...Philadelphia was already hot and humid when delegates began drifting into the city. On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention met for the first time in the east room of the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall). The Declaration of Independence had been debated in this very room just 11 years earlier. The delegates would meet in the east room all summer. On some days, temperatures rose well into the nineties. The delegates' first action was to elect George Washington president of the convention because no man was more admired and respected than the former commander in chief of the Continental army. When the war ended, Washington could have used his power and popularity to make himself a king. Instead, he went home to...
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...The Constitutional Convention was assembled in Philadelphia in 1787 to discuss and revise the Articles of Confederation. Fifty-five delegates, including James Madison and George Mason, were compiled from several states and the meeting was supervised by George Washington. During this assembly, two different plans of action were set forth to improve upon the existing government: the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. After the proposals of the Virginia and New Jersey plans, the Constitutional Convention was forced to settle on the Great Compromise in order to end disputes between the states and maintain independence for both the national government and the states. The Virginia Plan was authored by the Virginian delegates, including James Madison. It departed from the government system created by the Articles and gave states power while still holding up the federal government as the supreme authority. It was composed of a single executive with two houses (an upper and a lower) as well as a new court system. Representation of the states was based on state population. The authors of the Virginia Plan believed that the delegates would prefer a general grant of authority to a long list of enumerated representatives. The Virginia Plan was fought against by representatives from the small states and a new solution was created to...
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...Bill of Rights and Amendments HIS/301 September 12, 2011 Professor James Newman Bill of Rights and Amendments The Constitution became ratified and the supreme law of the land September 17, 1787. Our forefathers understood that the possibility of changes may need to occur to this document to continue to grow with the expanding nation. The act of amending is the way the founders have set up to create any possible changes Americans feel need to be made. Without these changes the nation inhibits itself, and remains in the context of a black and white document. In a nation of unique individuals change is constant and what keeps this country thriving. This paper will continue to discuss how and why amendments become part of the Constitution, what problems with the original document motivates the adoption of the Bill of Rights, the effects of the Bill of Rights, what problems or changes in society led to Amendments XIII through XV, and the effects of these later Amendments. Amendments: The Why and How The United States of America is a country constantly growing and filled with different ideas of change. For the United States to keep up with the constant change, they must be able to add amendments. For example slavery and women’s right to vote, both added in later generations because the normal perception of these individuals had changed. If the amending process had not been created people of such high power would not exist today. For example, President Obama,...
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...U.S. History and Constitution HIS120 Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) At the end of the course, students will be able to: SLO1. Describe the cultural, geographic and climatic influences on Native American societies. SLO2. Compare and contrast religious, social and cultural differences among the major European settlers. SLO3. Describe the events that helped create American nationalism and lead to the American Revolution. SLO4. Explain the Constitutional Convention, the Articles of Confederation, and the emergence of a democratic nation. SLO5. Explain the U.S. Constitution as it related to the separation of powers, checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, and the major principles of democracy. SLO6. Evaluate the Jeffersonian dream of expansion and its effect on Native Americans SLO7. Describe Jacksonian democracy and the creation of a two party system SLO8. Explain slavery and associated issues that led to the Civil War and its aftermath. Module Titles Module 1—Early American exploration and colonization (SLO1) Module 2—British colonies (SLO2) Module 3—Road to the Revolution and the American Revolution (SLO3) Module 4—Early Republic (SLO4 and SLO5) Module 5—Jacksonian America (SLO 6 and SLO7) Module 6—Road to the Civil War (SLO8) Module 7—Civil War (SLO8) Module 8—Shaping American history: Signature Assignment (all SLOs) Module 1 Early Exploration and Contact with Native Americans Welcome to HIS 120: U.S....
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...concepts have not kept pace. In the words of an author of the book reviewed here, reflecting on the concept of ‘the state’ and the problem of sovereignty: in political as in constitutional legal theory, we still need to cut off the King’s head,1 as we are still entrenched in the philosophical and constitutional language of the 19th century.2 But recently, with European integration and globalisation, change has also occurred in the traditional concepts of public law such as “state” or “constitution”. The book edited by Bamforth and Leyland is about this change over the last thirty years or so.3 “Public Law in a Multi-Layered Constitution” is a significant contribution to a better understanding of how public law is transformed, in Great Britain and elsewhere. The title of the book as well as its introduction (pp. 1-26) state that its central theme is the transformation of the British constitution into a “multi-layered constitution.” This is meant to refer to a constitution that “contains multiple, but inter-connected and sometimes overlapping European and national layers”,4 where “power (both legislative and political) has been spread away from the Westminister Parliament, both ‘upwards’ to the European Union and ‘downwards’ to the devolved assemblies.”5 The editors’ claim is that this restructuring of the constitutional architecture of the United Kingdom is occurring while there is also a rebalancing of the roles of the courts and parliament in holding the executive accountable, an alteration...
