Though most workplaces in the United States are nonunion, the work of unions in previous generations helped to create benefits we often take for granted today, such as weekends off, the 40-hour workweek, and medical benefits. And after declining in number for generations, union membership may again be on the rise as weak economic conditions lead employers to impose layoffs and pay cuts. The power of unions, however, has also been responsible for the creation of often corrupt and bullying labor leaders and crippling strikes. Individual unions' attitudes have varied from inclusive to racist, from democratic to elitist. Are union leaders and members heroes or villains? Are employers who oppose unions merely selfish? Unions and Labor Laws examines these complex issues from a variety of viewpoints.

In recent years, increasing oil prices, combined with ongoing unrest in the Middle East, surging demand from energy-thirsty nations, and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, have conspired to encourage Americans to rethink how they use energy resources. "Energy Policy" explores the many issues related to the supply of energy in the United States: the availability of oil and American dependence on foreign oil, drilling in the Arctic Refuge, pollution concerns, alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power, and the safety of nuclear power.

When the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize went to former Vice President Al Gore and an international scientific body that warned of serious consequences if Earth's temperatures continue to rise, the award underscored the international concern about the Earth's changing climate. Most scientists agree that global warming is a serious threat, and that human beings contribute to it by burning carbon-containing fuels such as oil and coal; and the international community has moved to limit carbon emissions. However, some scientists dispute the link between greenhouse gases and global warming. Many prominent Americans, including members of Congress, object to putting limits on carbon emissions, arguing that the evidence of warming is still uncertain and cutting emissions would cripple the economy while doing little to curb global warming. ""Environmental Regulations and Global Warming"" discusses the debate about whether and how our government should act to protect the Earth's climate.

Capital punishment, otherwise known as the death penalty, has a long history. Today, however, the United States' continued use of the death penalty sets it apart from other Western democracies. Questions remain about whether the death penalty actually deters crimes, or if the imposition of the penalty discriminates against the poor or minorities. Should the execution process be streamlined, or should there be additional safeguards that may cause the court process to take many years? Fully updated with recent statistics, legal opinions, and legislation, ""Capital Punishment, Second Edition"", explores the many arguments - ethical, practical, and sociological - for and against the death penalty.

In a time of war, when the need for military personnel is greatest, do restrictions on women soldiers still make sense? Proponents of the existing policies say that, although times may be changing, war is not the time to engage in social experiments that they say could impact unit cohesion and morale. But opponents question how we justify our fight to maintain a free and open society while denying some the right to fully serve to defend those freedoms. Do such restrictions have legitimate aims or are they based on outdated stereotypes? ""Women in the Military"" explores these and other related questions in this timely and thought-provoking debate.

The United States has struggled with gambling policy since colonial days, and its legal stance has alternated between legalization and prohibition. Today, many forms of gambling are legal, and most Americans bet at least occasionally. Many people believe, however, that the recent rush to legalize gambling has turned millions of Americans into pathological gamblers. They blame a variety of problems, including crime, broken families, and the exploitation of the poor, on legalization. Defenders contend that gambling's negative consequences have been exaggerated and that most Americans bet responsibly. They also warn that prohibition will not stop gambling but instead turn the gambling business over to organized criminals. ""Legalized Gambling"" explains how the debate over gambling has become more intense in recent years because of the proliferation of online casinos and the popularity of illegal sports betting.

Each book in this continuing series offers all the statutes, legal opinions, and studies a students needs to structure a cohesive argument on a given controversial topic. Issues are presented from multiple points of view; sidebars cite law and opinions to aid in critical analysis; paratextual questions encourage reader engagement; and all sources are fully documented and grouped by the side of the argument.

Today more and more questions are raised concerning the conclusiveness of DNA evidence and whether or not it should be used to convict defendants in criminal trials.

Should children be permitted to express their faith in public schools?

From questions over whether it is appropriate to eat meat or to wear fur or leather, this title examines all sides of this very controversial issue.

Each book in this series offers all the statutes, legal opinions, and studies a student needs to structure a cohesive argument on a given controversial topic. Issues are presented from multiple points of view; sidebars cite law and opinions to aid in critical analysis; paratextual questions encourage reader engagement; and all sources are fully documented and grouped by the side of the argument. Discusses mental illness as a social problem: To what extent should persons with mental illness be contained in order to protect society? Can society afford not to bear the cost of treatment?

Each book in this series offers all the statutes, legal opinions, and studies a student needs to structure a cohesive argument on a given controversial topic. Issues are presented from multiple points of view; sidebars cite law and opinions to aid in critical analysis; paratextual questions encourage reader engagement; and all sources are fully documented and grouped by the side of the argument. Explores the debates surrounding the death penalty: Is the state ever justified in taking a human life? How severe must a crime be to warrant the death penalty? Is capital punishment an effective deterrent to crime?

Explores the debates on freedom of information.

Three major areas of controversy in child custody are examined--the viability of the best interest of the child standard; the rights of custodial and noncustodial parents; and the impact of race in child custody proceedings.

