...Labour and Constitutional Reform ✓ Labour’s Reforms ✓ The Changing Constitution ✓ Party Views and Manifestoes ✓ Assessment and Evaluation ✓ Evidence 1. Labour’s Reforms o The constitutional reforms initiated by the Labour Government elected in 1997 together promise to transform the institutional structure of the United Kingdom. ▪ The Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly are the most tangible signs of this transformation but other constitutional reforms are either in being or well under way …… ▪ including the Human Rights Act of 1998 (incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights), ▪ a directly-elected mayor and assembly for London, ▪ a reformed House of Lords ▪ and Freedom of Information legislation. ▪ Although reform of the electoral system for Westminster now seems a somewhat distant prospect, the 1999 elections to the Welsh Assembly, to the Scottish Parliament and to the European Parliament were all conducted using electoral systems very different from the traditional first-past-the-post method. ▪ Referendums have been widely used, and more promised o Lecture by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, to the Constitution Unit, Westminster. 8 December 1998 o No other Government this century has embarked upon so significant or wide-ranging a programme of constitutional reform as the New Labour Government...
Words: 14891 - Pages: 60
...Tennis as a spectator sport Tennis: Its Time for War! Arguably the most popular life-long sport, tennis, in its true context is not merely the friendly game that is perceived by its spectators. Spectators are oblivious to its heart-crunching reality. To uncover the truth beneath the surface, spectators must become players and participate. Only then will their dream world be pulled from their eyes and unmask the brutality, the evilness, and the hatred that is pumping in a tennis players mind. The game of tennis is no more than an all out war. Tennis is a duel, a battle of skill and determination between two cherished friends or, perhaps, competitive rivals. Once on the court, though, the mentality of the players transforms from mellow human beings to war machines from hell. Its a tournament to the death. The winner is he/she that has survived to proclaim his/her glory of victory. The winner receives that extraordinary boost of ego and pride that all humans yearn for. These two attributes mutate the winner into the ultimate warrior, the supreme tennis player. The battlefield is where it all happens ;the tennis court. Whether natural or synthetic, players adapt to the surroundings to gain the advantage for victory. The tennis racket, a tennis players almighty weapon, bestowed upon them by the great sports manufacturers to wreak havoc and eliminate the competition. Along with their medium of attack, the tennis ball, tennis warriors engage in a battle that will ultimately determine...
Words: 1535 - Pages: 7
...THE GIST OF RTE ACT: RESPOSIBILITIES OF TEACHERS Introduction In India the Right to Education Bill is a constitutional amendment passed by the Indian parliament on 4th August 2009 which promises free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 in India. The bill also have provisions for no donation or capitation and no interview of the child or parent for the admission.. The bill was approved by the cabinet on 2nd July 2009. The RTE Act mandates that school teachers should have the necessary adequate professional qualifications to ensure quality of education. The Act makes funds available for teachers to undergo the necessary training and acquire the skills to ensure this. Regular school teachers can now be encouraged to take up the additional responsibilities. THE GIST OF RTE ACT ARE • Free elementary education for all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years in a neighbourhood school. • The state has to provide compulsory elementary education and to ensure not just enrollment but attendance and completion of education • It is mandatory to educate children along with their peer group. Special training should be given to facilitate age appropriate education. • Sets quality norms for all schools like pupil- teachers ratio (cannot exceed 1:30) 200 to 250 minimum days of school functioning in a year, minimum four to five hours of instruction in school daily, 45 hours a week as minimum working hours for the teachers, separate subject teachers and head-teacher...
Words: 1152 - Pages: 5
...Branches of the Government Learning Team D HIS 301 Professor Bruce Franklin Branches of the Government “Historically, the concept of Separation of Powers dates back as far as ancient Greece. The concepts were refined by contemporaries of the Framers, and those refinements influenced the establishment of the three branches in the Constitution” (Mount, 2014). The idea of a separation of powers first appeared in the political philosophy of Montesquieu. He advocated for a government where each branch had clear cut rules on what they could and could not do. This idea of a separation of government, or a government that was for the people would be perpetuated by other philosophers throughout the Enlightenment era. The founding fathers sought to create the United States government in the same way. Each branch is empowered with distinct powers. The government is set up this way in order to prevent abuse of power. Each branch is able to exercise a form of control over each other. Within the constitution are articles. Within each article, it outlines the separations of powers for each branch of the government. Article one outlines The Legislative. Which is made up of The Senate and the House of Representatives Article two is composed of The Executive branch. This entails the President, his Vice-President and the state departments. Article three explains the judicial branch. This also covers federal and the Supreme Court. With this kind of system in place, it creates a kind of...
