...Voting Age Matthew Clayton states in an article that “...Having the right to vote is widely recognized as one of the most important legal rights within a democracy.” (Wing and Clayton 534) With suffrage being an imperative democratic right, the questions of whether there should be a minimum voting age and if so, what age that should be set have quickly become central political issues. In 1971, the United States ratified the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, eliminating the age standard of twenty-one and granting eighteen year olds the right to vote. This was due to the realization of the double standard that eighteen year olds were old enough to be sent to fight for their country, but not old enough to vote for the people who represented it. A similar situation is occurring today, as American citizens under the age of eighteen pay taxes, drive cars, abide by the laws, are affected by the decisions of politicians, etc., but are denied the right to vote. These citizens are perfectly capable of making informed decisions and fulfilling the duties of a registered voter. Being affected by political decisions just as much as someone over the age of eighteen, citizens as young as the age of sixteen should be granted the right to vote. (Wing and Clayton 536) At the youthful age of sixteen, one can accomplish much more than they could at a prior time in their life. In most states, a sixteen year old can become emancipated from their parents, obtain a work permit, hold a job, choose...
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...Topic: Speech Title: General Purpose: Specific Purpose: There should be one age limit on when we are considered adults. I. Introduction A. Attention-getter: “In most of the world including most of the United States, parts of the United Kingdom, India, and China, the legal adult age is 18 and historically was 21.” B. Common ground: We are all on this journey to adulthood and with this weeks’ worth of information I will soon provide for you will answer this question. What age limit will society/government consider us as adults? C. Credibility: Why should we believe you? D. Thesis: What is the main point of this speech? E. Preview: What will we learn from your speech? Transition sentence between Intro and Body: Lead us away from the Intro to the Body: II. Body A. Main Point #1: Financial aid is a “benefit” that can either help or stack up loans for a college student. Due to the fact, not everyone is considered eligible for it, even though based off a system that investigates your parent’s income for your financial need, says you are able to pay for tuition without guidance. How can that be if all the help I am receiving is money from the government I must...
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...The legal drinking age should be lowered in the United States. This makes the most sense because kids legally become an adult at the age of 18 where they are granted other rights as well, such as the ability to enlist in the army. If we are legally an adult and trusted to protect our country we should be trusted with a couple of drinks. Lowering the drinking age also decreases unsafe drinking in regulated environments and less drunk driving accidents. With regulated drinking kids become more aware with their alcohol tolerance and get used to it in a safe environment without doing it illegally. This creates a safer environment for everyone. With kids more aware of their intake of alcohol less accidents such as drunk driving will happen. The is why the drinking age should be lowered to the age of when you actually become an adult. Kids legally become an adult at the age of 18. At this time in your life you receive the rights and responsibilities of adulthood. Some examples of the choices that you might or can make are enlisting in the army, voting for president, buying lottery tickets...
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...and attitudes will band together to form political parties. 3. What are linkage institutions? -the means by which individuals can express preferences regarding the development of public policy. Some examples: political parties, special interest groups, and the media. 4. Political parties looked like? -can be viewed as an organization, the relationship with the electorate, and a role in government. 5.What is party realignment? -the shift of party loyalty, occurred in 1932 after the country experienced the Great Depression. 6. What are the basic characteristics of political parties since 1990? -era of divided government. ? 7. How do most Americans participate in the political process? - discussing politics, registering to vote, voting in local/state/national elections, joining a specific political party, making contact with politicians, attending political meetings, contributing to political campaigns, working in a campaign, soliciting funds, and running for office. 8. What does someone running for office seek from a political party? -they seek for their aid in getting elected. Political parties should help with publicity, funding, and events/speeches. Basically, they will endorse their nominee’s campaign. 9. What is political spin? - The art or science of establishing and promoting a favorable relationship with the public. 10. What is a caucus? -party regulars meeting in small...
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...legal drinking age should be twenty one or eighteen. In the year of 1980 a law was passed that changed the minimum legal drinking age from eighteen to twenty one in order to decrease the amount of car crashes and fatalities and to keep alcohol out of the hands of an "irresponsible" age group (Ruth Streeter). Since the raising of the drinking age, more harm has been done than good and the drinking age should be lowered back down to eighteen, given some restrictions and changes. While each state was given the option of whether or not to support this act, the government threatened to cut highway funds if the states kept their drinking age to eighteen. It is strange that an eighteen to twenty year old can vote for our Nation's leader, risk their life fighting for our freedom, and be viewed as an adult, yet still cannot sit down and have a few drinks. At the age of eighteen one is considered an adult. This title of "adult" basically gives people the opportunity to make life changing decisions like voting, buying tobacco products, getting married, signing contracts, serving on juries, having abortions, and being drafted into or joining the military. Scientists claim that the pre-frontal cortex of the brain in which controls judgment is not fully developed until the mid twenties, which then leads to people against lowering the drinking age to claim that opportunities new "adults" take on are not necessarily needing full judgment like unsafe drinking would. So voting for the president...
