Law in American Society

Syllabus Links
 

Concept Paper Assignment
Dr. Oliver M. Thompson  

Paper heading:   Title of paper, Law in American Society - time days section, Instructor's name - Dr. Oliver M. Thompson, date of paper, your name not your e-mail address.

Biographical Sketch; who are you, career aspirations, why taking this class, phone and email address.  Use biographical sketch on home page as an outline  - due:   25 points.

PLEASE NOTE - ALL FACT BASED, SUBJECT MATTER ESSAYS ARE THOROUGHLY ANALYZED BY TURNITIN.COM TO INSURE A LACK OF PLAGARISM.  AS SUCH, INSURE THAT YOUR WORK PRODUCT IS PROPERLY CITED AND SOURCED. 

Essay - U.S. Constitution as it relates to the American Legal System and Society - due:  50 points.

PAPER #1:

California's November 8, 2005 special election.  critical analysis of ballot measures, initiatives 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, and 79.

California initiatives - Secretary of State http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_j.htm#2005Special

Gov. Hints of Possible Hike in Taxes - Proposition 76 http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-arnold3sep03,1,6340133.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

Prop. 75 Will Be a Meaty Issue for Unions at Labor Day Picnics.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-cap1sep01,1,6707990.column?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

Teachers Union Ups Ballot Ante http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-money3sep03,1,6874770.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

Nov. 8 Election: Voters Don't See It as Special.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-talker4sep04,0,5906335.story?coll=la-home-local

Activists Try to Knock Out Ballot Propositions.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-campaign11sep11,1,6754009.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california 

Schwarzenegger Launches Campaign for Special-Election Initiatives.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-091205arnold_lat,0,1890218.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Past and future politics.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-ed-sacto13sep13,1,5506508.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

Gov. Backs Prop. 75.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-arnold18sep18,1,6793109.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

Redistricting Does Need a Change, Just Not This One.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-cap19sep19,1,2779262.column?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

Prop. 75 Puts Police on the Side of Liberals.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cops21sep21,0,5398047.story?coll=la-home-local

Initiative Drive Puts '06 Governor's Race in Gear.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-election22sep22,0,1283167.story?coll=la-home-local

Gov. Donates $1.25 Million, Backs 6 Initiatives.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-gov24sep24,1,7100053.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

Lawsuit Targets Teachers Union.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-teachers23sep23,1,3730172.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

Modest Change Seen Under Prop. 77.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-redistrict27sep27,0,5689135.story?coll=la-home-local

The case for unsafe election districts.  http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-bunzel27sep27,0,3747452.story

Powerful Teachers Union Is in the Thick of Ballot Battles.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cta28sep28,0,5793509.story?coll=la-home-local

Little Notice, but a Lot of Emotion.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-abortion3oct03,1,6558618.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

200 points.

Feel free to write drafts and send to me for preview and discussion

Paper #2

Critical Analysis of the development, historically, of the U.S. Constitution as it relates to the development of the Iraq constitution.

Iraqis Present Charter Despite Sunni Dissent   http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fg-constitution29aug29,1,6343630.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage

In Iraq, Varied Views on New Draft  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-reax29aug29,1,2256125.story?coll=la-news-a_section

Draft Clearly Shows Points of Contention  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-articles29aug29,1,3380645.story?coll=la-news-a_section

Iraq Battle Moving Toward Ballot Box  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fg-iraq30aug30,1,6805726.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage

Agreeing to Disagree in Iraq. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/30/opinion/30feldman.html

U.S.: Iraq Constitution Not Final.  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/iraq/main541815.shtml.

Boom Times For 'We The People'.  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/30/world/main804682.shtml

Keep the Sunnis involved.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-ed-iraq30aug30,1,7819785.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

Iraq's fig leaf constitution.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-oe-scheer30aug30,1,6797683.column?coll=la-headlines-pe-california.

Sticking Points in Constitution May Come Back to Haunt Iraq.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-deferred31aug31,1,7129964.story?coll=la-news-a_section

Baghdad and Philadelphia.  http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/opinion/02fri2.html

Theocracy Lite.  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/02/opinion/main813888.shtml

Draft Constitution Finished, Lawmakers Announce.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-constitution15sep15,1,1464079.story?coll=la-news-a_section

Iraqi Lawmakers Approve Charter, Mourn Member.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-iraq19sep19,1,3501315.story?coll=la-news-a_section

Powerful Cleric Backs Iraq Constitution.   http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_top14sep22,0,1099500.story

Sistani Advises Shiite Muslims to Support Draft Constitution.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-iraq23sep23,1,1338617.story?coll=la-news-a_section

Clerics Work to Align Faithful on Iraq Charter.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-shiite24sep24,1,5708874.story?coll=la-news-a_section

