Abstract This paper discusses religious freedom as a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution including historical background and current issues like religion in politics, polygamy, the Native American Church, and Seventh Day Adventists. This paper is about how the religious freedom that we cherish in the United States was established historically and discusses some of issues involved in maintaining religious freedom today.
From the Paper "The religious beliefs of a person are the most sacred and intense commitments of the individual self. Religious beliefs should not be assaulted or hindered by any outside force. These convictions are the most private and personal thoughts that a person cherishes. They should neither be affected by nor influenced by any law or government restriction in our society. The right to religious freedom is established in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States."
Abstract This essay examines the roles played by women in the military and gender stratification. The author discusses three Supreme Court cases that strengthened the ongoing argument that females should be allowed into military positions of active combat. The paper also looks at the story of Major Rhonda Cornum, taken captive in the Black Hawk incident.
From the Paper "As the world enters the twenty-first century, the question of gender stratification and exclusion in military ground combat situations continues to be the center of much disagreement and debate. Female citizens should by all means be guaranteed the same opportunities for advancement and individual freedom of choice that are given their male counterparts. The obtainment of these opportunities and freedoms should not, however, come at the expense or sacrifice of all aspects of the time-honored relationships and boundaries that have conventionally existed between the sexes, one of which is the battlefield."
Abstract This paper examines the constitution against the decisions of the Supreme Court and evaluates how the meaning of the U.S. Constitution has been shaped by the personalities, philosophies and composition of the members of the U.S. Supreme Court. The writer compares and contrasts two U.S. Supreme Court Justices with different philosophies of law and interpretation. The paper covers the theory and cites specific case examples and their impact on the United States.
From the Paper "We live in what is supposed to be the best nation on earth. We have freedoms that many do not have and we have opportunity that many never see. This country is one that embraces diversity and personal rights. While we have all of these things we have also reached a point in our existence where there are so many people and so many diverse ideas that its difficult to sort out what is and isn"t a constitutional right sometimes. The Supreme Court is often charged with making those decisions, which outs the Supreme Court in the position of not only interpreting the constitution but also shaping it as well by its decisions and rulings.?
Tags: government, run, structure, parliament, president, judge, court, decide, law
Abstract This paper examines the legal educational guidelines for children with special needs. The paper investigates the language of "inclusion", the rhetoric of politics and school administration and the advocacy of parents and professionals. It describes the legal rights of special education students and illustrates the difficultly of providing an appropriate education for these children as a result of the wide variety of special needs and abilities.
From the Paper "Special education has always been under debate as far as provision of facilities and programs are concerned. Despite discussion on the issue, as well as the installation of the law, many instances of malpractice at the hand of the facilitators could be seen. Disability is a vast term that encompasses various kind of disability. For some institution it means the cognitive inability to demonstrate any kind of intelligence. As a result, critics believe that the law does not apply where providing quality facilities are concerned. ON the other hand other groups include children with physical disparagement but have the cognitive ability to think for themselves. For this reason, the States? law has outlined rights that pertain to include all level of special individuals. These programs are called special education and they are under the navigation of various case studies. While other still those youngsters who undergo cognitive change and have difficulty in learning are also included in this law. For this reason at times it is found that some of these laws does not work in cohesion for the purpose of the people / students [Roberts, R., & Mather, N. 1995]."
Abstract This paper is an argument in favor of the death penalty. The author uses several examples to support his position, including the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States and the Oklahoma City bombings in 1991. The author looks at how, since colonial times, it has become progressively more difficult to be sentenced to death. The author also presents evidence that the death penalty does serve as a deterrent for some criminals. The author also states that especially since September 11 there has been a change in many people's feelings about capital punishment, and this evolution needs to be acknowledged when deciding when to apply the death penalty.
From the Paper "Once upon a time the things for which you could be sentenced to death were not so heinous. For example, in colonial America, ?offenses such as striking one's mother or father, or denying the "true God," were punishable by death.? However, that is no longer the case. Surely if we had such small crimes, no one in this modern age would care. But today we have ?More executions now per year than in any single year between 1600 and 1880.? Why? Because today there are more criminals that deserve to die. There is no state today where deny God can get you executed. The only capital crimes in America are murder along with (in various states) kidnapping, narcotics conspiracies, and treason. Despite the fact that we have more executions now than ever before, there is still a decrease in real punishment. ?Indeed, a calculating criminal might look at the extreme rarity of the death penalty and thereby be encouraged in his murderous course.? While we executed criminals every year, there are thousands more we fail to execute, and thousands more that spend the entirety of their natural lives on death row appealing their fates. This is not right."
