Information technology has transformed the manner in which personal identifying information is collected, stored and shared in government agencies and private businesses. The social security number has become the de facto identifier for individuals due to its notable qualities: a nine-digit number assigned to one person by the United States government. As individuals are increasingly asked to disclose personal information, the question arises: How does the lack of awareness of social security number laws contribute to the loss of privacy, loss of control of personal information and the threat of identity theft? This study examines awareness levels of social security number laws and policies that affect individuals’ daily lives from the perspective of the information science profession. This study also examines concerns relative to widespread usage of the social security number. A quantitative research method using an online survey was employed using convenience and snowball sampling of adult university students and other community members. Survey results were analyzed by age, gender, educational achievement and student status. Awareness levels were shown to differ significantly by age. There were no differences in overall concern found to exist by any demographic. Survey results showed libraries were consulted for privacy information less often than search engines. Study findings support increasing awareness levels of privacy laws by encouraging use of library resources.

Information technology has transformed the manner in which personal identifying information is collected, stored and shared in government agencies and private businesses. The social security number has become the de facto identifier for individuals due to its notable qualities: a nine-digit number assigned to one person by the United States government. As individuals are increasingly asked to disclose personal information, the question arises: How does the lack of awareness of social security number laws contribute to the loss of privacy, loss of control of personal information and the threat of identity theft? This study examines awareness levels of social security number laws and policies that affect individuals’ daily lives from the perspective of the information science profession. This study also examines concerns relative to widespread usage of the social security number. A quantitative research method using an online survey was employed using convenience and snowball sampling of adult university students and other community members. Survey results were analyzed by age, gender, educational achievement and student status. Awareness levels were shown to differ significantly by age. There were no differences in overall concern found to exist by any demographic. Survey results showed libraries were consulted for privacy information less often than search engines. Study findings support increasing awareness levels of privacy laws by encouraging use of library resources.

The goal of this diploma thesis: The fluence of man on increasing corporate social responsibility is describe the meaning of social responsibility and options how to increase it. Is possible to increase responsibility of corporation by employee or customer? How we can recognize that their behaviour isnť only good promotional tactic as a public relation and commercial? How government can support this behaviour and is realistic to force corporate to be morale with using the right? The result of this thesis will be find out what does it means social responsibility for normal people nowadays and what saying companies especially in Prague. Keywords Social responsibility, corporate social responsibility, ethics, individual ethics, business ethics, environment, human influence, commercial, state, law

