...Should Drug Testing be Mandatory to Receive Welfare Benefits? BCOM/275 Should Drug Testing be Mandatory to Receive Welfare Benefits? Thanks to our ancestors, America is a country built from a foundation of hard work and perseverance. This pioneering spirit has paved the way for many opportunities, as well as rules to be set along the way. This includes mandating laws and acts starting with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. With these guidelines America humbly started as a nation where every citizen was entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These laws stressed the simplest of privileges which included freedom of religion, freedom of speech, protection against enemies, and restriction against monopolies (America's Freedom Documents, 1996-2011). These were all expressions of the American mindset long ago. Fast forward to current America and we find problems we must confront now that are more complicated. These problems have evolved through history that has now made our present day precedence in relation to laws and rules. We now have the freedom to vote, be active in our government, and have an opinion. Our opinions are shaped by the physical world around us and the controversy we have created as a people. However, The United States as an ideal presents a uniquely contradictory set of principles that is generally not openly discussed. This includes the tendency to accept government officials, network...
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...Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: The Pros and Cons of Section 703. The FISA Act was created to govern the gathering of foreign intelligence. In 1952, President Thurman established the National Security Agency within the department of defense. The NSA is the premiere signals intelligence agency. In the United States Intelligence Community, agency efforts are channeled through the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The American intelligence community works closely with foreign intelligence agencies, especially on SIGINT matters. The members of the Cold War era UKUSA Agreement (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States) also known as ‘Five Eyes’(FVEY), are partially close collaborators. In the 1950’s the Executive branch was largely in control and unchecked by the Legislative and Judicial branches on Foreign intelligence matters. Some surveillance policies were narrowed due to constitutional concerns. The authority for foreign intelligence was identified in the President’s inherent Article II of the Constitution powers and a key legal check on that authority was the Fourth Amendment. The fourth amendment as interpreted by...
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...------------------------------------------------- More: * ------------------------------------------------- Americans with Disabilities Act * ------------------------------------------------- Americans with Disabilities Flag Close Post a comment Incidents of discrimination and matters of civil liberties often instigate changes in laws, statutes, and public policies. This paper will address the history of the American with Disabilities Act and Affirmative Action along with the pros and cons associated with each act. Americans with Disabilities Act The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed into law in 1990 and prohibits employers and universities from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The act also requires institutions to make reasonable accommodations at the request of the disabled employee or student. Requests that place "undue hardship" on institutions are exempt from the law; institutions are not legally required to comply. The law states that individuals must inform the institution of all possible means of accommodation; the institution may choose the most convenient and financially feasible option (The U.S. Equal, 2008). Pros of Americans with Disabilities Act The ADA permits disabled individuals to receive an education and obtain employment thereby allowing them to remain independent. Disabled individuals who are allowed to remain in the workforce decreases tax dollars spent monthly disability checks used to support these...
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...policies such as the Affirmative Action and The Americans with Disabilities Act are placed within our historic timeline to begin to the process of never having to repeat past wrongdoings. The Affirmative Action was introduced in the 1960s’ as a type of positive discrimination with the intention to combat “injustices caused by our nation's historic discrimination against people of color and women, and for leveling what has long been an uneven playing field” (American Civil Liberties Union, n.d.). Before this act was passed, ethnic minorities and women faced extreme barriers with higher education and employment. It was because of the recognition of the injustice toward these minority groups that began the fight to promote equality and encourage same opportunities as the more privileged population. Within my own research, the best description was that of a metaphor of a foot race. In the United States, the “American dream is framed as a race in which the swiftest runners win” (American Civil Liberties Union, 2008). Those that disapprove of the Affirmation Act say that this policy of offering support to ethnic minorities and women giving some runners an unfair head start in what would typically be a fair race. Opposite of that, are the people that encourage this act to assist “disabled” runners. However, “in [the] focus on the runners rather than the track,...
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...States Declaration of Independence well known phrase, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”. Homosexuals have nothing to do with heterosexuals. The homosexual community harms and destructs nobody and no one. That being said, people should not be so hostile against same sex marriage. Americans should have their own rights to enjoy life with their significant other, whether that being with the same sex or not. Society today should learn how to respect other peoples choice of style and preference. Marriage itself is between two people. Therefore, does it matter if it’s with the same sex? People should not be judged based off of their sexual orientation, but by the content of their character. Happiness should not be determined by others nor by the government. When viewed by others people should not see black or white, gay or straight. As a community, we...
