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Opponents of gay marriage call it an attempt to obtain preferential treatment in the eyes of the law. Supporters see it as an opportunity to abolish the inherent discrimination against same-sex couples that exists in a non-inclusive legal definition of marriage. This ABC News program uses the landmark Lawrence v. Texas case and the legalization of gay marriage in Canada to shed light on the future of gay marriage in the U.S. Changing attitudes toward...
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The origins and historical context of the 4th Amendment are outlined along with a detailed explanation of "probable cause" and search warrant contents and requirements. Present-day situations and court cases are cited to illustrate the main challenge of interpreting the 4th Amendment-how do we find the balance between protecting society from criminal behavior and upholding individual rights to privacy and freedom from unreasonable searches?
5) Human rights
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This program sets two crucial human rights-related Constitutional amendments within the context of their historical times: Amendment 13, abolishing slavery throughout the U.S., and Amendment 14, defining U.S. citizenship and stipulating due process and equal protection under the law. Four additional amendments-11, judicial powers construed; 16, federal income tax; and 18 and 21, Prohibition and its repeal-are included as well. Correlates to all applicable...
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This program examines the issue of affirmative action with Lani Guinier, professor of law at the Univ. of Pennsylvania and President Clinton's controversial nominee for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. Among the many questions examined in the program are: How do blacks and whites differ in their understanding of affirmative action? Is affirmative action still necessary to remedy past discrimination? What changes, if any, should be made...
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Brief animations introduce key issues in this look back at the Bill of Rights. A host weaves together past and present, while civics experts explore the complexity of the issue of individual rights versus common good. Related topics include hate speech, school newspapers, random drug testing, gun control, and terrorism. Historical segments discuss Colonial Militias, the Intolerable Acts, Freedom of Worship, the Rights of Accused Persons, and the origins...
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This is a compelling account of the events leading up to the creation of the Constitution. Conforming to civics and history curriculums, the program puts key events into historical perspective by examining the pressures faced by Loyalists, Patriots, and average colonists. Richly textured with historical art, compelling video footage, and insightful commentary, it explores a fascinating mix of individuals, political philosophers, and social issues...
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During the 1980s, a new civil rights movement got underway-for people with disabilities. In this program, Larry Paradis, executive director of Disability Rights Advocates, speaks with NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels about the importance of litigation in pressuring companies and communities to comply with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. But are such legal actions actually undermining support for the ADA? Richard Baier, president of...
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This program examines the legal issues relevant to the 13th Amendment and the controversy surrounding its passage. Legal experts explain the basis of the debate; historical reenactments of those debates provide viewers with insights into its social and economic underpinnings.
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To many, worrying about constitutional rights seemed like an archaic luxury while Ground Zero was still smoking. The need for tighter homeland security made civil liberties take a back seat to urgent measures such as the USA PATRIOT Act designed to defend America from terrorists. But two years later, that piece of legislation came under fire from both the left and the right. In this ABC News program, Ted Koppel takes a hard look at the law with representatives...
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Bill Maher hosts this witty inquiry into the meaning of the Constitution today. Drawing examples from current events and pop culture, Maher reveals the Constitution as "a living document. Beginning with a brief overview of the full document, then focusing on the Bill of Rights, Maher demonstrates history as an evolving process. Insightful commentary encourages students to relate current events to the First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments, and...
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Javal Davis was imprisoned for assaulting inmates at Abu Ghraib, but insists he is not a torturer. His fellow MP Ken Davis was never implicated, having reported the abuse to superiors. This program presents in-depth interviews with both men, detailing their side of the story and conveying their disillusionment with Pentagon officials who wanted interrogations pushed "up a notch." Featuring nightmarish descriptions and images from inside the prison-highlighting...
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This ABC News program looks at the constitutional controversy over gay marriage as it exploded in both Massachusetts and California in February 2004. Is it a matter of civil rights or human rights? Should it be addressed at a state level or a federal level? Ted Koppel moderates a debate about gay marriage and its legal ramifications with Representative Barney Frank, conservative political activist Gary Bauer, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom,...
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In the years since the U.S. Supreme Court's legalization of abortion, the political scene has changed dramatically enough to threaten this landmark decision. On the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, this ABC News program surveys the current landscape of opinion and political alignment, examining the shift of momentum concerning abortion rights. Correspondent Dave Marash reports from Minnesota, while anchor Chris Bury discusses the issue with a panel...
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In America, freedom of speech is a cherished fundamental right. Must it be curtailed during emergencies or wars? In this program, ABC News anchor Ted Koppel and correspondent John Donvan explore the penalties of political dissent in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. News footage and a round table discussion with media personalities, journalists, and others who have suffered the consequences of voicing...
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This program from the acclaimed Cambridge Educational series The Amendments to the Constitution thoroughly analyzes the history and text of the First Amendment. Experts, including Dr. Nadine Strossen, President of the American Civil Liberties Union, discuss their interpretation of the Amendment and the freedoms it guarantees. Numerous court cases are cited, including those that led to the "clear and present danger" test and the "Brandenburg Standard"...
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Who determines when one person's right to expression must give way to another's sense of propriety? In this program, ABC News correspondent John Stossel looks at growing constraints on free speech made in the interest of protecting the public from offense. Using such controversial examples as the worker who was fired for telling a joke he heard on a popular prime-time TV show, Mr. Stossel considers the paranoia throughout the academic, political,...
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The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex. The wording of the 19th Amendment is as unflinchingly clear as the obstacles to its passage-sexism; cultural, political, and social prejudices; and even timidity on the part of women reluctant to challenge the status quo. This program examines the struggle of the women's suffrage movement and its role in the eventual...
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As controversy swirls around the issue of same-sex marriage, gay and lesbian couples in North America and abroad are speaking out for the right to marry. Filmed in British Columbia after the legalization of same-sex unions, this program introduces the victorious litigants, who share their views on marriage, religious and political opposition, child adoption, and, most of all, love. Interviews with their families, the lawyer who represented them, and...