It's a shame we have to die, my dear. No one's getting out of here alive. |

Name/Purpose of the Committee: Sherwood Boehlert

History of the Committee: The committee officially began on January 3rd 1959 greatly as a result of the soviet launch of Sputnik in 1957.

Profile of the Chairman:
Name: Sherwood Boehlert
Congressional District/State: Central New York
Party: Republican
Occupation: Graduated from Whitesboro Central High School and Utica College with a bachelor’s degree in Science in 1961. Before serving as Oneida County Executive in 1979-83, he was manager of public relations at Wyandotte Chemical from 1961 to 1964 and served two years in the U.S. Army.
Number of terms in Congress: 13

Voting record:
War with Iraq: yea
Homeland Security Department: yea
Patriot Act: yea

Weekly ScheduleMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Week Of November 7
Monday, November 7, 2005
No Meetings Scheduled
Tuesday, November 8, 2005
No Meetings Scheduled
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Full Committee – Markup- H. Res. 515, Of inquiry requesting the President of the United States to provide to the House of Representatives certain documents in his possession relating to the anticipated effects of climate change on the coastal regions of the United States.10:00a.m.2318 Rayburn House Office BuildingContacts: Republican Staff: Sara Gray, 225-6371Democrat Staff: Jim Turner, 225-6375
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Subcommittee on Research - HearingThe Role of Social Science Research in Disaster Preparedness and Response Witnesses:-Dr. Susan Cutter, Chairman, Department of Geography and Director, Hazards Research Lab, University of South Carolina;-Dr. Roxane Cohen Silver , Professor, Department of Psychology and Social Behavior and Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine; -Dr. H. Dan O’Hair , Chairman, Department of Communications, University of Oklahoma; and-Dr. Shirley Laska , Professor, Environmental Sociology and Director, Center for Hazards Assessment, Response and Technology, University of New Orleans. 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.2318 Rayburn House Office Building (WEBCAST)Contacts: Republican Staff: Kara Haas, 225-7858Democrat Staff: Jim Wilson, 225-6375 |

Alien and Sedition Act

The Alien and Sedition Act is actually made up of four different acts. The Alien Enemies Acts authorize the president to imprison or deport any alien associated with any nation that the United States declares an enemy. Under the Sedition Act anyone "opposing or resisting any law of the United States, or any act of the President of the United States" could be imprisoned for up to two years. It was also illegal to "write, print, utter, or publish" anything criticized the president or Congress.

The Alien and Sedition Act were passed on july 4, 1798 under the administration of President John Adams. They were originally passed to protect the U.S. agains any dangarous aliens but later the federialists used it to stop and growth of the Democratic-Republican Party.

This act was clearly an overreaction.It was unconsitutional because it violated the first Amendment freedom of speech, press…..

Espionage Act

During and after World War I the Espionage Act and the Sedition Act were used in prosecutions that would be considered constitutionally unacceptable in the U.S. even in the political climate after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York's World Trade Center.

The Espionage Act of 1917 passed by the United States Congress made it a crime, punishable by a $10,000 fine and 20 years in jail, for a person to express hostility with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies.

I think the Act was constitutional and was not an overreaction. I did that that the punishment could be a little less harsh.








Executive Order 9066

This order let our military imprison Japanese without a trial by jury.

It was signed into law on February 19, 1942 (during World War II), by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, using his authority as Commander-in-Chief to exercise war powers. After the attack on Pearl Harbor the Govt was afraid of spies so they made this Executive Order.

I think it was unconstitutional even thought I can see where they would think I was necessary.

Patriot Act |

Alien and Sedition Act (1798)
There are four different Acts that make up what is normally called the Alien and Sedition Act. The Alien Enemies Acts authorized the president to imprison or deport any alien associated with any nation that the United States was fighting in a "declared war." The Alien Act authorized the president to deport any alien considered dangerous, even in peacetime. The Naturalization Act extended the duration of residence required for aliens to become citizens, nearly tripling it from five years to 14. The Sedition Act made it a crime to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against government or government officials.
The laws were supposedly put in place to protect America from the threat of spies due to hostile actions from the revolutionary French government, but was in fact used by the democratic party to hurt the republican party who had openly expressed its support for the French Revolutionnaries.
It was indeed an overreaction and was certainly not warranted.
I consider it to be unconstitutional because it takes away the rights of citizens who have committed no crimes and done no wrong simply because of their nationality.

Espionage Act (1917)
The Espionage Act of 1917 passed by the United States Congress made it a crime, punishable by a $10,000 fine and 20 years in jail, for a person to convey antipathy with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies.
Congress responded to a growing fear that public criticism of the war effort would make it difficult to conscript the needed manpower for American participation. Also contributing to widespread unease were the actions of labor groups, especially the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), who proclaimed their sympathy for laborers through the world, including those in Russia. It was also due greatly to the Red scare.
I believe that, though the law is warranted and should be in place, the punishment is somewhat excessive.
Yes, this law is constitutional because it punishes those who are committing treason, and those who commit treason should no longer be fully granted the rights given in the constitution.

Executive Order 9066 (1942)
This Order allowed military officials to imprison Japanese civilians without a trial by jury.
It was put in place because the attacks by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor made the United States fearful of spies within the United States.
This Order was definitely an overreaction and violated the rights of many innocent Japanese citizens and tourists.
It was far from constitutional.

Patriot Act (2001)
the Act enhances the authority of U.S. law enforcement for the stated purpose of fighting terrorist acts in the United States and abroad. This enhanced legal authority is also used to detect and prosecute other alleged potential crimes.
This Was put in place after the Attacks on the World Trade Center buildings on September 11th to increase security and instigating the war on terrorism. |