Outlines activities designed to help students understand the conflicting and complementary relationships between a democratic government and individual rights. Topics include majority rule and minority rights conflicts; limitations placed on majority rule; the U.S. Bill of Rights; and whether protection of individual rights is necessary to good…

This paper describes the activities of the Youth for Justice programs nationwide. Youth for Justice is a unique national initiative that uses the power of active learning about the law to build upon the vitality of young people and to address the risks of being young in American society today. Youth for Justice involves young people in law-related…

During the first year of its three-year existence, the Bicentennial Commission began to fulfill its mission, as defined by its chairman, to provide "a history and civics lesson for all of us." The Commission has decided to focus primarily on the educational potentialities of commemoration and to foster a firm understanding and…

This paper begins with the theme that because education is so important to the exercise of one's fundamental rights and to personal, social, cultural, political, economic, and human development, it is one of the unenumerated rights retained by the American people through Amendment IX of the Bill of Rights. After arguing for the proposition that…

Papers are included on the topics of: state constitutions and higher education (Samuel K. Gove and Susan Welch); executive leadership and the universities (John W. Lederle, Patrick J. Lucey, Allen Rosenbaum, John W. Wood, Malcolm Moos and Francis E. Rourke); legislative control of higher education (Heinz Eulau and Harold Quinley, David D. Henry,…

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits government (which includes public schools) from imposing religious beliefs and practices in schools. Examines court decisions interpreting the First Amendment, distinguishes state action from private action, and explains the notion of "limited open forum" with regard to…

Maintains that constitutional law is the cornerstone of an undergraduate public law curriculum. Asserts that there is a welcome trend toward teaching the subject over a two-semester sequence, instead of only one. Describes course content and teaching strategies used in a college constitutional law course. (CFR)

Presents a historical overview of state and federal legislation concerning special education, describes how court litigation has defined the constitutional rights of the disabled to access education, and outlines the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The procedural safeguards of the IDEA also are outlined,…

This teacher's guide complements the student text's presentation of lesson plans on the subject of illegal drug use. The booklet begins with an explanation of the benefits of law-related education (LRE) for democratic education. The guide then outlines suggestions for handling controversy; directing discussion; organizing cooperative and small…

Business partnership with public schools, while holding great promise for educational improvement, is hindered by legal questions about equity. Disagreement on how to apply this value to education has produced much litigation over school finance. Some allege that property tax financing violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth…

The impact of federal legislation aimed at discriminatory practices of state and local governments as mandated by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 is examined. Several Title VII violations are outlined; it is concluded that federal authority can be upheld under Title VII and the Fourteenth Amendment.…

This document presents proceedings of hearings held before a congressional committee on H.R. 1, the Civil Rights Act of 1991. In addition to the text of H.R. 1, the live statements and prepared statements of the following individuals and groups are included: Brenda Berkman; John Bishop; Dr. Heidi Hartmann; Kenneth Kimerling; Jacqueline Morris;…

Section A of the Media and Law section of these proceedings contains the following 11 papers: "The Record of the Rehnquist Court on Freedom of Expression" (F. Dennis Hale); "An Examination of the FCC's Minority and Gender Licensing Policies" (Howard Kleiman); "Exploring the Possibilities of an International Right of…

After World War II, the newly federated Yugoslav government promised equality to the country's many different ethnic and religious groups. The 1974 Constitution guaranteed every citizen his or her free expression of belonging to a "nation" or "nationality," the free expression of his or her ethnic culture, and the freedom to…

Reprints the Bill of Rights as instituted in the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Most of the provisions have been summarized but the basic rights (which cannot be rescinded in even in a state of emergency) are reprinted in their entirety. Includes topics for discussion and research. (MJP)