases of rape and incest. It evaluates how the anti-abortion crusade has framed their campaign on the personhood and the rights of the fetus. The second part looks at the pro-abortion movement, which has framed their issue as a campaign for women's reproductive rights. Finally, the paper examines the approach of a minority of women, activists from both camps who are working to bridge the gap between pro- and anti-abortion factions.
By presenting both sides, this paper argues that because of current societal structures that make unwanted pregnancy more likely to happen and its consequences more difficult to assume, abortion must remain an option, a ?necessary evil.? Both pro- and anti-abortion factions, however, must work towards their common ground ? a society where abortions are no longer necessary.
From the Paper "Despite the legality of abortion and its importance to women's rights, anti-abortion activists have successfully curtailed several pro-choice gains. More important, the "pro-life" camp's appeals to a higher moral law have successfully placed pro-choice advocates on the defensive.
However, pro-choice advocates also frame their stand on morality. Forcing a woman to continue and unwelcome pregnancy is ultimately harmful to the mother and the child. The creation of unwanted and uncared-for children has a two-fold effect of limiting a woman's potential for both the present and future motherhood. As Roiphe states, becoming a mother is a crucial choice and its imposition makes women into "slaves of their biology" (142)."
Tags: fetus, bible, christian, feminists, morality, birth, control