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...Week Two Assignment Kacy Lane Klingle POL303: The American Constitution Lawrence Olson February 29, 2016 The topic I am going to cover in this paper is Privacy Rights. The one thing I will cover is the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism or the USA Patriot Act. This Act has caused numerous concerns over the years of the federal government over stepping their bounds on their tactics of intelligence gathering after the terrorist attacks on September eleventh two thousand and eleven. This paper will discuss some advantages of the patriot act such as sharing intelligence between the federal, state, and local governments. As well it will cover harsher penalties for hackers. The paper will also cover some of the disadvantages of the Patriot Act. Such as screening peoples phone calls and E-mails possibly infringing on a persons’ Fourth Amendment rights. The first thing this paper is going to discuss is how the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism or the USA Patriot Act. The Patriot Act helps throughout the multiple levels of the government, from federal to the local government. One way is within this act it allows the multiple levels of the government to share information between organizations. “The Act removed the major legal barriers that prevented the law enforcement, intelligence, and national defense communities from talking...
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...In a country with its fundamentals based on liberty and equality, America always has struggled with those very concepts. Throughout history, Americans have been challenged to make decisions that have oppressed and freed certain groups of people. The political fight for same-sex marriages is a perfect example of this notion. This relation between spouses has created a major controversy that is creating history in our nation. A series of protests, acts and political scandal has opened America to discuss a topic that had been in “the closet” for a long time. This discussion asks questions that have caused a visceral reaction in society. Same sex marriage opens the door to a new unnatural purpose that could detrimentally influence the fragile generations to come. Tradition is a strong component in the institution of marriage. The ideal American dream usually involves the perfect fairy-tale wedding with the gorgeous white wedding dress for the bride, the matching bridesmaids, the well-arranged bouquet and, the numerous rituals that compose this well thought-out event. Usually it requires a spectacular amount of planning, devotion and dollars to make the important day memorable. Family and friends come together to rejoice in the vows that will bond the two lovers into a lifetime journey of love, commitment and fidelity. Both persons in the relation is expected to have a role in this institution. According to Judith Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee, “In the idealized form of the...
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...1). Whether people are for it or against it, there are many reasons and justifications for why it should remain legal as well as many other reasons for why it should not be. For example, in the case of a late term abortion, rape, unfit mother who may be using drugs, or life and death risk of the mother or child. Prochoice groups argue that abortion is a right that should not be control by government or religious authority. Pro-life groups give emphasis to personhood and that it begins at conception. Unborn babies are human beings with the right to live, and it is immoral to kill innocent human being. Through the research and study pros and cons of abortion, the legal ramifications, and the effects it may have on women and the unborn child will be discuss to determine if abortion should it remain legal. Life Starts at Conception After the Roe v. Wade case, two main groups emerged, Pro-life to oppose the Court’s decision about abortion and Pro-choice to support the Court’s decision in giving the woman the right to choose to end an unwanted pregnancy. Pro-life supporters believe human life starts at conception. Life “starts in the womb when the sperm meets the ovum” (Aksoy 86). Once the male sperm fertilized a mature woman’s eggs, changes occur in the protein coating around the egg to prevent...
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...Corporate Governance & Business Ethics Gun Control vs. Gun Violence The debate over gun control in the United States has been a topic of controversy over the years. In particular, the killing of twenty schoolchildren in Newtown, Connecticut. In December 2012 this mass shooting fueled a national discussion over gun laws. However, compromise legislation would have banned semiautomatic assault weapons and expanded background checks was defeated in the senate in 2013, despite extensive public support. Arguments for more restrictive gun laws http://gun.laws.com/gun-rights/gun-control-versus-gun-rights As society continues to diversify and human beings become more individualistic, we drift further apart from understanding each other. The gun control debate is not directly effected by this, but psychologically human beings fear what we don't understand. In a society with hundreds of cultures, differences and arguments can arise out of nothing. Words are one thing but the use of firearms is an entirely different topic. With less restrictive laws on purchasing and ownership a seemingly pointless feud could intensify into murder. Guns give a man power, with power inevitably comes abuse. There is a high rate of gun-related violence http://gun.laws.com/gun-rights/gun-control-versus-gun-rights The United States leads the world in gun violence and ownership. There is a direct correlation. This is perhaps the most obvious argument made in the gun control debate-guns...
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...Some of these cons consist of: • Most conservatives would argue that because the Bible states that same sex marriage is an abomination, the state shouldn’t legalize it. (However, in opposition of this point of view, not everyone shares a perspective from the Christian Bible and some people would end up dismissing this claim since it’s biased and has no real authority to it due to it being a religious context). • Tradition in the United States says that a man and a woman are supposed to marry instead of a woman and a woman or a man and a man. (Again, in opposition of this, we live in an era where cultural and traditional views are constantly evolving and changing and it is now almost a completely accepted idea that same sex marriage is a possibility throughout...
