History of the Second Amendment

After going virtually unchallenged for more than 100 years, the right of Americans to own guns has developed as one of today’s hottest political issues. The central question remains: does the Second Amendment apply to individual citizens? Gun Rights Before the Constitution Though still British subjects, colonial Americans considered the right to bear arms as necessary for fulfilling their natural right to defend themselves and their property. In the midst of the American Revolution, the rights that would later be expressed in the Second Amendment were being explicitly included in early state constitutions. The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, for example, stated that â€Å"the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state.† 1791: The Second Amendment Is Ratified The ink had hardly dried on the ratification papers before a political movement was undertaken to amend the Constitution to declare gun ownership as a specific right. A select committee assembled to review amendments proposed by James Madison authored the language that would become the Second Amendment to the Constitution: â€Å"A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.† Prior to ratification, Madison had hinted at the need for the amendment. Writing in Federalist No. 46, he contrasted the proposed American federal government to European kingdoms, which he criticized as being â€Å"afraid to trust the people with arms.† Madison went on to assure Americans that they would never need to fear their government as they had the British Crown, because the Constitution would ensure them â€Å"the advantage of being armed.†Ã‚   1822: Bliss v. Commonwealth Brings Individual Right Into Question The Second Amendment’s intent for individual Americans first came into question in 1822  in Bliss v. Commonwealth. The court case arose in Kentucky after a man was indicted for carrying a sword concealed in a cane. He was convicted and fined $100. Bliss appealed the conviction, citing a provision in the commonwealth’s constitution that stated, â€Å"The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state, shall not be questioned.† In a majority vote with just one judge dissenting, the court overturned the conviction against Bliss and ruled the law unconstitutional and void. 1856: Dred Scott v. Sandford Upholds Individual Right The Second Amendment as an individual right was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in its Dred Scott v. Sandford  decision in 1856. The nation’s highest court opined on the intent of the Second Amendment for the first time with the rights of slaves in question, writing that affording slaves the full rights of American citizenship would include the right â€Å"to keep and carry arms wherever they went.† 1871: NRA Is Founded The National Rifle Association was founded by a pair of Union soldiers in 1871, not as a political lobby but in  an effort to promote the shooting of rifles. The organization would grow to become the face of Americas pro-gun lobby in the 20th century. 1934: National Firearms Act Brings About First Major Gun Control The first major effort to eliminate private ownership of firearms came with the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA). A direct response to the rise of gangster violence in general and the St. Valentine’s Day massacre in particular, the NFA sought to circumvent the Second Amendment by controlling firearms through a tax excise—$200 for each gun sale. The NFA targeted fully automatic weapons, short-barreled shotguns and rifles, pen and cane guns, and other firearms defined as â€Å"gangster weapons.† 1938: Federal Firearms Act Requires Licensure of  Dealers The Federal Firearms Act of 1938 required that  anyone selling or shipping firearms must be licensed through the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Federal Firearms License  (FFL) stipulated that guns could not be sold to persons convicted of certain crimes. It required that sellers log the names and addresses of anyone to whom they sold guns. 1968: Gun Control Act Ushers in New Regulations Thirty years after America’s first sweeping reform of gun laws, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy helped usher in new federal legislation with wide-ranging implications. The Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibited mail-order sales of rifles and shotguns. It increased license requirements for sellers and broadened the list of persons prohibited from owning a firearm to include convicted felons, drug users, and the mentally incompetent. 1994: The  Brady Act and Assault Weapons Ban Two federal laws passed by a Democrat-controlled Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 became the hallmark of gun control efforts in  the later 20th century. The first, the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act, required a five-day waiting period and background check for the sale of handguns. It also mandated creation of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The Brady Act had been spurred by the shooting of press secretary James Brady during John Hinckley Jr.s attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981. Brady survived but was left partially paralyzed as a result of his wounds. In 1998, the Department of Justice reported that the presale background checks had blocked an estimated 69,000 illegal handgun sales during 1997, the first year the Brady Act was fully enforced.   