Immigration law and its enforcement are controversial and highly debated topics. States are increasing their role in the enforcement of immigration law by enacting laws that allow local law enforcement to function as immigration officers with the intent of decreasing the illegal alien population within their jurisdiction. The primary focus of this thesis is to determine whether state and local police have the legal power to enforce immigration laws that have been the jurisdiction of the Federal Government for decades. There are two sides that are discussed in this thesis, the proponents who are in favor of increased participation and those who oppose it. The proponents argue that federal law has not preempted states from enforcing immigration law and that states have inherent authority to do this. The critics argue that this is unconstitutional because the constitution and other legal authorities grant exclusive power to the Federal Government in the area of immigration law. Through the analysis of constitutional provisions, case law and statutes, quantitative statistics, anecdotal evidence, federal and state programs, and governmental resources this thesis evaluates the current role of state and local authorities and proposes a different role for local jurisdictions in the enforcement of immigration law. Evidence shows that states are allowed to enforce some immigration laws but doing this has negative consequences for the people, the states, and the nation. Research shows that increased participation from local law enforcement leads to racial profiling, civil rights violations, and damages the relationship between the police and the community; therefore, the line between state and federal enforcement should be monitored carefully.

The thesis will conclude by identifying issues that courts and legislatures will have to address in the coming years to adequately deliver justice in a dynamic society that is prone to powerful technological change.; Though the Internet and social media are fairly recent developments, the legal principles and issues embodied in them are well-represented in the Constitution. Take, for example, the freedom of expression enumerated in the First Amendment. Though traditionally in print, pamphlets, and film, recent developments in technology such as Facebook and blogs have become the new standard forms of communication. Like the physical mediums that arose before them, issues arise of what limits, if any, should be placed on the speech. Given the guise of anonymity, people on the Internet have less accountability in the comments they make, which has led to things ranging from passionate political speech to what is known as cyber-bullying, which is online harassment that has led people to suicide. This thesis, however, will primarily focus on the Fourth Amendment's reasonable expectation of privacy. Because the information involved with the Internet and social media is digital, it is more difficult to identify when privacy has been breached. With a paper envelope, for example, one can tell if the seal was broken and the contents were potentially disclosed to an unwanted party. Electronically, however, no such seal exists to notify the sender or recipient of a communication. Furthermore, the Government has found itself under stricter scrutiny for searches with these new developments in technology; the lack of physical intrusion poses difficult questions for courts that must decide how far a reasonable expectation of privacy goes in the social media age. The thesis will also address how private companies obtain and use individuals' information through the services they provide and the issues that arise from them. Private companies have fewer restrictions than the Government, and both perspectives are important to keep in mind when trying to understand the policy implications rapid technological growth has brought about.

As newer technological advancements are developed and introduced, a question regarding their adoption into society has become known. If such advancements in technology mutually benefit the people using them as well as the environment we live in, should there not be provisions in place to incentivize the creation and purchase of these technological advancements. Electric vehicles are an advancement of technology that is currently available for widespread adoption in the transportation sector of our country. However, questions as to why EVs should be adopted will be asked by critics. That is the question this thesis attempts to answer. Our global environment, specifically in our country is constantly dealing with environmental damage that pollutes our atmosphere and exposes us to natural disasters that lead to loss of life. The pollution that arising from the tailpipes of a vehicle that runs on fuel that is non-renewable is one of the largest contributors to this travesty. Electric vehicles attempt to dissolve this issue while still keeping modes of transportation as is. When such attributes are available to use, when and how we use them depends upon the law. This thesis determines the drawbacks of traditional, fuel-burning vehicles, suggests how electric vehicles can make the environment a safer place, and most importantly, whether there are any incentives on the state level promoting the use of electric vehicles, as well as an in-depth study of any such incentives at the federal level and why there needs to be more. By comparing electric vehicles with traditional vehicles, as well as the infrastructure that is required to both fuel and build these vehicles, this thesis will clearly outline the benefits of electric vehicles and why it is dangerous to continue the use of fuel-burning vehicles. Thereafter this work will compare incentives from numerous states that are already in place and compare the progress on the state level to the federal level and why it is important that more federal incentives come into play.

