Q2 BM AMGOVT Bria Wimberly

Bria Wimberly

1/8/11

American Government Benchmark

Legislative

1. Pro-Food Safety Modernization Act: Putting the Focus on Prevention

<Hamburg, Margaret A. “Food Safety Modernization Act: Putting the Focus on Prevention” White House Blog-Legislative Branch. White House. www.whitehouse.gov. 3, January 2011>

The rate of food-borne illnesses in America has risen over the past couple of years. Around 48 million Americans are sick, hospitalizing hundred thousands, and killing thousands. The FDA and U.S Department of Agriculture are establishing new prevention rules for food with high chances of illness, like seafood, juice, eggs, meat and poultry. Processers and FDA will now be required to find any hazards in factories and if found, to remove contaminated food from the market immediately. They will also be working with foreign governments and carefully inspecting foreign food since 15 percent of the U.S. food is imported. This law positively affects my life and body. With more inspections within factories and better check ups in the processing facilities, the FDA can lower the case of illnesses like salmonella, bacteria, and parasites. And with removing the product from the market, less people will get sick.

2. Con- Curfew Law

<“Curfew” Safety & Crime Prevention. Middletown Township, Bucks County. http://www.middletowntwpbucks.org/departments/police/safety/curfew.aspx . 17 January 2011>

For minors, the curfew between Sunday and Thursday is 10pm to 6am, not allowing anyone under 18 to stay in public places or to walk in public streets. On Fridays and Saturdays the hours are different, 12 midnight to 6am. This curfew is meant to keep kids out of trouble, but I believe the government shouldn’t tell families how to raise their children in any way. Some kids probably stay out late to work or stay for some educational aspect. I agree with protecting kids from dangerous areas at night, but it should be up to the parent as to how long they can stay out. We shouldn’t punish every minor.

3. Pro-Museum and Library Services Act of 2010

Around the country, extracurricular activities were being cut by the government to support the budget of individual cities. Museums and libraries were on the list but this act shows how important these institutions are to the city. These organizations created jobs for citizens, which was a priority of the Obama Administration and important for global economy. Museums and libraries also brought the city and students closer with knowledge. The Museum and Library Services Act is important for me because education should come before city budgets. As a growing student, libraries are helpful when some cannot afford a computer. Museums also influence others to learn more about our past.

4. Con- Pennsylvania Firearm Law

<“About Us” Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association. http://www.pafoa.org/about. 18 January 2011>

The Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association believes that the right to own a weapon or to “bear arms” is a human right of a free society. The Firearm Law gives the owner right to use the weapon for hunting, self-defense, competition, collection, or any other aspect that the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association support. The outcomes of owning weapons always depend on the owner. I wish the process of having any weapon could be more tedious and have better judgment. If obtaining a gun wasn’t so easy, that can cut the violence in Philadelphia in half. The right to bear arms is a tricky law, because not everyone will be responsible of their actions.

Executive

5. Pro- Application for Business Ownership

<“SESSION FIVE-Business Licenses, Permits, and Business Names” My Own Business. http://www.myownbusiness.org/business_permits_license/#6. 17 January 2010>

Small businesses are blooming all the time and it’s an easy process to own a business and support your needs. To receive a business license, you will need a tax registration, a social security card, a DBA (name of your business), EIN (identification for your employers), and a seller permit to be legal. These forms have small fees to pay and deadlines to submit, also some trips to the bank, but this application does not seem hard for yearning business owners to start. If I had a brilliant idea of a new product, I can make jobs and be my own boss. It’s an easy method to complete and it can help maintain many families.

6. Con- Application to Register a Car

<“Register Car in Pennsylvania” Registration & Titling. DMV. http://www.dmv.org/pa-pennsylvania/car-registration.php. 17 January 2011>

When you register your vehicle in PA, you have to follow a couple of steps. If the car was used, you need to fill out paperwork: proof of insurance, Form MV-1, and Form MV-4ST. After you've completed the paperwork, you would drop it off at a Vehicle Service Center. Then you would pay for your license plate, stickers, and paperwork. The fees to register a car costs around $40, and additional fees will sum up if you want to replace your license plate, stickers, etc.

7. Pro- Application of FAFSA

<“Full-Time Career Programs - Financial Aid: FAFSA Application Process” Classes-FULL-TIME CAREER PROGRAMS. Meridian Technology Center. http://www.meridian-technology.com/full_time/Financial_Aid_Fafsa_Process.asp. 16 January 2011>

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) gives money to high school students who need money for college and have low family income. To complete the FAFSA, first you have to complete the free application for Federal Student Aid, which is available January 1 each year. The application needs the paperwork for the income of both parents to decide how much money you receive. Once you’re finish, you can mail, submit online, or bring the forms to a process center. Waiting for a response could take around 3-6 weeks. Then the Financial Aid Office can give you an estimate of your “Pell Grant” award once your financial aid file has been completed. This is a great process for graduating students who want to go somewhere in life and need to help financially. I love how the government hands out money every year for free and all we have to do is fill out a free application.

