Essays on Constitutional Amendments

Abstract

The criminal justice system in the United States provides Constitutional guarantees for all who are subject to the laws of the land. The three most controversial aspects of this system today are Search and Seizure, arrest, and interrogations. While these three aspects are the foundation of police action throughout the nation, there are several unresolved problems in how each of these processes is in use today. The presence of the law is not always the same as upholding it. The cases which made the case for the citizens are moving into obscurity with modern variations of the problems making ...

Introduction

The United States Constitution can be described as the highest law of the land. During court proceedings, the constitution is the supreme law that is applicable in determining the outcome of criminal litigation, but other laws arise from the Amendments to the Constitution. The United States Constitution often guides how the government should function, the jurisdiction of the presidency, American Congress, and the Supreme Court. It is, however, paramount to note that all American states have their own Constitutions that they enact and follow, but the federal constitution is considered the highest law that overrides other state laws in ...

Unlike Lincoln and Johnson who took a moderate approach to bring the south under normalcy after the civil war, the radical republicans favored a harsher approach to the situation and upgrade the lives of the freedmen. This brought them into conflict with the established southerners and the Democratic Party in power which wanted to maintain the status quo. The federal government under the radical republicans then enacted laws and made constitutional amendments which could prosecute the Ku Klux Klan, an armed militia found in many Southern states which indulged in violence against the black ...

The constitutional amendments and the court rulings among the American institutions in matters regarding abortion have led to multiple reactions among the people on the stance of the government. The restrictive aspects of the abortion policy define the nature by which the people regard the abortion policies. The Obama health care bill provides for only elective abortion meaning not all the people with an insurance cover can undertake abortion. Court rulings have not left the issue to chance as with a number of cases having no favor for abortion. The most notable decision was in the case of Roe vs. ...

A constitution is a written document embodying the fundamental states principles. Through the constitution, certain rights of people are guaranteed. It also establishes the conception and character of the United States government by prescribing the government’s duties, powers, and organization. Constitutional amendments are always anticipated. This is because the authors of the constitution are neither prescient nor infallible. Allowing constitutional change is a method of saluting democracy in any government, America being a democracy. These echoes the words of Thomas Jefferson of Each generation has the right of choosing for itself the form of government it feels is best suited for ...

The Texas Constitution was written in the 1870s and despite all of its amendments, the constitution is still used today and this shows that the document has been able to survive and adapt over time (Sandoval, 2011). However, there are many reasons as to why the Texan Constitution needs to be reformed as soon as possible as it can no longer survive in the twenty-first century due to its complexions. Therefore, this essay will argue that the Texas Constitution needs to be rewritten based on the following reasons: it is a long constitution that is out-dated and in need of ...

In the Symposium, Apollodorus makes a relation to an unidentified companion story, which he had learned about a dinner party, or a symposium from Aristodemus. The symposium is given to honor the tragedian Agathon. Here, Socrates is lost in thought on the neighboring balcony, and arrives at the party late. Eryximachus accepts Phaedrus suggestion after they have finished eating that, every person should make a speech praising the god of love. After a consensus, Phaedrus starts by referring to love as one of the oldest of gods. He adds that love promotes the most of the virtue in people. Pausanias draws the difference between ...

The State of Texas has had several constitutions through its history, all of them were product of specific historical contexts. It has kept, however, many of the original provisions proposed in the first draft, even some that would conflict with our national Constitution. It is considered to be a long and poorly organized document, where responsibilities are not clearly defined and that is difficult to interpret . It is also very restrictive and has many unenforceable provisions known as deadwood, that have been tried to be modified in several occasions . The Texas Constitution includes features that are very similar of ...

Introduction

Same sex marriage has become a polarizing issue in both state and national politics as well as religious platforms. In the United States alone, fourteen states including California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Washington among others, states have legalized same sex marriages either through court decisions, state legislations or through popular votes. Research also reveals that voters in about 10 states in the United States of America passed state constitutional amendments defining marriage as the relationship between one woman and one man. However, some other states such as Alabama, Arizona, Alaska, Kentucky, and Missouri among several others have banned same ...

