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Obscenity: A Legal Primer

Description: This report provides an overview of the present law of obscenity and pornography, with emphasis on the following topics: (1) the legal definition of obscenity; (2) the constitutionality of restrictive zoning laws; (3) federal authority to legislate in this area; (4) child pornography; (5) regulation of the broadcast media in this context; (6) obscenity and cable television; (7) obscene prerecorded messages; (8) seizure of obscene materials; and .(9) pornography as a form of sex discriminat… more
Date: December 11, 1985
Creator: Reimer, Rita Ann
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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English as the Official Language of the United States: An Overview

Description: This report provides background on contemporary efforts to declare English the official language, a review of selected issues raised by official English proposals in Congress, and a summary of arguments that have been advanced in favor of and in opposition to such proposals.
Date: April 1, 1997
Creator: Aleman, Steven R.; Bruno, Andorra & Dale, Charles V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Advertising Law: An Overview

Description: This report provides a brief overview of federal law with respect to five selected advertising issues: alcohol advertising, tobacco advertising, the Federal Trade Commission Act, advertising by mail, and advertising by telephone. There are numerous federal statutes regulating advertising that do not fit within any of these categories; as random examples, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires disclosures in advertisements for prescription drugs ; the Truth in Lending Act governs the advertis… more
Date: February 9, 1998
Creator: Cohen, Henry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Speechwriting in Perspective: A Brief Guide to Effective and Persuasive Communication

Description: “Rhetoric,” wrote Aristotle, “is the power of determining in a particular case what are the available means of persuasion.” This report reviews some effective means for the rhetoric of persuasive communication in speeches written by congressional staff for Senators and Representatives.
Date: February 25, 1998
Creator: Neale, Thomas H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Speechwriting in Perspective: A Brief Guide to Effective and Persuasive Communication

Description: “Rhetoric,” wrote Aristotle, “is the power of determining in a particular case what are the available means of persuasion.” This report reviews some effective means for the rhetoric of persuasive communication in speeches written by congressional staff for Senators and Representatives.
Date: February 25, 1998
Creator: Neale, Thomas H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The "Son of Sam" Case: Legislative Implications

Description: In Simon & Schuster, Inc. v. Members of the new York State Crime Victims Board, the U.S. Supreme Court held that New York State's "Son of Sam" law was inconsistent with the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech and press. This report examines the Supreme Court decision and then considers whether its rationale renders the federal law unconstitutional. Concluding that it likely does, the report considers whether it would be possible to enact a constitutional Son-of-Sam statute. Finally… more
Date: November 30, 1998
Creator: Cohen, Henry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Going to Conference in the Senate

Description: This report discusses the steps that the Senate must take, and one more step that it may take, as it arranges to send a bill to conference committee.
Date: February 1, 2000
Creator: Bach, Stanley
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Freedom of Speech and Press: Exceptions to the First Amendment

Description: The First Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. . . .” This language restricts government both more and less than it would if it were applied literally. It restricts government more in that it applies not only to Congress, but to all branches of the federal government, and to all branches of state and local government. It restricts government less in that it provides no protection to some typ… more
Date: November 5, 2001
Creator: Cohen, Henry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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