National Origins Act

National Origins Act The National Origins Act, a component of the Immigration Act of 1924, was a law enacted on May 26, 1924, to greatly reduce the number of immigrants allowed to enter the United States by setting immigration quotas for each European nation. This immigration quota setting aspect of the 1924 law remains in effect today in the form of the per-country visa limits enforced by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Fast Facts: National Origins Act Short Description: Limited US immigration by imposing per-country quotasKey Players: US Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Warren Harding, US Senator William P. DillinghamStart Date: May 26, 1924 (enactment)Locations: United States Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.Key Cause: Post World War I isolationism Sentiment in the United States Immigration in the 1920s During the 1920s, the United States was experiencing a resurgence of anti-immigration isolationism. Many Americans objected to the growing numbers of immigrants being allowed to enter the county. The Immigration Act of 1907 had created the Dillingham Commission- named for its chairman, Republican Senator William P. Dillingham of Vermont- to review the effects of immigration on the United States. Issued in 1911, the commission’s report concluded that because it posed a serious threat to America’s social, cultural, physical, economic, and moral welfare, immigration from southern and eastern Europe should be drastically reduced.   Based on the Dillingham Commission report, the Immigration Act of 1917 imposed English literacy tests for all immigrants and completely barred immigration from most of Southeast Asia. However, when it became clear that literacy tests alone were not slowing the flow of Europe immigrants, Congress looked for a different strategy. Migration Quotas Based on the findings of the Dillingham Commission, Congress passed the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 creating immigration quotas. Under the law, no more than 3 percent of the total number of immigrants from any specific country already living in the United States, according to the 1910 decennial U.S. Census, were allowed to migrate to the United States during any calendar year. For example, if 100,000 people from a particular country lived in America in 1910, only 3,000 more (3 percent of 100,000) would have been allowed to migrate in 1921. Based on the total foreign-born U.S. population counted in the 1910 Census, the total number of visas available each year to new immigrants was set at 350,000 per year. However, the law set no immigration quotas whatsoever on countries in the Western Hemisphere. A cartoon showing Uncle Sam putting the Emergency Quota Act (aka the Johnson Quota Act) in place, 19th May 1921. The act limits the annual number of immigrants who can be admitted from any country to 3% of the number of persons from that country already living in the United States according to the census of 1910. MPI / Getty Images While the Emergency Quota Act sailed easily through Congress, President Woodrow Wilson, who favored a more liberal immigration policy, used the pocket veto to prevent its enactment. In March 1921, newly inaugurated President Warren Harding called a special session of Congress to pass the law, which was renewed for another two years in 1922. In passing the National Origins Act, legislators made no attempt to hide the fact that the law was to limit immigration specifically from the countries of southern and eastern Europe. During debates on the bill, Republican U.S. Representative from Kentucky John M. Robsion rhetorically asked, â€Å"How long shall America continue to be the garbage can and the dumping ground of the world?† Long-Term Effects of the Quota System Never intended to be permanent, the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 was replaced in 1924 by the National Origins Act. The law lowered the 1921 per-country immigration quotas from 3 percent to 2 percent of each national group residing America according to the 1890 Census. Using 1890 instead of 1910 census data allowed more people to migrate to America from countries in northern and western Europe than from countries in southern and eastern Europe. Immigration based exclusively on a national origin quota system continued until 1965, when the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) replaced it with the current, consular-based immigration system that factors in aspects such as the potential immigrants’ skills, employment potential, and family relationships with U.S. citizens or legal permanent U.S. residents. In conjunction with these â€Å"preferential† criteria, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also applies a per-country permanent immigration ceiling. Currently, no group of permanent immigrants from any single country can exceed seven percent of the total number of people immigrating to the United States in a single fiscal year. This quota is intended to prevent immigration patterns to the United States from being dominated by any one immigrant group. The following table shows the results of the INA’s current quotas on U.S. immigration in 2016: Region Immigrants (2016) % of Total Canada, Mexico, Central, and South America 506,901 42.83% Asia 462,299 39.06% Africa 113,426 9.58% Europe 93,567 7.9% Australia and Oceania 5,404 0.47% Source: US Department of Homeland Security - Office of Immigration Statistics On an individual basis, the three countries sending the most immigrants into the United States in 2016 were Mexico (174,534), China (81,772), and Cuba (66,516). According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, current U.S. immigration policies and quotas are intended to keep families together, admit immigrants with skills that are valuable to the U.S. economy, protect refugees, and promote diversity. Sources How the United States Immigration System Works. American Immigration Council (2016). â€Å"1921 Emergency Quota Law.† The University of Washington-Bothell Library.Congressional Record Proceedings and Debates, Third Session of the Sixty-Sixth Congress, Volume 60, Parts 1-5. (â€Å"How long shall America continue to be the garbage can and the dumping ground of the world?†).Higham, John. â€Å"Strangers in the Land: Patterns of American Nativism.† New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1963.Kammer, Jerry. The Hart-Celler Immigration Act of 1965. Center for Immigration Studies (2015).

