Narcissa Haskins
American Government
January 18, 2011
Benchmark
Judicial Branch: Positive
1. Brown v. Board of Education
This court case impacts my life greatly. Brown v. Board of education is a case about children of color not being allowed to go schools with white students because of the segregation laws. In addition to these laws, colored children were also not protected underneath the 14 amendment which states “No state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Because this law was passed, it allowed an integrated school system. Today, because of this court case, I have the privilege to have multiple, multi-cultural, experiences because of integration. Being able to participate in EDUCON at Science Leadership Academy for 3 years has been the most amazing experience because I was able to meet Jeff Han and conversed with numerous international educators. I have been taught by a variety of teachers that helped develop my intellect and character which will always remain broad and very inviting.
2. Roe v. Wade (No. 70-18) 314 F.Supp. 1217
When thinking of a case from the judicial branch that impacts my life positively, it made think of a woman’s right to abort her unborn fetus. This isn’t the most positive thing in most peoples’ mind, but it is in mine. It was about a woman who wanted the rights to her own body. This court case allowed Roe to have the right to chose an abortion. She fought for her right because the law, at that time, was that a mother may only abort if it is suggested by the doctor for medical reasons. This impacts me positively because if I were to become pregnant, it would allow me to have the right to an abortion. It’s harsh because many believe that when you abort a fetus, you have destroyed a life that could have been amazing. I understand, but no one seems to understand the life of the mother that is destroyed by having a child when she cannot provide for it or one she does not want. Roe v. Wade is beneficial if you are pro-abortion.
Judicial Branch: Negative
1. New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985)
I believe that the privacy of s student is the most important thing in school, yet that is not allowed. This court case, which involved a student being searched because of an allegation of her smoking, turned out to be true. When the case was presented to Supreme Court, they said that because the girl was a student, the teacher had every right to search her. I believe that this negatively impacts me because I believe “ violating” a student’s personal privacy takes away a piece of the student’s dignity. When finding out that this law has a serious impact on my privacy, it made me think about going through airport security. School is supposed to be a place where you should be made to feel comfortable. The thought that any teacher could search through all of my things, based on this case, seriously makes me feel uncomfortable.
2. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1983)
In this court case, the principal of Hazelwood High School was allowed to change the content of the school newspaper. This court case gave the privilege to the educational staff to monitor the content of what its students read and specifically, what had been written by other students. This impacts me negatively because I am a student who enjoys blogging and just writing about what goes through my head. If my teachers were allowed to change my thoughts, what would student really think of me? Would they really know who the true Narcissa Haskins? I believe that teachers should be required to have certain boundaries when it comes down to their students’ creative and personal communications. Because teachers don’t have boundaries, it’s difficult to believe that they would have the deeper level of understanding of the students. We spend so much time in school, teachers really need to know how we really feel and help us if we need support.
Citations for Judicial Branch:
1. Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954) (USSC+)
Rdenour, Amy. United States. Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954) (USSC+) . District of Columbia : National Center, Web. 18 Jan 2011. <http://www.nationalcenter.org/brown.html>.
2. "Roe v. Wade (No. 70-18) 314 F.Supp. 1217." Cornell University Law School N/A: 1. Web. 18 Jan 2011. <http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0410_0113_ZS.html>.
3.United States. bmNew Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985). Washington : Supreme , Web. 18 Jan 2011. <http://www.uscourts.gov/EducationalResources/ConstitutionResources/LegalLandmarks/LandmarkSupremeCourtCasesAboutStudents.aspx>.
4.United States. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1983). Washington : Supreme , Web. 18 Jan 2011. <http://www.uscourts.gov/EducationalResources/ConstitutionResources/LegalLandmarks/LandmarkSupremeCourtCasesAboutStudents.aspx>.
Legislative Branch: Positive
1. Covering Young Adults Through Their Parents' or Guardians' Health Policy
This law is a key component to my life because I won’t have to worry about dealing with the responsibility of my own health care insurance after a certain age. In the state of Pennsylvania, children who remain enrolled as full time students can be covered underneath their parents’ healthcare policy until the age of thirty. This is an amazing and positive. It impacts my life because I am going to college and I use my dads insurance. His insurance coverage for me is free of charge through his Union, and I plan to go straight through graduate school and earn my PhD. His insurance is considered ”top of the line” and will be very beneficial because it can cover any medical or dental issue I might have as I get older. My mom had health issues in her early thirties. It is going to relieve a lot of stress because being in college and worrying about getting a job with health benefits would be too stressful. I don’t want to worry, if I get sick and have to go to the hospital, about paying for the bill. My family members work in Healthcare and they stress quality insurance all of the time. This bill is quite helpful when dealing with a single-family home, because I am 18 and my father doesn’t have to pay child support after high school, but he must maintain my insurance as long as I am a full time college student. This ruling applies to my brother also because he attends graduate school full time and he is covered by my father’s insurance.
2. Statutory Rape Laws by State
In the state of Pennsylvania, according to this law, a man or woman can serve up to 20 year in federal prison if they have raped a child or have had sexual intercourse with a child that is under the age of 13. This law is also in effect if a child is 16 and the sexual encounter is by a person 4 or more years older than the victim. It affects me positively because when my family member came to me, about being sexually abused at 14 years of age, this law allowed my family to put this man in jail. It was difficult thinking that a person could do this to a child, but it did happen. The thought that this law could have never been put into effect frightens me. He could have said she agreed to have sex with him. What would be the mental state of the loved one so is closest to me? How would I have put the man who committed this crime away forever? Thanks to this law, our lives are healing and her state of mind is improving.
