Macbeth By William Shakespeare Essays (437 words) -

Macbeth By William Shakespeare Come, you spirits; That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here In Macbeth, William Shakespeare writes this passage in order to tell us about the character of Lady Macbeth. Using only this line, we can almost determine Lady Macbeths personality and her motives. Up to the point where this quote leaves off, we have not heard much of Lady Macbeth. In the first line Lady Macbeth says, Come, you spirits. Already we have a dark image of her conjuring up evil spirits. She does not seem a bit intimidated by the spirits she is calling. Her tone of voice suggests she is almost commanding the spirits to help her carry out her plan. Shakespeare meant to put this phrase in the beginning of the sentence. So that the reader sees Lady Macbeth as more of an evil character, which in her own way conjures evil spirits. In the first part of the second line Lady Macbeth says, That tend on mortal thought. It means that she wants the evil spirits that wait on thoughts of murder or death to come to her. This phrase foreshadows the many deaths that happen by the end of the play. By now, we can see Lady Macbeths nature. Her thoughts are all dark images, and her mind is set on the murder of the King. Finally, in the most significant part of the sentence Lady Macbeth says, unsex me here. She wants the spirits to come and take away her soft, feminine characteristics. She feels that her husband is too nice to get the greatness he is promised, and the only way he can succeed is if she helps him. In the first half of the play, Lady Macbeth is the brain behind the operation. She not only provides the actual plan, but encourages her husband as well. During the period the play was written, women were considered to be submissive. However, in her case, she is so influential that Macbeth is persuaded by her. To help convince Macbeth not to call the murder off, Lady Macbeth questions his manhood. She says, When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would ; Be so much more the man. Lady Macbeth knows the weak point of her husband, and plays with his mind to get what she wants. In conclusion, I think this was one of the most important soliloquies in the story because it gave us so much insight into Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare Essays

Towards an Aesthetic of Popular Music summary Essay Example

Towards an Aesthetic of Popular Music summary Essay Example Towards an Aesthetic of Popular Music summary Paper Towards an Aesthetic of Popular Music summary Paper In the article, â€Å"Towards an Aesthetic of Popular Music†, Simon Frith tries to show the aesthetic value of poplar music in the sociological field, while most of the academic musicologists think popular music, submitted to social forces, is aesthetically worthless. There are two different sociological approaches to judge the value of music. First is technique and technology, as Frith states, â€Å"people produce and consume the music they are capable of producing and consuming. † (Firth 498) But he also admits that these similarities between sounds and social group remain unclear. Secondly, popular music has different functions, and the most important function is commercial, but Frith argues against this notion for â€Å"even if pop tastes are the effects of social conditioning and commercial manipulation, people still explain them to themselves in terms of value judgment. †(Frith 499) The rock aesthetic relies on authenticity, which guarantees rock music’s independence from commercial logic. But those standards are misleading, and the author thinks we should better study how music creates this impression of truth. Frith suggests a different approach to defining popular music and popular culture. As he said in the article, â€Å"The question we should be asking is not what does popular music reveal about ‘the people’ but how does it construct them. †(Frith 500) To support his argument, Frith explains four social functions of pop music. First, the music we listen to can represent our collective or various identities and society. Second, music can help us manage our relationships through public forms of private expression. We also get to know ourselves through the music. Third, music allows the listener to live within a moment. It can be a strong instrument to our remembrance of things past. Such power of music defines whole generations. Fourth, the fact is that music can be possessed. What Frith realizes is that people feel they own the music and build it into their sense of themselves. After explaining the sociological functions of music, the author digs into the question of popular music aesthetics. He questions what makes popular music able to satisfy these social functions. To answer this question, Frith gives four points of his answer and tries to give suggestion for future critical work. His first point is brief. Pop music is complex â€Å"intentionally†, defined by Andrew Chester, while as European art music is â€Å"extensionally†. Frith thinks that in the 20th century, popular music has absorbed from Afro-American music. In his second point, he states that popular music has a strong vocal strength, and we react to the singer’s voice whether we understand the lyrics or not. It directly communicates to us through narrative structures. According to Frith’s third point, there are two different ways to analyze and classify musical genres in which music uses narrative structures to produce patterns of self-identification and to express different emotions. He suggests classifying popular songs according to their ideological effects. The author’s last point is even serious music cannot escape from being associated to our lives and being under social forces. In the end, Frith concludes that music has â€Å"some sort of collective, disruptive cultural effect†. Understand that popular music has an individualizing effect is key to finding its aesthetic values. Work cited Simon Frith. â€Å"Towards an Aesthetic of Popular Music† Writing in the Discipline: A Reader and Rhetoric for Academic writers, 7th edition. By Mary Kennedy and William Kennedy. Boston: Pearson, 2012. 497-509. Print.