The second law, the Assault Weapons Ban—officially titled the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act—banned a number of rifles defined as â€Å"assault weapons,† including many semiautomatic and  military-style rifles, such as the AK-47 and SKS. 2004: The Assault Weapons Ban Sunsets A Republican-controlled Congress refused to pass the reauthorization of the Assault Weapons Ban in 2004, allowing it to expire. Gun control supporters criticized President George W. Bush for not actively pressuring Congress to renew the ban, while gun rights advocates criticized him for indicating that he would sign a reauthorization if Congress passed it. 2008: D.C. v. Heller  Is a Major Setback for Gun Control Gun rights proponents were thrilled in 2008 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that the Second Amendment extends gun ownership rights to individuals. The decision affirmed an earlier decision by a lower appeals court and struck down handgun bans in Washington D.C. as unconstitutional. The Court ruled that the District of Columbia’s total ban on handguns in the home was unconstitutional because the ban was contrary to the Second Amendment’s purpose of self-defense—an intent of the amendment never before acknowledged by the Court. The case was lauded as the first Supreme Court case to affirm the right of an individual to keep and bear arms in accordance with the Second Amendment. The ruling applied only to federal enclaves, however, such as the District of Columbia. Justices did not weigh in on the Second Amendment’s application to the states. Writing in the Courts majority opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote that the â€Å"people† protected by the Second Amendment are the same â€Å"people† protected by the First and Fourth Amendments. â€Å"The Constitution was written to be understood by the voters; its words and phrases were used in their normal and ordinary as distinguished from technical meaning.†Ã‚   2010: Gun Owners Win Another Victory in McDonald v. Chicago Gun rights supporters won their second major Supreme Court victory in 2010 when the high court affirmed an individuals right to own guns in McDonald v. Chicago. The ruling was an inevitable follow-up to D.C. v. Heller and  marked the first time that the Supreme Court ruled that the provisions of the Second Amendment extend to the states. The ruling overturned an earlier decision by a lower court in a legal challenge to Chicago’s ordinance banning the possession of handguns by its citizens. 2013: Obamas Proposals Fail Federally but Gain State Traction After the shooting of 20 first-graders in Newtown, Connecticut, and 12 people in an Aurora, Colorado, moviehouse, President Barack Obama proposed stricter gun-control laws. His plan required background checks for all gun sales, called for the reinstatement and strengthening of the assault weapons ban, limited ammunition magazines to 10 rounds, and included other measures. While these proposals did not succeed at the national level, a number of individual states began to tighten their laws accordingly. 2017: Proposed Gun Control Law Stall The Background Check Completion Act was introduced on Oct. 5, 2017, less than a week after the deadly Oct. 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas. The Background Check Completion Act would close a current loophole in the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act that allows gun sales to proceed if a background check is not completed after 72 hours, even if the gun buyer is not legally allowed to purchase a gun. The bill has stalled in Congress. 2018: Parkland School Shooting Sparks a National Student Movement and State Legislation On Feb. 14, a school shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killed 17 people and injured 17 others. This was the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history. Student survivors created the activist group Never Again MSD and organized momentous nationwide protests and walkouts by students. As of July 2018, just five months after the Florida shooting, the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence counts 55 new gun-control laws passing in 26 states.  Notably, this has included laws passed in Republican-held state legislatures.

The Roman Of Roman Empire Essay - 1234 Words

The Roman scutum was a large body shield used in battles, sieges, and gladiator fights. The scutum was used from the early Roman Republic until the third century CE and helped to define many of the Roman battle tactics that made them so successful. The curved, semi-cylindrical design provided full-body protection and was especially used in the testudo formation during sieges. The Roman Scutum is a perfect example of the military genius of the Roman Legion. The Roman Empire was created from the Roman Republic and became a huge part of Western Europe. Considered the most advanced of its time, the powerful Roman Army dominated the Western world for more than a thousand years due to its size and organization. Warfare was an important way of life in both the Republic and the Empire. Rome greatly benefitted from the riches brought back from conquered territories. The Romans believed themselves to be descendents of the war god Mars and also believed in the superiority of their culture. The power of the Roman military came from the professionalism of their heavy infantry. They were highly adaptable, borrowing ideas from outsiders. They changed their tactics, formations, and even their armor to fit the terrain or the enemy. They were also well disciplined. â€Å"All troops swore an oath of allegiance, known as the sacramentum, to the emperor himself.† This loyalty and discipline resulted in many victories on the battlefield. The Roman army used a system of rewards andShow MoreRelatedThe Roman And Roman Empire1068 Words   |  5 PagesThe Roman Empire, which was centered in the city of Rome, was the most extensive western civilization of ancient times. With its major advancements and prosperity it is hard to believe that the Roman Empire suddenly collapsed and fell into a time known as the Dark Ages. After a period of struggles for the Roman Empire, the empire gradually fell. Rome was the most successful civilization of its time. Its strategic location in the center of the Italian Peninsula and the fertile plains that supportedRead MoreThe Roman Empire And The Romans1815 Words   |  8 PagesIn Roman history, it is often true that history was written by the victors, and given the large expansion of the Roman Empire, the Romans likely wrote over the accounts of the civilizations they took over, adapting the new provinces into their way of life and assimilating Roman culture into new facets of outlying