Monday, December 30, 2019

Agendas of the US House of Representatives and Senate

The House of Representatives and the Senate make up the two â€Å"chambers† of the Legislative Branch of the United States federal government. Their daily agendas of legislative business are determined by their presiding officers. In the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House sets the daily agenda, while the Senate’s legislative calendar is set by the Senate majority leader in consultation with the chairmen and ranking members of the various Senate committees. 116th U.S.Congress, 1st Session Agenda items listed here are those published in the Daily Digest of the Congressional Record. The agendas are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the presiding officers. House Agenda for December 13, 2019:  House will meet in a pro forma session. Note: The rules of suspensions is a shortcut in the legislative process allowing bills with little or no opposition to be grouped together on a Suspensions Calendar and passed en-masse by a voice vote without debate. There is no corresponding rule of suspensions in the Senate. House Roll Call Votes as compiled and reported by the Clerk of the House. Political Makeup of the House 234 Democrats - 197 Republicans - 1 Independents - 3 Vacancies   Senate Agenda for December 13, 2019:  Senate will meet in a pro forma session. Political Makeup of the Senate 53 Republicans - 45 Democrats - 2 Independents Also See: Quick Study Guide to the US CongressWhat is a Pro Forma Session of Congress?The Supermajority Vote in Congress

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Machiavellis Idea Of Government Essay - 1514 Words

MACHIAVELLI: THE PRINCE: Themes and Ideas nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;During Machiavelli’s time, society was much different than it had been for previous philosophers. Instead of storing up good works, so as to enjoy paradise, as the medieval man did, the Renaissance man was interested in all things, enjoyed life, strove for worldly acclaim and wealth, and had a deep interest in classical civilizations. He was born at a time of conflict within Florence, Italy, between the republican leaders and the family of the Medici’s, of which the Machiavelli’s, especially, had a history of opposition towards. After years of conflict between powers, Machiavelli was exiled from his country. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;It was during this exile that†¦show more content†¦He sees no purpose in restraining and controlling oneself for the society because the society will not prosper if the ruler does not. Ruthlessness, maliciousness, and deviousness are all hailed as being acceptable, in fact encouraged, as means of securing position of power. Through his prioritizing, Machiavelli does not seem to be as concerned with the society and the individual as the previous philosophers in history have been. Rather, he sees power as the one and only goal in life, regardless of the individual or the state. Again, though, he is a reflection of his times. The men of the Renaissance era wanted many things--money, power, enjoyment in life--regardless of the moral cost. Others would argue that these superfluities either meant nothing or would not occur without restraining the desires of both ones self and ones state. One needs balance of everything in order to reach the ideals of perfe ction, but Machiavelli would argue that perfection is not real and so is not worth striving for. Instead, one must live for ones self. He makes the generalization of men that: they are ungrateful, fickle, dissembling, anxious to flee danger, and covetous of gain. So long as you promote their advantage, they are all yours. . .and will offer you their blood, their goods, their lives, and their childrenShow MoreRelatedComparison Between Nicolo Machiavelli And Thomas Hobbs1748 Words   |  7 Pagesbetween Nicolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbs There are many philosophers that have different ideals and views on certain subjects and topics. This is often due to the fact that they were alive during certain time periods which were often having problems therefore affecting the philosopher’s views on what is right or wrong. Due to this fact the philosophers Machiavelli and Hobbs had both similar and contrasting ideals on the purpose of the government or kings and the way said government is supposed toRead MoreSocrates And Machiavelli s Views On Violence And Violent Actions1687 Words   |  7 PagesSocrates and Machiavelli hold vastly different views on violence and violent actions, the former advocates strongly that it is always better to be harmed rather than to harm while the latter argues that violence is essential, when used correctly, in order to gain and maintain power. These contrasting views on violence both hold merit, yet