The Critics of the Government’s Proposals Essay Example for Free

The Critics of the Government’s Proposals Essay Topic: â€Å"The critics of the Government’s proposals to abolish the post of Lord Chancellor and create a Supreme Court are motivated by blind adherence to tradition rather than a rational analysis of the issues† The United Kingdom is a Constitutional Monarchy and is based on Parliamentary Democracy, with a Queen and a Parliament that has two houses: the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. Supreme legislative power is vested in Parliament, which sits for five years unless dissolved sooner. The executive power of the Crown is exercised by the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister. Since the advent of the 10th century, England has existed as a unified entity and along with that has brought about many changes into the way England was governed which constantly reflected the changes in the times as the years passed by. In the year 1997 the electoral victory of the Labour Party after eighteen years of a Conservative rule is promising to bring about a Constitutional reform that will not only serve to decentralize the United Kingdom but also contribute to the effectiveness of the Separation of Powers which has long been an issue of contention, along with the introduction of separate Parliaments in Wales and Scotland. Among some of the other elements of the Constitutional Reform as proposed by this government is the decentralization of powers from Westminster and Whitehall. The role of the Lord Chancellor is rather controversial in the sense that his responsibilities are in conflict with the doctrine of the Separation of Powers. This doctrine states that the power of the state has to be divided between the three organs, namely the judiciary, legislature and executive. Each of the organs should operate independently and none will become all powerful. The Lord Chancellor, who is the member of the cabinet, is the head of the judiciary and is entitled to sit in the House of Lords to hear the appeal cases. Besides that, he is the speaker of the House of Lords, which is the legislative chamber. This direct conflict to the doctrine of separation of powers is seen to be incompatible with the independence of the judiciary. The fact that the Lord Chancellor is involved in all the three organs of government is said to be unacceptable. What about ensuring fair trial which requires that a judge must be independent of the government? However, one could have doubt as to whether the Lord Chancellor, when sitting as a judge, would be biased against the government. In light of the proposed Constitutional Reform the Lord Chancellor because of his responsibility in connection with this system of justice, he should no longer be allowed to sit as a judge hearing a case. Apart from the office of the Lord Chancellor being revamped is the proposed creation of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The government also announced in 2003 that it would end the constitutional anomaly under which a House of Lords Committee served as Britains final Court of Appeal, and replace it with a 12-member Supreme Court located in its own building. Among some of the criticisms is the fear expressed by some judges that the Supreme Court will become more powerful than the House of Lords Committee it is supposed to replace, and the possibility that this court can assert itself in opposition to government. There is also the argument that any change to the present British Constitution would destabilize the nation and would be detrimental to its citizens, however, one can surely realize that the simple fears and concerns being expressed are no more than children throwing tantrums when they have been taken away from that which they are accustomed. Are we so afraid of change that we are not seeing the benefit which these two drastic changes will offer, not only for the reputation and character of the United Kingdom but also to the citizens it governs? The Supreme Court will be bolder in vindicating both the freedoms of individuals. What this means is that the twelve justices which will be appointed will be the final arbitrators between the citizens and the state and they will be the ultimate checks and balances that the law is correctly and fairly applied. This is just a case of changing the form rather than the substance of the United Kingdom. There is little difference in the work the Supreme Court does. The case work that will be dealt with by the Supreme Court is the same that comes before justices as they sit as Law Lords in Parliament. The marked difference is that they will be leaving the House of Lords and will be therefore independent of Parliament. The issues are these: We have a situation where the Judges who decide cases in the House of Lords are the very judges who sit in Parliament where laws are being made. It is a clear overlap of powers when it is observed that these said members of the judiciary are participating in the law making process as well. It is nothing less than a protracted brainwash if this is not observed as a benefit of the reform. It is not only about allocating balanced power to the judiciary, independence doctrine of the United Kingdoms legal system is even guaranteed from the grass root. The most important theme of this reform will be to modernize the legal system of the United Kingdom: putting more balanced power, independent mechanisms toward selecting the judges; all are the mechanism to reach equal human dignities. Is this not what we should strive for? Have we become so accustomed to our old ways that we are simply negating the issue of change no matter how positive it may be for us? Be this as it may, we seem to forget that this United Kingdom has a history of change which is only brought about to maintain our image of steadfastness and stability but enough to reflect the modern aspects of life. This separation brings the United Kingdom into line with many comparable modern states. It means the Supreme Court becomes the final pillar in the constitution: Parliament creates laws, the government and public bodies use those laws and the courts monitor their application. The issue with those who have severely criticized and believe in the hindering of this change is simply that members of the United Kingdom are very proud of their traditions and they attempt to maintain same. However, every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. It is only natural for this to be so. However we cannot let our love and passion for what has since been a tradition blind us to what the country needs for further development to take place. We cannot forget the ideality of the Separation of Powers we have been striving to achieve by simply shutting down the very change which may bring about this ideal. The change in function of the Lord Chancellor and the advent of the Supreme Court must not be treated as a short glass of cheap whiskey which one simply engorges rather let us treat it as a bottle of fine wine which increases in value over time.