territories way of life. The Roman Empire and Augustus had the ambition to expand north, going east of the Rhine where they had never gone, to take over new territory and the tribes thatRead MoreRoman Culture And The Roman Empire774 Words   |  4 PagesRoman Culture The Roman Empire is among the greater ancient civilizations known to man. In 753 B.C. Rome at one point consisted of The Rhine River to Egypt and from Asia Minor to Britain accumulating some 2 millions square miles. This essay goes over some of their culture and the great strides made throughout 753 BC to 27 BC and from 64 AD to 1453 A.D. I. Military The Roman military focused on teamwork and making their soldiers brave throughout their training. The Equitatus played a major role inRead MoreRoman Empire1506 Words   |  7 Pages  The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterized by government headed by emperors, and large territorial holdings around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The 500 year old republic which preceded it was severely destabilized in a series of civil wars and political conflict, during which Julius Caesar was appointed as perpetual dictator and then assassinated in 44 BC. Civil wars and executions continued, culminating in the victoryRead MoreThe Roman Empire1469 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Roman Empire. The Roman way of life and â€Å"Pax Romana† set up a standard of what defined civilization great. However, what was it that made the Roman life great? Was it the rules, the system of government, the virtues of the people? I believe what made the Romans so mighty was a blessing from God due to the outpouring revival of their hearts. However, to fully understand how their hearts were revived for Christ and how God had His hand on them we must take a look at the past of the Romans AfterRead MoreRoman Empire871 Words   |  4 PagesThe Roman Empire is known as one of the greatest empires of all time, blossoming politically, economically, and culturally. Rome was quickly expanding, reaching as far as North Africa. When Octavian came into power, the Pax Romana, or â€Å"Roman Peace,† began. However, this long peace may have triggered the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. Because Rome was not distracted by conquering foreign lands, its citizens relaxed and lived in luxury. There did not seem to be any goals they did notRead MoreRoman Republic And The Roman Empire1146 Words   |  5 Pages Roman Military The Roman Republic and the Roman Empire together lasted for over one-thousand years,and at its height, their extensive territories stretched from the Atlantic Ocean in the West, to the rivers of Mesopotamia in the East, and from the Sahara desert in the South, to the River Rhine in Northern Europe. The one factor that made this spectacular feat possible was the exploits of the Roman Military. The military had succeeded in their expansion campaigns and had successfully defendedRead MoreRoman Cinema And The Roman Empire951 Words   |  4 Pages The Roman citizens experienced a mental shift through their leaders creating a new type of theatrical arts. Romans created religious festivals and other forms of theatrical entertainment (Ludi such as chariot races and fights between men or gladiators. Constantine professed Christianity in the Roman Empire creating Rome to become a Christian empire. Through this adaptation we see theatre change through the influence of society through Christianity. Although Constantine did not create this mentalRead MoreRoman Religion And The Roman Empire1799 Words   |  8 PagesThe Roman Empire is one of the most well-known countries in recorded history. And this is primarily because it continues to awe people via it s architecture, military, art, philosophy, and technology. But one of the greatest footprints Ancient Rome has left for us to study and admire is its culture. As in any society, culture in the Roman Empire was of great importance. The Romans had many beliefs, behaviors, and customs, b ut one of the things that stood out the most in their culture was their religionRead MoreThe Roman Empire1551 Words   |  7 PagesStep 1: Plan What kind of technology in the Roman Empire affect its growth the most? I will be investigating from the start of the Roman Empire in 753 BCE to when the Western Roman Empire fell in 476 CE. This investigation will have a broad scope while investigating and include things from the Roman Legion to aqueducts and concrete. This investigation will not include technology that was not widely used to better the Roman Empire. The research question will answer my question by conducting research

The Unjust Death of Socrates Essays - 471 Words

The Unjust Death of Socrates The question of why Socrates was executed and if he deserved the charges put against him has been asked by historians for centuries. Socrates has a unique position in the history of philosophy. On one hand he is the most influential on another he is the least known. In his later life he is seen to stalk the streets barefoot, to spite shoemakers. He went about arguing and questioning people and revealing inconsistencies in their beliefs. He began teaching students but never accepted payments for doing so. This was possible because of the inheritance left by his father. Socrates wrote nothing of himself so we are dependent upon the works of both his students and associates who present a view as close to†¦show more content†¦The shaky past of Athens, after the loss of the war against the Spartans and the overthrow of the democracy they loved and fought for caused suspicion in Socrates who had association to Critas, a bloodthirsty tyrant in an oligarchy called the â€Å"Thirty Tyrants† From a harmless town character Socrates influence on the youth of Athens was being questioned. Socrates was brought into the courts under charges of impiety and corruption of minors. Socrates did not believe in the divinities of the city-state. The punishment decided upon was an execution, in the hope that Socrates would choose exile, a punishment that would have satisfied the jury. Socrates