A comparative study of constitutions and governments in world history is a key to deeper understanding of the U.S. Constitution. While many countries have constitutions, the United States is among a minority of nations in today's world that has a constitutional government. Many nations' constitutions truly guarantee few protections of individual…

The rapid progress in the biological sciences has resulted in many social, ethical, and legal issues. In medical practice, public health programs, research laboratories, law enforcement, insurance, the patenting process, agriculture, genetic counseling, and other fields, legal controversies and public policy debates have developed. Some of these…

The legal problems with which a religious higher education institution must deal if it receives state and/or federal financial assistance and requires attendance at its religious exercises are discussed. Selected state and federal court cases are reviewed and analyzed, including the United States cases of Tilton v. Richardson (1971), Lemon v.…

By studying constitutional law, students learn about the relationship between democratic theory and practice, one of the main concerns of liberal education. The mind is enlarged when it must apply ethical standards and political ideas to real human problems. How a political science professor teaches constitutional law is discussed. (RM)

Legal and historical issues in the establishment and maintenance of the office of University Visitor in Australian universities are examined, and pertinent British and Australian legislation is cited. The traditional and disputed role of the Visitor as a liaison between corporation and government is discussed, and recent court litigation is…

Discusses the "Board of Education of the Westside Community Schools v Mergens" case that was recently decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court stated that refusal to allow the student Bible club to meet on school property violated the federal Equal Access Act. Presents the constitutional issues raised and the case's significance.…

The Department of Education, criticized by colleges for its guidelines on investigating racial harassment and hate-speech charges, will issue a new policy on First Amendment implications of such inquiries. A major issue is school responsibility for racial harassment by diverse populations over whom colleges may have little control. (MSE)

Focuses on the hate speech, gun, and privacy debates that today's youth will have to address in their future. Includes articles addressing the arguments in each issue: (1) "Debating Hate Speech" (Frank Kopecky); (2) "Debating the Gun Issue" (Denise Barr); and (3) "Debating the Right to Privacy" (Pinky Wassenberg.)…

This paper examines copyright from an historical perspective, asserting that technology is and always has been the driving force behind copyright restrictions. In sixteenth-century England the printing press galvanized legislation. Today, technology, primarily in the form of the Internet, is once again a driving force behind a renewed and…

Documentation of the Romanian system of language instruction in ethnic minority languages is presented in Romanian, French, and English. It consists of: relevant provisions from the national constitution concerning the rights of ethnic minority members; organization and functioning of the educational system at the elementary, middle, and secondary…

Recent legal developments concerning college students and colleges and universities are summarized, with a focus on constitutional issues related to the rights of students to organize, the collection and allocation of mandatory student activity fees, and the protection of freedom of speech regarding commercial enterprises. The status of…

This article outlines the significant legal decisions regarding collective bargaining in Catholic schools, identifies the governance structures employed in Catholic schools and the methods of translating these governance structures into documents required by civil law, and concludes with the citation of two recent court decisions that demonstrate…

Efforts to strengthen instruction in U.S. history and government resulted in the development of "Lessons on the Constitution," a book containing 62 lessons for use with high school students. The curriculum development process used in writing the book is described, and the objectives, format, and content of the lessons are discussed. (RM)

Exposes the legal and ideological changes that occurred regarding the Francophone minority educational system before and after 1982 in Canada. The article concludes that providing minorities with strong constitutional guarantees regarding their language's official status allows them to develop their own voice in democracies although these…

Suggests that it is necessary to protect the privacy of government procedures that could compromise security, yet there is also a need to revise and fine-tune legislation that expands government authority. Asserts that all major corrections in the delicate balance between public safety and civil rights typically require corrections themselves. (NB)