Suchergebnisse

In this introductory chapter to Life after Reform: When Bipartisan Campaign Reform Meets Politics, the author contextualizes the reform act in the two decades of debate since the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 & amendments, & the issues addressed by the Buckley court. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) is summarized, & the framework of analysis for the book is diagrammed. The model used throughout the book is a schematic of givers & receivers operating in an environment of tension between law as constraint & freedom within the law. The remaining articles of the book are introduced as unique perspectives written by a diverse group of political scientists brought together by the Campaign Finance Institute to address the impacts of BCRA on substantive issues. 1 Table, 1 Figure, 2 References. J. Harwell

Der Beitrag zum Thema 'Eingriffsstaat und öffentliche Sicherheit' in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland beschäftigt sich mit dem Aspekt möglicher Vollzugs- und Eingriffsverzichte. In einem ersten Schritt werden zunächst eingriffsorientierte politische Programme als Ausdruck symbolischer Politik charakterisiert, um das politisch-administrative System von gesellschaftlichem Druck zu entlasten. Gerade bei 'nicht lösbaren' Problemen können symbolische Problemlösungen im Hinblick auf die Ressourcenallokation eine vergleichsweise wirtschaftliche Lösung darstellen, solange sich eine Eingriffsverwaltung über den symbolischen ('als ob') Charakter ihres Eingriffshandelns im Klaren ist. Der zweite Schritt erörtert sodann die Mikroökonomisierung und den damit einher gehenden outputorientierten Legitimationsdruck der Eingriffsverwaltung. An dieser Stelle wird insbesondere auf den Produktansatz als konzeptionellen Kern aktueller Reformansätze zurückgegriffen. Der Verfasser führt in die Produktions- und Kostentheorie ein und verweist auf das Phänomen der verbundenen Produkte ('Kuppelprodukte'). Der dritte Schritt betrachtet abschließend die Mikropolitik des law enforcement, also die Spielräume, die sich daraus ergeben, dass eingriffsorientierte politische Programme oft nicht vollzugsgerecht, unpräzise, interpretationsbedürftig und - notwendigerweise - offen formuliert sind. (ICG2)

A concluding chapter emphasizes the wide range of opinions generated by the 2000 presidential election, especially the intervention of the US Supreme Court, & examines the impact of these divisions on both the future nature of legal reasoning, & the relation between law & politics. Calls for reform that have emerged from the Bush-Gore contest are reviewed, including changes in the actual operation of election campaigns to afford equal & fair representation. Bush v. Gore put the spotlight on mundane aspects of elections that previously went unnoticed, such as different types of voting machines with varying patterns of failure rates. The call for reform via constitutional litigation is focused primarily on the Electoral College system & the division of power between large & small states. Historical reasons for the Electoral College system are examined, along with the possible consequences of abolishing it. The belief that the Bush-Gore election was a statistical tie is discussed, & suggestions are made for ways to improve the election process without making radical changes to the electoral system. J. Lindroth

Competing conceptions of corruption & their use in contemporary struggles to reform campaign finance laws are examined. Problems with James Scott's (1972) identification of three approaches to defining corruption are disclosed. Three standards of corruption used by US courts in corruption cases are discussed: quid pro quo, in which officials accept monetary compensation for performing an action; monetary influence, in which public officials perform public duties with the thought of receiving money; & distortion, in which officials' policy decisions are influenced by campaign contributions rather than public opinion. It is contended that the monetary influence standard offers the best approach for explaining political corruption. In addition, it is argued that deliberative theory offers strong support for the monetary influence standard approach. It is concluded that the US judicial system must consider explanations of corruption more carefully before attempting to influence campaign finance law. J. W. Parker