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...The Jurisdiction of Rights Allotted to Prisoner of War Shane Smith Abstract The jurisdiction and control of prisoners of war have historically been left solely to the military forces that held them captive; the application of rights and treatment being guided and controlled by various treaties and conventions signed by governments. This straightforward, conventional process was, and is, undisputable and logical in its application when it is applied in a conventional ‘civilized’ war; there is room for improvement, but it works. On the contrary, when fighting an unconventional war, with non-state sponsored combatants, the policies need to be reassessed. The Jurisdiction of Rights Allotted to Prisoner of War Our history shows a pattern of war making that is clearly defined, easy to follow, and reasonably undisputable: declaration of war, combat, surrender, treaties and or rebuilding. During the combat phase enemy combatant prisoners are taken, either by force or surrender, and both sides can agree that this is a better alternative to killing. With the exception of prisoner exchanges, these prisoners are held until the conflict is completed. At that time the general prisoners are released and those accused of war crimes are tried. Note that this is not policy, just a general pattern, but it works for a conventional war, a war where the losing side surrenders and both sides announce a cease fire. The problems arise when fighting an unconventional war, such as...
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...The Need for Whistleblowing Legislation in Canada: A Critical Defence Jonathan Carson Research Officer The Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario 1 Dundas Street West Suite 2310, Box 72 Toronto, ON M5G 1Z3 carson@amapceo.on.ca Paper presented to the Canadian Political Science Association Conference, June 2006 The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of AMAPCEO Working Paper – Please do not cite without permission from the author Introduction This paper is about the need for whistleblowing legislation in Canada, at both the federal and provincial levels. The focus of the paper is squarely on the public service. Although certain jurisdictions (for example, the United Kingdom1) have a single disclosure regime covering both the private and public sectors, then general trend throughout the world is for distinct legislation for the two sectors. In Canada, there are already numerous statutory avenues for individuals in both the public and private sectors to blow the whistle; however, the grounds for disclosure are generally quite circumscribed, with the statutes tending to deal only with specific concerns, e.g. occupational health and safety or the environment.2 At present whistleblowing legislation is coming into vogue across Canada, at both levels of government. This paper argues that such legislation should have the modest goal of protecting good faith whistleblowers. This...
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...To what extent was the First National Woman's Rights Convention crucial to ensuring the passage of the 19th amendment? The first national woman's rights convention known as Seneca Falls convention was the first woman's rights convention to be held in the United States. This convention led to the launching of the women's suffrage movement which in later decades promised women the right to vote. The first source that provides background on the history of the passage of the 19th amendment is known as a primary source: SENECA FALLS CONVENTION (1848)1. This source is the Seneca Falls Convention's Declaration, a semi-weekly journal that includes recorded documentation from 1848. Within the recorded documentation it discusses the history behind women's...
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...Directions: Complete the following outline in preparation for writing your research paper. Be sure to include proper MLA in-text citation for all your evidence (quotes & paraphrasing). I. Introduction paragraph A. Broad statement: Due to many industrial and social changes during the early 19th century, many women were involved in social advocacy efforts, which eventually led them to advocate for their own right to vote and take part in government agencies. B. Introduction to specific topic and text: The women’s movement of the 1920’s worked to grant women the right to vote nationally, thereby allowing women more political equality. C. Three sub-topic points for your topic 1. Women as public advocates 2. The beginning of the women’s movement 3. The passage of the 19th Amendment II. Sub-Topic 1 A. Topic sentence: Wanting to protect the ideals and morality of the “home”, many women were drawn to social advocacy in order to help correct the deficiencies in the changing 19th century. 1. Introduction to information: Women were very active helping disenfranchised groups who were severely negatively affected by the sweeping social changes in the early 19th century. 2. Evidence: (Quote/paraphrase): Women worked to “improve…the conditions of child workers, the mentally ill, those imprisoned, and the slaves…It was the result of women’s participation in the abolition movement…that women were compelled to address their own political inequality” (Bryant). i. Analysis...
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...LAW COURSE BA LLB (H) PROGRAMME w.e.f. Academic Session 2008 – 2009 FIRST YEAR First Semester Paper Code LLB 101 BA LLB 103 BA LLB 105 LLB 107 LLB 111 BA LLB 113 BA LLB 115 SUBJECTS Legal Method History-I (Indian History) Political Science-I Law of Contract – I English and Legal Language Sociology-I (Introduction to Sociology) Economics-I (Microeconomic Analysis) Total Second Semester L 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 28 Credit 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 28 Paper Code LLB 102 BA LLB 104 LLB 110 LLB 112 SUBJECTS L 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 28 Credit 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 28 History – II (Legal History) Political Science – II Law of Contract – II Techniques of Communication, Client Interviewing and Counselling BA LLB 114 Environmental Studies BA LLB 116 Sociology-II (Indian Society) BA LLB 118 Economics – II (Macroeconomic Analysis) Total (With effect from the Academic Session 2008-2009) 2 SECOND YEAR Third Semester SUBJECTS L 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 28 Credit 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 28 Paper Code LLB 201 LLB 203 LLB 205 LLB 207 LLB 209 BA LLB 213 Business Law Family Law – I Constitutional Law – I Law of Crimes – I Advocacy Skills History – III (History of Modern Europe: 1740-1947) BA LLB 215 Political Science – III Total Fourth Semester Paper Code LLB 202 LLB 204 LLB 206 LLB 208 LLB 210 SUBJECTS L 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 28 Credit 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 28 Law of Torts and Consumer Protection Family Law – II Constitutional Law – II Law of Crimes – II Administrative Law Economics–III (Economic Development and BA LLB 214...