the question of which view is more corrupting depends strongly on what corruption is defin ed as, and thus, which view fits this definition. Socrates is determinedRead MoreNiccolà ² Machiavellis Acquisition of Power Essay1327 Words   |  6 PagesNiccolà ² Machiavelli is representative of Renaissance thinkers in his perception of government. No longer was government seen as an institution granted by God but rather governments were largely becoming arrangements or contracts between those that govern and the governed. Thinkers from Aristotle to Francis Bacon would expound on this idea of a social contract, but none would exemplify the realism and ruthlessness of modern politics like Machiavelli. While the word Machiavellian has become partRead MoreAre the Political Ideas of Machiavelli Still Relevant in Todays World?827 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Political Ideas of Machiavelli still relevant in Today’s World? Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 in Florence. Machiavelli was considered one of the most controversial political philosophers of his time. Machiavelli began working in the Florence government at a young age, employed as a clerk and later as an ambassador to the â€Å"Holy Roman Emperor Maximilan, the King of France and Pope Julius II.† Throughout his employment with the government of Florence, Machiavelli began noticingRead MoreSimilarities Between Machiavelli And Hobbes1205 Words   |  5 Pagesinsanity. (Tolkien) While The Lord of the Rings was simply a fantasy, it conveyed a real message about the danger produced when a man is given power. For centuries, men have pondered over ideas similar to this; how much power is too much power? And how much power should a man employ to hold an ideal government? This governmental â€Å"ideal† is what Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince strived to achieve and how Tomas Hobbes’ governmental steps in Th e Leviathan resulted. During the dramatic changes of theRead MoreAdolf Hitler to Machiavellis The Prince1671 Words   |  7 PagesWhen Machiavelli wrote The Prince in the 1500s, his intentions did not apply to the twentieth century. Some very important figures of the twentieth century used basic ideals from The Prince to obtain and maintain their position in power. One of these individuals was Adolf Hitler. Hitler used numerous Machiavellian ideas to win his respective place in Germanys government. The two most important Machiavellian principles that Hitler used were winning the people and how he dealt with cruelty andRead MoreNiccolo Machiavelli s The Qualities Of The Prince And Lao Tzu1198 Words   |  5 Pages Government: A Profound Leader Since the being of time, humans have sought out law, or government. Governments have been set in place all throughout the world to try to maintain peace and order. As easy as it sounds, governments can be demolished without the right leader. However, that is the catch, what makes a good leader? Niccolo Machiavelli’s â€Å"The Qualities of the Prince† and Lao-Tzu’s â€Å"Tao-te Ching† gives some ideas on how a leader should control their government. Although Machiavelli’sRead MoreModern Political Theory: Rousseau and Machiavelli Essay962 Words   |  4 Pages Machiavelli and Rousseau, both influential philosophers, were innovators of their time. They represented different ideas on what the state of nature and government should consist of, having both similarities and differences. Their viewpoints evolved from different time periods, which make them unique. Machiavelli, the sixteenth century Italian diplomat expressed, that a Prince should be unethical in achieving power. He argued that to be successful in politics certain qualities were of importanceRead More Analysis of Mores The Prince and Utopia Essay1545 Words   |  7 Pageswith Raphael Nonsenso and his travels to Utopia. Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy in 1469 to a middleclass family. The time in which Machiavelli lived Italy as a country was not united but divide and split into little providences and republics. He latter became responsible for the Florentine militia against the Medici government and rule. When the Medici power reclaimed Florence Machiavelli was arrested for conspiracy he was tortured and then banished from FlorenceRead MoreAnalysis Of Niccolï ¿ ½ Machiavelli858 Words   |  4 PagesNiccolà ² Machiavelli, shared the qualities that he believed a strong leader should have in order to run a successful government in a piece of writing called The Prince. In this book, Machiavelli lists the main ideas or rules that a leader should follow in order to maintain his principality or government. For centuries, governments have been influenced by the political views that he shares in his manuscript. Even in the United States of America, his teachings impact the way that the government is run