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...drinking age should be lowered to the age of eighteen. The Minimum Legal Drinking Age has changed from each state setting their own to the government passing the National Drinking Age Act of 1984 making the drinking age twenty-one. The drinking age should be lowered because eighteen is the age of maturity, helps for better control, and helps stop binge drinking and sneaking around. The drinking age should stay at twenty-one because it is medically irresponsible and helps prevent addiction. The bible neither condones nor encourages the usage of alcohol but does warn and gives rules about it. The drinking age should be lowered because it benefits the teaching and control of alcohol. The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered to...
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...The legal drinking age is the age at which a person can consume or purchase alcoholic beverages. Which is twenty-one in the U.S. These laws cover a wide range of issues and behaviors, addressing when and where alcohol can be consumed. In many countries they have a different age where it is legal to drink alcohol. It is in dispute whether the drinking should be lowered in the U.S. Many would support that drinking should be lowered to eighteen years old, because as one turns eighteen, it is the first step to adulthood. It is entailed with adult reasonability’s such as voting. The right to attend a casino, play the lottery, along with buying cigarettes. By being entailed with those reasonability’s and the availability to make decisions for their...
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...Today, the consumption of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21 is generally illegal across the United States; however, there are some states that have exceptions allowing underage consumption of alcohol in certain circumstances. Underage drinking is allowed if done on private premises with parental consent or for religious purposes. In Ruth Engs’ opinion, based upon her research, “as a nation we have tried prohibition legislation twice in the past for controlling irresponsible drinking problems. This was during National Prohibition in the 1920’s and State Prohibition during the 1850’s. These laws were finally repealed because they were unenforceable and because the backlash towards them caused other social problems. Today we are repeating history and making the same mistakes that occurred in the past. Prohibition did not work then and prohibition for young people under the age of 21 is not working now” (Engs). On many campuses around the country, led by the so-called Amethyst Initiative, the legal drinking age continues to be a controversial issue since it is believed that “twenty-one is not working” (Sanghavi). The old familiar argument is that turning 18 bestows the rights and responsibilities of adulthood such as voting, serving on juries, getting married, signing contracts, joining the military, buying cigarettes, watching porn and upon prosecution, trial as an adult. If adults from the age of 18 are trusted to do all of these things, they should also be trusted...
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...Eighteen Years Old yet Not Old Enough The term legal drinking age refers to the earliest age at which a person can legally consume alcoholic beverages within particular jurisdictions. This age differs from country to country and in certain cases from state to state within a country. The Minimum Legal Drinking Age or the MLDA, in the United States as of today is twenty-one years. Lowering the MLDA is a touchy subject to many because people do not quite see the benefits that would come of it. Living in the United States, when a person turns eighteen years old, they are considered to be an adult and gain many rights and responsibilities. The MLDA should be lowered to the age of eighteen to coincide with those rights and responsibilities and be able to help benefit our country. A person is legally considered an adult once they have turned eighteen years of age. Parents of these teenagers are no longer held responsible for their teen’s actions. At that point in every young adult’s life comes along with many responsibilities and also many rights that a person deserves to have. Having the right to vote for who represents our country and local affairs, the ability to buy cigarettes and get married without having a parent’s consent, being able to serve our country by joining the Army forces and risking their life in battle, gaining the responsibility of serving jury duty, and also being prosecuted as an adult for an offense. All of these things a person inherits once they have turned...
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...The Case for Mandatory Voting in Canada by Senator Mac Harb The decline in voter turnout over the last several elections is of great concern to everyone interested in politics and parliamentary government. Many ideas have been put forth about how to address this problem including a recent Bill that would provide for a system of compulsory voting similar to that used in several other countries. The following article is based on the speech at second reading by the sponsor of Bill S-22. O ur democracy depends upon the active participation of its citizens, and, while voting is o n l y o n e e l e me n t o f p o l i ti c a l engagement, it remains the very foundation of our democracy. Reinforcing this foundation is the goal of Bill S-22, which will establish mandatory voting in Canada. This legislation is a direct response to a rising electoral crisis. Voter turnout has been on the decline in Canada since the 1960s, reaching a record low of just 60.9 per cent in the 2004 election. Other Western democracies are also experiencing the same dramatic drop. Only 55.3 per cent of Americans voted in the 2004 presidential election, and the 2001 British general election recorded a turnout of just 57.6 per cent. Only one in four Canadians under the age of 25 bothered to vote in the last election. Research shows that these young people, as they age, may not re-engage in the system as their parents and grandparents did. Canadian researchers tell us that this generational...