How to Struggle with Writing Papers

How to Struggle with Writing Papers How to Struggle with Writing Papers For some students writing a paper is a disaster. Some of them find it time-consuming and monotonous, thus they soon become very bored. Others would rather deal with some other type of assignment. A number of students think they dont have enough skills to cope with paper writing. However, practically any activity that is new can prove to be difficult without proper preparation. People learn how to ride a bicycle, cook, or do yoga. Writing good papers is also a skill every student can learn to develop. So, why not start right now? First, many people find writing a boring activity. Of course, if you sit at your desk without any ideas on how and what to write, youll wind up spending more time then needed on your paper, and it will probably be of poor quality. You will be bored, and you will receive a poor grade. On the other hand, if you have a plan, you will know what exactly you should do, and youll have no time to become bored. Determine your priorities, break your tasks into several smaller sub-tasks and establish deadlines. By doing so, you will know that if you put something off till tomorrow, you will have to do more the next day to stick to your schedule. This may motivate you to stay focused. Another problem many students face is a lack of ideas. Well, you dont have to be extremely creative to write a paper. Just think about possible topics for your paper from time to time. For example, mull possibilities over in your mind while you are on the subway or walking to the supermarket. Take your notebook with you and write down ideas that pop into your head. Take a sheet of paper, sit down, and write everything you can think of concerning your topic, even the craziest ideas. When you are finished, you can select the ones that will work for your paper. Brainstorming helps you find a solution you didnt expect to think of earlier. If these strategies do help and you feel you are in a rut, you can always consult someone more experienced. That person might be your teacher or a friend who has already written a paper on a related topic. You could just google the topic. Perhaps someone has already explored or researched a topic that interests you. You can use their ideas as a springboard to come up with your own thoughts. Finally, dont be afraid to make a mistake while working on your paper. Keep in mind that practice makes perfect. You will develop a draft of your paper to proofread and edit several times. Once youve finished writing, though, take a break to clear your head. Read your paper the next day with a fresh mind. That will help you to perceive it in a different way. All the fragments that need to be corrected and all the mistakes and inaccuracies will be apparent to you. It may take some time, but this is a reliable method that works for many students. You may already be familiar with some of the tips described above, or you have your own methods for how to write a paper; however, all of these tips combined will probably help you make writing a paper a more enjoyable experience. Our online custom paper writing service is designed to help students with writing different academic papers contact us now!

German Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

German - Essay Example It was situated just next to the great Jewish monument. The Roma / Sinti memorial is also of a more modest scale as compared to the Jewish one which is of the size of a football field. It is located to the north-eastern part of large Berlin’s center and is not far from the vast memorial for the infamed murdered Jews of Europe. It was a good idea to have different monuments or memorials for the different affected groups. They suffered different causes like racism, beliefs as well as sexuality. They also represented people of different origins. The Germans, in particular, also suffered as far as the gay holocaust is concerned. Even the gay Nazis were murdered. This difference had to be observed in order to accurately pair the remembrance of their suffering to their true identities. The ort der information or the underground information was a brilliant idea conceived by Peter Eisenman together with Dagmar. It is this site that blends history and memory. It serves both as a site of memory and that of history, both informational and commemorative (Crownshaw and Rowland 86). The naming of the monument in the memory of the killed Jews absolves the other Jews who perished in the Germanys dark ages from the conditions they were subjected to in the concentration camps. Some died of diseases and others even committed suicide. Logically, in one way or another, they all died in the times of the holocaust from the Nazis set conditions, unfair laws, or even maltreatment. The more favorable and inclusive for all Jews would be â€Å"Memorial to the perished Jews under Nazism†. The United States of America never perpetrated the Holocaust. Actually, it was the U.S. that assisted in ending the holocaust. The genocide of the native Red Indians and other atrocities that were committed during the slavery period took place closer home, and therefore are more connected to the United States. For this reason, the establishment of the Holocaust