Abstract This paper focuses on drug-related violence committed by gangs. It attempts to analyze the major causes behind such violence and whether the trend the trend of gang violence is on the increase. The communities and demographic population in which such violence is most likely to occur are also discussed besides looking at certain possible ways of preventing or lessening gang violence.
From the Paper "The disturbing phenomenon of gang violence in the inner American cities has been a major concern of parents, communities, and the law-enforcing agencies for many years. Of late, several studies indicate that the nature of gang violence has changed, with lethal violence being more likely related to the drug trade than to gang rivalries. One such study shows that drug related violence represents between a third and half of all gang violence. The reasons behind such a trend are multifarious and linked to the nature of youth gang culture. It is essential to take a brief look at these reasons before we can analyze and discuss some of the ways by which drug-related gang violence can be controlled."
Abstract This paper details Hammurabi's Code and how it covers many of the ills Mesopotamian society faced in the 17th Century BC. It gives several examples of his laws and quotes them and then analyzes and explains them. It details the historical and social situation in Mesopotamia at the time.
From the Paper "When interpreting Hammurabi's Code, one must do so with the full conviction that these laws were created as a response to actions that were taking place in everyday Mesopotamian society. While Hammurabi's Code was not the first set of laws, his organization and interpretation of previous laws covers many of the ills Mesopotamian society faced in the 17th Century BC. For example, Hammurabi's law number 53 says "If any one be too lazy to keep his dam in proper condition, and does not so keep it; if then the dam break and all the fields be flooded, then shall he in whose dam the break occurred be sold for money, and the money shall replace the corn which he has caused to be ruined" (King). From that it can be assumed that there was a problem in Mesopotamian society with abandoned or poorly maintained irrigation ducts. However, to truly gain an understanding of Mesopotamia in the 17th Century BC, one should take a closer look at the penalties rather than the laws themselves."
Tags: Hammurabi, code, Mesopotamia, laws, penalties, 17th, Century, BC, Babylon
Abstract This essay discusses the ways in which a stakeholder approach to corporate governance would differ from the existing system of a stockholder approach in the UK. A definition of corporate governance is provided along with the differences between stakeholder and stockholder approaches to this particular issue. The extent to which a stakeholder approach would change the existing system is also investigated. References and evidence to support these arguments are provided throughout the essay.
From the Paper "The new proposal of corporate governance is that of a stakeholder approach. The fundamental principle behind this concept is that shareholders are no longer the only members of an organisation who have an interest in the conduct and performance of the company. This is supported by Demb & Neubauer (1992) who state "corporate governance is the process by which corporations are made responsive to the rights and wishes of stakeholders". J. Kay (1995) also states "it is the purpose of companies to maximise its profits or to develop its business in the interests of customers, employees, suppliers and other stakeholders in the wider community." "
The following paper discusses a number of court cases that are examples of how difficult it is to determine whether individual constitutional rights are violated or not.
Abstract This paper examines how easy it is to be sympathetic to plaintiffs in a court case but also how important it is to take into account that the defendants are officers of the law, whose duty it is to uphold the law.
From the Paper ?Throughout history, people who charged that their constitutional rights were violated during arrests and interrogations have brought cases to court. The Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments have been questioned repeatedly as judges search for justice without failing the police departments. Many of these cases have involved the Miranda rights, which, prior to 1998, were required of police as a precursor to admissible confessions by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1966 case of Miranda v. Arizona. In 1998, these warnings were a made optional in federal court by a federal statute. The warning had to be read to a suspect upon arrest as follows: ?You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before questioning. You have the right to have your attorney present with you during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you at no expense to you. You may choose to exercise these rights at any time.?
Abstract Despite the 14th Amendment in the American constitution, this paper claims that there is gross inequality in many states when dealing with African-American and Latinos regarding crimes and prosecution. It states that there is solid evidence that Blacks and Latinos commit a higher number of crimes per capita but in addition, critics of our legal system assert that some laws, particularly drug laws, are enforced more vigorously in minority communities. It is also claimed that people of color receive harsher sentences for the same crimes.
From the Paper "America has taken the official stance that all are equal in front of the law for a long time. The 14th Amendment specifically states this. Blas? (2001) quotes a legal expert from Columbia University as he says, "One of the clearest principles of American constitutional law is that race is an inappropriate basis upon which to make official decisions.? The statue of Lady Justice seen on so many courthouses emphasizes this philosophy: she holds the scales of justice blindfolded."
