Abstract This paper studies and critiques the potential effects of the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA). The paper cites the act's important changes to federal campaign finance law. The paper also assesses how and to what degree BCRA protects and promotes the public interest.
From the Paper "President George W. Bush signed into law the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act or BCRA. The BCRA contains a number of important changes to federal campaign finance law. While many in the United States see BCRA..."
Asseses Senate Bill 1219 and obstacles to its passage. Discusses background, need for, politics, constitutionality, provisions, goals, bipartisan support and interest groups.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 7 sources, 1997, $ 79.95
From the Paper "Campaign finance reform continues to be a current policy issue of concern to President Clinton, and one that is on his public agenda. Congress has spoken out in favor of the need for reform, but little has been accomplished legislatively. Public opinion appears to be in favor of campaign finance reform, but the issue has failed to generate the kind of enthusiasm needed to push a reform bill through Congress.
Senate Bill 1219, a tough bipartisan campaign finance reform bill, was introduced in the Senate by Senators John McCain (R-Arizona), Russell Feingold (D-Wisconsin), and Fred Thompson (R-Tennessee). Although it represents a critically important breakthrough in the fight to clean up the corrupt campaign finance system in Washington, it has not seen much success.
The issue of campaign finance reform (and its corollary ..."
Abstract Sarah A. Binder's article on "The Dynamics of Legislative Gridlock, 1947-96" provides profound statistical and historical insight into how the dynamics of a legislative government system works in terms of the potential bipartisan establishment of alliances between elected individuals. The paper shows that Binder's central argument suggests that a sense of internal party cohesion creates less favorable conditions for passing legislation, rather than facilitates the passing of new laws. In other words, the more strongly allied different individuals within a political party are to particular party ideology and to themselves as "Democrats" or "Republicans", the less apt they are to make concessions to members of the opposing party. Rather than forming ties to the legislature as a governing body, representatives with strong party allegiances form ties to their party's governing structures instead.
From the Paper "Perhaps the most famous example that springs to mind during the period chronicled by Binder is Senator Jesse Helm's filibusters of civil rights legislation in the senate. The senator's allegiance to segregationist ideology enabled him to use the rules and protocols of the senate to almost "kill" historic civil rights laws. Helm's allegiance to segregationist and the Dixiecrat ideology ultimately made him wish to break away from the Democratic Party. But this was not a time of great unity within the Democratic Party. Thus, to Binder's approval and to prove Binder's point, because of this lack of party unity, a Democratic president, Lyndon Johnson, enabled the civil rights legislation of the 1960's to be passed, in opposition to members of his own party. This example shows how a lack of party allegiance can indeed enable the legislature to ?get things done.?"
Tags: Cold, War, Civil, Rights, Watergate, Jesse, Helm
Abstract This paper explains that the Family and Medical Leave Act took a decade from its conception to finally becoming law for most employers in 1993. The author points out that this law, which covers companies with 50 or more workers and employees with at least a year of service, mandates up to 12 weeks of leave per year for various family medical emergencies and for the birth or adoption of a child and stipulates that the employers must continue to provide health care benefits and that returning workers must be given their old job or an equivalent. The paper relates that the current time permitted is less than in Europe and Japan; some lawmakers are currently working to increase this time in order to benefit American employees.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Beginnings
Momentum
Becoming Law
Understanding the Law
Enforcement
Current Status
Conclusion
From the Paper "When the bill was first introduced in the 99th Congress, it was unable to secure a hearing in the predominately Republican Senate. In 1990, after some significant compromises that reduced the period of leave entitlement and raised the small-employer exemption, the bill gained sufficient bipartisan support to pass both the House and the Senate. However, President Bush reversed his previous campaign promise to support such a bill and vetoed the FMLA, and the House failed to override the veto. By the time the 102nd Congress convened during 1991 and 1992, the bill had garnered so much interest that it secured the "coveted bill numbers 'H.R. 2' and 'S. 5' - signaling that it was one of the top five priorities of the leadership for that Congress."