Plea Barganing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Plea Barganing - Essay Example A plea bargain permits both parties to keep away from a long criminal trial and may permit criminal defendants to stay protected from the risk of conviction at trial on a more grave charge. For instance, suppose there is a defendant of a criminal case charged with a crime robbery, the conviction of which would need imprisonment in state jail, he or she may be offered the chance to plead the guilty party to a misdemeanor robbery charge, which may not carry jail time. Plea bargaining is â€Å"the process whereby a criminal defendant and prosecutor reach a mutually satisfactory disposition of a criminal case, subject to court approval† (Plea Bargaining 2012 para. 1). It can conclude a particular criminal case without a proceeding or a trial. It becomes successful when plea bargaining of the case results in a plea agreement between the defendant and prosecutor. In this agreement, â€Å"the defendant agrees to plead guilty without a trial, and, in return, the prosecutor agrees to dismiss certain charges or make favorable sentence recommendations to the court. Plea bargaining is expressly authorized in statutes and in court rules† (Plea Bargaining 2012 para. 2). This is generally a known type of plea. It engages a negotiation of the particular charges (counts) or offenses that the defendant of the case will face at the proceeding or trial. Generally, in return for an appeal of "guilty" to a smaller charge, the prosecutor of the case will dismiss the superior or other charge(s) or counts. Example, instead of discharging charges for a first-degree murder, a prosecutor may admit a "guilty" appeal for manslaughter. Charge bargaining plays an empirically significant role in determining outcomes of the sentencing. In this type of bargaining, the defendant of the case pleads guilty in exchange for reducing the charges. Depending on the seriousness of the initial charge of the case, the only one who stands to achieve from charge bargaining is the accused or the

Theory, Design And Specification Essay Example for Free

Theory, Design And Specification Essay The focal point of this paper is to adopt a process centered strategy for a healthcare organization keeping mind that while implementing this strategy the 4 focus points i.e. culture, organization, people and control system and instrument would be taken into account. Culture is the mix of values and shared beliefs that formulates the system of an organization. In general sense the culture of an organization is created by the corporate infrastructure which is dependent on the variables such as strategic thinking ability or depth, dedication level of the personnel and the amount of cooperation involved. This entire mix is compositely known a corporate culture of an organization. While adopting a process centered strategy for a healthcare organization it would be important to keep in mind the basic degree of this culture. Organization on the other hand can be divided into two segments in the field of operations. The first is its structure and the second is its process of decision flow. The structure of the organization is instrumental for the accountabilities that enable the company to achieve its objectives or mission. The process of decision flow is the tool that converts the results into coherent patterns that could be termed as implementation that would help in the controlling decision and implementation. People or the human resource element is the most important factor of management strategies and is a wonderful ingredient of strategy implementation projects. It has been seen that without taking the human factor into consideration has yielded negative results for the ultimate success of the company. Thus this factor is to be taken into account as a vital asset of the organization. One of the most important variables for the success of the implementation process is the control system and instruments. The control system and instruments are those assets where on the organization can take and formulate action with more accurate results. For the hospital industry latest and advanced equipments are the key to better service and result. Therefore if the top management are aware of the ability of the machines available and the there are enough means and abilities to control the machines the management would define their strategies accordingly in terms of formulating the optimum level and outputs. In the practical scenario it should be mentioned that adopting a process centered strategy for a healthcare organization keeping mind that the 4 focus points i.e. culture, organization, people and control system and instrument are well evaluated and analyzed. This because these are the factors that can break or make any laid down planning system that has been prepared with taking into notion these essential components. If these four elements are not considered it is evident that a number of circumstances would presumably arise for with the management would never be ready to handle. It should be looked upon that a perfect mix of these four elements has taken place and a well oiled communication system is in place to juxtapose all these elements together for assumed success. For administrative success controlling processes, motivation, planning and demands discipline are the major factors and to achieve it proper mix of culture, organization, people and control system and instrument are invaluable. Reference: Raps, Andreas;Â   Jun 2004; Strategic Finance. Montvale; Vol.85, Iss 12; pg 48, 6 pgs