8. Con- State ID Application

<Corbett, Tom.“Obtaining a Photo Identification Card”Driver & Vehicle Services. Pennsylvania-Department of Transportation. http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/driverLicensePhotoIDCenter/obtainingPhotoID.shtml. 18 January 2011>

Your State Photo ID gives you many privileges at a young age. You have to visit a local Driver License Center to fill out Form DL-54A, “Application for Initial Photo Identification Card.” Also bring any type of identification, social security card, and a check or money order to pay (cash is not accepted). You can be as young as 10, but if you’re under 18 a parent or guardian must accompany you. After all the paperwork, you will go to the Photo Center to have your photo taken for the ID card. I don’t like this process because of the age you have to be when accompanied by a parent. I remember the last time I went to get my ID card and I had to wait for my Dad to get out of work, and we had to go to the social security card office to print a new one, all before the center closed. I’m not sure why age matters, if you are responsible enough to do this process on your own, I don’t see the problem.

Judicial

9. Pro- Morse v. Frederick

This case discusses the use of the First Amendment. In 2007 at Juneau-Douglas High School, Joseph Frederick sued principal Deborah Morse for violating his rights of free speech. Joseph displayed a banner reading “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” during an Olympic torch relay in 2002. In the end he was suspended and brought her to court. The court’s holding was in favor of Morse: “school officials in this case did not violate the First Amendment by confiscating the pro-drug banner and suspending Frederick”. The First Amendment does not prevent educators from restraining student speech at a school-supervised event. This incident should be an example of the stupidity students bring to themselves. Teachers having the right to suppress speech of illegal things is a powerful tool to use. It also makes the school grounds more presentable.

10. Con-Plessy v. Ferguson

< Wormser, Richard. “Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)” Jim Crow Stories. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_plessy.html. 14 January, 2011>

It all began with Homer Plessy sitting in the White section of a train car. Even with his light skin complexion, he was sent to jail and a black organization decided to fight. In court, they brought up the fourteenth amendment, to enforce the equality of the two races before the law. The Court decided that the separate facilities for blacks and whites were constitutional as long as they were "equal." This policy also stood for restaurants, theaters, restrooms, public schools, etc. Though this case was in Ferguson’s favor, all facilities for blacks were still inferior to those of whites. This Court was unfair since their final statement was false. Gladly the Brown v. Board case happen later. Being separate does not make us a country; also minorities around the 19th Centaury were still treated worse than White.

11. Pro- Smith v. Allwright

< “Smith v. Allwright” US Supreme Court. Answer.com. http://www.answers.com/topic/smith-v-allwright. 14 January, 2011>

In 1944, Lonnie E. Smith, a black voter in Harris County, Texas, sued county election official S. S. Allwright because he could not vote. Before, only white men were allowed to participate in voting booths. The Democratic Party voted in favor of Smith, announcing every race can vote. This case was supported by the fourteenth amendment, where African Americans have as many basic rights as Caucasians. This case is important for the minorities of America; it opened up more opportunities of equality in this country, and for them to have a voice. If Smith didn’t win, there would be a change in the actions this country agreed upon. Every race can be heard, and after this court shortly came woman’s right to vote.

12. Con- United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola

< Benjamin, Ludy T. “Pop psychology: The man who saved Coca-Cola” Monitor on Psychology. American Psychological Association. http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/02/coca-cola.aspx. 16 January 2011>

It all started on 1909, when U.S. government agents staked out on the Coca Cola bottling plant in Chattanooga, Atlanta. When the trucks pass by, they would steal 40 barrels and 20 kegs of Coca-Cola syrup. The seizure was made under the recently passed “Pure Food and Drug Act”. U.S House of Representatives claimed the caffeine in their soda produced serious mental and motor deficits. So in March 13, 1911, the government called “United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola”, forcing Coca-Cola to remove caffeine from its formula by making claims that the product was misbranded. The government lost the case, which raises an eyebrow to why companies would make products that directly affect the buyer. In 1912 the Pure Food and Drug Act added caffeine to the list of "habit-forming" and "deleterious" substances, which must be listed on a product's label. If the government won this case, it could be the first step to revolutionizing the food we eat: less processed, artificial components, more organic, better for you. The government took the case to the Supreme Court again in 1916 and won. Coca-Cola reduced the caffeine but didn’t eliminate it.