Understanding the Pros and Cons of Protectionism

Understanding the Pros and Cons of Protectionism Protectionism is a type of trade policy by which governments attempt to prevent or limit competition from other countries. While it may provide some short-term benefit, particularly in poor or developing nations, unlimited protectionism eventually harms the country’s ability to compete in international trade. This article examines the tools of protectionism, how they are applied in the real world, and the advantages and disadvantages of limiting free trade. Key Takeaways: Protectionism Protectionism is a government-imposed trade policy by which countries attempt to protect their industries and workers from foreign competition. Protectionism is commonly implemented by the imposition of tariffs, quotas on import and exports, product standard, and government subsidies. While it may be of temporary benefit in developing countries, total protectionism typically harms the country’s economy, industries, workers, and consumers. Protectionism Definition Protectionism is a defensive, often politically-motivated, policy intended to shield a country’s businesses, industries, and workers from foreign competition through the imposition of trade barriers such as tariffs and quotas on imported goods and services, along with other government regulations. Protectionism is considered to be the opposite of free trade, which is the total absence of government restrictions on trade.   Historically, strict protectionism has been used mainly by newly developing countries as they build the industries necessary to compete internationally. While this so-called â€Å"infant industry† argument may promise brief, limited protection to the businesses and workers involved, it ultimately harms consumers by increasing the costs of imported essential goods, and workers by reducing trade overall.  Ã‚   Protectionism Methods Traditionally, governments employ four main methods of implementing protectionist policies: import tariffs, import quotas, product standards, and subsidies. Tariffs The most commonly applied protectionist practices, tariffs, also called â€Å"duties,† are taxes charged on specific imported goods. Since tariffs are paid by the importers, the price of imported goods in local markets is increased. The idea of tariffs is to make the imported product less attractive to consumers than the same locally produced product, thus protecting the local business and its workers. One of the most famous tariffs is the Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930. Initially intended to protect American farmers from the post-World War II influx of European agricultural imports, the bill eventually approved by Congress added high tariffs on many other imports. When European countries retaliated, the resulting trade war restricted global trade, harming the economies of all countries involved. In the United States, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff was considered an overly-protectionist measure that worsened the severity of the Great Depression. Import Quotas Trade quotas are â€Å"non-tariff† trade barriers that limit the number of a specific product that can be imported over a set period of time. Limiting the supply of a certain imported product, while increasing prices paid by consumers, allows local producers a chance to improve their position in the market by filling the unmet demand. Historically, industries like autos, steel, and consumer electronics have used trade quotas to protect domestic producers from foreign competition. For example, since the early 1980s, the United States has imposed a quota on imported raw sugar and sugar-containing products. Since then, the world price of sugar has averaged from 5 to 13 cents per pound, while the price within the U.S. has ranged from 20 to 24 cents. In contrast to import quotas, â€Å"production quotas† occur when governments limit the supply of a certain product in order to maintain a certain price point for that product. For example, the nations of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) imposes a production quota on crude oil in order to maintain a favorable price for oil in the world market. When the OPEC nations reduce production, U.S. consumers see higher gasoline prices. The most drastic and potentially inflammatory form of import quota, the â€Å"embargo† is a total prohibition against importing a certain product into a country. Historically, embargoes have had drastic impacts on consumers. For example, when OPEC proclaimed an oil embargo against nations it perceived as supporting Israel, the resulting 1973 oil crisis saw the average price of gasoline in the U.S. jump from 38.5 cents per gallon in May 1973 to 55.1 cents in June 1974. Some lawmakers called for nationwide gas rationing and President Richard Nixon asked gasoline stations not to sell gas on Saturday nights or Sundays.