"Der im Sommer 1995 im Auftrag des BMFSF veröffentlichte Bericht des Kriminologischen Forschungsinstituts Niedersachsen über 'sexuelle Gewalt gegen Frauen im öffentlichen und privaten Raum' bestätigt erneut internationale Erkenntnisse zur Prävalenz von Vergewaltigung in der Ehe: Die repräsentative Opferbefragung erhellt, dass annähernd 350.000 Frauen zwischen 20 und 59 Jahren im Zeitraum von 1987-1991 von ihrem im gleichen Haushalt lebenden Ehemann vergewaltigt wurden. Dennoch gibt es in der BRD im Unterschied zu anderen europäischen und aussereuropäischen Staaten - trotz einer seit 1968 geführten Pönalisierungsdiskussion - den Straftatbestand der Vergewaltigung innerhalb der Ehe nicht. Der Mai 1996 durch den Rechtsausschuss des Bundestages gebilligte jüngste Gesetzesentwurf der Fraktionen der Bonner Regierungskoalition sieht nun zwar eine Bestrafung auch des Ehemannes vor, dies jedoch im Unterschied zur ausserehelichen Vergewaltigung mit einem irreversiblen 'Widerspruchsrecht' des Opfers bis zur Eröffnung der Hauptverhandlung. Das vorläufige Ergebnis der über zwanzigjährigen Auseinandersetzungen über den Schutz des sexuellen Selbstbestimmungsrechts von Ehefrauen im Horizont von Gleichheits- und Gleichbehandlungsdiskursen lässt sich als Interessenvermittlungsprozess abbilden, in welchem im Rahmen von sich verschiebenden Kräfteverhältnissen und Koalitionen heterogene politische und wissenschaftliche Funktionseliten einerseits, soziale Bewegungen und eine medial vermittelte Öffentlichkeit andererseits das verhandelte Phänomen (re-)definieren und (re-)normieren. Die Rekonstruktion von Kontinuität und Wandel der Argumentationsfiguren und -strategien für und gegen eine Pönalisierung sowie die spezifische Verschränkung von Responsivität und Immunisierung gegenüber den jeweiligen Konzeptionen von Gewalt und Sexualität bei der Implementierung an dieser Schnittstelle von Öffentlichkeit und Privatheit fokussiert den analytischen Blick auf die geschlechter- und somit gesellschaftspolitischen Dimensionen des Reformprozesses." (Autorenreferat)

An efficient system for the protection of civil and human rights is essential for the achievement of the ideals that are a precondition for joining the European Union (EU). This paper analyses the origins of the crisis of the Croatian judicial system and the factors that have brought the
length of court proceedings into the centre of professional and political debates. Strategies for accelerating civil proceedings featured in current attempts at reform are presented, with an emphasis on the ongoing procedural reforms in litigation, enforcement and bankruptcy proceedings.
At the end doubts are expressed about whether it is possible to make any important advances with the operations planned. Without an efficient judiciary, however, it is impossible to have a complete transition to the model of the democratic liberal state, and a dysfunctional judicial system can bring the implementation of economic reforms into question as well. To this extent, then, a thoroughgoing reform is of first-rate importance for the creation of the preconditions necessary for EU membership.

Examines the legal & normative implications of social science research concerning voting reform. The US Supreme Court's response to Bush v. Gore is examined in the context of election law prior to & following this decision. Questions for social science researchers regarding the desirability of increasing voter turnout & the means to increase turnout are highlighted with commentary on possible unintended consequences of voting reforms. A gradual approach to voting reform by the Supreme Court is advocated. L. Collins Leigh

A discussion of the requirement to bring national law in line with the acquis communautaire standards as part of Poland's accession to the EU focuses on the acquisition of real estate by foreign nationals. Both the Community standard related to acquisition of real estate by nationals of member states & the current position of Polish law are described to point out changes that will be needed to bring Polish law in sync with EU Community standards. The Polish negotiating position adopted 13 July 1999 is examined, along with changes to the position that were adopted on 14 Nov & 18 Dec 2001. It is concluded that, with the exception of the acquisition of residential premises by foreigners, Polish law is not compatible with the acquis communautaire although the incompatibilities can be overlooked during transitions. Suggestions for ways to bring about full harmonization with Community standards after the transitional periods have elapsed by amending the 1920 law include replacing the licensing procedure with administrative declarations about the intended use of the acquired property. J. Lindroth

Discusses the nature, implications, & problems facing recent attempts to establish a democratic criminal justice system in Spain. Prior to the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, the penal system was characterized by death penalties & long sentences inflicted on political prisoners. However, the transition toward democracy has led to a number of reforms grounded in the legal tenets of the Spanish constitution: the principles of legality, proportionality of punishment, the rule of law, & commitment to rehabilitation. Despite these admirable goals, imprisonment remains the primary means of criminal retribution, & prisons are currently in a state of crisis due to overcrowding, lack of staff, & skyrocketing levels of drug use & human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome infection. Spain remains an ideal example of the punitive inflation & ideological contradictions evidenced in criminal justice systems throughout the world. However, the growing presence & acceptance of psychology, sociology, & anthropology have facilitated critiques of the current system & encouraged discussion of viable alternatives to imprisonment. 2 Tables, 29 References. T. Sevier