Essay --

How Seizures affect Brain Activity A seizure is a short occurrence of symptoms that is caused by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Customarily, a seizure lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. There are different types of seizures not just one. Depending on which part and how much of the brain is affected by the electrical disturbance will determine which type of seizure will occur. Experts divide seizures into five generalized seizures, these include: partial seizures, epileptic/non-epileptic seizures, status epilepticus, gelastic seizures and dacrystic seizures. Partial seizures occur when a strong surge of electrical activity affects only a specific area of one cerebral hemisphere. This kind of seizure is subdivided into two categories: Simple Partial Seizures and Complex Seizures. In a simple partial seizure, the effected person will still be conscious and his/her awareness will be retained. In a Complex Partial Seizure however, the subjects’ consciousness is impaired and in some cases maybe even lost. Even though Partial Seizures are mild, they may progress to a much more severe seizure. More people suffer from partial seizures than any other kind. Literally any kind of sensory, movement or emotional action can be altered, including intricate optical hallucinations. Typically in a Simple Partial Seizure, the episode of sudden jerking, sensory phenomena, and transient lethargy would only last half to a full minute. In a Complex Partial, the episode may last up to two full minutes and no less than one. Also in a Complex Partial, the affected may be unaware of setting (surrounding environment), amnesia and confusion may occur and may begin to wander about. Although Partial Seizures affect different emoti... ...y medication used to treat people with epilepsy. One of the studies I went over portrayed that over 10% of patients attending clinics for Epilepsy encounter themselves having suicidal thoughts within the first two weeks. Mild-to-threatening behavior, loss in cognitive skills, amnesia, loss of control, felling fatigued, depression, anxiety, and irrevocably suicidal thoughts are (but not limited to) the affects of Epilepsy on the brain. I personally do not know anyone that suffers from Epilepsy and I am truly grateful for that because after doing all this research I had a life changing epiphany. There is an abundance of people who do not deserve to suffer from epilepsy and there is not ever enough help going on for them. I will definitely be seeing how I can help our fellow brothers and sisters and be a true benefactor for the all, for is this not the ultimate goal?

Individual Optimism and Health

Iris Hobnobs Optimists take proactive steps to protect their physical and mental health as well as focusing on goals that benefit their socioeconomic standing. â€Å"The trait of optimism may provide cognitive, coping, and contextual resources that promote better mental health† (Carver, et al. , 2010. P. 880 up. 2). Optimism is a behavioral trait that describes people who look for the positive in a situation. Optimism can help people cope in negative situations and lead to greater well-being.Optimists ability to cope with negative situations gives them increased opportunity to succeed and live healthier lives, compared to pessimists, because they believe a positive result is more likely. Comparatively, optimists should be measured the same against pessimists on a scale of very pessimistic to very optimistic with the majority of people falling somewhere in the middle (Carver, et al. , 2010). People display varying degrees of capability when confronted with positive and negative situations and tend to react based on their acquired behavior.Past experiences can affect the espouse of a person to either pessimism or optimism depending on whether the cause was permanent or temporary (Peterson & Salesman, 1984). How a person responds can influence the ultimate outcome of a situation whether it pertains to physical or psychological health. Psychologically, optimists seek a positive outcome in the face of negative causes or conditions that range in influence anywhere from benign to malignant.A person dealing with a stressful situation There are rare instances in which optimists fall short on their ability to overcome a negative tuition, which are mostly discounted due to the specificity of situations. For example, if a pregnant mother is optimistic about the health of her baby but has a miscarriage despite her positive attitude. A mother's optimism for her child's health did not influence the possibility of a miscarriage and left her especially vulnerable because she had not prepared herself to deal with the possible negative outcome.This situation is uncommon because the prevalence of medical assistance in most industrialized nations supports an optimistic viewpoint for the birth of a healthy child. Past causes that have a persistent negative effect can influence a person to think pessimistically because the stability of negative effects increases the likelihood of a perceived negative outcome. Conversely, temporary negative effects can influence a person to think more optimistically because the negative effects do not have a strong enough correlation with the perceived outcome (Peterson & Salesman, 1984).The idea that ‘everything will turn out all right in the end' removes a person's need to analyze potential negative conditions due to the eventual positive outcome. By not focusing on the potential negative conditions, the level of distress experienced during negative situations is decreased, also fostering continued dispositional o ptimism. Therefore, optimism is seen as an acquired behavioral trait and coping mechanism and can be taught to pessimists to improve their well-being.Patients with terminal illnesses may overlook the negative conditions of their illness by emphasizing the positive conditions with dispositional optimism. Researchers have also found that a person with dispositional optimism can positively influence heir physical recovery or management of life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer or HIVE, because the increased capability minimizes the level of distress they experience and allows them to use additional bodily resources toward recovery. The general line of thinking underlying this research is that optimists may be less reactive than pessimists to the stresses of life; the lower physiological stress responses may (over many years) result in less physical wear and tear on the body; the end result may be better physical health and even greater longevity† (Carver, et al. 2010. P. 883 up. 13). Optimists are also less likely to engage in activities that can harm their physical health or develop harmful habits and addictions, such as smoking and drinking.Engaging in physically harmful activities can be seen as an escape mechanism (Carver, et al. , 2010) in response to conditions or experiences that the person feels are too stressful to cope with or overcome. In moderation, these activities may not have a direct influence on a person's immediate physical health but can foster behavior that increases the risk of continued harmful activities. Smoking one cigarette can make a person feel more relaxed and may not seriously affect their health, but smoking every day increases the risk of serious health problems with little prospect of physical recovery.Optimism can foster behavior that benefits a person's well-being, psychologically and physically. It allows a person to overlook or cope with emotionally stressful situations despite the negative circumstances and see an o utcome to which they will ultimately benefit. A person with dispositional optimism also shows a motivation toward goals that improve physical health and a decrease in the level of engagement in activities that might be harmful.Optimism is a behavioral trait that does not have to be inherited and can be taught to anybody that wish to improve their well-being.