takes the death penalty in stride, as a man of almost 70 years he would rather die honorably than waste away in his older years. He claims that he will receive free meals, an honor kept only for athletes who win at the Olympic games. The execution of Socrates is not justified. The charges that were brought against Socrates had taught all his adult life, without molestation, in a state that was well known for its democracy and fairness. The Athenians were not brutal people and executions were rare. Socrates had to drink a poisonous hemlock in order to die, a non-brutal method of death. We must understand Athens past in order to make judgment. I believe that the form of punishment was very extreme in this impressionable city and very uncommon and unalike the portrayed view of the typical Athenian. SocratesShow MoreRelated Recounting the Last Days of Socrates in Crito Essay1379 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Last Days of Socrates in Crito In the Last Days of Socrates the dialogue â€Å"Crito† recounts Socrates last days before his execution. Socrates had been accused of corrupting the youth and not worshipping the Gods of the state. During his trial he denied all accusations and attempted to defend himself by proving his innocence using reason . He was judged to be guilty and given a death sentence. His long time friend Crito proposes to Socrates a plan to escape from his death sentence in prisonRead MoreThe Reconciliation Of Two Positions1696 Words   |  7 Pagesmost prominent individuals in history, Socrates not only helped to set up the foundations for Western philosophy, but the legacy he left behind is something that is still being discussed today by historians and philosophers alike. Socrates is renowned for standing up for his beliefs even in the midst of death as portrayed in Plato’s account of Socrates’ defense speech, Apology, in which he gave during his 339 B.C. trial. It is in this e minent speech that Socrates is able show the dedication he has forRead MorePlato and Socrates Anthology Essay1008 Words   |  5 PagesSocrates Anthology and Plato Plato: I: Apology 1. What are the charges brought against Socrates by his Athenian accusers and what is his reply concerning the sort of wisdom he in fact possesses? The charges that were brought against Socrates were corrupting the young and Impiety. Socrates says â€Å"If you ask me what kind of wisdom, I reply, wisdom such as may perhaps be attained by man, for to that extent I am inclined to believe that I am wise; Whereas the persons of whom I was speaking have aRead MoreThe Apology Is Plato s Retelling Of Socrates s Trail1599 Words   |  7 Pageshe portrays Socrates as a confident, but almost haughty, and reasonable man. The main philosophical themes that Plato presents through Socrates are wisdom, justice, and his purpose in the community. Socrates is at this trial because he has been accused of two things: 1) â€Å"Socrates is guilty of wrongdoing in that he busies himself studying things in the sky and below the earth; he makes the worse into the stronger argument, and he teaches these same things† (Apology 19b) and 2) â€Å"Socrates is guilty ofRead MoreThe Republic, Socrates And Glaucon1244 Words   |  5 Pages1300 11 September 2014 First Paper In sections 433-445 of The Republic , Socrates and Glaucon discuss about definitions and properties of both justice and injustice, with reference to the structure and condition of an ideal city with absolute justice. Considering the properties of justice and injustice, they conclude that just lives, even without anything desirable, are better than any other unjust lives. To start off, Socrates discusses about a just city where three kinds of people (rulers, defendersRead MoreThe Overlooked Gift of Knowledge823 Words   |  4 Pagesin history was put to death. This man was not only extremely wise, but also highly influential. He was a leader of the highest caliber. This is Socrates, arguably one of the most prominent men in philosophical history. Socrates is a figure of evolution, when referring to the way people think. He was sentenced to death by the Athenians for corrupting the youth, not believing in the gods recognized by the state, and for introducing supernatural beings. The Athenians were unjust in in their convictionRead MoreComparing Socrates And King : On Civil Disobedience1346 Words   |  6 PagesComparing Socrates and King: On Civil Disobedience Socrates, amongst the most influential thinkers to emerge from Greek civilization and, perhaps the most noble and wisest Athenian to have ever lived, many centuries before Christ, is noted for not writing anything himself as all that is known about his philosophical thought is through the writings of Xenophon and Plato. By contrast, Martin Luther King Jr. lived in the nineteenth century wherein his main legacy was to secure progress on African AmericanRead MoreSocrates in Apology and Crito1045 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The irreverent, disobedient Socrates of the Apology is inconsistent with the Socrates of the Crito.† Construct an argument supporting or refuting this claim. Be sure to incorporate textual evidence. In Plato’s Apology, Socrates comes off as a defiant and disobedient man with little respect for his accusers and even for the jurors on whom his fate depends. This may seem in stark contrast with the stoic Socrates in Crito who would rather accept the death sentence than let his friend Crito helpRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr. And Socrates : The Idea Of Civil Disobedience942 Words   |  4 Pagesopposes certain superior ideals. Martin Luther King Jr. and Socrates have different opinions towards civil disobedience and how they should react toward laws that are unfair. I agree with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s tactic for civil disobedience just as I agree that steps must be taken to reform the laws that we find unjust. However, I do agree with Socrates on why we should follow the law but if no one ever challenged the laws then some old unjust laws would still be set in place today. In Crito, thereRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr. s Letter From Birmingham Jail1223 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail,† emphasizes the need for civil disobedience when faced with unjust laws. This idea contradicts Socrates’ claim made in Crito, that one must follow the law under all circumstances. In this paper, I will argue that Socrates is not a proponent of civil disobedience based on King’s definition of civil disobedience and Socrates’ charges. Moreover, I will argue that both Socrates and King disagree with one another based on the concept of civil disobedience—breaking the