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Product Standards Product standards limit imports by imposing minimum safety and quality requirements for certain products. Product standards are typically based on concerns over product safety, material quality, environmental dangers, or improper labeling. For example, French cheese products made with raw, non-pasteurized milk, cannot be imported into the United States until they have been aged at least 60 days. While based on a concern for public health, the delay prevents some specialty French cheeses from being imported, thus providing local producers a better market for their own pasteurized versions. Some product standards apply to both imported and domestically-produced products. For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits the content of mercury in imported and domestically harvested fish sold for human consumption to one part per million. Government Subsidies Subsidies are direct payments or low-interest loans given by governments to local producers to help them compete in the global market. In general, subsidies lower production costs enabling producers to make a profit at lower price levels. For example, U.S. agricultural subsidies help American farmers supplement their income, while helping the government manage the supply of agricultural commodities, and control the cost of American farm products internationally. Additionally, carefully applied subsidies can protect local jobs and help local companies adjust to global market demands and pricing. Protectionism vs. Free Trade Free trade- the opposite of protectionism- is a policy of completely unrestricted trade between countries. Devoid of protectionist restrictions like tariffs or quotas, free trade allows goods to move freely across borders. While both total protectionism and free trade have been tried in the past, the results were usually harmful. As a result, multilateral â€Å"free trade agreements,† or FTAs, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the 160-nation World Trade Organization (WTO) have become common. In FTAs, the participating nations mutually agree on limited protectionist practices tariffs and quotas. Today, economists agree that FTAs has averted many potentially disastrous trade wars. Protectionism Pros and Cons In poor or emerging countries, strict protectionist policies like high tariffs and embargoes on imports can help their new industries grow by protecting them from foreign competition. Protectionist policies also help create new jobs for local workers. Protected by tariffs and quotas, and bolstered by government subsidies, domestic industries are able to hire locally.  However, the effect is typically temporary, actually reducing employment as other countries retaliate by imposing their own protectionist trade barriers. On the negative side, the reality that protectionism hurts the economies of countries that employ it dates back to Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, published in 1776. Eventually, protectionism weakens domestic industries. With no foreign competition, industries see no need for innovation. Their products soon decline in quality, while becoming more expensive than higher quality foreign alternatives. In order to succeed, strict protectionism demands the unrealistic expectation that the protectionist country will be able to produce everything its people need or want. In this sense, protectionism is in direct opposition to the reality that a country’s economy will prosper only when its workers are free to specialize at what they do best rather than trying to make the country self-sufficient. Sources and Further Reading Irwin, Douglas (2017), Peddling Protectionism: Smoot-Hawley and the Great Depression, Princeton University Press.Irwin, Douglas A., Tariffs and Growth in Late Nineteenth-Century America. World Economy. (2001-01-01). ISSN 1467-9701.Hufbauer, Gary C., and Kimberly A. Elliott. Measuring the Costs of Protectionism in the United States. Institute for International Economics, 1994.C. Feenstra, Robert; M. Taylor, Alan. Globalization in an Age of Crisis: Multilateral Economic Cooperation in the Twenty-First Century. National Bureau of Economic Research. ISBN: 978-0-226-03075-3Irwin, Douglas A., Free Trade Under Fire, Princeton University Press, 2005.