The Speech of Marcus Antonius in Julius Caesar -- William Shakespeare

The speech made by Marcus Antonius, called Antony, in Act Three, Scene Two of Julius Caesar shows that despite being considered a sportsman above all else, he is highly skilled with the art of oratory as well. In the play by William Shakespeare, this speech is made at the funeral of Caesar after he is killed by Brutus and the other conspirators. Brutus claimed earlier, in his own funeral speech, that the killing of Caesar was justified. He felt that Caesar was a threat, and too ambitious to be allowed as ruler. Much of this sentiment, however, was developed by the treacherous Cassius. Antony, on the other hand, felt that the conspirators were traitors to Rome and should be dealt with. This speech used a variety of methods to gradually bring the crowd to his side, yet maintain his side of the deal with Brutus. This deal was that he, â€Å"shall not in your funeral speech blame us...† (3.1.245) for the death of Caesar. Antony holds his end of the deal for the majority of the speech, yet by doing so convinces the crowd of Brutus' and the others' disloyalty. In many ways, this speech can be seen as the ultimate rhetoric, and it includes all three of Aristotle's methods of persuasion. This are the appeal to credibility, called ethos, the appeal to emotions, called pathos, and the appeal to logic, called logos. All three of these devices are used to great effect during the speech of Marcus Antonius. Antony begins with the now famous words, â€Å"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.†(3.2.62) In referring to the commoners as equals, they feel a sense of empathy even at the first line. This can be seen as a sort of ethos. He goes on to say that Brutus has said that Caesar was ambitious, and that this, if true, is a serious... ...2.248) Antony, though he kept to his bargain, brought the audience to his side in a variety of ways. He used all three methods of persuasion to his advantage. He claimed the killers of Caesar to be honorable and noble, and in the very act of doing so turned Brutus' followers against him. This shows the true ability of Marcus Antonius, and that he is a far greater threat than the conspirators recognized. This power of words is well known, and Aristotle's three methods of persuasion live on in modern speechwriters. Ethos, logos, and pathos are just as effective in our time as in that of Shakespeare, the Roman Empire, and wherever there are people to speak and people to listen. Thus even today, this speech of Shakespeare through Antony shows the sheer impact that mere words can have. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. New York: Simon, 1975.