Essay about Arguments for Open Adoption Records - 1721 Words

For those who are a part of the adoption world one of the most hotly debated issues is whether birth records should be open or closed to adoptees. With this issue comes strong feelings on both sides. In most states adoption records are fully sealed and inaccessible, unless the adoptee petitions the court. In 16 states these records are fully or partially available upon request with no court involvement, and also may depend upon when you were born. In a few states records are completely prohibited and the adoptee will never have any access to them. Alaska and Kansas have always made original birth records available. As an adoptee, I feel that all adoption records should be open. I believe that this can only strengthen the quality of the†¦show more content†¦Adoption in America been ruled by a stigma. For much too long, those who could not have children, unwed mothers, and the children born out of wedlock have been shamed and humiliated. I believe it is time for these supposedly disgraceful ideas to go by the wayside, and we begin hold onto the idea that all families are beautiful things, no matter how they are composed or how they came about. There is no shame in being an infertile couple, an unwed mother, or a child with unwed parents. Two facets comprise this issue: the social and the legal. Proposed social impacts of open records are the increase or decrease of abortions and adoptions, birth parents right to privacy, the forcing of unwanted relationships with adoptee children, and the undermining of the integrity of the adoptive family. Proposed legal impacts of open records are the violation of privacy to the family, right of reproductive privacy, and a birth a mother’s equal rights with a father’s (because of more birth mother’s names being provided in comparison to father’s names). Those in opposition to open records say that it will increase abortions and decrease adoption because abortion is confidential and adoption is not. However, it has been determined that this is not the case. In fact, there is a strong correlation between open records, decreased abortions and increased adoptions. It appears, that in states that opened adoption recordsShow MoreRelatedPersonal Health Records ( Phrs )785 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Health Records (PHRs) refer to computer-based systems that enable patients (their caregivers acting in their stead) monitor and manage their health. Like other popular online platforms for banking, shopping, etc., PHRs allow patients to remotely access some level of healthcare service. Some examples of services provided by tethered PHRs – PHRs owned or controlled by a single or multiple healthcare organization; include viewing laboratory test results, scheduling hospital appointments, reorderingRead MoreThe Fight for Gay Rights Essay1 515 Words   |  7 PagesDeclaration, because prejudice dictated the unalienable rights are fathers founded our country on. Gay marriage is one right that homosexuals are struggling to maintain. Gay marriage is only legal in a portion of the states in America today. The main argument against gay people being allowed to legally marry is religion. Marriage is a religious act and is referred to in the Bible. The Bible also states that â€Å"...you shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination,† (Leviticus 18:22). ThereforeRead MoreTechnology Is Becoming An Integral Part Of The Daily Lives Of Individuals And Organizations1144 Words   |  5 Pagesexpenditure have always singled out public healthcare, claiming that it was one of the biggest consumers of public resources. However, with technological applications like the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITEC), this argument does not make sense anymore because the cost of providing healthcare has been significantly lowered. Technology has ensured better coordination and greatly reduced duplication of task s in a way that boosts efficiency. Longest and Darr (2014) takeRead MoreThe Importance of Health Information Privacy Bill of Rights1110 Words   |  5 PagesDescribe the issue and its impact on the population it affects most. What arguments or facts are used in the article to support the proposed solution? What are the ethical and legal issues reported for your administrative issue? Explain the managerial responsibilities related to administrative ethical issues. If none were stated, what should have been done? Identify any proposed solutions. The article documents the diminished rights of patient privacy. Kam (2012) states that an attorney specializingRead MoreCapital Punishment : An Effective Tool1493 Words   |  6 Pageslargely criticized by many scholars and criminal justice professionals. Therefore, the question of whether capital punishment is justified or stands as a legalized murder, whether the death penalty is a fair solution or a moral failure remains to be open, creating more and more dispute within the community. Given that prosecutors exercise broad discretion within the intricacy of rules when deciding upon cases that merit capital punishment, understanding prosecutorial decisions is crucial, as it isRead MoreCase 4.1 Enron and Arthur Anderson LLP1090 Words   |  5 Pagesperformed poorly, the investors may hesitate to do business with Enron. 