Abstract This paper explains that the founding fathers, who wrote the Constitution, were extreme elitists, who gave (1) suffrage to all white men with property and (2) the power to elect the highest executive office, not to the people, but to the Electoral College or the House of Representatives. The author points out that, although the Constitution has been amended to permit people of color, women, 18 year-olds and residents of the District of Columbia to vote in both local and national elections; the U.S. Congress, unlike most other countries, still retains (1) the voting day as "the first Tuesday in November" instead of a weekend day and (2) indirect election of the President through the Electoral College. The paper relates that the bipartisan bill, HR 57, would establish a nonpartisan 12-member commission to examine the advisability and feasibility of proportional voting systems, instant runoff voting, voting system technology and and other issues such as the Electoral College and voter registration options including same-day registration and universal registration.
Table of Contents
Why Do We Need Continuous Reform of the Election Process?
A Short History of Amendments to the Voting Process as Defined by the U.S. Constitution
Article XXIV
Section 1
Section 2
Article XXIII
Section 1
Article XXVI
Section 1
If, How and Why Should We Now Amend the Constitution in Response to the Election of 2000?
Conclusion: Can We Afford a Disenchanted Voting Majority?
From the Paper "Once African Americans were allowed to register to vote without paying a poll tax, local electors used strong-armed tactics by lawful and unlawful groups such as the local sheriff and the Klu Klux Klan, to dissuade any civic-minded individuals of color. Those people of color who were willing to face physical and financial coercion were further subjected to stringent intellectual requirements as a prerequisite to registering to vote. The black population had to quote chapter and verse of the State and U.S. Constitution and analyze it in order to qualify to vote. Men belonging to the white population in the South only had to prove they could read at the second grade level and write their names. Given that those in power were the ones to create electoral divisions in the various states, those in power artificially created voting blocks that were favorable to their own ends, not to that of the people. We still face that problem today."
Tags: elitists, suffrage, poll-tax, electoral-college, day
Abstract This paper explains that, on August 22, 1996, President Clinton signed into law "The Personal Responsibility an Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193), which has been described as a comprehensive, bipartisan welfare reform plan that dramatically changed the nation's welfare system into one requiring work in exchange for time-limited assistance. The author points out that President Clinton had previously vetoed welfare reform bill (H.R.4) submitted by Congress because it did too little to move people into jobs and failed to provide supports, such as child care and health care, that families need to move from welfare to work. The paper contains a detailed chronograph of the passage of the bill through the House and the Senate and examples of correspondence to encourage congressmen to support the bill.
From the Paper "President Clinton stated that the new law required several improvements. Specifically, he wanted to fix two provisions of the welfare bill which he believed had nothing to do with welfare reform-Food Stamps and Legal Immigrants. According to the President, the new law cut deeper than it should in Food Stamps. The law includes provisions that would deny most forms of public assistance to most legal immigrants for five years or until they attain citizenship. The President has said that legal immigrants who fall on hard times through no fault of their own and need help should get it, although their sponsors should take additional responsibility for them."
Abstract This paper discusses the ongoing debate over campaign finance reform, explaining the major issues associated with the reform and some of the reasons for the disagreement about how campaign finance should be implemented. In particular, the paper focuses on the McCain-Feingold bill, detailing what it would change about campaign finance and why there is still opposition to the bill even though it is bipartisan.
From the Paper "Campaign finance reform has been debated since Richard Nixon ran for the Vice Presidency under Eisenhower. In the wake of the Watergate fiasco, some meaningful reforms were made. However, there have been no major changes to campaign finance laws since that time. The time is ripe for change, but what kind of changes do we want? Do we want changes that make a joke of our constitution or do we want changes within the boundaries of the constitution? The major issue is soft money "was originally intended to go to party-building activities and get-out-the-vote drives but which increasingly has been used as a way to funnel large contributions to presidential and other candidates." (Hamburger, Tom "Campaign-finance debate jumps to center stage // There is widespread agreement that federal election rules need repairing. But there is no consensus on how, and there is lots of opposition to the lead." Minneapolis Star Tribune, 09-28-1997, pp 21A). However, the McCain-Feingold bill, the one most advocates support, would also limit advertising. The problem with that is any changes that try and skirt around the constitution, by limiting free speech, will most likely be thrown out by the Supreme Court. Until recently most congressmen did not look at finance reform seriously."
Abstract One of the main questions asked by the American public regarding the 911 terror attacks, was: Why was nothing done to prevent this? The 911 Commission Report is a bipartisan analysis set out to answer this question and many others. This paper discusses how the extensive thirteen-chapter review looks at everything from the history of al Qaeda and other terrorist networks, to the exact approach the FAA, NORAD and our countries' leaders took in deciphering the attacks as they happened. It shows how, in the closing chapters, the commission gives advice on reorganizing the U.S. government's foreign as well as domestic policy as to better suit societies changing ways. This essay evaluates all these circumstances leading up to September 11, as well as evaluates the entire volume as to the author's opinion of the 911 Commission Report.