Globalization is the promise of the future, and it presents, quite literally, a world of opportunities not available in the past. International collaborations in science, research, and business now enjoy increased probabilities of success, in part, because of the advance in technology and the possibility of instantaneous communications. The convenience, simplicity and affordability of technology are helping to make the world accessible to almost everyone. With new availability of international concerns and the growth of global partnerships in all areas of interest, an increased need arises for agreements that memorialize collaborators' commitments, responsibilities and obligations. There is a corresponding concern that the agreements be enforceable across national and international lines should anything go wrong. There is no collaboration, partnership or venture that will not be touched in some way by the law. Whose law governs and how rules and regulations of different nations will be applied are of escalating concern. Empirically examining the state of international contract law is the overarching focus of my research. Adopting a research methodology involving both quantitative and qualitative techniques, I am investigating whether any consistency exists between attorneys of different practice sectors (academic, government, corporate and private) considering choice of law, enforcement of contract provisions, and the inclusion of preventative measures of international contracts. My results contribute to the future success of international collaborations of all concerns by empirically identifying the need for increased education on various dispute resolution options, as well as the effect cultural awareness has on the drafting of international contracts.

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis contains a historical overview of Florida's education program with an examination of legislation, policy development, and case law. Legal disputes result in policy and code changes in Florida school districts. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the dominant weak link leading to the circumstances upon which Florida schools are compelled to litigate. The roles of administrators, faculty, staff, parents, students, and those who are contracted to provide services are examined, as well as policy issues. The methodology consists of relevant literature review of statutes, cases, and articles within the past ten years and a survey circulated to school board attorneys requesting key information about the five most recent cases that have either settled or been adjudicated. Documentation reviewed reflects that the legislature, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Education, has' built an infrastructure creating better communication with school communities in order to identify and make necessary changes for school improvement. The data collected from this study is aimed at assisting administrators and school board attorneys, as well as other interested parties, to identify major issues commonly litigated against Florida K-12 public schools, determine the problematic circumstances causing the litigation, and formulate suggestions for resolution.

For many centuries, homosexual behavior has been viewed differently by many cultures. The Greeks and Romans practiced homosexuality openly while other cultures, such as our own, condemn the practice because of religious and moral beliefs. The decision of Lawrence v. Texas has had a hefty impact on homosexual rights because it was the first instance in which the Supreme Court recognized the rights of same-sex partners to be intimate. This thesis will explore the new rights given (although not expressly) to same· sex couples in Lawrence, the decriminalization of intimate homosexual behavior, and how these rights relate to the possible future rights of same-sex marriages or civil unions.

Government propaganda has been a topic of interest since America was founded, and today is no exception. Every recent Presidential Administration has been accused of using taxpayer dollars to fund propaganda. Although the funding of propaganda has been prohibited by the Consolidated Appropriations Act since 1951, it still occurs frequently. There is no entity that reviews government correspondence before it is released to the public, so government agencies are free to produce what they feel is appropriate even if it is prohibited by the Act. Furthermore, there is no law that specifically forbids government propaganda, and the current punishments amount to a slap on the wrist making the production covert propaganda worth the risk. This thesis will also look at the Smith-Mundt Act and the media that it funds for foreign audiences. The material produced through this Act is banned from being disseminated in the U.S. The Smith-Mundt Act's ban does not take into account for the technological advances that have occurred since 1948 making the ban problematic for public diplomacy. The intent of this thesis is to evaluate the current state of government propaganda and determine what changes need to occur in order to curtail or eliminate government propaganda. This research will analyze the current laws and types of propaganda that are being used while taking into account the relevant history, frequently used types, and methods of propaganda.

Controversy surrounds the use of Genetically Modified organisms (GMOs): whether the process of developing GMOs should be allowed, and if so, how they should be labeled. Efforts by activist groups have caused food associated with GMOs to carry a stigma, but farmers across the nation are fighting to continue to grow GMO crops and maximize their yield. In the 1970’s, GMOs were credited for assisting in the attempt to defeat world hunger and had a positive image. However, there has been a recent trend toward political and consumer resistance of food items that contains GMOs. A prediction of an abrupt population increase, combined with sudden climate changes, present further complications for world hunger, and make GMOs even more essential in today’s society. Additionally, farmers must now consider certain potential legal liabilities when buying seed, planting crops, and marketing their crops. This thesis will examine United States federal and state law to review how courts have ruled on tort claims in order to determine the potential and future liabilities that farmers producing GMO crops might face. This thesis will also examine the regulations by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the federal laws they must comply with to determine if they need to be increased or if they are sufficient. Scientific studies will be used to assess the health risks associated with the consumption of GMOs and the impact they have on the environment. This thesis will also examine the First Amendment to determine how GMO foods should be labeled, so as to not interfere with consumers’ right to know if their food was genetically modified. Also, it will look at the impact labeling may have on the price of food in the United States, if mandated. Lastly, in order to understand the role that GMOs might play in the future with an increasing population, this thesis will review the work of Dr. Borlaug and how the implementation of GMOs assisted in alleviating a hunger crises in the 1970’s when the supply of food could not meet the demand.