3 - In your own words, summarize how Enron used SPEs to hide large amounts of company debt. Enron created SPE’s (usually other LLP’s) in order to create cash inflow but did not record the investments and related liabilities (the loans used to create the SPE). Enron used outside investors to secure the new SPE’s. The new investors would bear the risk of the investment and Enron used its company stock as collateral to entice theRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence : A Vital Part Of The Global Human Rights Regime Essay1258 Words   |  6 Pagescriticized a government for its human rights record provided substantive information about rights abuses and gave political cover for liberal multilateral aid institutions seeking to sanction human rights violators† (Lebovic and Voeten 2009). In effect, the UNHCR marking a nation as a violator decreased the cost in political capital a state or organization might have needed if they tried to forge their own path, while also forcing the â€Å"shamed† to evaluate their record as well. And while the UNH CR collapsedRead MorePros And Cons Of Electronic Voting Machines1396 Words   |  6 Pagescreated to simplify and increase the efficiency of casting votes while improving the security of the process. There are many different kinds of voting machines, most of which are still being used today; Paperless Voting Machines â€Å"which keeps no paper record of its data† (Mark Clayton), E-Voting â€Å"... let’s voters vote from the comfort of their homes† (Elizabeth Weise), and Touch screen voting machines. Electronic voting machines have advanced and changed over the ages and are still advances. Even thoughRead MoreSex Education And Sexual Education1632 Words   |  7 PagesSchool systems in the United states have been implementing sexual education into classrooms. Arguments are abundant when dealing with such fragile situations and there are many advantages and disadvantages of sexual education being taught in the public schools. It seems that most parents are either strongly for or against sex education classes, but there are a few parents that are on both sides. In fact, there are more parents that support sex education classes. However, there are pros and cons thatRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1309 Words   |  6 Pagesmarriage, especially in terms of justice and the benefits our society receives from same-sex marriage. Also, the consequences of the legalization of same-sex marriage, both for homosexuals and our society, will be examined. Finally, I will debate arguments against same-sex marriage. To achieve this goal, I have organized my paper into four main sections. In the first section, I provide a broad view on the reasons why we should legalize same sex marriage nationwide; explaining the terms of justice and

Small Business Firms

Question: Critically evaluate the extent to which innovation is essential for SMEs to be successful? Answer: Business innovation can be defined as the ability to achieve the goals across the entire organization with the aim of accomplishing the business and its initiatives. Therefore innovation often begins with the idea of the generation and these are specified in certain session were the leaders are concerned with the desirability, feasibility and the validity of the business firm and their ideas. There are many factors that lead to the success and survival of the innovation in a small business firm such as that the companies initiate the introduction of a new product or a new service into the market and these may however have few drawbacks like high costs for long periods payback, under developed channel of distribution or lack of good technologies and also no clarity on the needs of the customers (Alizadeh, M et al (2011). For an innovation to be successful it should be able to satisfy all the needs of the customers and must focus on the newness of the products that have been produced and much time and effort should b spent to overcome the problems that are faced by the new products and also there should be a resistances power to deal with all the uncertainty of the advantages and the risk of using the new products. Innovation makes the productivity and also the business performance and can help in the growth and improvement in the business. Also the businesses that apply innovative styles have better performance in their productivity, have higher paid jobs, manufacture higher quality products and also grow faster in the markets. Innovation can also benefit in all the aspects of the business fields such as marketing and sales, information in technology and also in the financial human resources (Dougherty, D, Hardy, C (2006). The main challenges that are faced by the small firms are related to the way the effective innovation is taken place because of their size and limitations of resources and are also unable to develop new technologies to make the important changes in the present situations. The most vital challenge faced by a small business firm is in the exploitation of the opportunities of the innovation such as in managing the human resources, in the development and research departments, lack of the knowledge of the market information, environment regulation and national policies and also in the development of technologies (Forsman, H (2008). The main differences between the small and big companies related to the innovation are in the speed of the process of decision making, the attitudes towards risk management, the allocation of resources, following in the rules and regulations and also in understanding of all the business techniques and how to manage it efficiently by appointing the right people for the right designations. References Alizadeh, M, Shabani, S, Fakhimi, R (2011). An entrepreneurial model of commercialization in science and technology parks. Isfahan, Iran: International Conference of Science And Technology Parks. Dougherty, D, Hardy, C (2006). Sustained product innovation in large, mature organizations: overcoming innovation to organization problems.Academy of Management Journal. Forsman, H (2008). Business development success in SMEs. A case study approach.Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development.