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Great Expectations A Character-Driven Novel Free Essays

The novel, Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens is heavily a character-driven novel due to the fact that the sequence of events in the novel are causes and effects of the actions of the characters as well as the interactions between them. The novel mainly depicts the growth and development of an orphan named Pip, who is greatly influenced by the other characters and became a gentleman and a bachelor in the end of the novel through his encounters with the other characters. Pip, as the main character, definitely has a lasting impact on the drive of the novel since his decisions are very instrumental and effective towards the other characters as well as to himself. We will write a custom essay sample on Great Expectations: A Character-Driven Novel or any similar topic only for you Order Now This phenomenon applies to not only Pip, but to the other characters, especially Estella, Miss Havisham, Joe, and Abel Magwitch. Everything a character does and every encounter between the characters in Great Expectation has an effect on the flow of the plot and situation of the novel. Before the very beginning of the novel, the conflict of the novel is already set in motion. Pip is an orphan at the start of the novel as his parents were long gone and he lives with his sister, Mrs. Joe, and her husband, Joe, the blacksmith. As a result of the two siblings and the older sibling’s husband living together without any parents, the family was relatively poor. Thus, in addition to Mrs. Joe’s strict attitude and the fact that his status is in the lower class, Pip had a rough childhood. The fact that Pip had a childhood full of hardship and is poor sets up for his later decision to become a gentleman through a secret benefactor. When Pip do decides to leave for a new life in London, he upsets Biddy and especially Joe as he recently became an apprentice of his; their life-long friendship falls apart. This is one of the major decisions Pip has to make and it changed the entire course of the plot as the setting of the story shifts from Pip’s first known home in Kent to London since the novel follows where Pip goes and the direction of the story changes from Pip’s apprenticeship with Joe in blacksmithing to Pip’s new fortune of a career in a new place. If Pip had not been an orphan or lived with a poor family, the major plot would not have existed as Pip’s transformation to a gentleman is the key. Pip would never have met half the characters of the novel such as his best friend, Herbert, Jaggers, and Wemmick. The novel would be driven into a different direction. Dickens was able to produce a novel that makes sense and that reflects his view of what a â€Å"coming of age† novel would be like by making the main character a poor orphan from the start only to turn him into a wealthy gentleman later and then into a hardworking bachelor. Another beforehand affected character, who has a deep impact towards the novel’s state of conflict, is Miss Havisham as she is the mastermind behind Estella’s cold behavior and wants to get revenge on men just because one man, Compeyson, who is supposed to be her husband, left her on their wedding day before the start of the novel. This one particular major event of Miss Havisham’s life changed her life forever as she was heartbroken and turned into a crazy and vengeful woman. She has ever since lived in the moment when she got the note that her wedding with Compeyson was off as all her clocks stayed at the same time of that moment and she still wears her bridal clothing from back then. The fact that she got rejected by her future husband induced her to hate men in general, to never love them again, and to adopt a child for herself, which happens to be Estella, the long-lost child of Abel Magwitch and Molly. All of this leads to the intimidating duo of Estella and Miss Havisham at Satis House, whom Pip fears and terrorizes him for much of the better first part of the novel. Miss Havisham’s background story sets up for her influence on changing and manipulating the beautiful Estella’s life as well as Pip’s. Miss Havisham reveals that she has been giving orders to Estella to accomplish her goals for her as Estella is very attractive by acting dispassionate towards her suitors. During Pip’s meetings with Miss Havisham, Pip first thought of the idea of becoming a gentleman and leaving his poor life. When he is informed of a fortune that will due to be his, he thought his secret benefactor was Miss Havisham, so he became confident of her kindness and Estella’s hand in marriage. Miss Havisham drives the plot by giving Pip the idea to leave his first known home away from Joe, Mrs. Joe, and Biddy. In addition, she was thoroughly thought to be the secret benefactor of Pip throughout the novel until Magwitch revealed it was him. Later, Miss Havisham changes her personality and became a totally different person as she regrets the pain she had given Pip and it was assumed she attempted suicide by catching herself on fire, leading Pip to rescue her. This event also influenced Pip to realize that his great expectations are not very significant towards him, but human feelings. Thus, he thanks and prays for Miss Havisham’s well being and made up with Joe and Biddy for leaving them in the first place to be a gentleman. Also, Miss Havisham let Estella go free to do whatever she wants, so she married Drummle. However, she realizes that Drummle is not the man for her and after his death, she meets Pip and finally admits that she now sees that Pip has feelings of love for her. Dickens was once again clever to come up with such a disheartening background story for Miss Havisham that can explain her wild behavior and set up her personality change, which to a great extent affected the lives of Estella and Pip greatly. Another major instance of the plot being greatly influenced include Estella’s background story along with her secret connection to Magwitch and Molly. Estella is also an â€Å"orphan,† but not as the same extent to Pip because she was adopted by Miss Havisham and both of her parents were still alive at the start of the novel. Estella’s life changed when there was trouble between her two parents in the past as her mother, Molly, was accused of killing a woman over her real husband, Abel Magwitch, or Estella’s father. Molly was also accused of murdering her daughter, Estella, but she is clearly alive, so that clears up the accusation. Also, Jaggers defended Molly in court by saying she was too weak to strangle another person. Then, the family separated afterwards, which lead the three members of the family to different directions in their lives: Molly became Jagger’s housekeeper, Magwitch became an infamous convict, and Estella was adopted by Miss Havisham. All of these events wouldn’t have happened if Molly was a mentally unstable woman, who thought of murdering someone and had destroyed her own child unbeknownst to her husband. The family’s past leads them to their new personalities in the novel and were important characters that lead the buildup of the climax of Great Expectations. In conclusion, the novel, Great Expectations, has an outstanding â€Å"Literary Quality† as the course of the novel is greatly affected by the effects of character movement and their involvements with each other. There were many pieces in the novel that has led to an impactful shift towards the novel’s plot and conflict story with each and every character in the novel having some contributions towards it. How to cite Great Expectations: A Character-Driven Novel, Papers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Sources of Arbitration Rules