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...EUTHANASIA: The intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his alleged benefit. (If death is not intended, it is not an act of euthanasia) ARGUMENTS FOR EUTHANASIA: It provides away to relieve extreme pain It provides a way of relief when a person’s quality of life is low Frees up medical funds to help people It is another case of freedom of choice ARGUMENTS AGAINST EUTHANASIA: Euthanasia devalues human life Euthanasia can become a means of health care cost containment Physicians and other medical care people should not be involved in directly causing death There is a “slippery slope” effect that has occurred where euthanasia has been first been legalized for only the terminally and later laws are changed to allow it for other people or to be done non-voluntarily. Opposition overcomes 48 point deficit to defeat assisted suicide - Ballot Question 2 in Massachusetts 1 1 0 Google BOSTON, Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In a stunning upset, the voters of Massachusetts soundly defeated Ballot Question 2 on Election Day. Dealing a significant setback to the expansion of the assisted suicide movement throughout the United States by Compassion & Choices (the organization formerly known as the Hemlock Society), a diverse coalition of disability rights organizations, medical associations, nurses' groups, community leaders and faith-based organizations united in this effort. "Tonight was a huge victory for those of us in the...
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...each individual state in the union, (Buzzle, 2014. The outline for The Constitution clearly and concisely defined the importance of jury trials, accountability of the government and the protection of every citizen’s rights and civil liberties of the United States of America. It is the business of the legislative branch, the Congress and Senate, to propose and enact laws. It is the business of the executive branch to see that the laws are put into effect through various governmental departments and it is the business of the judiciary (the court system) to preside and rule over who is right or wrong according to the criminal, civil law and often administrative law. Before a social policy or program can come before the judiciary branch of government, someone must believe that a law has been broken. One of the most important parts of policy making are legislative tasks and these tasks are necessary for paving the way for getting a bill passed into law. First task: for an interest group is to clearly define its issue, have complete unanimity on what the problem is and what it wants by way of legislation. This task is crucial if they want any legislative or public support. Second task: create a position paper that organizes the arguments (pro and con) and summarizes what is known or unknown about the issue. Third task: create solutions for the social problem of concern such as a public policy, provision, or program design that...
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...each individual state in the union, (Buzzle, 2014. The outline for The Constitution clearly and concisely defined the importance of jury trials, accountability of the government and the protection of every citizen’s rights and civil liberties of the United States of America. It is the business of the legislative branch, the Congress and Senate, to propose and enact laws. It is the business of the executive branch to see that the laws are put into effect through various governmental departments and it is the business of the judiciary (the court system) to preside and rule over who is right or wrong according to the criminal, civil law and often administrative law. Before a social policy or program can come before the judiciary branch of government, someone must believe that a law has been broken. One of the most important parts of policy making are legislative tasks and these tasks are necessary for paving the way for getting a bill passed into law. First task: for an interest group is to clearly define its issue, have complete unanimity on what the problem is and what it wants by way of legislation. This task is crucial if they want any legislative or public support. Second task: create a position paper that organizes the arguments (pro and con) and summarizes what is known or unknown about the issue. Third task: create solutions for the social problem of concern such as a public policy, provision, or program design that...
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...The USA PATRIOT ACT, commonly known as the Patriot Act, is an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate tools required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001. On October 23, 2001, Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner introduced H.R. 3162 incorporating provisions from a previously sponsored House bill and a Senate bill also introduced earlier in the month. The next day on October 24, 2001, the Act passed the House 357 to 66, with Democrats comprising the overwhelming portion of dissent. The following day on October 25, 2001, the Act passed the Senate by 98 to 1, with Russ Feingold the only opposition. This act was signed then into law by former president George W. Bush on October 26, 2011, just six weeks after the September 11th attacks to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This act reduced restrictions in law enforcement agencies’ gathering of intelligence with the U.S. The act also expanded the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism. The Patriot Act made many changes to U.S. law, such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA), the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA), the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), as well as the Immigration and Nationality Act. It was strongly opposed by Senator, Russ Feingold; he was the only Senator to vote against the bill. The final Act had a number of sunsets that was supposed to expire on December 15, 2005. On May 26, 2011, President...
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...The USA PATRIOT ACT, commonly known as the Patriot Act, is an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate tools required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001. On October 23, 2001, Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner introduced H.R. 3162 incorporating provisions from a previously sponsored House bill and a Senate bill also introduced earlier in the month. The next day on October 24, 2001, the Act passed the House 357 to 66, with Democrats comprising the overwhelming portion of dissent. The following day on October 25, 2001, the Act passed the Senate by 98 to 1, with Russ Feingold the only opposition. This act was signed then into law by former president George W. Bush on October 26, 2011, just six weeks after the September 11th attacks to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This act reduced restrictions in law enforcement agencies’ gathering of intelligence with the U.S. The act also expanded the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism. The Patriot Act made many changes to U.S. law, such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA), the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA), the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), as well as the Immigration and Nationality Act. It was strongly opposed by Senator, Russ Feingold; he was the only Senator to vote against the bill. The final Act had a number of sunsets that was supposed to expire on December 15, 2005. On May 26, 2011, President...
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