Supply Chain Management Principles

Question: What are the supply chain management principles? Explain. Answer: Introduction Supply chain management is one of the most important aspects in the present day market. Companies highly emphasise on effective supply chain management which would help them to reach its customer base effectively. In the recent past there has been significant research on supply chain management which has come out with several outcomes. In this highly competitive market supply chain management is an extremely important aspect. Effective supply chain management will help a company to distribute its products effectively and hence will be able to maintain a good relationship with the consumers. Supply chain management is a multi faceted concept and needs to be handled effectively by the companies. The theoretical and practical aspects of supply chain management will have to be utilised properly in order to make the supply chain management implementation successful (Wu Pagell, 2011). It is important to mention for the successful Implementation of successful supply chain management differ ent aspects needs to be considered. Proper implementation of supply chain management could be done with the help of 7 different principles that acts as the mainstay of supply chain management study. Efficient managers keep two things in mind the supply chain as a whole and all the different links that end up helping the manager to effectively implement the supply chain. With time passing by and markets becoming competitive it becomes extremely important for companies to identify the key aspects of supply chain management (Ross, 2013). The present study will take an opportunity to assess and criticise the different principles of supply chain management their theoretical aspects as well as practical implementation. The study will try to highlight the importance of these principles to be used effectively while practical implementation and does they become feasible while the supply chain implementation. All around the world the leading manufacturers have taken up the concept of supply c hain management and researchers have come across seven fundamental principles that stand to be important for the effective application of supply chain within the business (Monczka et al., 2015). Research Critique Literature critique The seven different principles of supply chain management are theoretically effective and it is important to mention that their applicability in the practical field will have to be tested and hence the present critique would be effective to justify their usage. The principles are theoretically effective for the implementation of the supply chain management. It is said that the seven principles of the supply chain management are important for the supply chain management but it is important understand their role in the practical implementation of this concept in a business. It is important to have a holistic view on the supply chain management and understand the criticality in a business (Pettit et al., 2010). The first principle of the supply chain management is based on consumer segmentation. Consumer segmentation is extremely important for the business since it helps companies to effectively place their products according to the taste and preference of the consumers. Different consumers have different perspectives and hence having a clear segmentation of the consumers helps to apply the supply chain effectively. The first principle of supply chain management focuses on segmenting groups according to the service needs and hence it is important that companies do a proper research which would help them to understand the service needs of the different consumers and this will help the company to understand the taste and preference of a given group of people that in return will help to manage their supply chains effectively (Pagell Wu, 2009). From a theoretical aspect managing the supply chain through this principle is effective as it gives the companies insights about the service needs of t he consumers. The need based segmentation helps the companies to effectively develop a strong bond which would which helps in segment specific delivery system that helps to gain and maximize profitability. Value consistent delivery is extremely important in need based segmentation. The present article takes an opportunity to elaborate on the concept of managing the supply chain based on the service needs of the consumers (Hugos, 2011). Adaptation of supply chain based on segmenting consumers according to their services needs is theoretically an effective approach since it clearly specifies the service needs of the consumers based in a particular segment. It could be said that practical implementation of the principle is much tougher as the wide service needs of the consumers and requirements could be a problem to contemplate on. In this scenario implementing need based supply chain management would be tougher to implement. Mass merchants like Wal-Mart have been effective in implementing this form of supply chain. Since the company has wide product mix it could offer products based on the service needs of the consumers. In the recent past there have been a lot of challenges in need based principle. Practice of need based supply chain management is best done through product differentiation theories. The product differentiation is an effective procedure to implement need based supply chain management. The perceived va lue of the market segmentation is high and Wal-Mart understands the importance of need based segmentation as it has a wide product mix and can offer many options (Ashby et al., 2012). Hence it could be said that practically this principle has been implemented. The article has highlighted the theoretical part of the concept very effectively discussing on the points of handling the supply chain based on the service needs of the consumers. The principle has a strong theoretical hold which helps to understand the importance of the impact of service needs. It could be said that the principle is placed effectively theoretically but practically to see it becomes tough to implement need based supply chain management. Since over the years the taste and preference of the consumers have changed it becomes tough to manage supply chain in this scenario. The shortcoming of this literature that it perfectly provides a theoretical platform for the study but practical implementation of the principle s are not that effectively highlighted. It was natural since the term Supply chain management was comparatively new the article served effectively but with time passing by slowly and steadily there has been issues which have come up and hence it has to be said that the article does not provide ample practical application (Waters, 2011). Customising the logistics network to service the consumer requirements and profitability of customer segments is another principle to implement supply chain management. It is important that most of the companies try to customize their networks effectively so that consumers requirements are properly fulfilled. This principle is highly consumers service oriented. Theoretically this principle sets up a standard that helps to keep their network design effective, organise their inventory a transport facilities that conforms to the standards set. It is important to mention that the key idea is to develop effective network design which will lubricate the process of getting in touch with the customers effectively. This principle mainly emphasises on the control of inventory and its related costs and effective development of transportation procedures which would help to distribute products and services effectively to the consumers. This clearly asks for support from the external stakeholders especially suppliers to keep the process lubricated which would help to receive and release products and services faster and smoother (Pfohl et al., 2010). Theoretically customising of logistics network tends to bring about positive outcomes for the implementation of the supply chain management. The logistics management is mainly focused on supporting the provision of the consumers requirements. The key idea that this particular principle provides a clear insight about reaching the different consumers segments