4th Gospel Revision Notes

Ethics EITHER 3 (a) (i) Examine the key ideas of one critique of the link between religion and morality. (18) (ii) To what extent does this critique effectively undermine the link between religion and morality? (12) (Total for Question 3(a) = 30 marks) OR (b) (i) Analyse the important features of either Deontology or Natural Moral Law. (18) (ii) To what extent is the selected theory persuasive? (12) (Total for Question 3(b) = 30 marks) EITHER 4 (a) (i) Examine the important concepts relating to justice and law and punishment. (18) (ii) Consider critically the extent to which subjectivism poses problems for these concepts. 12) (Total for Question 4(a) = 30 marks) OR (b) (i) Analyse the contribution made by emotivism to debates about ethical language. (18) (ii) To what extent do the problems of ethical language remain unsolved? (12) (Total for Question 4(b) = 30 marks) New Testament EITHER 17 (a) (i) Examine the religious significance of either the teachings of Jesus concerning the Kin gdom of God (Luke’s Gospel) or the teaching of the Prologue (Fourth Gospel). (18) (ii) To what extent are these teachings important for an understanding of the gospel? (12) (Total for Question 17(a) = 30 marks)OR (b) (i) ‘The gospel was written to reveal the nature of Jesus as the Christ. ’ Examine this claim regarding the purpose of either Luke’s Gospel or the Fourth Gospel. (18) (ii) To what extent may other purposes for the gospel be equally important? (12) (Total for Question 17(b) = 30 marks) EITHER 18 (a) (i) With reference to either Luke’s Gospel or the Fourth Gospel, examine the reasons why the religious and political authorities put Jesus to death. (18) (ii) To what extent was Pilate responsible for the death of Jesus? (12) (Total for Question 18(a) = 30 marks) OR b) (i) Examine the significance of the religious symbolism contained within the crucifixion narrative of either Luke’s Gospel or the Fourth Gospel. (18) (ii) To what extent does the resurrection narrative add to an understanding of the rest of the gospel? (12) (Total for Question 18(b) = 30 marks) Ethics EITHER 3 (a) (i) Analyse the important features of either Deontology or Virtue Ethics. (18) (ii) Consider critically how effective the selected theory may be as a guideline for moral living. (12) (Total for Question 3(a) = 30 marks) OR (b) (i) Examine the key ideas of Natural Moral Law. 18) (ii) To what extent do critiques of the link between religion and morality undermine the value of Natural Moral Law? (12) (Total for Question 3(b) = 30 marks) EITHER 4 (a) (i) Examine key ideas associated with either justice or law and punishment. (18) (ii) Evaluate the view that objectivity and relativism pose problems for the concept selected in part (i). (12) (Total for Question 4(a) = 30 marks) OR (b) (i) Examine the problems which scholars have identified regarding the use and meaning of ethical language. (18) (ii) To what extent may these problems be solved? 12) (Total for Question 4(b) = 30 marks) New Testament EITHER 17 (a) (i) Either examine the important features of Luke’s presentation of Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God or examine the key ideas of the Prologue (Fourth Gospel). (18) (ii) Evaluate the claim that this teaching/these ideas are crucial to the meaning of the gospel. (12) (Total for Question 17(a) = 30 marks) OR (b) (i) ‘A careful reading of the gospel reveals the purpose the author had for writing it. ’ Examine this claim with reference to either Luke’s Gospel or the Fourth Gospel. 