Author: Eleanor Stratton
-
English as Official Language
Historical Context of Language in the U.S. Language diversity in the United States has been present since its colonial days. English dominated the expanding territories, while German, French, and Dutch were also spoken in many areas. Native American languages, once widespread, faced challenges as settlers moved westward. The United States’ decision not to adopt an…
-
Media Consolidation Impact
Historical Context of Media Consolidation Media consolidation has deep roots in American history. The landscape shifted dramatically with the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which allowed media companies to acquire one another more freely. Before this, regulations aimed to ensure media diversity and prevent any single entity from dominating the market. The 1980s saw the beginning…
-
Lobbying’s Legislative Impact
Historical Context of Lobbying Lobbying in the United States has evolved significantly over time. Initially considered against public policy, paid lobbying was treated as a civic wrong until the 1950s. Courts viewed lobbying contracts as unenforceable, and some states even penalized the practice. Georgia, for instance, included an anti-lobbying provision in its Constitution. The mid-20th…
-
Christianity’s Role in U.S. Founding
Colonial Religious Influence Many settlers in early America sought religious freedom. In colonial America, religion shaped daily life, laws, education, and community norms. The thirteen colonies had varying approaches to church-state relations: The Great Awakening in the 1730s and 1740s ignited personal faith and emphasized religious tolerance, melting rigid denominational lines. Pennsylvania exemplified religious liberty’s…
-
States’ Rights vs. Federal Power
Historical Context of States' Rights The Framers of the Constitution aimed to establish a national government that balanced powerful governance with the protection of individual and state rights. They sought to create a system where neither the federal government nor the states had unchecked control. Initially, the Articles of Confederation left states with too much…
-
Veterans Support and Government
Influence of Revolutionary Veterans Revolutionary War veterans significantly shaped early American government structures and policies. Many veterans were Constitution signers, combining military expertise with political service. They applied wartime lessons to handle conflicts and unify diverse interests, establishing the foundation for one of the first political parties. Their influence was crucial in guiding domestic policies…
-
Universal Basic Income Debate
Conservative Opposition to UBI Conservatives often oppose Universal Basic Income (UBI) due to several key concerns: While some conservatives find exceptions like Alaska's oil revenue dividends acceptable, most view UBI as too radical or unproven. Even attempts to align it with historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. have not significantly swayed conservative opposition. The…
-
Vice President Vote Certification
Who certifies Electoral College votes? The Electoral College process involves state electors casting votes for president and vice president. The results, called vote certificates, are sent to the President of the Senate (the Vice President of the United States). On January 6, the Vice President opens these certificates before Congress, a ceremonial role defined by…
-
PA Election Vote Counting Rules
Mail-in Ballot Regulations Pennsylvania's mail-in ballot rules require careful attention to envelope completion. Voters must use a secrecy envelope before inserting their ballot into the outer mailing envelope. Both envelopes must be completed correctly to avoid invalidation. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that mail-in ballots without secrecy envelopes are invalid. However, provisional ballots can…
-
Impact of Political Correctness
Origins and Evolution of Political Correctness Political correctness traces its origins to Marxist-Leninist ideology, initially referring to adherence to the Communist Party line in post-revolutionary Russia. By the late 20th century, the concept had evolved significantly. In academic circles, leftist liberals initially used “politically correct” jokingly among themselves as a reminder of their ideals. In…