200 points

Feel free to write drafts and send to me for preview and discussion

Paper #3

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has commissioned a report on the status of California Government.  The report - California Performance Review; bringing California back, Government for the People for a Change, contains four volumes of comprehensive recommendations to reform and revitalize California's state government.  275 volunteers worked for five months examining organizational structures analyzing data, meeting with stakeholders and compiling recommendations.  Governor Schwarzenegger states the fourth volume of the report contains 279 government issues with over 1,200 recommendations that have the potential to save the state of California $32 billion  over the next five years and guide California's government into the 21st century.  The report is listed - http://www.report.cpr.ca.gov/

A resource of additional assistance is the California Performance Review resource center - http://www.rppi.org/calperformance/index.shtml .  There are additional areas of assistance in review this monumental think piece - please enter the California Performance review in your search engine and browse through their findings and analysis.  additional data -

Your assignment is to read the report and write a critical analysis of a minimum of ten (10) recommendations, which are of significance to you.

200 points.

Feel free to write drafts and send to me for preview and discussion.

PAPER #4

President Bush has placed at the top of his second term agenda, the refurbishment and restructuring of Social Security.  After comprehensive research, outline and critically analyze the history of Social Security, the initial promise of its development and implementation, and why President Bush strongly believes, that this vital part of the American economic safety net, is in danger of financial collapse without immediate restructuring by Congress. In an attempt to personalize this research, use yourself as an example in the paper as you examine the pro's and con's of the outlined recommendations.   An excellent foundation of discussion is - http://www.ssa.gov the official website of the U.S. Social Security Administration - social security online.  additional data to be considered -

  • This assignment is valued at 200 points.  The essay will be graded 100 points on your critical review and analysis of the topical area - Social Security.  The remaining 100 points will be graded based on the depth of analysis you use as you personalize this critical analysis, using yourself as an example in the essay as you examine the pro's and con's of the outlined recommendations.

  • Feel free to write drafts and send to me for preview and discussion.

    Attorney listing; specialties  -  25 points.  Go to your local phone directory, yellow pages, view and list for submission the various specialties, in alphabetical order.  due

    Contact with elected representatives - U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, and U.S. Congress representatives Joe Baca, Mary Bono and Ken Calvert, reference the issue of oil prices.  You are to develop on going email dialogue on this subject and see if you can identify their position on this issue.  25 points; U.S. Senate, 25 points, U.S. Congress.  due

    MID TERM:   

    Biography 25 points,

    U.S. Constitution quiz 20 points,

    ESSAY U.S. Constitution 50 points,

    Attorney Specialties 25 points,

    PAPER November 8 special election 200 points, 

    PAPER Constitution - U.S. v Iraq 200 points,

    MID TERM EXAM 156 points

    TOTAL POINTS 676. 

    A - 676 - 609, B - 608 - 541, C - 540 - 473,    D - 472 - 404.

    FINAL:    

    PAPER -  California Performance Review, 200 points,

    PAPER - Social Security 200 points,

    BLOG - contact with elected representatives - 50 points,

    FINAL EXAM  185 points - approximate = 635 points.

    TOTAL POINTS:    1293 points.

    JUDICIARY - the reshaping of the United States Supreme Court

    Once again, just too conservative.  http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-oe-chem31aug31,1,7688710.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

    GAY MARRIAGE - California style

    State Senate Votes to Let Gays Marry.  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marriage2sep02,0,4562261.story?coll=la-home-local

    FEDERALISM, FEMA, AND HURRICANE KATRINA

    http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/katrina/main500487.shtml

    Leader of Federal Effort Feels the Heat

    http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/03/national/nationalspecial/03fema.html

    Katrina Disaster Blog

    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/31/katrina/main807164.shtml

    On the Web: Tracking Katrina's Aftermath

    http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-083005weblog,0,999372.htmlstory?coll=la-home-headlines

    Begin to develop your own individual blog in this area.

         
     

     


     


     

                                                                                                                                                                      

    If you have any questions about assignments and completion dates, please insure you contact me at your earliest convenience. 

    I am not responsible for your misinterpretation of a class assignment and its attendant due date.

    The following Powerpoint slides are from the 3rd edition of your text.

    Chapter 1-4: Law, Constitution, Courts, Attorney-Client Relationship

    Chapter 5 - Administrative Law

    Chapter 6 - Crimes: Public Wrongs

    Chapter 7 - Torts: Private Wrongs

    Chapter 8 - Contracts:  Enforceable Agreements

    Chapter 9 - Family Law

    Chapter 10 - Owning and Operating Motor Vehicles

    Chapter 11 - Renters and Landlords

    Chapter 12 - Home Ownership

    Chapter 13 - Employee and Employer Rights and Duties
     
    Chapter 14 - Wills, Trusts and Probate

    Contracts, Family Law, Wills

    The Constitution of the United States

    Bill of Rights re-write

    Bill of Rights For a Black Man

    USA PATRIOT ACT 2001

    Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

     

     
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