18) (ii) Evaluate the view that knowing the purpose of the gospel does not add to our understanding of its meaning. (12) (Total for Question 17(b) = 30 marks) EITHER 18 (a) (i) ‘It was the religious officials who were responsible for Jesus’ death; the political authorities had nothing to do with it. ’ Examine this claim with reference to either Luke’s Gospel or the Fourth Gospel . (18) (ii) Evaluate the view that conflict was crucial to the ministry of Jesus. (12) (Total for Question 18(a) = 30 marks) OR (b) (i) Analyse three examples of religious symbolism in the crucifixion narrative of either Luke’s Gospel or the Fourth Gospel. 18) (ii) Evaluate the claim that the resurrection adds little to our understanding of the ministry of Jesus. (12) (Total for Question 18(b) = 30 marks) Ethics EITHER 3 (a) (i) Examine the important concepts of two critiques of the link between religion and morality (18) (ii) To what extent do these critiques succeed in weakening the link between religion and morality? (12) (Total for Question 3(a) = 30 marks) OR (b) (i) Analyse the key features of either Natural Moral Law or Virtue Ethics. (18) (ii) Evaluate the extent to which the selected theory can withstand criticism. (12) (Total for Question 3(b) = 30 marks)EITHER 4 (a) (i) Examine central ideas relating to justice and law and punishment. (18) (ii) To what extent does objectivity pose challenges for imposing punishment? (12) (Total for Question 4(a) = 30 marks) OR (b) (i) Analyse two problems raised by the use and meaning of ethical language. (18) (ii) Evaluate the view that these problems cannot be solved. (12) (Total for Question 4(b) = 30 marks) New Testament EITHER 17 (a) (i) Examine the key religious concepts of either the teachings of Jesus concerning the Kingdom of God (Luke’s Gospel) or the teaching of the Prologue (Fourth Gospel). 18) (ii) Evaluate the claim that these teachings lay down the primary themes of the gospel. (12) (Total for Question 17(a) = 30 marks) OR (b) (i) ‘The Gospel was written to make clear the identity of Jesus. ’ Examine this claim regarding the purpose of either Luke’s Gospel or the Fourth Gospel. (18) (ii) Evaluate the claim that there are also other important purposes for the gospel. (12) (Total for Question 17(b) = 30 marks) EITHER 18 (a) (i) With reference to either Luke’s Gos pel or the Fourth Gospel, examine the [pic][? ] |&'(*,. /@AGJKY[^_pqrs†¹ Zâ€Å" ¤?  ¬iaiaiaiaiaiOAa ·a ·?  ·aâ„ ¢? A†¦? {†¦A{A{A{†¦g†¦? u†°OJ[? ]QJ[? ]U[pic]^J[? ]mHnHu[pic]h? †ºOJ[? ]QJ[? ]contribution of both the religious and political authorities to the death of Jesus. (18) (ii) Consider critically the claim that it was Pilate who was responsible for the death of Jesus, not the Jewish leaders. (12) (Total for Question 18(a) = 30 marks) OR (b) (i) ‘The religious symbolism of the crucifixion narrative is vital to understanding the whole gospel. ’ Examine the meaning of this claim. (18) (ii) To what extent does the resurrection narrative enhance that understanding? (12) (Total for Question 18(b) = 30 marks)