submitted by Li Jiehui. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-126). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.v / Abstract --- p.vi / Abbreviations --- p.viii / Tables and figures --- p.ix / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- The research question --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- The research method --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- The legal and political scales --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- The adaptation of Page's method in China --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- The utilities of the two scales --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3 --- The research plan --- p.8 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Central-local relations in China: an overview --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1 --- Major reforms in central-local relations --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2 --- Provinces under the economic cycle --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3 --- The case of Guangdong --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Legal assessment I: China --- p.16 / Chapter 3.1 --- The general legal framework --- p.17 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Omni-competence --- p.17 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Dual subordination --- p.18 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- The role of the Party --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2 --- Legal documents and opportunities --- p.21 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- National laws --- p.21 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Administrative regulations --- p.22 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Government/Party documents --- p.24 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Local legislation --- p.27 / Chapter 3.3 --- Assessing legal localism --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Legal assessment II: Guangdong --- p.30 / Chapter 4.1 --- Build up a legal framework: 1979-1988 --- p.31 / Chapter 4.2 --- Recession: 1989-1990 --- p.34 / Chapter 4.3 --- Legislation of interests: 1991 -now --- p.34 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- The case of the regulation for property registration --- p.37 / Chapter 4.4 --- Development of other provinces: a comparison --- p.40 / Chapter 4.5 --- Major findings --- p.43 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Political assessment I: China --- p.44 / Chapter 5.1 --- Page's methodology --- p.44 / Chapter 5.2 --- The conventional approach --- p.45 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- The National People's Congress --- p.46 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- The CCP Politburo --- p.48 / Chapter 5.3 --- The mechanism of maintaining local representation --- p.50 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Patron-clientelism in Italy --- p.50 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Reciprocal accountability and particularism in China --- p.51 / Chapter 5.4 --- Assessing political localism --- p.53 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Political assessment II: Guangdong --- p.55 / Chapter 6.1 --- 1979-1984: harmonious central-Guangdong relations --- p.55 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Preparation of the special policies --- p.56 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Contents of the special policies --- p.57 / Chapter 6.1.3 --- Ren Zhongyi' s period --- p.58 / Chapter 6.1.4 --- Central criticism and Guangdong' response --- p.59 / Chapter 6.1.5 --- The first five years of reform --- p.61 / Chapter 6.2 --- 1985-1988: the climax of Guangdong's autonomy --- p.62 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- State Council Document (1985) No46 --- p.62 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- State Council Correspondence (1988) No25 --- p.64 / Chapter 6.3 --- 1989-1997: defending local autonomy --- p.66 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Economic retrenchment and Guangdong's response --- p.66 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Introduction of tax-sharing system --- p.68 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Resisting “northerners´ح --- p.70 / Chapter 6.3.4 --- The coming of outsiders --- p.71 / Chapter 6.4 --- Major findings --- p.72 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- The trend of change --- p.74 / Chapter 7.1 --- The connection between legal and political localism --- p.75 / Chapter 7.1.1 --- Scenario I --- p.75 / Chapter 7.1.2 --- Scenario II --- p.78 / Chapter 7.1.3 --- Scenario III --- p.80 / Chapter 7.1.4 --- Some observation --- p.84 / Chapter 7.2 --- Implications on institutionalization --- p.85 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Definition of institutionalization --- p.85 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- The lack of institutionalization in China --- p.86 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Institutionalization and Guangdong --- p.88 / Chapter 7.3 --- Legal localism: a desirable outcome --- p.91 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Major features of political localism and legal legalism --- p.91 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- Implications on institutionalization --- p.96 / Chapter 7.3.3 --- Desirability of legal localism --- p.98 / Chapter 7.3.4 --- The course towards legal localism --- p.98 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Conclusion --- p.102 / Chapter 8.1 --- Legal centralism and political localism --- p.102 / Chapter 8.2 --- The lack of institutionalization --- p.103 / Chapter 8.3 --- The prospects: legal localism or dual localism --- p.104 / Chapter 8.4 --- Directions for further studies --- p.106 / Appendices / Chapter I --- A complete list of local legislation of Guangdong --- p.108 / Chapter II --- "Leaders of Guangdong Province, 1949-1998" --- p.118 / References --- p.119

Globalization has significantly increased the number of stakeholders in transnational issues in recent decades. The typical list of the new players in global affairs often includes non-state actors like non-governmental organizations, multinational corporations, and international organizations. Sub-national governments, however, have been given relatively little attention even though they, too, have a significant interest and ability to shape the increasing flow of capital, goods, services, people, and ideas that has so profoundly influenced the global political economy in recent decades. California, arguably the most significant among sub-national governments – its economy would be seventh or eighth in the world at $2.2 trillion annually, it engages in over $570 billion in merchandise trade, and has a population of nearly 40 million, out of which over 10 million are immigrants – is also one of the most active in transnational issues. The state government has opened and closed dozens trade offices abroad since the 1960s. It set up a multi-billion dollar carbon cap-and-trade system jointly with the Canadian provinces of Québec and Ontario under Assembly Bill 32, one of the most significant pieces of climate change legislation to date. California’s educational, technological, and media hubs – its public and private universities, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood – draw some of the best and brightest from around the world. California also has a long history of involvement in transnational issues. State efforts to undermine growing Chinese then Japanese “menace” immigrant populations from the mid-19th through the mid-20th centuries influenced United States foreign policy. This thesis first takes a look at the federalism and international relations issues faced by California as it plays a greater role in transnational issues. Then, it examines the main actors and institutions, and the issues at play. The states have some leeway under the Constitution and contemporary political order to use their domestic powers to influence global issues, whether through climate legislation, public pension divestment, or non-binding “Memoranda of Understanding” with foreign governments. Such behavior, while less significant than national policy, can fill gaps in national policy, promote policy change, and deepen global ties, promoting a more complex interdependence among nations. California can also exert a moral, soft power influence in leading by example. The structures promoting California’s growing role in transnational issues are poorly organized. If the Golden State is to better leverage its political, economic, and moral authority internationally, it would do well to more explicitly develop a unified vision for its role in the world.