As it has become easier for more and more people to go online, Internet crime has also increased. Some users view the World Wide Web as an opportunity for crime against millions of unsuspecting victims. Crimes directly related to the Internet, such as stealing personal information or engaging in fraudulent schemes, have grown rapidly. Criminals also use the Internet as a way to commit other types of crime--as a clearinghouse for stolen goods, as a hunting ground for pedophiles, and even as a corner from which to sell illegal drugs. Some believe that more oversight is needed to protect Internet users, while others see the Internet as a place that should exist without restrictions. Explore these issues and others pertaining to online crime in The Internet and Crime.

Hate crimes are crimes that are motivated by hate or prejudice, whether it is based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender. Many people argue that these crimes should carry extra penalties because, in the words of former Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, 'this conduct is thought to inflict greater individual and societal harm...bias-motivated crimes are more likely to provoke retaliatory crimes, inflict distinct emotional harms on their victims, and incite community unrest'. Opponents of hate-crime laws argue that extra penalties amount to prosecuting people for thought crimes. ""Hate Crimes"" examines both sides of this debate.

The use of drugs by American athletes has come under increasing scrutiny. As steroids, stimulants, and supplements have become more easily available and salaries and endorsement deals have become more lucrative, it seems that more athletes are availing themselves of substances designed to improve their performance - whether legal or illegal. But what kinds of restrictions and punishments should athletes face? Should the federal government get involved, or should it be up to professional sports associations to police their members? And is the problem of drugs in sports really just an example of overblown media coverage? ""Drugs and Sports"" considers these and other issues from different viewpoints in a balanced account of this controversial topic.

The war on terror has been in effect since 2002, when United States troops first invaded Afghanistan. War efforts have expanded from military action to legislation such as the PATRIOT Act and domestic applications such as the federal wiretapping program. Supporters of these efforts claim that the United States must prepare for a new type of war in which the enemy attacks without warning and without regard for traditional rules of engagement. Critics contend that American foreign policy is actually harming, not helping, the United States, and that domestic programs threaten Americans' civil liberties. ""The War on Terror, Second Edition"" examines these issues in more depth with updated statistics, new legal opinions, and information about current legislation.

More than 1 million U.S. households declared bankruptcy in 2004. Alarmed by rising defaults, the nation's lenders and political leaders alike set out to reform laws that clear away debt. To some, reforming these laws will put a lid on irresponsible consumer spending sprees. But some consumer advocates argue that banks and credit card issuers have only themselves to blame for marketing and supplying ill-advised loans. Is this political action timely consumer protection or an unwarranted corporate bailout? ""Bankruptcy Law"" covers these issues and more, examining each from different perspectives.

The harmful effects of smoking are well documented, and the number of smokers has declined since the mid-20th century, when more than half of all adult Americans smoked. Additionally, as the adverse effects of secondhand smoke on nonsmokers' health have become clear, more places have banned smoking. Smokers, however, have begun to fight back against the increasing number of local laws banning smoking from all public places, even in bars and restaurants. They say that such sweeping bans infringe upon freedom of choice, while the bans' supporters say that clean air is essential to preserve the health of nonsmokers. ""Smoking Bans, Second Edition"" explores this issue from various angles with updated statistics, new arguments, and information about current legislation.

Hurricane Katrina brought to light many questions about Americans' preparedness for handling large-scale disasters: Is FEMA effective? Are the local, state, and federal governments sufficiently coordinated? What is the role of the National Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers in responding to disasters? Is federal flood insurance capable of cutting costs? Examining these issues from different perspectives, ""Disaster Relief"" offers students the tools to form their own opinions by bringing recent events into balanced focus.

The movement for prisoners' rights is based on the idea that prisoners, though they are deprived of liberty, are entitled to other basic human rights. What rights and privileges should be accorded to those who are incarcerated? ""Prisoners' Rights"" examines this issue from different perspectives, incorporating excerpts from legal documents, court cases, and political commentary and critique.

The public education system in the United States has always been a pressing matter, subject to continuous debate. Sweeping educational reforms passed in 2001 sharply divided teachers and policy makers over the direction of our nation's schools. Proponents say the changes increase accountability and open doors to new options for parents of children in failing institutions. Critics charge that the bill's intent and impact are quite different as poor, urban schools are tagged as failures and marked for closure at the same time the students are denied entrance to better-funded, higher-performing schools. ""Educational Standards"" clearly and fairly explores both sides of the debate surrounding this critical issue.

What sort of rights are entailed in the ownership of private property? The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that ""private property [shall not] be taken for public use, without just compensation""; this has been read to imply that the government may take private property if it provides ""just compensation."" This provision has been used by the government to compel citizens to sell their property in order to clear space to build public roads, parks, or even commercial spaces. But these public benefits come at a cost and, now, those who have lost land or the physical or economic use of their land are fighting back. This debate is explored in Private Property Rights, an objective guide that will enhance readers' understanding of this pivotal issue.

Some advocates of affirmative action argue that the policy remains necessary in order to make the U.S. workforce more diverse.