OCR Text |
Show Page 6 HILL TOP TIMKS April 23, 1976 A LAW DAY Legislative Process Explained by Karen Rowe observed on May blue-suite- S each year, is as a "special day of designated by Presidential proclamation in celebration by the American people appreciation of their liberties." In commemoration of the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, the theme of this year's 19th annual Law Day is "200 years of Liberty and Law." The objective of the joint observance is to further public understanding of the principles on which our Nation was founded and to examine how these precepts can be strengthened to assist our country during its third century of "Law Day U A ." Editor's Note: The legislative process can be very it has been some confusing, and because for many time since they have studied how Congress makes laws -perhaps in a high school civics class - the following feature is of interest. One should note that as members of the Air Force, we do not give up our right as citizens, and voters to communicate with our elected representatives - a point often forgotten. Our right to express our views on national issues from defense to inflation to farm prices is an inherent right. think erroneously - that they are Many forbidden to communicate with their Congressmen, that some mysterious force will single them out and take revenge. That simply is not true. An informed, as well thought out position communicated as a citizen - a voter - is welcomed. 1 progress. The founding fathers established a set of principles and laws which insure each citizen of the United States a right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The U S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights are based on the basic precept that liberty and law go hand in hand. Since the establishment of our government, many actions taken by the legislative, judicial and executive branches have brought about significant advances in equality and human rights for all Americans The primary purpose of Law Day. first observed nationwide in 1957. is to advance equality and justice under law, to encourage citizen support of law observance and law enforcement, and to foster a respect for law and an understanding of its place in the life of every citizen of the United States. Responsible citizens can help to improve city, state and Federal laws by becoming better informed about the vital issues facing the country, by examining various ways change can be effected through the law. and by supporting those efforts aimed at improvement Your letter is an absolute joy! In addition to being a member of a religious minority group, it would appear that you're also a member of another minority: the liny but significant group of people who sees a problem and sets about making change take place. You and the folks at your base deserve a huge bouquet of roses for the positive way the problem was attacked I don't see any indication of defensiveness. name-callinbuckpassing or, worst of all. a apathy and despair. "There's problem that's real for persons of our community. What can we do about it?" I will pass on word about your question. And I will share your letter because it'sa splendid example of commitment to persons, and that's a huge part of what real religion is all about. THE AUIiOT DEAR VEGETARIAN: g, -- will accept the subcommittee's report and recommendation on blue-suite- rs How does legislation go through Congress? What are some of the decision points at which informed voters can have an effect? The first problem that any voter has is identifying the issues ihat he feels are important and learning how those needs match the national interest. The understanding of the needs is particularly important since a letter, a telephone call or a personal contact with a constituent on a given issue will have much more effect with a member of Congress if the constituent has a clear understanding of the problem and a coherent and rational solution. If you want to write a letter on tax reform to the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means (which handles all tax legislation) and just say that you are for tax reform, he will agree with you, but you really haven't made much of an impact. The same thing applies to support for the B-- l. Saying you like it is fine. Telling your Congressman why the TRIAD is necessary and how the B-- l fits into the program is much more effective. So, first of all, make sure you have something to say to your Congressman. -- DEAR AKBOV: I am a member of a religious group that does not eat meat; therefore, I am a vegetarian due to my religious preference. So here's the problem. As most single enlisted personnel living on station. I have been issued a meal card for the base dining facility. The menus in these facilities are not tailored to the needs of the vegetarian. Oh sure, you have heard a zillion gripes about the chow and about now you're ready to tear up this letter, but hang on. There seems to be a solution. Here at Torrejon AB. Spain, the problem was first presented to the social actions office (401TFW-SLE- ) and they took up the cause. They did not try to put everyone on separate rations who claimed to be vegetarian or ask them to be medical cases and eat at the dietary line in the hospital. The officer in charge of the project solicited the aid of the base chaplain, services officer, and several other staff agencx chiefs. The end result was the rearrangement of the existing menu to allow many of the meals to hae a vegetable alternative to Iheotherwise all meat selections. The salad bar was expanded to coxer all noon and exening meals. Exery correctixe action that could be accomplished locallx was put into effect. Still, the problem is not completely rectified. Since rations are issued and menus planned at a higher ethelon. it is pot possible to proxide an alternatixe to the meat selections at most meals. A licy change at HQ L'SAF will bp necessary to solxe the problem of rations and menus. The right to receixe equal benefit from meal cards for religious minorities should be considered, t shall continue in my efforts at this station and will eager I v await xour reply. HAPPILY VEGETAKI AN second decision point: How to get your views before the subcommittee. You may do it by a letter to your representative, asking him to refer it to the subcommittee. Once the subcommittee has concluded its hearings and prepared a report - hopefully it will agree with your position -you have another decision point: whether the full committee rs If you are not sure that you know who your Congressman is confirm that before you write. If you live in Congressional District X and write to the Representative in District Y - he will pay attention, but not as much as he would have if you were one of his voters. There are certain