We see multiple successes of voting equality attempted through amendments, however, the Supreme Court’s decision on Shelby County v. Holder has pushed back years and years of effort for voting rights. Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling was in Shelby County’s favor, stating that the Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional along with Section 5. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr, who wrote the majority’s opinion, said that the power to regulate election was reserved to the states, not the federal government. As a result to the court’s decision, the federal government can no longer determine which voting law discriminates and can be passed. After the case, many states had freely passed new voting laws; the most common voting law states passed
According to the Tenth Amendment of the constitution, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”. There have been moments in history where Congress has implemented laws that states felt were unconstitutional. The Constitution gave states the ability to counter the federal government’s power through the Judiciary branch of government, when they feel a law is unconstitutional. The Founders of our nation gave Congress enumerated powers to pass legislation that needs to be abided by all states and citizens. At times Congress will overstep its powers by enacting laws that are unconstitutional and the states have the right to challenge those powers.
Despite the Constitution, for nearly 200 years, presidents have sent the U.S. military into conflicts without first consulting Congress. Contrary to popular belief, this trend predates the imperialist presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson sent a small fleet to protect and defend U.S. military and merchant ships from acts of piracy by the Barbary States before he asked Congress. Although Congress later gave Jefferson authorization to have those vessels seize any ships and goods that posed a threat, they never voted on a formal declaration of war in the conflict that became the First Barbary War, lasting from 1801 to
The Importance of the 24th Amendment and Effects. The U.S. Constitution has been amended twenty-seven times since ratified on June 21, 1788. These Amendments have been crucial to the up-keeping of America and its constant changes. The most of important of which being the 24th Amendment, which protected voting rights from taxes. The 24th amendment reads as followed “The Twenty-fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits both Congress and the states from conditioning the right to vote in federal elections on payment of a poll tax or other types of tax”.
Passed on September 25, 1789 and ratified on December 15, 1791 by Congress, the eighth amendment has been present in the United States for quite some time. Over time, the amendment has morphed and interpreted differently. In the Constitution it states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted”. In the 1990s, individuals referenced the eighth amendment when discussing capital punishment or the death penalty. Death sentences were most frequent during the 1900s, resulting in some individuals declaring that it went against the amendment (Source A).
Although, the legislation needed to amend a section of the 1967 draft law (PL 90-40) which prohibited
Prior to annexing a territory, the American government still held immense power through the various legislations passed in the late 1800s. The Platt Amendment was utilized to prevent Cuba from entering into any agreements with foreign nations, and also granted the Americans the right to build naval stations on their soil. Executive officials in the American government began to determine themselves the supreme authority in matters regarding the recognition or restriction of
The United States has a federal system declaring that a state or province is represented according to its population. In no way is there an impartial apportion method that provides the ideal concept of one-man, one vote. The U.S. House of Representative apportionment has been a long-standing debate in our nation for centuries now. Since the beginning of democracy, there have been numerous ideas and methods to define this apportionment. Essentially, there are three main components to any US apportionment: apportionment population, house size, and apportionment method.
4. Abuse of the Patriot Act— Several provisions of the Patriot Act were set to expire at the end of 2005 and, despite opposition from across the political spectrum and more than 400 community and state resolutions expressing concern about the Patriot Act, Congress reauthorized the law without reforming its most flawed provisions to bring these extraordinary powers back in line with the Constitution. Since then, the Justice Department 's Inspector General found that the FBI has issued hundreds of thousands of national security letters, a majority against U.S. persons, and many without any connection to terrorism at
In his essay, Woodrow Wilson breaks down his essay into three sections, the first of which gives a detail of the history of public administration. Without delay he concedes that technically public administration has been around for a long time. However, he supersedes this through claiming that no one had studied in depth the field and systematic knowledge of public administration until the previous century. He details of during the period of and preceding his essay, people would disproportionately focus on the constitution of the government. These people would focus on the relationship of the constitution and how the laws were made, what laws could be made, and who made the laws.
The capitol had much more importance during the revolution than the Bruton Parish Church, The Magazine, or the Governors palace. During the revolution, the magazine simply stored gunpowder and weapons, the Governor’s palace housed the governor and his family, as well as storing weapons, and the Bruton parish church was where everyone was required to worship. None of these buildings even come close to the importance of the capitol building. The burgesses and Governor’s council
Congress has the authority to declare war, which has only been done 11 times. Congress decides to use this power when they deem it necessary for the safety of the United States citizens and other reasons. Another important power that Congress has is the power to tax. It is used in order to pay debts like war debts, to provide for the common Defense and the General Welfare of the United States. Also, Congress has the power to establish post offices.
Does the Supreme Court Have Too Much Power? Article Three, Section One of the Constitution states that “The judical power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.”. Throughout the years, the Supreme Court has evolved significantly. According to the United States Courts, the Surpeme Court can range from having a low of 5 members to a high of 10 members, the Supreme Court plays an important role in the government today. Although the Supreme Court of Justice is at the head of the court system, the power of the Supreme Court has grown exponentially to a point where it could be considered more powerful than Congress and the power of
According to James Madison, “Congress shall make no law…. abridging the freedom of speech….” The First Amendment was written in 1789 and it has worked for decades. However, after the introduction of internet in human’s daily life, the society is now challenged with the idea of government’s role in monitoring the internet content. With situations that include threats, substance unsuitable for children, and online malicious behavior, there is a need for government’s regulation on people’s speech.
In 1808, the United States banned the importation of slaves. In 1853, the US Customs and Border Patrol Agency was established In 1855, an immigration landing depot opened at Castle Garden. Before it's close in 1890, 34 million people entered the United States through Castle Garden.