ABSTRACT Background: Previous criminal justice policies have been non-effective leading to overpopulated prisons and unsuccessful reintegration. There is a lack of effective supportive and/or rehabilitative services resulting in high rates of recidivism and mental health implications. Objective: This study investigated the perceived impact that incarceration and reintegration with little to no supportive and/or rehabilitative services has on the mental health status of an individual. The emphasis was on participant perception and not on professional reports because of underreporting and lack of attention to mental health in the criminal justice system. Methods: Focus groups in the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley were held to gather preliminary data used to develop the survey for this study. The survey was distributed to 88 male and female ex-offenders over the age of 18 who were no longer on probation or parole. Secondary data from United Way 211 and California State Reentry Initiative was collected to report current trends of supportive and/or rehabilitative services. Results: Incarceration was found to negatively impact perceived mental health status, but reintegration was not. Supportive and/or rehabilitative services continue to be rarely offered and accessed, but when accessed, perceived mental health status is better. Supportive and/or rehabilitative services are more readily available. People who are using these services are improving their quality of life, becoming productive members of society, and preventing recidivism. Conclusions: A paradigm shift is currently under way to reduce recidivism by improving supportive and/or rehabilitative services during incarceration and reintegration. Many offenders are receiving services as an alternative to incarceration, recidivism rates are being reduced, and ex-offenders are becoming productive members of society. The field of social work is an integral part of reentry services and should continue advocating for policies and services that support reintegration efforts at the micro and macro level.

Este tesis explorara las facetas de los derechos económicos de la mujeres antes, durante y despues del régimen de Pinochet. El primer capítulo se enfocara en resumir las políticas económicas y sociales de Allende, el antecesor de Pinochet. El segundo capítulo analiza el rol de la mujer en la casa y el trabajo en este momento, donde se determinó la diferencia salarial entre los dos sexos. El tercer capitulo demostrara una comparación entre las mujeres que son de clase altas versus las de las clases socio-económicas más bajas. El último capítulo tocara el tópico de la moderna perspectiva sobre los derechos de la mujer post-Pinochet. This thesis will explore the facets of the economic rights of women before, during, and after the Pinochet regime. The first chapter will focus on summarizing the economic and social policies of Allende, the predecessor of Pinochet. The second chapter analyzes the role of women in the home and work, where there will be a comparison on the wage difference between the two sexes. The third chapter will show the contrast between women who are in high-class status versus those of lower socio-economic classes. The last chapter will be relating to the modern perspective on the rights of women post-Pinochet.