decision points where a constituent's views have a particular impact on Congress. Let us track a piece of legislation through Congress describing the decision points and what a voter can do. After a member introduces a bill, it is referred to the committee having jurisdiction over the matter - e.g., farm bills go to the Agriculture committee - which raises the first decision point: How to persuade the committee to hold hearings on a bill you support. During the first session of the 94th Congress (calendar year 1974), thousands of bills and resolutions were introduced into Congress. The majority of these bills are still pending - mostly in committees and the bulk of these have never been the subject of hearings. At the end of the session, few of these bills will have become law. So. if you support one of them, you want to press for a hearing, write your Congressman. Obviously, if a bill is pending before a Senate committee, you write your Senator not your Representative. It helps if you know the bill's number and what committee it is before. If your Senator or Congressman is a member of the committee, you can really make an impact. If the committee decides to hold hearings, it will usually jelegate the responsibility to a subcommittee. This is the . the legislation. This point isn't very important to the voter for two reasons: usually, the members of the full committee will accept the subcommittee's recommendations without change (therefore, it is useless to try to change their minds) and the full committee usually acts so rapidly on the subcommittee's report that people outside Washington, D.C., don't have time to make any inputs. The last decision point again not important for the same reasons is the decision (made in the House by the Rules Committee and in the Senate by the senior leadership) to allow the bill to go to the floor for a vote. This decision can become crucial at the end of Congress when there are more bills reported than there is time to consider them. Unfortunately, it's rare that a voter has current enough information to urge his member to push for a bill to be taken up on the floor. There are three remaining decision points: The most important one arises when the bill comes to the floor for a vote in either House. This is the ultimate test. You should remind your member of your support or opposition to the bill advising him that you know it will be coming up shortly for a vote. It's often useful after a vote has taken place to either thank the member for his vote or ask him for an explanation why he voted contrary to your wishes. It will be difficult for you to know exactly when a vote is scheduledNews reports may be . the best sources. The closer you can time your letter to the vote, the more effective it is. The last two decision points are very rarely used: when the bill is in conference i.e., when there are differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill which have to be resolved by delegations from the appropriate committee. If you know about this, you can write your members and ask them to approach their conferees and to urge support of one version over the other. The last decision point arises after the bill is passed in the same version in both Houses. If you oppose it, you can fire off a letter or telegram to the President asking him to veto it and, if he does, contact your members saying that they should not override the veto. Do you get the feeling that the whole system is complicated, e, and very difficult for an interested voter to follow? You are right that's why you should focus on three decision points: whether hearings should be held on the bill; what recommendations should be made by the committee on the bill ; and the floor votes on it. When you urge your members to take your position on a bill, follow these tips: Show that you are familiar with the legislation by using its name , number, title and describing its current status; write in your own words: time your contact to meet decision points; relate the bill to local concerns. As we said before, if the member does as you ask. thank him. It's also nice if you can preface your communication by an attention getter like: "I speak on behalf of loo.ono concerned voters," or "As I told you when I gave you my campaign contribution," or "When I was speaking with your w ife ( my sister ) ." This insures a little extra attention. That covers a brief discussion of how to make your wishes known to Congress - what you say is up to you. but it should be in vour owti words. - - - time-sensitiv- - Divorce Laws Often Offer Relief Editor's Note: This is the second in a fixe part series on Hixorce Laws. The series was written by a member of the Ogden .I,C Staff Uy Jude Advocate's- Office. Maj. Glenn - J. Mec ham. t'SM il the consequence of a divorce founded on the ascertainment of these causes is strictly within the legislative competency, and its exercise is entrusted to the legislative discretion. Whether the legislation is wise or unwise may be a question on which opinions may differ; but with it the courts have no Marriage is a relation in which the public is interested, and is subject to proper regulation and control by the state or sovereignty in which it exists. The public policy relating to marriage is to foster and protect it. fo make it a permanent and public institution, and to prevent separation. The right to a divorce exists by legislative grant, only the marriage contract in this respect being regulated and controlled by the sovereign power, and not being, like ordinary contracts, subject to dissolution by the mutual consent of the contracting parties. d'-epl- y The power of prescribing by general laws what shall constitute sufficient grounds for a divorce and what shall be Exerythingcadvertised in this publication must be made axailable for purchase use or patronage without regard to the race, creed, color, national origin or se of the purchaser, user, or patron. A confirmed tiolation or rejection of thh policy of equal opportunities by an adxertiser will concern. Their duly is lo enforce the law as it is found. The only grounds for divorce are those specified by the statutes. Where the legislature has exercised its power to declare legal causes for divorce, the courts are bound thereby and cannot add to or subtract from those causes. Each state in the exercise of its sovereignty may specify the grounds and procedures for divorce. Therefore, there is a considerable variation among the states. This scries of articles treats only in general terms the grounds and procedure provided by Utah law. result In the refusal to print adxertislng from that source, Mor Media Sales, Inc., Telephone Ogden 33I-XLayton, Sorry classifieds by mail only: P.O. Bo I Ml, Kaysxille, L'tah 37&-S06- 5; 84037. or Salt Ike City, 277- - |