Ethical Issues Created by Technology Essay

It is my belief that a crucial part of the ethics of business is computer ethics or information ethics. Most corporations today are teetering on whether computer improprieties are a violation of â€Å"professional ethic† rather than a legal ethics issue. The purpose of this paper will be to examine some of the ethical issues of the Internet as it relates to the theft of private or personal information from the material sent over the Internet. Professional ethics can best be defined as learning what is right or wrong as it relates to the workplace and then doing the right thing. This Code of Professional Ethics lays down the standards of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality which all members of that particular profession shall be bound to respect in their work. Where as legal ethics is best defined as principles of conduct that members of the profession are expected to observe in the constraints of the governing laws. These ethics are usually the outgrowth or the development of both case or Tort court findings and verdicts. To better explain this issue. The Internet is a global Web of linked networks and computers, whose nature is such that it is very difficult if not impossible, to determine its size at a given moment. It is indisputable, however, that the Internet recently has experienced a tremendous growth, with the ranks of new users swelling at ever-increasing rates. This expansion has catapulted it from the realm of academic research towards newfound mainstream acceptance and increased social relevance for the average individual. This increased reliance on the Internet has the potential to erode the personal privacy that an individual once took for granted. New users of the Internet generally do not realize that every post they make to a newsgroup, every piece of email they send, every World Wide Web page they access, and every item they purchase online is monitored or logged by some unseen third party. The impact on personal privacy is enormous. Databases of many different kinds, selling or giving away collections of personal data, already exist, and this practice will only become more common as the demand for this information grows. One of the most interesting examples is that of advertisers and marketers who, by using sophisticated new research, have begun to target the rapidly growing numbers of users online. World Wide Web sites and other interactive online services are being designed to capture the loyalty and spending power of â€Å"the lucrative cyber tot category.† A variety of new interactive advertising and marketing techniques have been developed specifically for this new medium. The right to privacy in Internet activity, especially in creating databases out of personal information, is a serious issue facing society. As such it raises serious ethical issues. An additional example is of the people on the Internet who use anonymous servers as a way to avoid responsibility for controversial and inappropriate behavior. Cases of harassment and abuse have become increasingly frequent, aided by a cloak of anonymity. There are also problems with fraud and scam artists who elude law enforcement authorities through anonymous mailings and postings. These types of examples describe the ethical issues created by technology and the people or corporations that control them. In conclusion I believe that the global nature of the Internet makes addressing the ethical issues associated with Internet or information privacy daunting and complex. It is an arena without walls or physical boundaries, where the ethical values vary from country to country. Even within the United States there is dissent and disagreement about the definitions of â€Å"Internet Privacy,† who owns that information, and what constitutes appropriate or inappropriate use of that information. Perhaps the issues that have been unsuccessfully resolved through the law (or because of a lack of relevant laws) can be resolved through the creation of moral and ethical guidelines that will frame the issues, at which point legal protections can be put in place.

The School of Athens - 1549 Words

Raphael’s â€Å"School of Athens† fresco is one of the four frescoes in the Stanza della Segnatura , in the Vatican. The walls are covered with four different scenes, each depicting a different theme. The School of Athens represents Philosophy. The techniques and figures used in the fresco not only pay homage to Raphael’s influences, but are also a presentation of the skills acquired from each. Almost as though he was submitting it for approval. As Raphael traveled throughout Italy, he formed relationships with, and learned a great deal from the masters of the age. In the School of Athens, Raphael depicts his teachers and influences in disguise and presents the skills learned from each. It is because of these influences and the creativity of†¦show more content†¦The figures in the School of Athens are noticeably turning, twisting, bending, and moving. This feat would not have been possible without the influence of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling. This change is Raphael’s style began after the preliminary unveiling of the ceiling. Raphael’s figures began to be more voluminous and hulking, similar to the Sybils on the Ceiling. An online art archive explained, â€Å"Following the preliminary unveiling of the Sistine ceiling in 1509, the figures in Raphaels pictures acquire more voluminous bodies and more powerful arms, and there is a reduction in their numbers. The bold twisting position adopted by the young woman in the Expulsion of Heliodorus - a pose which reappears in reverse in Raphaels late work, the Transfiguration - would be inconceivable without the influence of Michelangelo.† All doubt can be removed when comparing Raphael’s figures to those of Michelangelo’s Sybils on the Sistine Ceiling. â€Å"Any question as to the cause of the widely-acknowledged sudden change in Raphaels style after 1509 is removed for good, however, when we compare the Sibyls and Prophets executed b y Raphael in the Capella Chigi in S. Maria della Pace (1512) with those by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. In addition to the thematic kinship of these frescos with Michelangelo, Raphaels new approach to body volumes and twisting poses makes patently clear theShow MoreRelatedThe School of Athens2478 Words   |  10 Pagesbirthday, April 6, 1520. School of Athens Brief History: Raphael painted the School of Athens from-1510 Ââ€" 1512. He was commissioned by pope Julius II, with the recommendation of Donato Bramante, the popes architect, to work in the Vatican. His first work the School of Athens was loved so much by the pope that he commissioned Raphael to paint the entire papal suite. In the School of Athens, philosophers and intellects from different time periods are arranged as students in a school or academy where everyoneRead MoreEssay The School of Athens2445 Words   |  10 PagesApril 6, 1520. School of Athens Brief History: Raphael painted the School of Athens from-1510 – 1512. 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