Neutrality Act

Examples of Neutrality Act in the following topics:

• World War II

  • Between 1936 and 1937, much to the dismay of the pro-British President Roosevelt, Congress passed the Neutrality Acts.
  • In the final Neutrality Act, Americans could not sail on ships flying the flag of a belligerent nation or trade arms with warring nations, potential causes for U.S. entry into war.
  • The first came in 1939 with the passage of the Fourth Neutrality Act, which permitted the United States to trade arms with belligerent nations, as long as these nations came to America to retrieve the arms and paid for them in cash.
  • This policy was quickly dubbed "Cash and Carry. " The second phase was the Lend-Lease Act of early 1941.
  • This act allowed the President "to lend, lease, sell, or barter arms, ammunition, food, or any ‘defense article' or any ‘defense information' to ‘the government of any country whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States.'

• Interventionism

  • However, even though he was intent on neutrality as the official policy of the United States, he still echoed the dangers of staying out of this war.
  • The first came in 1939 with the passage of the Fourth Neutrality Act, which permitted the United States to trade arms with belligerent nations, as long as these nations came to America to retrieve the arms, and pay for them in cash.
  • The second phase was the Lend-Lease Act of early 1941 .
  • This act allowed the President "to lend, lease, sell, or barter arms, ammunition, food, or any ‘defense article' or any ‘defense information' to ‘the government of any country whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States.'
  • The Lend Lease Act allowed the United States to tip-toe from isolationism while still remaining militarily neutral.

• Resolving Conflicts

  • If the plaintiff is successful, judgment will be given in the plaintiff's favor, and a variety of court orders may be issued to enforce a right, award damages, or impose a temporary or permanent injunction to prevent or compel an act.
  • The mediator acts as a neutral third party and facilitates rather than directs the process.

• Constituency

  • Representatives can act in two models of representation: as delegates or trustees.
  • These delegates act only as a mouthpiece for the wishes of their constituency, and have no autonomy from the constituency.
  • This model does not provide representatives the luxury of acting in their own conscience.
  • Essentially, the representative acts as the voice of those who are (literally) not present.
  • However, this is not a completely neutral process.

• Freedom of the Press

  • In 1798, not long after the adoption of the Constitution, the governing Federalist Party attempted to stifle criticism with the Alien and Sedition Acts.
  • These restrictions on freedom of the press proved very unpopular in the end and worked against the Federalists, leading to the party's eventual demise and a reversal of the Acts.
  • The Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 imposed restrictions on free press during wartime.
  • The government may restrain broadcasters, but only on a content-neutral basis.

• The Confirmation Process

  • At the close of confirmation hearings, the Committee votes on whether the nomination should go to the full Senate with a positive, negative, or neutral report.
  • It is this act of the President which officially commences the beginning of an individual Justice's tenure.

• The Free Exercise Clause: Freedom of Religion

  • This case, which also revived Thomas Jefferson's statement regarding the "wall of separation" between church and state, introduced the position that although religious exercise is generally protected under the First Amendment, this does not prevent the government from passing neutral laws that incidentally impact certain religious practices.
  • In 1993, the Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which sought to restore the compelling interest requirement applied in Sherbert v.
  • In another case in 1997, the Court struck down the provisions of the Act on the grounds that, while the Congress could enforce the Supreme Court's interpretation of a constitutional right, the Congress could not impose its own interpretation on states and localities.

• The Role of Third Parties

  • Moreover, throughout the past few decades, major party politicians have been able to neutralize third party threats by adopting or discrediting the views of third party candidates.
  • Both major parties are at risk of losing voters if third party campaigns gain traction, so they have both tended to act in ways that promote the two party system.

• Monetary Policy

  • Policies are referred to as "neutral" if it is intended neither to create growth nor combat inflation.
  • The Federal Reserve System acts as the central mechanism for federal intervention in the U.S. economy.

• Freedom of Speech

  • Distinctions are often made between speech and other acts which may have symbolic significance.
  • Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990), has ruled that due to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, it is unconstitutional for a government (whether federal, state, or municipality) to prohibit the desecration of a flag, due to its status as "symbolic speech. " However, content-neutral restrictions may still be imposed to regulate the time, place, and manner of such expression.