Abstract A look at the legal response to domestic violence as well as the law enforcements attitude to this problems. It examines possible solutions that may improve the way these agencies handle domestic violence cases. Part II provides legal definitions of domestic violence, Part III explains the usual dynamics of this form of violence. Part IV attempts to understand the battered woman and Part V looks at the criminal justice system's response to battered women. Part VI examines police officer's attitude to domestic violence and Part VII looks at the criminal justice system and domestic violence. The paper concludes with suggestions for improvement in this dealing with this crime.
From the Paper "Domestic violence is one of the most serious, yet least understood problems facing our nation today. This issue is especially troubling because of the unusual dynamics associated with domestic violence; unlike other crimes such as carjacking, random violence, and robbery where the offender and victim are usually strangers, battered women are often highly dependent on their partners for economic support and may be reluctant to leave out of fear or love. Another reason why domestic violence is so troubling is the lack of effective intervention and knowledge that exists among members of the criminal justice system, law enforcement, and public. The attitude that "domestic violence is a family matter, not a crime" which has long existed in society has contributed to this lack of knowledge and is one of the reasons why domestic violence still remains a largely "hidden" problem. Finally, the limited number of economic resources and shelters which are available to battered women also contributes to this problem; women who finally gather the courage and strength needed to leave their batterer may be forced to remain in the abusive situation or to return because the shelters are full or because they may be unable to find a job."
Abstract A paper which investigates the privacy and security issues that arise from the Internet. Recognizing that the Internet is relatively new and rapidly changing, the investigation is completed with an eye for looking forward to the future. The writer of the paper discusses the modern history of the Internet and how it relates to privacy and security concerns. He then goes on to discuss several key security and privacy issues and the protection options available to deal with these issues. Finally, he discusses the future of Internet security and privacy focusing on two timely issues.
From the Paper "We can see the Internet as a tool for communicating information, just as television, newspapers and other media are. The difference with the Internet is that the information published is not as well controlled.
With television and newspapers, controls are in place to determine what will be communicated. It is generally not possible for a person to publish information without it being verified in some way. However, with the Internet, a person can publish and communicate messages to people from all over the world with no requirement to have checks on the information.
Essentially, the Internet allows anyone to say anything, and to say that anything to a lot of people. This leads to the Internet being capable of being used as a tool to defame others."
Abstract The paper analyzes the concept of community policing and examines how effective the strategy of community policing has been. It studies the guidelines on which the concept of community policing is based - the concept has forced the police departments to develop a friendly relationship with the law-abiding people in the community and to cooperate with them in several security and crime prevention related issues. The paper studies the approaches through which the police personnel are trained to deal with a wide array of situations and a range of behavioral problems. Finally it examines the effectiveness of C.O.P in different societal settings and analyzes the use of some other approaches to policing in situations where the concept does not seem to work effectively.
From the Paper "The roots of community based policing can be dated back to the era of Sir Robert Peel, who adopted the system for the London Police department and who is considered to be the father of the modern Police system. According to him, the police should consider itself as a part of the general public and the public should also held itself accountable for certain police related activities. Though the concept of community policing was introduced in that time but it didn't succeeded because of a number of reasons. The primary reason for its failure at that time was that the police department itself lost sight of the principles defined by Sir Robert Peel i.e. defining the relationship of police with the public."
Abstract This paper shows, through an extensive literature review, as well as research conducted by the author in the form of a personal interview, and a questionnaire submitted to local students, that if illegal drug use leads to increased crime, then the decriminalization of drugs will ultimately reduce crime and will therefore improve society.
From the Paper "Because drug use is illegal in America, not only are prisons overcrowded with drug offenders but the high prices caused by illegalization result in a massive increase in monetary and even violent crimes. The war on drugs, as it has been practiced for the past four decades has done nothing to reduce these problems, and has in fact increased them. Thus it is becoming progressively more evident that the victory for this war will take far too long, cost way too much money and have far too many victims."
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of euthanasia and attempts to define whether euthanasia should be considered morally wrong or right. In order to give an answer to this question and as part of con and pro arguments several cases of voluntary and involuntary euthanasia are discussed in this paper. The case of Robert Latimer occupies a central place in this discussion and ultimately brings into the debate several moral principles-- benefit, sanctity of human life and autonomy.
From the Paper "Robert Latimer's trial was described in the press as "Trial by popularity" and as newspapers' headlines stated "despite his second murder conviction, Latimer retains legal and public support" regardless of the fact that he caused death of his 12 year old disabled daughter by carbon monoxide. Support and sympathy for Latimer has poured in from all parts of Canada bringing with it the question of the moral rightness of what Tracy's father did."