President and Congress Essays

President and Congress Essays President and Congress Essay President and Congress Essay Alfred D. Campfield American National Government-1M December 6,2010 The president is the foreign policy leader for the United States with an important political, military and economic role in the international arena. If there is collision between the president and congress, can congress restrain the president in foreign policy making? The era of globalization has witnessed the growing influence of a number of unconventional international actors, from non-governmental organizations, to multi-national corporations, to global political movements. Traditional, state-centric definitions of foreign policy as the policy of a sovereign state in its interaction with other sovereign states is no longer sufficient. Several alternative definitions are more helpful at highlighting aspects of foreign policies. The first views foreign policy as those external goals for which the nation is prepared to commit its resources By focusing on what a country does rather than what it says, this pragmatic definition usefully separates a countrys rhetoric from its true intent and its material capabilities. However, lack of action can also constitute a policy-the policy of an isolationist state is defined by its very unwillingness to commit resources. A second conceptualization of foreign policy is as the range of actions taken by varying sections of the government of a state in its relations with other bodies similarly acting on the international stage in order to advance the national interest. Notable here is the recognition that governments do not act as monolithic, static entities, and that non-state actors may at times be as influential as states. However, the assumption that governments always know what is in the national interest and always rationally work towards its realization is debatable. For the purposes of this analysis, foreign policy is taken to mean, The goals that a nations officials seek to attain abroad, the values that give rise to those objectives, and the means or instruments used to pursue them. Government Information Quarterly Volume 26, Issue 2009, Pages 437-440 This third and most helpful definition focuses not only on outcome, but also, crucially, on norms and process. Values are essential to the study of foreign policy, and explain why the policies of different states can vary so dramatically. Means are equally important: what a country does can be less significant than how it does it, as recent U. S. actions illustrate. Central to pluralism is the notion that the three branches of government should be separate and distinct, with each acting to check and balance the others and thus preventing abuse of power. In the United States, the often-tumultuous relationship between especially the legislative and executive branches has been the subject of much scholarship and debate. The Presidency has seen a slow but constant expansion of power since the days of George Washington, culminating in what Schlesinger has called the imperial presidencies of Johnson and Nixon, and continuing today. The official rights and duties of the President as regards foreign policy-making are actually only briefly mentioned in the Constitution, and are rather limited. The President shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur. However, presidents have frequently bypassed the need for congressional approval by enacting executive agreements: oral or written understandings between heads of government that require authorization only when funding is required. Executive agreements that the United States is party to now vastly outnumber the amount of treaties to which it is party. (2009,) Pages 437-440 This proliferation of executive agreements is worrying because treaties signify a broader consensus and a larger degree of national commitment. With this in mind, Congress adopted the Case Amendment in 1972, which requires the President to report the text of any agreements he enacts, but this has been honored more in the breach than in the observance. The President is also Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, a directive that presidents have often seen as a green light to employ forces wherever and whenever they choose. The President also has the power to appoint about 700 positions in the executive branch. While the Senate must legally concur, it almost never vetoes a presidential appointment. In addition, unofficial, yet very significant, presidential powers include: the power to initiate legislation and the general direction of foreign policy; access to sensitive information and intelligence; and unmatched media coverage, which allows whoever is in the White House to explain his motives and communicate with the public. As a counterweight to the President, Congress has the potentially huge power of the purse, and must approve all government expenditures. It exercises this power most frequently in matters of foreign trade, and has long been a key player in regulating tariffs. Congress has also made major efforts to influence the foreign aid policy of the United States, for example, towards Cuba and Angola. When Congress does provide foreign aid, it usually does so with detailed instructions and stringent reporting requirements. Congress has been less influential in regulating military interventions, however. It alone can declare war, but several factors inhibit this power. Formal declarations of war are rare in modern times. Indeed, Congress has declared war only five times in US history-even though the United States has been involved in more than 150 significant military actions. And Presidents can create a war situation that in effect forces Congress to toe the line: it will be argued that, irrespective of the merits of the case, it is dishonorable to deprive men risking their lives for their country of financial support. Under such pressure, individual members of both houses have often hesitated to run the political risk of being labeled unpatriotic. As one senator put it, so many of my colleagues tell me in the cloakroom and elsewhere, that they disagree with that policy, yet they come on the floor and vote to carry on that policy. In any case, several military interventions, such as Nixons bombing of Cambodia, have been completed by the time they have come to the attention of Congress. Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science: Lib-Pub. 3 (2 ed. ). CRC Press. 2003. The Vietnam War was the consummate example of the impunity with which an imperial President may override opposing congressional sentiment. It shattered the previous underlying consensus that Congress should look the other way, and led to the enactment of legislation to increase transparency. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 made all foreign military intervention subject to Congressional approval. However, the new legislation was little more than window-dressing: it was not matched by greater Congressional assertiveness, and the legislature has continued, at times, to go to great lengths to avoid exercising its powers. No President has ever truly considered himself bound by the law, and many have found ways to skirt around it, as President Fords decision to undertake military action in response to Cambodias seizure of a US freighter illustrates. Congressional Research Service (CRS) at UCB Libraries GovPubs ISBN 9780824720797. http://books. google. com/books This applies doubly in times of crisis and war, when it is assumed that the executive alone possesses the necessary information and resources to act quickly and decisively. Modern warfare, the argument goes, requires rapid decisions, for which Congress, with its complex procedures, partisanship, overlapping jurisdictions and tendency towards fragmentation, is ill suited. The shifting coalitions of Congress which serve us so well in the formulation and implementation of domestic policy, are not well suited to the day-to-day conduct of external relations. Each successive crisis in US history, then, has gradually and permanently strengthened the executive, or, in the words of James Madison, the constant apprehension of War has [had] the tendency to render the head too large for the body†. Congress, thus, does not prevent the President from determining the general cours e of foreign policy? Provided that the President does not make excessive demands on Congress and the public. When a policy becomes too controversial Congress can, and does, step in. In general, however, in terms of defense and foreign policy, the American people tend to identify the President with government far more than they do Congress, making for a policy that is too often personality-driven and idiosyncraticThe Congressional Research Service and the American Legislative Process. Congressional Research References The Congressional Research Service and the American Legislative Process. Congressional Research Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science: Lib-Pub. 3 (2 ed. ). CRC Press. 2003. ISBN 9780824720797. http://books. google. com/books Government Information Quarterly Volume 26, Issue 2009, Pages 437-440 Congressional Research Service (CRS) at UCB Libraries GovPubs

