Legislative
Pros
• Amendment XIX
United States Constitution, Amendments 11-27. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html#19
The nineteenth amendment to the US Constitution gives women the right to vote. This amendment was radified in 1920. This amendment greatly impacts my life. Without this amendment I would not have the right to get my opinion across. I would not be able to vote, and or potentially run for an office in the future. I feel that these rights are essential for women, and this amendment is a great positive for women in America.
• Fair Labor Standards Act
US Department of Labor. Wage and Hour Division (WHD). Compliance Assistance - Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) http://www.dol.gov/whd/flsa/
The Fair Labor Standards Act raised the minimum wages that any working individual can make to $7.25 an hour. This is not a great deal of money, but for a minor like myself, and also new citizens, and basically anyone new to the work force, these are very good wages. With these wages I made enough money in a summer job to help out my mother with our expenses as well as have a little spending money for myself. I feel ` that raising the minimum wages to $7.25 was very helpful to many many people in the US.
Cons
• National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984
Alcohol - Problems and Solutions. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/youthissues/1092767630.html
The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 prevents public possession of alcohol for people under the age of 21. There are quite a few things that make this law a con in my eyes. First is that once you make something illegal it just makes it that more intriguing, meaning that more teens will want to try it. Also teens are already consuming alcohol at a high rate, especially at the ages of 17-19, college freshman age. Another reason that this law is a con in my eyes is that it doesn’t actually prohibit minors from drinking alcohol, it just states that they cannot purchase it themselves, or consume it in public places. So if you are in the safety of your home you can drink as much as you please. I feel that this law is just pointless if teens can consume it anyway.
• Parent’s Right to Know Act of 2009
Govtrack. 111th Congress. H.R. 2752: Parent’s Right to Know Act of 2009. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2752
The Parent’s Right to Know Act states that a doctor cannot prescribe any medication to a minor without first notifying a parent/guardian and getting their consent. I feel that this is an invasion of privacy. I understand that you are still a minor and dependent on a parent, but your medical background is your own, not anyone elses. In the more recent past I have had some serious medical problems that I’ve needed medication for, one medication being birth control, which my mother was not happy about. This is a private matter that I should be able to have the chose if I share it with my parent or not. When it comes to my body and my health I should be able to take care of it on my own.
Executive
Pros
• FAFSA
Fox, Stacy. "What is the Purpose of the FAFSA Application?." Ezine Articles. EzineArticles.com, 2011. Web. 21 Jan 2011. http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-the-Purpose-of-the-FAFSA-Application?&id=2333223
FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It was established by the US Department of Education. Students apply for FAFSA to determine how much aid they get toward their college tuitions. FAFSA is one of the most important things for me in starting my college career. My family has almost no money and FAFSA is a great way to help me get money to go to college.
• SNAP (Food Stamps)
FNS Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. USDA Food and Nutrition Service. http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/
SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This provides Food Stamps for families that are underprivileged and struggle to obtain enough money to purchase food. A card is given, with a set amount of funds per month. These funds are used to purchase food items. This program has helped my family immensely over the past year and a half. Since my mother has no job, and she makes minimal unemployment food stamps have made it possible for us to pay the bills, while also being able to eat every month. I feel that without SNAP my family would be stuggling much more than we are.
Cons
• Full-Body Scanners
United States. Transportation Security Administration. DC: , 2010. Web. 22 Jan 2011. <http://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/ait/index.shtm>
I feel that the full-body scanners are a complete violation of privacy. You should not be allowed to invade someones personal space in such a way. I understand being cautious and protecting the country, but there should be a cut-off point to how far you should go, and these scanners definitely surpass that point. I would feel extremely uncomfortable entering an airport, where I know I am going to be scanned in such a way. This is just to far.
• PSSA
Pennsylvania Department of Education. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_system_of_school_assessment_(pssa)/8757
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment or PSSA is a test that is used to determine how much money the school district gets, based on how high the test scores are. I feel that this test is utterly pointless for the students, because we have to try so hard to do extremely well on these tests, but they do not count for anything for the actual student. We personally do not gain anything by doing well on these tests. It is a nuisance and an aggravation to take the PSSAs. I feel that funding can be determined other ways.
Judicial
Pros
• Brown vs Board of Education
BROWN v. BOARD OF EDUCATION, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), US Supreme Court, FindLaw Cases and Codes, http://laws.findlaw.com/us/347/483.html
Brown vs. Board is a Supreme Court case from 1954 that worked to establish equal and non-segregated schooling for children of all races. This case has greatly effected my education. It has given me the opportunity to earn and education with people of all ethnicities and religions, it has given diversity a chance to grow in the minds of the youth so that as they get older segregation isn’t a thought to them. By giving children a chance to experience other cultures at a young age it helps them to be less racist and prejudice as they get older and become adults. I feel that Brown vs. Board was an immense help in getting America away from racism.
• Tinker vs Des Moines
"Tinker vs. Des Moines School District (1969)." Supreme Court Of the United States. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan 2011. <http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/comm/free_speech/tinker.html>
A brother and sister in Iowa had planned to wear black wristbands to protest the Vietnam War. The school heard of these plans and banned the students from wearing the bands. The banning expired after the New Year and when the students came back wearing the wristbands they were suspended from school for disturbing the peace. However they were a part of a quiet, peaceful show of their opinions, they didn’t disturb anyone, and didn’t infringe on anyone elses beliefs. The suspension was a violation of their rights. It was settled that it violated their first amendment rights to freedom of speech. The result of this court case positively affects me because it means that now I can freely express myself without fear of punishment, as long as I am not violent.
Cons
• New Jersey vs T.L.O
University Law School. Web. 23 Jan 2011. <http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0469_0325_ZS.html>
In the court case New Jersey vs. T.L.O. two teenage girls were caught smoking on school property, in the bathrooms. When taken to the office one girl admitted to the act, but the other denied smoking. She was then taken to the vice principal, who then proceeded to search her belongings. This was a violation of the girl’s fourth amendment rights to protection of property. The girl was wrong in smoking in school, but the VP had no right to thoroughly search her belongings like that. This effects me, because I would not want anyone searching through my belongings unless I gave them permission, or it was an authority, who had court permission. It is not about having something to hide, it’s about being able to keep your belongings safe, especially in a school environment.
• Grutter v. Bollinger
United States . Grutter v. Bollinger . Washington D.C.: , 2002. Web. 17 Jan 2011. <http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2002/2002_02_241/>
In this case a white female from Michigan, Barbara Grutter, applied to the University of Michigan Law School, and was denied admission. She filed suit on the basis that the decision was due to her race. She was in high academic standings, but because she was not a minority she was not accepted to the school. The school said that they hold race in high consideration when accepting students to the school. This greatly affects me for two reasons the first and most important being that I am also a white female. The second reason is that there is always an uproar that white people get everything they want, with no issues, but this woman was denied for the very reason that she was NOT a minority. This is a violation of equal rights.