Legislative Branch: Negative
1. Termination of Child Support and Support Beyond Majority
This law, I believe is the worst law that could ever occur. It states that the a parent that was legally obligated to help raise you by sending money to the parent who has the most custody over the child, no longer has to pay child support after the child has reached the age of 18. This negatively impacts my life because my father no longer has an “obligation” to financially take care of me once I finish high school. Because he has a “choice”, we know that means my mother will get no money to help take care of me during college. This is a law that not only impacts me, but thousands of children who have to deal with the same reality this coming year. We have to deal with the fact that there will be no financial help for working and us and taking a full college load usually has a negative impact on grades. It’s depressing because the students who plan on going to college, will also be deprived of financial help and are already stressed about money.
2. Dangerous Weapons Control Law Article 7 Stun Guns 12650-12654
Stun Guns are one of the key components to this law. This law states that no one who has been involved in a criminal act or has abused a narcotic, is allowed to purchase a stun gun. This negatively impacts my life because of my drug-addicted aunt’s ownership of a Stun Gun. Because of her violent neighborhood, she usually carried around knives or peeper spray. Today, she carries around a Stun Gun and that is something that is illegal for someone in her state of mind. Her possession of a Stun Gun affects me negatively because I am often around my aunt. If she were to get into a altercation when I am around, I fear being involved, arrested and imprisoned for accessory to assault and possessing a weapon illegally.
Legislative Branch Citation:
1. United States. Covering Young Adults Through Their Parents' or Guardians' Health Policy. Washington, DC: State Health Facts and NCSL, 2009. Web. 18 Jan 2011. <http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14497>.
2. Norman-Eady, Sandra. "Statutory Rape laws by State.” Old Research Report (2003): 1. Web. 18 Jan 2011. <http://www.cga.ct.gov/2003/olrdata/jud/rpt/2003-r-0376.htm>.
3. Morgan, Laura W. United States. Termination of Child Support and Support Beyond Majority. Washington, DC: 1999. Web. 19 Jan 2011. <http://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/HumanServices/TerminationofChildSupportandSupportBeyondMa/tabid/16441/Default.aspx>.
4. Harris, Kamala D. United States . 2008 Dangerous Weapons Control Law. California: Attorney General , 2011. Web. 19 Jan 2011. <http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/dwcl/12650.php>.
Executive Branch: Positive
1. Public Library
Having access to the free library is the most beneficial piece of government that I have experienced. It’s a hassle to find books that are cheap which are not old or torn. In order to really benefit from the Free Library, you have to go through the process of completing an application for a library card. There is usually a residency requirement and you need identification. There are rules that you have to follow, as far as a limit to what you can check out and time allowed to keep the books. If you pass those limits, the public library is no longer free due to late fees. I benefit greatly from the free library because I never have any money of my own to buy the books that I want to read. The Free library of Philadelphia is the greatest convenience because it allows me to have access to many options. I can explore, identify and travel freely because of the benefits provided by this legislation.
2. Public Parks
The public parks are one of the most enjoyable things that the Philadelphia offers They allow people to host many forms of entertainment. The people in the community, that cannot afford to rent a hall for certain gatherings, the public parks allow them to host meetings for free. Another good thing about the public parks is that they offer recreational activities. I appreciate the public parks because of the many family reunions we have hosted. My family has traveled from as far as Florida and California to enjoy the public parks of Philadelphia.I have a very big family so to have a location that doesn’t cost a lot of money and hosts a large group of people is very hard to come by. It saves my family so much money and allows us to put more money into the entertainment aspect of the reunion. If we didn’t have the public parks, I don’t believe my family would be as close as it is right now and host the reunions in Philadelphia.
Executive Branch: Negative
1. Divorce Pennsylvania
The divorce between my parents has made a massive negative impact on my life. In Pennsylvania, you have to be a permanent resident for the divorce to commence between you and your spouse. If there are children involved and no prenuptial agreement, the partners have to come to an agreement of who gets what property or assets. The children are treated like property and are fought over. I had to go through this process and it has be the most difficult expereince. I am constantly the owl between both parents and nothing is ever settled by conversation. Being a child who has witnessed divorce, it becomes difficult to rely on both parents when neither of them can speak or act in a calm manner. Because of divorce, my life is a lot more complicated than it needs to be and I am often distressed.
2. FAFSA
This complex document is for college financial aide. This allows the universities that children want to attend, to determine the amount of money they are willing to offer the student depending on the the parents yearly income. This impacts me negatively because my mother makes too much money. It very frustrating because, my mother and I are like other people and need money to get me through school as well. Because four years of college is going to cost me 100,000 dollars, funding has become a very stress full process. My mother’s illness last year decreased her income, and I might be eligible for some funding. I hate that she had to be ill and lose money for me to qualify according to FAFSA.
Executive Citations
1. "Stanislaus County Library Card Apllication."Stanislaus Library. Stanislaus County Library, 4/ 2007. Web. 19 Jan 2011. <http://www.stanislauslibrary.org/libcardappl.pdf>.
2. "Commission on Parks and Recreation Draft Open Lands Protection Ordinance ." PHILADELPHIA PARKS ALLIANCE . PHILADELPHIA PARKS ALLIANCE, n.d. Web. 19 Jan 2011. <http://www.philaparks.org/>.
3. Meyer, Cathy. "Pennsylvania Divorce Laws." Divorce Support . About.com , n. d. Web. 18 Jan 2011.<http://divorcesupport.about.com/od/statedivorcelaws/a/Penn_Laws.htm>.
4. United States . Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Washington, DC: White House, Web. 19 Jan 2011. <http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/>.United States . Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Washington, DC: White House, Web. 19 Jan 2011. <http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/>.