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...Abstract Having fixed-term Parliaments in the United Kingdom is something that has been debated across the political spectrum for some years and, with the enactment of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011, is no longer something which is merely debated, but a political and constitutional reality. The Act came into force with little consultation, research, or advice to or by the Government; it was exceptionally hurried legislation. This means that there is little written on the wider constitutional effects of the Act, and it is exactly that which this essay will try to examine. To analyse the Act’s significance I have looked at the position prior to the Act and what the Act changed, before moving on to examining and critically assessing the plethora of arguments that both sides put forward. A fuller copy of this paper is available upon request. 1 The Position Before the Act and how the Act has Changed it: The changing of election timing in the United Kingdom is something that is not often tampered with. The Meeting of Parliament Act 1694 provided that a general election for Parliament must be held (at most) every three years. The Septennial Act 1715 changed this to a maximum of seven years. Finally the Parliament Act 1911 amended this to provide for a five-year maximum term before a general election must be called. Before the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011 the power to dissolve Parliament was retained by the Crown, under the royal prerogative. The royal...
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... Introduction. For this research paper, we were tasked with an assignment to review the twenty-seven amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America. We were then instructed to write a one or two page paper that identified amendments, other than those that were in the Bill of Rights, that were used to achieve social policy. My objective is to identify several hot-button social policies that are routine topics of debate in our country, such as: social welfare, gun control, and voter's rights. Body. The U. S. The constitution states in Article I, section 8: The people of the states empower the Congress to expend money (for the enumerated purposes listed in Article I, section 8), provided it is done in a way that benefits the general welfare of the whole people (Social Welfare). Thomas Jefferson stated that the intent of the Amendment was to limit the...
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...Part 2 of your course project is due this week. The second part of your research or course project is a discussion of both sides of the issue; that is, the pros and the cons. This section of the paper should be around five to six pages in length. Use APA citation format for all assignments submitted for DeVry undergraduate courses Juvenile Justice Course Project Objective | Requirements | Deliverables | Grading Rubrics | | Objective | | The learning objective of this course project is to help students gain an in-depth understanding of a selected topic or issue related to juvenile justice. In addition, students will demonstrate their critical thinking abilities by presenting both sides of an issue and developing their own position on the issue. The paper should represent your best professional writing and work. As such, students should pay careful attention to paragraphing, sentence structure, quotation conventions, spelling, appropriate citation, and other aspects of grammar. | | Requirements | | Each student will write an 8 – 10 page typed double-spaced position or issue paper on a particular juvenile justice issue. Students will select a relevant juvenile justice issue, such as the origins of juvenile justice, the differences between juvenile justice and adult criminal justice, constitutional rights and juvenile justice, the juvenile death penalty, juvenile delinquency prevention, juvenile gangs, and so forth. Once the issue has been selected and approved...
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...comprehensive document, it is said to embody a codified constitution. Constitutions concern different levels of organizations, from sovereign states to companies and unincorporated associations. A treaty which establishes an international organization is also its constitution, in that it would define how that organization is constituted. Within states, a constitution defines the principles upon which the state is based, the procedure in which laws are made and by whom. Some constitutions, especially codified constitutions, also act as limiters of state power, by establishing lines which a state's rulers cannot cross, such as fundamental rights. An example is the constitution of the United States of America. George Washington at Constitutional Conventionof 1787 signing of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution of India is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world,[2] containing 444 articles in 22 parts,[3][4] 12 schedules and 118 amendments, with 117,369 words in its English-language translation,[5] while the United States Constitution is the shortest written constitution, at 7 articles and 27 amendments.[6] Constitution of the Philippines From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Constitution of the Philippines Created October 15, 1986 Ratified February 2, 1987 Location Legislative Archives of the House of Representatives,...
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...Marijuana Legalization: The War on Drugs and Criminal Law Howard R. Burke Strayer University Abstract This research will point out that the United States’ current policy on drug prohibition, the so called “War on Drugs,” is ineffective. The current draconian prohibition policies against drug consumption may actually increase their use. As well, contrary to claims made by current drug policy supporters, increased drug enforcement can reduce public safety and compound the individual and social costs of drug use. The U.S. drug policy, born over a hundred years ago, has gone through several transformations becoming more voracious with each new invocation. The War on Drugs is an expensive and failed concept which has incorporated racism in its administration, increased crime rates, imposed harsh sentences for nonviolent offenses, facilitated police corruption and aggressively eroded civil liberties. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION Introduction to the Problem Background of the Study Statement of the Problem Purpose of the Research Research Questions Significance of the Research Assumptions and Limitations Organization of the Remainder of the Study LITERATURE REVIEW CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Marijuana Legalization: The War on Drugs and Criminal Law INTRODUCTION The United States has conducted a long experiment of drug prohibition. The prohibition of marijuana and other illicit drugs has only...
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