Geography of Burma or Myanmar

Geography of Burma or Myanmar Population: 53,414,374 (July 2010 estimate)Capital: Rangoon (Yangon)Bordering Countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, and ThailandLand Area: 261,228 square miles (676,578 sq km)Coastline: 1,199 miles (1,930 km)Highest Point: Hkakabo Razi at 19,295 feet (5,881 m)Burma, officially called the Union of Burma, is the largest country by area located in Southeast Asia. Burma is also known as Myanmar. Burma comes from the Burmese word Bamar which is the local word for Myanmar. Both words refer to the majority of the population being Burman. Since British colonial times, the country has been known as Burma in English however, in 1989, the military government in the country changed many of the English translations and changed the name to Myanmar. Today, countries and world organizations have decided on their own which name to use for the country. The United Nations for example, calls it Myanmar, while many English speaking countries call it Burma.History of BurmaBurmas early history is domi nated by the successive rule of several different Burman dynasties. The first of these to unify the country was the Bagan Dynasty in 1044 CE. During their rule, Theravada Buddhism rose in Burma and a large city with pagodas and Buddhist monasteries was built along the Irrawaddy River. In 1287, however, the Mongols destroyed the city and took control of the area.In the 15th century, the Taungoo Dynasty, another Burman dynasty, regained control of Burma and according to the U.S. Department of State, established a large multi-ethnic kingdom that was focused on expansion and the conquest of Mongol territory. The Taungoo Dynasty lasted from 1486 to 1752.In 1752, the Taungoo Dynasty, was replaced by the Konbaung, the third and final Burman dynasty. During Konbaung rule, Burma underwent several wars and was invaded four times by China and three times by the British. In 1824, the British began their formal conquest of Burma and in 1885, it gained full control of Burma after annexing it to British India.During World War II, the 30 Comrades, a group of Burmes e nationalists, attempted to drive out the British, but in 1945 the Burmese Army joined British and U.S. troops in an effort to force out the Japanese. After WWII, Burma again pushed for independence and in 1947 a constitution was completed followed by full independence in 1948.From 1948 to 1962, Burma had a democratic government but there was widespread political instability within the country. In 1962, a military coup took over Burma and established a military government. Throughout the rest of the 1960s and into the 1970s and 1980s, Burma was politically, socially and economically unstable. In 1990, parliamentary elections took place but the military regime refused to acknowledge the results.During the early 2000s, the military regime remained in control of Burma despite several attempts for overthrow and protests in favor of a more democratic government. On August 13, 2010, the military government announced that parliamentary elections would take place on November 7, 2010.Government of BurmaToday Burmas government is still a military regime that has seven administrative divisions and seven states. Its executive branch is made u p of a chief of state and head of government, while its legislative branch is a unicameral Peoples Assembly. It was elected in 1990, but the military regime never allowed it to be seated. Burmas judicial branch consists of remnants from the British colonial era but the country has no fair trial guarantees for its citizens.Economics and Land Use in BurmaBecause of stringent government controls, Burmas economy is unstable and much of its population lives in poverty. Burma is however, rich in natural resources and there is some industry in the country. As such, much of this industry is based on agriculture and the processing of its minerals and other resources. Industry includes agricultural processing, wood and wood products, copper, tin, tungsten, iron, cement, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, fertilizer, oil and natural gas, garments, jade and gems. Agricultural products are rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane, hardwood, fish and fish products.Geography and Climate of BurmaBurma has a long coastline that borders the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Its topography i s dominated by central lowlands that are ringed by steep, rugged coastal mountains. The highest point in Burma is Hkakabo Razi at 19,295 feet (5,881 m). The climate of Burma is considered tropical monsoon and as such it has hot, humid summers with rain from June to September and dry mild winters from December to April. Burma is also prone to hazardous weather like cyclones. For example in May 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit the countrys Irrawaddy and Rangoon divisions, wiped out entire villages and left 138,000 people dead or missing.ReferencesCentral Intelligence Agency. (3 August 2010). CIA - The World Factbook - Burma. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.htmlInfoplease.com. (n.d.). Myanmar: History, Geography, Government, and Culture- Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107808.html#axzz0wnnr8CKBUnited States Department of State. (28 July 2010). Burma. Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35910.htmWikipedia.com. (16 August 2010). Burma - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedi a.org/wiki/Burma

Enzymes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Enzymes - Essay Example Enzymes do their best by working at lowering down the energy levels and hence they are present whilst doing the same within a reaction. The rate of a chemical reaction starts getting faster as and when they occur. The uncatalyzed reactions are much slower than the enzymatic reactions which are happening within a cell. The difference is quite comparable since the downfall is pretty noticeable. Enzymes are not at all consumed or eaten up by the chemical reactions which are taking place within it but at the same time the equilibrium is maintained during the whole activity which is a definitive plus point on the part of these very enzymes. Enzymes are much more specific than the remaining catalysts as they usually account for the crystallization process of around 4000 biochemical reactions. It is a case in point here to understand that not all the biochemical catalysts are proteins as the ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules which are known as ribozymes facilitate their bit at catalyzing different sorts of reactions. Enzymes are specific because their activity can easily affect the other molecules which are present and so in return can leave a lasting impression on the whole chemical reaction that is taking place. On the same token, inhibitors are those molecules which decrease the activity that is going on within the enzymes. On the other hand, activators increase the same process altogether. There are a number of enzyme inhibitors in the form of drugs and different poisons. These enzymatic activities are also changed through the different temperatures, pH scales, concentration present within the relevant substrates and so on and so forth. A number of enzymes are used for a commercial purpose as they are employed in the synthesis of different antibiotics and the like. An enzyme’s name is basically derived from the respective substrate and even the chemical reaction that it brings in catalyzing and the word more