Words: 1339 - Pages: 6
...DEFINITION OF CONSTITUTION Kenya’s new constitution was enacted on 27th August 2010 replacing the old one that had been in place since Kenya’s Independence in 1963. The promulgation of this new constitution marked the end of one of the longest journeys in Kenyan history; a two-decade struggle for reforms. Over 67% of Kenyan voters approved this new constitution in a referendum that paved way for a historic and spectacular moment in Kenya’s democracy. The Kenya Constitution is the supreme law of Kenya. It establishes the structure of the Kenyan government, and also defines the relationship between the government and the citizens of Kenya. Executive Summary A constitution is generally a set of fundamental principles according to which a state or organization is governed. The constitution regulates the relations between the state and its citizens as well as relations between the organs of the state. It has influence in a country’s social, political and economic activities. Kenya got its new constitution was enacted on the 27th August 2010 replacing the old one which had been in place since independence. Two bodies were then created to guide the Implementation process. The Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee and the Commission for the implementation of the Constitution. Even though the people of Kenya are very positive on the new constitution, there has been slow progress on the implementation process. According to the timeline only 17 of the 31 laws due on 2013...
Words: 2002 - Pages: 9
...discussion about the education reform by answering the following question: 1. Discuss different perspective surrounding the implementation of the said curriculum including the Washington and Bologna accords. The first and foremost perspective that surrounds the implementation of the K to 12 programs is that to provide every Filipino child with education he/she needs to...
Words: 1188 - Pages: 5
...For the first time in U.S. history, every American will have access to quality, affordable health care under the updated health insurance reform legislation passed by the House. "The Affordable Health Care for America Act or H.R. 3962, blends and updates the three versions of previous bills passed by the House committees. "(Kruger, M. 2010) This bill is expected to ease the out-of-control costs of health insurance, introduce competition into the health care marketplace that will help maintain coverage affordability, protect people’s choices of doctors and health plans, and guarantee all Americans access to quality, consistent , affordable health care. The Association of American Medical Colleges stated in a Mar. 21, 2010 article; "we have taken the first step towards truly transforming health care in this country. This historic vote by the House of Representatives sets into motion long-overdue efforts to cover 32 million uninsured Americans and to assure their access to high-quality care. The nation's medical schools and teaching hospitals have expressed their full support for this bill to President Obama, and now stand ready to work with the administration and Congress to carry out these significant changes to our health care delivery system." (AAMC, 2010) The health care reform bill creates a shared responsibility for health care among individuals, employers and the government to ensure that all Americans have affordable essential health benefits. Two of the key components,...
Words: 2454 - Pages: 10
...The 1960s and 1970s were a difficult time for law enforcement, riots came about in many cities partly due to the Black power movement. The new left demanded social change for social justice. Although law enforcement agencies had the responsibility to protect the traditional U. S. democratic values that brought attention to civil liberties. Agencies responsibility was to enforce laws that would provide social equity, most of the elected officials along with members of the community opposed this segment of law enforcement (Cronhkite, 2013). According to one of the major law enforcement textbook police mission was maintenance of social order within prescribed ethical and constitutional restrictions, another textbook stated the mission is to protect individual rights and ensure social justice (Cronhkite, 2013). South Central L. A. was going through a difficult time due to poverty, and the Rodney King beating. Politician’s and many investors within the community offered proposals for the unemployment, poverty, health...
Words: 702 - Pages: 3
...Affordable Care Act For the first time in U.S. history, every American will have access to quality, affordable health care under the updated health insurance reform legislation passed by the House. "The Affordable Health Care for America Act or H.R. 3962, blends and updates the three versions of previous bills passed by the House committees. "(Kruger, M. 2010) This bill is expected to ease the out-of-control costs of health insurance, introduce competition into the health care marketplace that will help maintain coverage affordability, protect people’s choices of doctors and health plans, and guarantee all Americans access to quality, consistent , affordable health care. The Association of American Medical Colleges stated in a Mar. 21, 2010 article; "we have taken the first step towards truly transforming health care in this country. This historic vote by the House of Representatives sets into motion long-overdue efforts to cover 32 million uninsured Americans and to assure their access to high-quality care. The nation's medical schools and teaching hospitals have expressed their full support for this bill to President Obama, and now stand ready to work with the administration and Congress to carry out these significant changes to our health care delivery system." (AAMC, 2010) The health care reform bill creates a shared responsibility for health care among individuals, employers and the government to ensure that all Americans have affordable essential health benefits. Two of...
Words: 2594 - Pages: 11
...Lindsey Silva J. Clark English 101-8 September 15, 2014 And Justice for All Punishment stems from our parents, our mom or dad or maybe even both, and their learnings stem from their parents. They would lecture, about the rights and wrongs. So when a child grows up, maybe steals a pack of gum at age five, something petty, they get away with it, get a thrill because they were never caught. That small, minor theft turns into something a little larger over time, each time as they grow. That frivolous pack of gum has grown into a larger larceny, maybe grand theft, or robbing a bank, eventually leading to murder, this is known as ‘the progressive effect’. Most of us have a moral compass, so what should happen if that compass breaks? What is the purpose of punishment? The fundamental principal of justice is that the punishment should fit the crime. When one plans and brutally rapes or murders another, doesn’t it make sense that the punishment for the culprit be equal to their crime? I believe in capital punishment, it is beneficial for society as a whole. Capital punishment provides a strong deterrence against future crimes. Capital punishment protects the rights of victims and saves costs of tax payers. The death penalty is a legal appropriate measure in the U.S. legal system. In a perfect world, there would be no serious predatory crime, none enough to have heated debates concerning capital punishment anyway. But this world is not perfect, and unfortunately...