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...Low status of women in society, high degree of illiteracy and denial of basic amenities to the rural folk has been a result of unawareness among the masses about their rights and privileges. The schemes framed by the government for their benefit never reach the needy. The educated youth should initiate steps to teach the illiterate people in their neighborhood. They could teach them elementary reading and writing and also educate them about hygiene and the need for cleanliness. They should also be informed about the harmful effects of drinking, smoking and chewing tobacco. The government has become conscious of the need to tap the youth power. With the lowering of the voting age to 18 years, the youth have suddenly become politically important because they can decisively tilt the political scales in a general election. Realizing this, all the political parties are trying to woo the youth by including the issues relating to the youth in their political agenda. The youth should not become a pawn in the hands of the politicians, but should remain judicious. The youth should cast their vote after serious deliberations on the character and policies of the politicians. Undoubtedly, in the India of tomorrow the youth are going to play a decisive role in choosing their leaders. The youth are the most vital human resource of the nation on whom the present and future of the country depend. The Department of Youth Affairs and Sports is implementing a number of schemes for youth development...
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...indicated by Forbes, The military is rated the second most stressful job of the United States in 2015 (Forbes, 2015). The level of stress within this job which Forbes describes is why service members would like to relax at home and have the opportunity to enjoy a few alcoholic beverages of choice. Unfortunately, all under-aged military individuals cannot partake in such activities because of laws that are set upon the United States. Giving under-aged military individuals the benefit to drink facilitates post-traumatic anxiety issue, diminishes risky drinking action and brands them into great grown-ups. Imagine being 18, a recent graduate, in Afghanistan fighting a war. What do you see? In case impacts, destruction, wounds, blood, and lost limbs are what you imagine happens majority of the time, you are correct. How would you deal with living in constant fear of your life? You would take a seat and have a taste of your most loved sort of cognac, whiskey, or wine to overlook a few memories. Americans who are of legal age considers that having a drink is a preferred way to end a frantic day. Unfortunately, these...
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...Essay 2 Rough Draft Writing 123 Enthymeme: The minimum legal drinking age in the United States should not be lowered from 21 to 18 because the legal drinking age is in place to protect young people at a time when irresponsible behavior is prevalent. The Minimum Legal Drinking Age Debate Since 2008, 136 college chancellors and presidents have signed the Amethyst Initiative, asking that the United States reconsider the minimum legal drinking age-21 (MLDA-21) laws that have been in place in all 50 states since 1984. The Amethyst Initiative argues that the MLDA-21 laws simply do not work, create a culture of binge-drinking, and that a policy of legalization and education would be more effective in protecting the safety of American adolescents. Elisabeth Muhlenfeld, the president of Sweet Briar College in Virginia and Amethyst Initiative signatory writes that 70 percent of the student population is underage. Teaching abstinence to students that blatantly ignore the MLDA-21 laws, or urging responsible behavior while drinking underage and breaking the law, are both hypocritical positions for the college administration to be in (Muhlenfeld 2). The Amethyst Initiative position is that current MLDA-21 laws have created a culture of heavy alcohol use by making drinking clandestine and extreme (Saylor 1). The statistics seem to back up this claim. Recent survey's of the 18-20 year old population by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services show that a full 72 percent report...
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...Electoral Reforms in India 3) Elections in India 4) Free and fair elections 5) Criminalization in Electoral System: 6) Issues and challenges before the Election Commission 7) Current Situation ABSTRACT In this essay, we have a given a brief view about elections and politics inheriting criminalization. The failure of the Legislature to deliberately think over key issues, particularly criminalization in politics forms the fragment of introduction. A concise panorama about the misuse of authority, money power and muscle power escort the introducing lines. Besides, the essay entails the electoral reforms in India. The transformations in the same has been discussed such as the introduction of Electronic Voting Machine, lowering of voting age, deputation of Election Commission is included. The power of Election Commission accompanies the above lines in the essay. Further, the method of free and fair elections forms a part of it. The elections held at regular intervals, that is, after every five years forms a part of our democratic structure. Auxiliary, the next part deals with criminalization in politics leading to an unfair election. Few instances aiding such criminalization in politics add to it. Use of money power to win elections has also been discussed in this essay. The subsequent part enumerates the issues and challenges before the Election Commission. It also includes criminal charges against the politicians already holding their posts as the representatives...
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...Brian Basic Should the Drinking age be reduced? The drinking age goes way back in history. Drinking began to be considered a problem around the 1900’s. When the government decided to pass the 18th amendment in 1919 alcohol became prohibited throughout the United States. This amendment forced all alcohol underground. The crime rate started to rise drastically throughout the country. The crime rate rose because people were buying and selling alcohol illegally. As a result of all the problems evolved, in 1923 the 23rd amendment repealed the 18th amendment abolishing the banning of alcohol from the United States. That established the modern drinking age, but the age was not the same in all of the states. The states government had the freedom of being able to assign what they felt were a good age for people to start the consumption of alcohol. Most of the states chose the age of twenty-one, but several states allowed the purchase of beer to be at eighteen. "The political failure of general Prohibition meant that American adults would increasingly focus justifications for alcohol policy less on the perils of drunkenness and more on the tenuous concept that adults can drink properly but youths cannot or should not" (Males 190). This lead to much discussion over the drinking age and the debate will go on for years to come. Throughout this debate, it lead to the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which lowered the United States drinking age to eighteen. After this act was...
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