The State of Texas has had several constitutions through its history. It has kept, however, many of its original provisions, even some that would conflict with our national Constitution. It is considered to be a long and poorly organized document, where responsibilities are not clearly defined and that is difficult to interpret. It is also very restrictive and has many unenforceable provisions known as deadwood. The Texas Constitution includes features that are very similar of those found in the national Constitution. The powers are separated in executive, legislative and judiciary branches, and there are provisions that limit the government ...

Introduction

Homosexuality and gay relationships are some of the most controversial issues in the contemporary world. Proponents such as civil and human rights activists support homosexuality and gay unions while religious organizations oppose these issues. Almost all Christian denominations are opposed to homosexuality and gay marriages with the Catholic Church being at the forefront (Songy, 239). Interestingly, numerous allegations of homosexuality and gay relationships among the leaders of the Catholic Church have surfaced over the last decade adding to the controversy of the issue. The general guideline according to the Catholic Church on marriage is, “a faithful lifelong and exclusive ...

Overview

The Department of Corrections has changed its mail room policy to reduce the risk of contraband inflow through the mail and to reduce its burden on existing correctional officers. The measures taken include the introduction of a postcard that inmates can use to communicate with the outside world. According to the Commissioner, this postcard will end the flow of contraband through the mail and more easily managed by the existing staff. He also believes that this measure will reduce the overtime burden of staff. The inmates, their families and lawyers see this measure as a violation of the First Amendment; they ...

The Police Work

The confession is the title of the video clip that I will be discussing in this paperwork. I will, therefore, identify the positive or notable actions by the police, any issues with police behavior that cause my concern, any illegal or unconstitutional acts by the police , and finally specify the constitutional Amendments the police actions may have violated in the course of duty as depicted by the video- the confession. The confession is written and directed by Ofra Bikel. As illustrated by the video, the confession, it is clear that those people, law enforcement officers, who misuse their ...

1. What is Civil Disobedience? How did Thoreau utilize this process? What was he protesting against? What is his critique of American society? How was his idea practiced in other movements? Henry David Thoreau asserts that people should not allow the government to atrophy and overrule their conscience. The government has to govern the least. In fact, a government that does not govern at all tend to be the best (Thoreau 99). Civil disobedience refers to nonviolent resistance and the need to prioritize personal conscience over what is dictated by law. In most cases, civil disobedience entails active and ...

The confessions

I will be illustrating the notable actions portrayed by the police in the video-the confession. I will also discuss the issues depicted in the video as a result of the police behavior. The essay will also specify the constitutional Amendments the police may have violated as a result of their unconstitutional works. The confession is the title of the video that is written by Ofra Bikel. According to the video, the confession, we learn that the police do not entertain corrupt activities. Once a police officer’s is involved in dishonest activities, such as receiving bribes, then it is important to ...

The Police

In this paperwork, I am going to discuss the video, the confession, depicting the positive or notable actions portrayed by the police and any issues with police behavior that cause my concern. I will also discuss any illegal or unconstitutional acts by the police, therefore, specifying the constitutional Amendments the police actions may have violated. The Confession is a video written and directed by Ofra Bikel. The video revolves in the context of the rape and murder of Michelle. Daniel William, Michelle neighbors, called the 911 after the incident had happened so as to establish the cause of the ...

Organizational Communications 504

The political upheavals that shook much of the Arab World when the Arab Spring first broke out in 2010 introduced the region to a political trend that has swept much of the world during the 20th century – democratization. Although the Arab World is, in many ways, a “late-bloomer” in terms of adopting democratic virtues, the fact that several people from Arab nations have expressed their dissent through manifestations distinct to the globalized world shows how globalization has opened the eyes of the people against authoritarian regimes (Smith &Gaviria, 2013). The mass demonstrations that toppled long-standing authoritarian figures in nations such as ...