Considerando a necessidade de comunicação entre a administração pública e a sociedade e seus cidadãos, da maneira mais efetiva e transparente possível, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar o conjunto de elementos de transparência das informações públicas apresentadas pelos gestores nos portais dos Institutos Federais da Região Sul do Brasil. Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa e qualitativa, aplicada quanto à sua finalidade, e exploratória quanto ao seu objetivo. No intuito de explicar a problemática a partir dos referenciais teóricos publicados, foi utilizado omo procedimento a pesquisa bibliográfica e o posterior estudo de campo nos seis Institutos Federais da Região Sul do Brasil. Assim, o referencial teórico abordou aspectos sobre a transparência pública e conceitos de informação e comunicação no setor público, apresentando índices de mensuração de transparência pública. O levantamento de dados junto aos Institutos buscou mensurar nos portais o grau de transparência das informações apresentadas pelos gestores, aplicando instrumento de pesquisa que permitiu a obtenção de índice de transparência para 11 categorias de itens pesquisados, além de verificar a presença nos portais dos itens considerados obrigatórios pela Lei de Acesso à Informação. Em um segundo momento, buscou verificar, por meio de questionário, a percepção dos gestores dos Institutos sobre os aspectos que compõem o tema proposto, a fim de observar como acontece esse processo de comunicação entre os órgãos públicos e o cidadão. Os principais resultados obtidos enfatizam, de maneira geral, um baixo índice de divulgação das informações públicas, com menor média de divulgação para informações sobre responsabilidade social, ambiental e econômica, e maior média para as informações relacionadas aos dados gerais da instituição, desde sua estrutura administrativa até sua regulamentação. Também foi observado que nenhuma instituição pesquisada cumpre integralmente com as exigências da Lei de Acesso à Informação. Os resultados sobre a percepção do gestor demonstram uma tendência de divulgar as informações produzidas, mas fatores como a desorganização das informações nos portais, a falta de padronização na estrutura virtual e no tipo de linguagem utilizada, bem como a falta de mecanismos de participação e interação popular nos portais são determinantes no tocante aos problemas de acesso e de comunicação com o público em geral. Além disso, o pouco tempo de criação das instituições pesquisadas e do exercício do cargo de seus gestores também deve ser considerado como reflexo para os resultados encontrados. Dessa forma, a presente pesquisa realçou a importância do tema Transparência Pública e alcançou um resultado positivo para uma contribuição científica e social. / Considering the need of communication between public management and society and its citizens, in a way which is more effective and transparent, the aim of this research was to analyze the transparency of public information presented by the managers of the portals of southern Brazil’s Federal Institutes. It is a qualitative and quantitative research, applied as its purpose, and exploratory as its aim. In order to explain the issue from the theoretical frameworks published, it will be used as a procedure the bibliographic research and the further study field research in the six southern Brazil’s Federal Institutes. Therefore, the theoretical framework approaches aspects about public transparency, concepts of information and communication in the public sector, and it presents measurement indexes of public transparency. The data collection with the Institutes sought to measure – in the portals – the level of transparency of the information presented by the managers, applying a search tool which provided the transparency index of eleven categories of the researched items, besides verifying the presence of the required items by Access to Information Law. In the sequence, it sought to verify the Institutes managers’ perception of the aspects which composes the proposed theme, for the purpose of observing how the process of communication between public agencies and the citizen is happening. The main results obtained emphasize, in a general way, a low level of public information propagation, with a lower average of propagation to the information about social, environmental and economic responsibility, and a greater average to the information related to the institution’s general data – from its management structure to its ordinance. It was also observed that no institution which was researched fully comply with the demands of the Access of Information Law. The results about the manager perceptio demonstrate a tendency in publishing the produced information, however, elements such disorganization of information in the portals, lack of standardization of the virtual structure and type of language to use, and lack of procedures of popular participation and interaction in the portals are determiners to bring problems in the access and in the communication with the public. Besides, the short time of institutions’ creation and the short time of the managers assuming their functions must be considered as a reflex of the found results. Therewith, the present study highlighted the importance of Public Transparency theme and it reached a positive result to a scientific and social contribution.