Question: Discuss about theSources of Arbitration Rules. Answer: Introduction The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators defines arbitration as settlement of disputes outside of court by a third party whose decision is binding.[1] Arbitration is a legal method of seeking redress in the sense that it is provided for by the law. The only difference is that awards are decided by arbitrators and not a court of law. There are also rules that regulate arbitration to ensure that it is just, fair and bears positive results. These rules dictate how parties relate and how the third parties interact with them. Sources of Arbitral Rules Arbitral rules are constructed in accordance with arbitrary law. Celik highlights that arbitrary law is characterized by confidentiality, freedom of choice and flexibility. Furthermore, she notes down sources of these laws[2] The Arbitration Act 1996[3] gives arbitration procedures independence from the courts. These means that the court only comes in to appointing arbitrators, enforce awards or when either party seeks to dispute the award given. Civil Procedure Rules[4] further dictate how courts handle civil cases. These rules, however, also provide guidelines on the involvement of courts in arbitrary cases. [5] UNCITRAL Model Rules for Arbitration[6] which the United Kingdom is party to. However, there are reservations on certain clauses. However, the New York Convention of 1958 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards provides that awards be enforceable by High Courts of member countries. The UK is a party to this treaty hence these rules applies to arbitration. In further discussing these rules, Latham and Watkins introduce three institutions that are factored in a while choosing which rules to apply.[7] ICC[8], LCIA[9], and ICDR[10] are most favorable to apply since they are internationally recognized and also merge well with local laws. These institutions supervise arbitrary cases by receiving submissions, supervising appointment of the arbitrator/ tribunal and also addressing any upcoming issues with regards to the effectivity of the arbitrator. However, ICC has additional provisions[11] such as preparation of terms of reference inclusive of the claims, defenses, and relief being sought and an analysis of draft awards by their court before they can be awarded. These provisions protect the interests of both parties by ensuring that their tights are upheld. This, however, comes at an added cost. Bargaining Power of Parties In accessing fairness in arbitration, the parties are at liberty to decide together on their arbitrator, the rules they will apply, the place of arbitration and the language of arbitration. This ensures that each party is content and believes that their best interests have been considered. Equity and its principles factor in. For example, a court can remove an arbitrator that is deemed to be biased to one party.[12] In Copeley Ltd vs. Bingham Another[13] Cofely acted as an arbitrator on severally in proceedings where Knowles was one of the parties. These cases contributed to 25% of Cofelys incomes and where found in favor of the claimant. The court held that indeed there were doubts as to the independence of the arbitrator. This is because it seems that he could be in cahoots with the claimant to earn unfairly. Brazell and Paranavitane[14] highlight that principles of equity were applied to ensure confidentiality of information is upheld. This means that parties were able to hold arbitrators accountable if at all they breached any of the terms. Torts and equitable remedies provide the channel to seek redress even in arbitration. In arbitration, even he who has the superior bargaining advantage must act in the required manner if he stands a chance to win the case. This means that whether they can afford the best legal representation or the arbitration laws favour them, they must act in clean hands.[15] Conclusion In assessing which rules protect the minority from that which has higher bargaining power, there is no specific set of rules that directly speak to this. What is best is that both parties analyze which rules apply best to the issue in question, cater to their geographical mobility and financial constraints. This way, they will have knowledgeable and experienced arbitrators that understand their field and terminologies that apply. Ultimately, even the awards granted will be fair. Bibliography Brazell, L. and Paranavitane, V,.(May 2015) Protecting trade secrets under English law. Retrieved from https://www.osborneclarke.com/insights/Protecting-trade-secrets-under-English-law/ Celik, Michelle. Legal Information Management; Cambridge (Sep 2009): Sources of Arbitration Law. 199. Retrieved from https://www.cambridge.org/core/article/div-class-title-sources-of-arbitration-law-div/B3D1E4C8BCAA171A909381D37132AB45 Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. What is Arbitration? (2016). Retrieved from https://www.ciarb.org/dispute-appointment-service/arbitration/what-is-arbitration Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. CIArb Arbitration Rules. Practice and Standards Committee. 1 December 2015. Retrieved from https://www.ciarb.org/docs/default-source/das/ciarb-arbitration-rules.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Latham Watkins. International Arbitration Practice: Guide to International Arbitration. Williams J, Lal, H Gump, H, R. Arbitration Procedures and Practices in the UK (England and Wales): overview. Global Practical Guide 2016/2017. Retrieved from global.practicallaw.com/arbitration-guide