Introduction

The principle of democracy and promoting the rule of law are two aspects modern constitutions seek to achieve, whether at state or federal level. Democracy connotes majority consensus on the part of the citizens in defining and shaping key issues. It would be inaccurate to assume that the American constitution is inherently democratic (pure democracy for that matter). Essentially, elections are carried out by the majority of the citizenry who choose officials (Chiappinelli, 2007). These officials are given the responsibility of determining the country’s direction. This way, democracy is transformed from the determination of many to where few ...

One of the subjects that send big waves of controversy among people of various communities in recent times is same sex marriage; whether people of the same sex should be legally allowed to bond with the bounds of marriage; and what impact such a condition has upon societies. Of course, opinions definitely vary, and there are as many viewpoints as people out there. However, there are two principle camps of opinion. Those that believe marriage should only be legal among heterosexuals for religious, societal, and psychology-related reasons, and those that consider it completely regressive to think marriage is a woman-man privilege ...

Introduction

The United States history has been written in a multiplicity of ways, but the ones that stand out even to the modern dispensation are the constitutional amendments. 13th, 14th, and 15th modifications to the USA constitution defined new rules of engagement in so far as the wellbeing of the citizenry was concerned (Rife and Bron, 14). The amendments provided a framework over which a number of issues could be understood. This text puts into perspective the effect of the amendments to the USA constitution and their impact in the modern dispensation. The southern states in America reacted to the amendments in ...

Introduction

Same sex marriage has become a polarizing issue in both state and national politics as well as religious platforms. In the United States alone, fourteen states including California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Washington among others, states have legalized same sex marriages either through court decisions, state legislations or through popular votes. However, some other states such as Alabama, Arizona, Alaska, Kentucky, and Missouri among several others have banned same sex marriages by constitutional amendments and state laws, or constitutional amendments or state laws only. The polarizing views on gay marriages can also be witnessed on religious groups with some ...

The Constitution of the USA gives states the authority and delegates them the power to conduct elections. However, despite this, there are certain federal requirements that not only shape but also constrain a state’s authority and power to regulate. The main aspect of the Constitution’s electoral regulation is that of protection. It makes sure that the rights of all those citizens who are qualified to vote are protected, in both federal and state-wide elections. Most specifically, Constitutional amendments prohibit: - The denial of the right to vote due to race, color or previous condition of servitude ...

United States legal system provides a variety of legal obligations that are impacted when doing business. They entail the employment laws that are very essential as they are likely to be encountered by a company immediately upon commencing business and also provide compliance that is heavily regulated. The labor and employment laws in the United States are derived from a variety of legal sources that include: constitutional law, statutory law, administrative regulations and common law that entail unwritten customs, principles as well as rules and case laws (Cihon & Castagnera, 2011). The focus of the paper is identifying major employment-related laws and regulations, ...

Voting is one of the crucial citizen duties in participating in the development of a country. In many countries, including the United States, voting is optional for the citizens while in other countries voting is compulsory. Some scholars in the United States argue that voting in the state should be compulsory to bring some changes such as preventing democrats from winning all elections in the country (Vile, John 14). The introduction of compulsory voting would enhance reforms that would otherwise increase voter turnout to trigger a stiff competition. Voter turnout has been a big challenge in the United States election because ...

Introduction

Same sex marriage has become a polarizing issue in both state and national politics as well as religious platforms. In the United States alone, fourteen including California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Washington among others, states have legalized same sex marriages either through court decisions, state legislations or through popular votes. However, some other states such as Alabama, Arizona, Alaska, Kentucky, and Missouri among several others have banned same sex marriages by constitutional amendments and state laws, or constitutional amendments or state laws only. The polarizing views on gay marriages can also be witnessed on religious groups with some groups ...