effectively. The logistics discussion is clearly effective theoretically but again it has to be said that the practical application is not effective since the study doesnt practically give any instances where the impact of logistics chain management has been successful in getting profitability out of different consumer segments. Practically customising the logistics network is a tough job and the article doesnt provide any viable solutions for the implementation of this princi ple in business (Coyle et al., 2012). Market signals and aligned demand planning is important and thats what the third principle of the supply chain management says. Understanding market signals and based on doing demand planning is not easy. With the time passing by the markets have become highly competitive and it becomes tough to effectively develop proper demand plan. In this scenario resource allocation is also tough. Having a supply chain management that focuses on market signals is practically tough. Theoretical elaboration on this principle has been effective but it becomes tough for practical application. The key strength of this principle is it helps in aligning processes with requirements which is highlighted by the literature effectively but it doesnt suggest suitable ideas to go about the plan properly. The literature supports the different ideas of analysing market signals and accordingly do demand planning but practically it is a much more complex process and the article did not take significant steps to s how the different procedures through which aligned demand planning could be done for effective resource allocation (Ou et al., 2010). Hence it could be said that the literature of the third principle is theoretically rich but it doesnt provide rich practical evidence regarding its viability. The fourth Principle is differentiating products closer to consumers and speed conversion across the supply chain. It is important to mention that the present principle clearly lays some of the key aspects through which cost reduction could be done especially through the distributions network. The key idea of principle is to identify the regular products that consumers use and accordingly manufacture them and distribute them through a smooth distribution network which will help to disseminate the products easily and will also reduce cost as it would definitely provide cost reduction options as it could be disseminated through a single supply chain in a particular area. The theoretical take on cost reduction through speed conversion supply and distribution of regularly bought products to the consumers will ensure that the distribution channel works perfectly (Melnyk et al., 2011). This focuses on customer requirements and developing similar products through Just in Time production whi ch would help to keep inventory usage and stock pileup low as well as help to handle certain supply related aspects effectively. A proper example of Wal-Mart and related vendors have been brought into the discussion in order to practically show how it is effective for a business that makes this principle effectively handled both theoretically as well as practically. Managing sources of supply is another key principle for effective supply chain management. More effectively the sources of supply will be managed it will lubricate the supply chain in a better way (Seuring, 2013). This section of the article clearly highlights the need of managing the raw materials within the business and keeps an effective relationship with the suppliers. Managing the supply chain through this principle will help the managers to be aware about the different theories of handling suppliers and getting the best prices to purchase raw materials strategically. Information is extremely important within a chain and hence proper supply of information should be taken into account. The sixth principle emphasises on developing technology that would strategically handle products, services and information. The key idea of this principle is to keep in sync the production process, provision of services and relevant information. For managers it is important to build information systems in this highly competitive market. Hence it could be said that theoretically the principle is effective since in the present market conditions having a clear view of the products, services and information which is possible only with information system (Olhager, 2010). The last part of the literature focuses on measurement of performance which is extremely important from the point of view of the company. The supply chain is one of the most important aspects for growth and profitability. The literature highlights the importance of measuring channel spanning performance as it will help the company to develop its accessibility towards its consumers. Even though the study highlights some of the key aspects to continue having a successful supply chain management but the study remains to be unsuccessful as it has not been able to provide with ample practical application procedures (Gosling Naim, 2009). Methods Critique The literature gathered is varied in nature. The author has been able to assess different secondary sources from journals, articles and other relevant books for developing this piece which is appreciable but it is important to mention that the research strategy is highly contextual in nature and too descriptive in terms of design. The design of the article could have been a bit explanatory which would have helped to describe the concepts brought up by the different principles as well as explain their core practice through a pragmatic approach. It is important to say that the study was mainly done on a qualitative basis by gathering a lot of secondary resources (Holt Ghobadian, 2009). It is important to mention that supply chain management is multi faceted and should have been researched based on both primary and secondary processes. The study did not focus on meeting the practical aspects of the study and it has been seen that most of the principles have been able to theoretically s upport the views but practical application of the article is not substantial. The primary sources of research methods would have brought the numerical calculation into the picture which would have helped to understand the views of different managers in terms of the efficacy shown by these principles (Bozarth et al., 2009). The correlations and the survey done on this subject would have been effective in understanding the practical influence of the seven principles on the practice of supply chain management. Overall it is important to say that the study has been done based on logical and scientific reasoning and hence having a better idea about the practical application of these principles would have been effective. Hence it could be concluded that the methods for developing the articles have been partially effective and could have been used in a much better way (Lusch, 2011). Conclusion The present article has set a very effective theoretical platform for managers and companies to follow these seven supply chain principles but it is very clear that the study has not been able to discuss the evidential prospects about the practical implementation of these seven principles in the business. The supply chain management is a vast process and it is very important to focus on each and every step successfully for effective practical implementation (Handfield et al., 2009). The present literature has not been able to develop a strong hypothesis which would help to implement this practically. There are numerous hurdles that come in the way of successful practical implementation of supply chain management for example change in the structure of the organisation which is a vast process and the study does not provide ample insights to handle supply chain management, on the other hand at time it becomes tough for organisations to identify the aspects that play spoilsport to change and hence the study should have given effective ideas and plans to identify the difficulties to change. The building of effective supply chain management cannot be done within a day and hence it is important that managers and the upper management of an organisation understands this and keep calm. 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