Discusses how social class origins of age-eligible men have affected their likelihood of being drafted into military service since the Civil War. Holds that class bias in any future system must be considered a major social cost accompanying the revival of conscription. (Author/GC)

The Northwest Ordinance is noteworthy not only for its provision of stages of development and eventual admission of new states into the Union but also for provisions which protected civil liberties of the inhabitants. In the latter part of the ordinance there are six articles of "compact" that declare fundamental principles of liberty.…

Introduces the special issue and discusses the historical failure of American government to redress the injustices suffered by African Americans and the role of scholars in creating and perpetuating racist stereotypes. Emphasizes the need to address issues of Black health and crime. (FMW)

Presented is the history of the Scottsboro case, in which eight Black men were found guilty and sentenced to death for raping two White women in Alabama. At the heart of the Scottsboro trials was the issue of whether the U.S. Constitution established standards of justice in state criminal trials. (RM)

The contributions that George Washington and James Madison made to the creation of the United States Constitution are discussed. As host of the Mount Vernon Conference and president of the Philadelphia Convention, Washington brought to the growing movement for a new constitution great dignity and political stature. Washington's stamp of approval…

The movement to gain civil rights for Black people was largely carried out by women, such as Ella Baker. She was a consumer advocate and an executive in major civil rights organizations. She did not seek public attention but deserves acknowledgement for her contributions. (VM)

Outlines the history of juvenile justice from the Bible to the present time. At present neither offending children nor society are getting a fair return. The result is a tendency to treat young criminals exactly as adult criminals, and to limit the range of behaviors subject to court jurisdiction. (Author/CK)

Distinguishes between civil rights, which pertain to legal protections, and human rights, which deal with basic rights as a human being. Discusses the worldwide quest for freedom, justice, and equality; and reviews the development of the civil rights movement in the United States since 1955. (FMW)

The history and conditions of the use of English and French in the exercise of justice in Quebec are outlined in the context of the problems, sociopolitical realities, and procedural impact of language usage. The history is chronicled in six segments: 1760-1764, a period of British military government and political standoff between British and…

The Brown decision is discussed as an example of the historical tendency for brief periods of civil rights progress to be followed by longer periods of increased racial discrimination. (BE)

This annotated bibliography lists approximately 300 documents and source materials directly or indirectly related to the problem of access to justice in rural Alaska. Written materials about the state's history, geography, economics, and culture have often touched upon the justice system and its role in the development of the state. Other works…

Describes the transformation of a Jesuit colegio in El Salvador from a school for sons of wealthy landowners into a school open to all people. Also examines the history of the Jesuit order in El Salvador from 1914 to the present. (Author/CT)

This book, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the 19th Amendment as well as the 75th anniversary of the League of Women Voters, argues that U.S. women always have been political, even when they were excluded from party membership, voting and running for office. Political expression could be found in early temperance societies, antislavery…

This book, intended for juveniles and young students, provides an encyclopedic collection of reference information about the U.S. Supreme Court. The articles are arranged alphabetically to aid in looking up words, ideas, or names. Lists of "see also" entries are located at the end of articles to refer the reader to related subjects. The…

Although there have been improvements for Black Americans in civil rights, economic opportunity, and political influence over the past 30 years, serious social inequities remain, and race relations have in many ways worsened. Chronicles numerous instances of violence, discrimination, inequality, political underrepresentation, and socioeconomic…