Introduction

The civil rights movement provided a significant chapter to the history of democracy in the United States (US), in that it enabled the empowerment of African-Americans towards freedom from discrimination. While much activity related to the movement is attributable to the string of protests undergoing in the US between 1955 and 1968, it also influenced uprisings in the United Kingdom and South Africa. The prevalence of discrimination against African-Americans has prompted activists to fight for the eventual recognition of their entitlement to civil rights. Race is the primary focus of discrimination, with the ...

INTRODUCTION

The American civil war begun in 1861 until 1865. It was one of the landmark events that changed the American people. The war came to an end with the passage of three important constitutional amendments. The three amendments abolished slavery, granted citizenship to freed slaves and consequently gave them the democratic right to vote. It is evident that the civil war changed the political, social and economic landscape of the American people. During the civil war, the railway system took a leap because of its pivotal role in the war. It played a major role in transportation of troops, weapons ...

Civil Rights and civil liberties date back to the year 1791 in the United States of America (Bean, 2009). It was during this year that the first amendment to the bill of rights was made. Fifty seven years down the line, a movement was in place representing the civil liberties. This was the civil rights movement. The civil right and liberties have undergone various changes over the years following the many constitutional amendments as well as the dynamics of the federal mandate. Differentiating between civil rights and the civil liberties has been an uphill task to the elite as well ...

The American Civil War

The American civil war was fought from 1861 to 1865 and is believed to have consumed more lives than all other wars combined. The war was anticipated for over 40 years after the American Revolution due to conflicts between the North and south. There were many issues between the two sides, but slavery was the central issue. Another cause was taxation of goods imported from foreign countries. The taxes were called tariffs and the southerners felt oppressed since they imported more goods than the northerners. Goods exported from the south were heavily taxed, which was not applicable to goods ...

Arizona’s history is highly interesting if just because it is still considered by many as an unexplored territory of Native American Indians, outlaws with guns and horses, miles of flat, hot desert filled with poisonous species of snakes, scorpions and spiders, and sort of a state out of time. The truth is, is still is, but mostly it has joined the rest of the country, in 1912, and welcomed the modern world, yet, as a whole, it is a state misunderstood today, in that it stands strong for certain civil rights, yet stands against interference from other states on how it should ...

Legal Considerations in Confinement

Criminal confinement or unlawful restraint can generally be defined as the act of holding a person in conferment or transferring them from their initial location to another place against their wish and will (Criminal Attorney, 2008). The State law categorizes this act as a misdemeanor offense, which may be upgraded to a felony according to the circumstances revolving around the act. Owing to the fact that the Law enforcement bodies are in charge of keeping law and order, they face exemption from the legal penalties of confinement; however, they are liable to face charges in situations that are egregious (Meeropol, 2003). ...

My paper topic was the Eradication of the Defense of Marriage Act. During my research, I found nine instrumental sources that I used to structure my arguments. These sources include:

Black, Nathan. "Texas Court rejects Gay Couple's Divorce petition." Christian Post 1 Mar. 2011: 5. Web. 5 June 2011.

<http://www.christianpost.com/news/texas-court-rejects-gay-couples-divorce-petition-46569. >.

The important statement I took from this journal article is that most state courts are not ready to recognize gay marriage as part of the larger institution of marriage. Therefore courts are not ready to address issues like divorce suits resulting from gay marriage. I used the ...

Gay marriage is a controversial social practice within the United States. Jost, an editor at Sage Publications, explains in his article entitled “Marriage Showdowns: Will Voters Bar Marriage” that “seven states have legalized gay marriage while more than 26 states have had either constitutional amendments that prohibit gay marriage or statutory bans (Jost 3). Friedman's book entitled Gay Marriage explains that the existing policy on gay marriage is based on the provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that was passed by the federal government in 1996 (Friedman 31). DOMA defines a marriage as a union between a man and woman and ...