What were the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in the early Essay

What were the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in the early Greek polisHow did the idea of citizenship arise - Essay Example The citizens consisted of tribes which were further divided into phratries and gentes. Foreigners and slaves were considered to be outside the scope of citizenship. Descent was the criteria which determined the citizenship of individuals (Grant 56, 1990). The citizens were divided into three types. The first types of citizens were those with political rights. The second of type of citizens was those without any political rights. The third type consisted of foreigners and slaves who were not considered as citizens. Ancient Greece made many strides in the creation of organized and centralized nation. It was initially composed of warring states which fought against each other. These city states lacked any central administration or government. Athens would give birth to the concept of political participation and democracy. Solon was the first aristocrat who gave a comprehensive set of political rules and regulations. These reforms gave power and responsibility to moderately well off non aristocrats. It also protected the citizens from much of the repressive measures of governments. By 508 BC, an exile named Cleisthenes was instrumental in removing the Athenian tyrant Hippias from power. He offered a package of reforms to the Athenian citizens which would give them political power and representation in the government (Starr 91, 1986). The Archaic Greek period divided society on the basis of three economic groups. The aristocrats acquired power which was inherited from their fathers. They made significant profits by ruthlessly exploiting the poor farmers (Starr 100, 1977). The poor people represented the bottom of the three groups. They could be indebted or reduced as slaves by the powerful elite. A middle class was also present which had the largest degree of social and economic differences. Some of them had acquired prosperity while others were barely above the lower classes. The lower class had little

Project Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Project Research - Essay Example Here we will analyze respective ratios like Profitability ratio, asset management ratio, Debt management ratio and Leverage ratio to understand the financial position and performance of the company. Profitability Ratio can be defined as financial a tool which is used to justify a company’s ability to generate revenue. Profitability of Emirates Insurance Company has decreased over the years as the ROE, gross profit margin and net profit margin of the company has declined in 2012 as compared to 2011. Liquidity ratio measures the firm’s ability to fulfill its short term requirements which defines the firm’s capacity to pay off the current liabilities as and when needed. The company does not have enough liquid cash ready in its hand and it needs to improve its liquidity position. Asset management ratio can be defined as the relationship between sales and assets. The company is efficient in managing its assets except its payables turnover ratio. Debt management ratio measures the ability of the company to reduce the risk of financial problems in long run. The financial leverage of the company is higher on 2012. Thus it can be concluded that the company is having average position in the market and it should improve its sales to generate more profitability in future. Introduction Emirates Insurance Company was established in the year 1982 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It has total assets of more than AED 1.5 billion and its gross written premium for 2012 was AED 650 million. The company operates over 20 locations in UAE. Emirates Insurance Company offers a wide range of insurance related products and services to serve its various customers like corporate, business organization, other financial institution and individuals. The company provides different insurance benefits like Hotel Block Insurance, Jeweler’s Block Insurance, and office comprehensive insurance. Under corporate insurance it provides General Third Party Liability Insurance, Workmenâ€⠄¢s Compensation Insurance, Fidelity Guarantee Insurance and loss of money insurance. The company also has a policy of covering money loss if it occurs during the money is in locker or money loss in the company premises during business hours or in transit between bank and office premises. Oil and Energy team of Emirates insurance Company offers various services to its clients in the world and it focuses on the risk related to oil and gas. It has a wide range of insurance products like Motor Insurance, Marine Hull Insurance, Medical Insurance, Third party general insurance, Aviation insurance, Banker’s Blanket Bond Insurance, Cargo Insurance, fidelity Guarantee Insurance and Life Insurance. Here we will analyze respective ratios like Profitability ratio, asset management ratio, Debt management ratio and Leverage ratio to understand the financial position and performance of the company. Ratio Analysis Ratio analysis states the systematic analysis of the financial statement of a company to understand and interpret its performance and financial positions for a particular period of time. Ratio analysis can be compared