Educational Services in Community Colleges Coursework

Educational Services in Community Colleges - Coursework Example The contract linking the funder and the services donor is evidenced in an agreement and is applicable for a particular specified given period of time (Taylor 2003; Wang 2000). The contract in management service provides the several advantages in both public and private educational colleges, It includes enhance the efficacy of skills and innovative ideas from the overall public education sector. Management contracts actually empower the managers to take the decisions, lessen the technical issues and union constraints linked with community service empowerment, encouraging the competition level among the all organizations to win the race of contract and promote the education establishments to identify the overall performance criteria so they can transform the contractors if the presentation of performance is unsatisfactory. Professional services also played an important role in the public and private education system, the professional who can provide the teaching training services, delivery of textbooks, the design of syllabus and pure quality services certification, and further miscellaneous services which are satisfactory can be contracting out. The major advantage of these services is to promote the system of public schools and colleges by bringing the private service providers. Other services can be contracted out by providing the education virtually, it can support the overall system of education in the world, for example, government institutes management usually do not promote the canteen and food services at their universities in urbanized countries. Supportive services are essential in both public and private colleges to run the better activities, the maintenance of infrastructure and buildings for academic, the conveyance for students and food services seems to be very expensive in private elite colleges.

How do you account for the global decline in trade union membership in Essay

How do you account for the global decline in trade union membership in the past 25 years . Critically assess whether this is a trend to be welcomed or deplored - Essay Example They face problems of retaining quality members. It has been found that there is substantial erosion not only in the membership but also in the bargaining power of the unions. For developing close understanding with the recent trends in the fall of the trade union membership, it has been intended to enlighten the present scenarios of two countries- United Kingdom (UK) and Australia. It has been found that the trade union membership has been reduced over the previous two decades in the UK. According to the statistics of 1979, there were 13.3 million people under the membership of trade unions which refers to 55% of the overall employees. Decline in the trade union membership during the period of 1995 to 2006 can be exhibited through a diagram. Several reasons are there for the decline in the memberships. Firstly, the drastic reduction in the number of jobs mainly in the manufacturing industries that acquire traditionally higher amount of union membership can be blamed. Secondly, increasing level of unemployment is also held responsible for the decline. Recent trends say that traditional full time employment has been reduced whereas an increase in the part time workers has been noticed which is not beneficial to the increase in trade union membership. In small organisations, it is difficult to form trade unions and a sharp amplification in the proportion of employed workforce has been observed. Hostile legislation can be considered as another reason of decline in the UK (TUC, 2010). Across Australia, a sharp decline in the trade union memberships has been noticed. The declination is a result of significant transformation in the ‘industrial relations environment’. Data reveals that 46% of the entire employee force in the year of 1986 belonged to the trade unions. Opening up of individual and collective bargaining and gaining prominence of decentralised bargaining, has reduced the importance of the unions in the

Rice Industry in Burma during Colonialism Essay - 1

Rice Industry in Burma during Colonialism - Essay Example Private merchant companies served as the instrument of expansion – these were the English East-Indian company (1600) and the Dutch East-Indian company (1602), having gained monopolistic rights from their governments to have trade relations with Asian countries. By the middle of the 16th century, Portuguese have been almost pushed away from their Asian possessions, while the English and the Dutch became masters of the biggest territory of Southern and Eastern Asia. (Wilson) 'Asian countries have always been known as the main producers and exporters of rice and during the colonial era Burma became the main world center of cultivation and exporting rice.' (Frank, 2002, p. 261) At the beginning of the 19th century Burma attracted the English not only by its strategic location, but by its raw materials, and the abundance of rice and teak. After the second English – Burma war of 1852-53, the English gained the control on the Lower Burma, which was hardly populated at the time, and only 5% of the land, suitable for cultivation, was used for agriculture. This very region was going to become the new granary of the whole Burma, and thus, a big economic center. (Frank, 2002, p. 259)