Paper Outline:
The History of the Attack and our Response
Fanatic Islam
Counter-terrorism
Recommendations of the Commission
My Opinion
From the Paper "While I can agree with the commission's foreign policy recommendations, their recommendations with regard to domestic security are somewhat suspect. I can accept a biometric screening system for foreign nationals; however their recommendations with regard to identity documents sound like a national ID system. While for border security this is not too big a concern, the creeping reach of government programs means it will eventually be used for tracking citizen's movements within the US. That is not acceptable, no matter how many people terrorists kill."
Abstract This paper discusses, summarizes and analyzes "McConnel v. Federal Election Commission", which has its roots in twentieth century campaign reform. The paper explains that the Supreme Court was split on its interpretation of "McConnel v. Federal Election Commission" and that it was a division clearly defined by priorities of protection - protecting either the sanctity of the elections that allow for the government to run, or the system of laws that allow for the execution it provides.
From the Paper "The judicial branch has a long taken responsibility for judging the constitutional viability of congressional acts to curb the corruption capable in campaigns, recognizing that their review standard needed to not only meet the absolute doctrinal lines, but the spirit behind them that guides the country; id est, the Supreme Court is responsible for insuring that while Congress tries to regulate their own elections, they do not under-regulate to the point that it might be possible for corruption to exist or even seem to exist and they do not over-regulate to the point that the basic freedoms provided to those tax paying, election-contributing constituents are not suppressed."
Abstract The paper discusses how in the middle of the 1960s the United States, as part of the Johnson administration's Great Society vision of the modern welfare state, instituted a "Head Start" program of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in a series of programs known as the "War on Poverty." The paper discusses how a generation later most of these programs have either ceased or been collapsed into later reform programs of the American welfare state. The paper points out, however, that "Head Start" has survived into the 21st century due, in large measure, to a remarkably consistent level of bipartisan support.
Abstract This paper discusses patients' rights, their implications and their subsequent integration into law. According to this paper certain fundamental patient rights must be articulated and recognized by both providers and professionals alike to avoid unscrupulous groups from taking advantage of individuals in extenuating circumstances for any type of self-benefiting gain. This paper reviews examples of these laws, such as The Patients' Bill of Rights in Medicare and Medicaid by the US Department of Health and Human Services in 1999 and the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001.
From the Paper "Patients' rights are an indispensable part of any nation's health maintenance infrastructure. In spite of the inherent sincerity and mutual trust between patient and physician, it has become apparent over several decades to make tangible certain inalienable rights of patients through law. As stipulated in "The Patients' Bill of Rights in Medicare and Medicaid" ,there are seven sets of patients' rights, namely: The Right to Information, The Right to Choose, Access to Emergency Services, Being a Full Partner in Health Care Decisions, Care Without Discrimination, The Right to Privacy and The Right to Speedy Complaint Resolution (US Department of Health and Human Services, 1999, para. 8-15). The right to information simply states that the patient must understand accurate and comprehensible information pertaining to his/her treatment in order to make an informed health decision. "
An examination of the 9/11 Commission Report, which investigated the September 11 terrorist attack on the US and makes recommendations for preventing further such attacks in the future.
Abstract This paper examines the 9/11 Commission Report: "Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States". It explains all the problems and intelligence failures leading up to the attack. The writer discusses the Commission's recommendations on how to improve intelligence gathering and sharing so as to prevent a future attack. The writer also looks at the Commission's recommendations on how to improve the response of authorities so that if an attack did take place, damage could be minimized.
From the Paper "The attacks on America on September 11, 2001 caused a major national trauma in addition to the deaths of thousands of people. Two major questions were raised immediately, the first how did this happen, and the second, how can it be prevented in the future? The two questions are related so that finding what went wrong the first time points to what needs to be corrected before any recurrence. To answer these questions, the 9-11 Commission was formed and charged with investigating the attack and making recommendations for the future. The Commission was bipartisan and made up of ten members who issued the required report, which has since been widely disseminated so that the public can judge the job done, can understand the problems found, and can weigh in on efforts made to correct those problems for the future."