Considerando a necessidade de comunicação entre a administração pública e a sociedade e seus cidadãos, da maneira mais efetiva e transparente possível, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar o conjunto de elementos de transparência das informações públicas apresentadas pelos gestores nos portais dos Institutos Federais da Região Sul do Brasil. Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa e qualitativa, aplicada quanto à sua finalidade, e exploratória quanto ao seu objetivo. No intuito de explicar a problemática a partir dos referenciais teóricos publicados, foi utilizado omo procedimento a pesquisa bibliográfica e o posterior estudo de campo nos seis Institutos Federais da Região Sul do Brasil. Assim, o referencial teórico abordou aspectos sobre a transparência pública e conceitos de informação e comunicação no setor público, apresentando índices de mensuração de transparência pública. O levantamento de dados junto aos Institutos buscou mensurar nos portais o grau de transparência das informações apresentadas pelos gestores, aplicando instrumento de pesquisa que permitiu a obtenção de índice de transparência para 11 categorias de itens pesquisados, além de verificar a presença nos portais dos itens considerados obrigatórios pela Lei de Acesso à Informação. Em um segundo momento, buscou verificar, por meio de questionário, a percepção dos gestores dos Institutos sobre os aspectos que compõem o tema proposto, a fim de observar como acontece esse processo de comunicação entre os órgãos públicos e o cidadão. Os principais resultados obtidos enfatizam, de maneira geral, um baixo índice de divulgação das informações públicas, com menor média de divulgação para informações sobre responsabilidade social, ambiental e econômica, e maior média para as informações relacionadas aos dados gerais da instituição, desde sua estrutura administrativa até sua regulamentação. Também foi observado que nenhuma instituição pesquisada cumpre integralmente com as exigências da Lei de Acesso à Informação. Os resultados sobre a percepção do gestor demonstram uma tendência de divulgar as informações produzidas, mas fatores como a desorganização das informações nos portais, a falta de padronização na estrutura virtual e no tipo de linguagem utilizada, bem como a falta de mecanismos de participação e interação popular nos portais são determinantes no tocante aos problemas de acesso e de comunicação com o público em geral. Além disso, o pouco tempo de criação das instituições pesquisadas e do exercício do cargo de seus gestores também deve ser considerado como reflexo para os resultados encontrados. Dessa forma, a presente pesquisa realçou a importância do tema Transparência Pública e alcançou um resultado positivo para uma contribuição científica e social. / Considering the need of communication between public management and society and its citizens, in a way which is more effective and transparent, the aim of this research was to analyze the transparency of public information presented by the managers of the portals of southern Brazil’s Federal Institutes. It is a qualitative and quantitative research, applied as its purpose, and exploratory as its aim. In order to explain the issue from the theoretical frameworks published, it will be used as a procedure the bibliographic research and the further study field research in the six southern Brazil’s Federal Institutes. Therefore, the theoretical framework approaches aspects about public transparency, concepts of information and communication in the public sector, and it presents measurement indexes of public transparency. The data collection with the Institutes sought to measure – in the portals – the level of transparency of the information presented by the managers, applying a search tool which provided the transparency index of eleven categories of the researched items, besides verifying the presence of the required items by Access to Information Law. In the sequence, it sought to verify the Institutes managers’ perception of the aspects which composes the proposed theme, for the purpose of observing how the process of communication between public agencies and the citizen is happening. The main results obtained emphasize, in a general way, a low level of public information propagation, with a lower average of propagation to the information about social, environmental and economic responsibility, and a greater average to the information related to the institution’s general data – from its management structure to its ordinance. It was also observed that no institution which was researched fully comply with the demands of the Access of Information Law. The results about the manager perceptio demonstrate a tendency in publishing the produced information, however, elements such disorganization of information in the portals, lack of standardization of the virtual structure and type of language to use, and lack of procedures of popular participation and interaction in the portals are determiners to bring problems in the access and in the communication with the public. Besides, the short time of institutions’ creation and the short time of the managers assuming their functions must be considered as a reflex of the found results. Therewith, the present study highlighted the importance of Public Transparency theme and it reached a positive result to a scientific and social contribution.

Conceptually, South Africa is “one sovereign democratic state”, with a three-sphere governmental system operating co-operatively. Each sphere of government has “original” or constitutionally-allocated powers and functions, as well as legislative and executive powers. Thus, the governmental system is a hybrid or one sui generis, not benefiting from appropriate precedents. The status and autonomy given local government makes it somewhat unique in the world. Application of the principle of subsidiarity, and the mandate for local government to be developmental has resulted in the roles and responsibilities of municipalities being substantially increased, notwithstanding that most suffer from a lack of resources and capacity. Local authorities moved from the establishment of the first one in 1682 as providers of basic municipal services on the basis of race and affordability to democratically-elected ‘wall-to-wall’ municipalities in 2000. With 257 municipalities serving a population of 55.6 million, South African local authorities are comparatively large, spatially and demographically. Given the constitutional-statutory framework and the resultant complex operating environment, it is imperative that all municipalities are able to represent their interests in an intelligent, forceful, and unified manner on decision-making institutions to ensure a close fit between policies/programmes and peoples’ needs. Hence, effective municipal representation by knowledgeable, ethical and committed persons is imperative. The study provides a history of representation and local authority ‘development’ and underdevelopment in South Africa; a theoretical basis for representation; a review of formalism and government’s approach to development; co-operative governance and intergovernmental relations as a mechanism to facilitate municipal representation; an analysis local government powers, functions, status, autonomy, objects, rights and duties of municipalities; local participatory and representative democracy; and the establishment of municipalities. The constitutional and statutory provisions provide the foundation and framework to facilitate municipal representation. The study continues by analysing other mechanisms that enable municipal representation; a comparative review of local government and co-operative governance in certain select countries. It goes on to review the formal framework for organised local government in South Africa, including an overview of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). Finally, findings and recommendations are made toward a model for municipal representation in South Africa. / Public, Constitutional and International Law / LL. D.