Words: 1781 - Pages: 8
...Burke Abbott v. Burke are cases about education where the board of education fails to provide adequate education to the urban children. Their claim is that all students should have a right to an equal education regardless of where they are from and how much money they have. There have been a few times that this case has been re opened and wouldn’t surprise me if you hear about it being revisited again. With the recent budget cuts and everything going on in this country it will be only a matter of time before it gets revisited. Abbott v. Burke is a complex case that takes place throughout over two decades. The decisions of the New Jersey Supreme court have led to better and more progressive educational policies and funds in to poor school districts. Initially the case centered on whether or not the poor school districts should be compared to wealthier districts when it comes to considering educational funding, however now it centers on various ways of improving the school systems in the poorer communities. In 1981 on the 5th day of February the education law center, the attorneys for the state of New Jersey’s public school children in the four most needy or poor cities in the state of New Jersey, filed a complaint against several state officials. The complaint was that they were demanding that a thorough and efficient education should be given to those children in these areas as well. Abbott is a model for conducting successful state reform litigation. He conducted interviews...
Words: 1359 - Pages: 6
...Technology has given people access to more information than ever before. There was a time that information such as social security numbers and bank accounts could be protected simply by shredding documents. Now this information can be found on the internet by almost anyone unless it is well protected. These laws help protect personal information from unauthorized users. Additionally, it gives the person providing the information certain rights. Each of the following laws have been enacted to provide protection of a person’s private information from unauthorized access. The first law is the Privacy Act of 1974 (PA74). This requires an agency to obtain written permission from the individual providing the information before sharing it with another agency. It is also the right of an individual to access their own information for review and changes, and they may also determine what records pertaining to them are collected, maintained, used or distributed. There are exceptions that allow access to personal records and include law enforcement with a need to know, investigations, or administrative purposes just to name a few. An organization that may use the PA74 would be medical personnel when collecting medical information that will be recorded in a system of records. Another law enacted in 1986 is the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). This applies more directly with electronic storage including protection of communications during transport from sender to receiver...
Words: 872 - Pages: 4
...authority between the two entities is called federalism. The delegates at the Constitutional Convention were in agreement that some degree of federalism was necessary; however, the amount of federalism that was to be written into the Constitution was rather controversial. After the constitutional Convention, two views of federalism arose. One view of a strong federal government was advocated for by Alexander Hamilton. He believed the national government powers should be largely defined and applied liberally. Thomas Jefferson led the charge on the opposing view. He argued that the federal government existed as an agreement between the states and that the national government should be narrowly defined and limited. These opposing views have been a constant source of political debate in this country (Bose, Dilulio, and Wilson, 2013). One example of how federalism has evolved from its origins to the American political system in place today can be traced to the state’s rights debates of the early to mid-19th century. The southern states were in favor of a decentralized federal government with the bulk of power belonging to the states. The northern states favored a more centralized government with the power residing at the federal level. State’s rights advocates rejected the notion that the Supreme Court was the ultimate arbiter of disputes related to federalism. According to Purcell (2006), “determinations about the scope of governmental powers were not intended to be surrendered to six...
Words: 1075 - Pages: 5
...teachers' unions, allege that the act hasn't been effective in improving education in public education, especially high schools, as evidenced by mixed results in standardized tests since NCLB's 2002 inception. Opponents also claim that standardized testing, which is the heart of NCLB accountability, is deeply flawed and biased for many reasons, and that stricter teacher qualifications have exacerbated the nationwide teacher shortage, not provided a stronger teaching force. Some critics believe that the federal government has no constitutional authority in the education arena, and that federal involvement erodes state and local control over education of their children (White). My position on the NCLB mandate is of the opponent. However, I don’t agree that education is not improving; rather, I believe that it is being curbed by tests. I am employed at a High impact school in Guilford County. On last week, we were told that we would go through a reform on next year, very similar to that of Oak Hill Elementary. The kindergarten through fifth grade classroom teachers will have to reapply for their positions after this school year because our students did not make AYP this past year or for...
Words: 1248 - Pages: 5
...care access, quality, and services for millions of Americans with health and behavioral health needs. Social workers practice as part of health caretailing the factors necessitating health care reform in the United States. Second, it analyzes whether a constitutionally protected right to make personal health care decisions exists under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments' Due Process Clauses. Finally, the article analyzes the susceptibility of government-sponsored health care-specifically proposals which include a public option-to due process challenges and makes suggestions to avoid any potential fundamental rights violations. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT] quirement to purchase health insurance. It also examines some recent Canadian constitutional law cases to anticipate possible future legal challenges to health care reform in the United States. INTRODUCTION The question of the reform of the American system of financing health care has, of course, recently been a central focus of debate in American politics. Because the author of this paper is something of a "political junkie" and keeping current on this issue seemed a desirable part of being a law professor at the current moment, I decided to investigate and examine what legal issues have been involved in the health care reform debate. To a fair degree, what I discovered was that the health care issue is primarily focused on politics, ethics, and economics, rather than on legal issues. But a variety of legal issues have...
Words: 14949 - Pages: 60
