Private and public welfare programs have provided those in need with basic necessitiesa??including food, clothing, health services, and housinga??throughout the history of the United States. But the debate over welfare is contentious: it concerns basic ideas about the proper function, size, and obligations of government, and these topics lie at the heart of America's conservative/liberal divide. Despite a major reform of welfare in the 1990s, economists continue to dispute the effects of welfare on neighborhoods, families, and employment. Welfare and Welfare Reform provides the clear and essential information that readers need to understand and research welfare issues. This timely volume demystifies today's tangled system of welfare laws, amendments, spending mandates, block grants, eligibility and work requirements, and tax policies. Resources include capsule biographies, summaries of key cases such as Standard Machine Company v. Davis, a research guide, an annotated bibliography, historic documents such as the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, and an overview of the welfare debate in U.S. history beginning with the first public almshouses in the North American British colonies. This new book is an ideal tool for policymakers and administrators as well as teachers, students, parents, and the general public. Coverage includes: A? Eligibility and work requirements defined by the reforms of 1996 and 2005 A? How welfare legislation impacts enforcement of child support A? The ongoing debate over welfare for immigrants....

When a criminal offense includes the element of bias it is regarded as a hate crime. In 1993 the Supreme Court approved penalty enhancement schemes for hate crimes in Wisconsin v. Mitchell. Recognizing these crimes as acts committed against entire communities, 45 U.S. states now impose additional penalties for hate crimes. The Supreme Court and state courts have put important constitutional limits on the enforcement and prosecution of hate crimes statutes, and Congress has repeatedly debated whether to enact a federal hate-crimes law. But lawmakers, courts, and ordinary Americans continue to disagree over which crime victims hate crimes laws should protect. Meanwhile, critics insist that the law should make no distinction between bias crimes and ordinary crimes. "Hate Crimes, Revised Edition" provides students and general readers with the resources necessary to define, understand, and research one of the most contentious topics in the United States today. A glossary, appendixes, and a chronology round out this accessible and timely new resource. Coverage includes: a complete background on the incidence of hate crimes; an overview of hate-crime legislation and judicial opinions regarding these laws at both the state and national levels; the public debate over the desirability, constitutionality, and justifiability of penalty enhancement for perpetrators of hate crimes; the public debate over whether hate-crimes laws should protect crime victims based on disability, status as an immigrant, sexual orientation, or gender identity; and extracts from documents such as the FBI Uniform Crime Report (2006), the Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (2007), and the Joint Statement Before the House Committee of the Judiciary Concerning the Jena Six (2007)....

An overview of Rwanda's geography and history, along with an exploration of the political, economic, and cultural landscape of this east-central African nation. As part of the new, completely revised and redesigned second edition of the highly acclaimed Visual Geography Series®, Rwanda in Pictures explores the Rwandan genocide of 1994, the brutal legacy of decades of war, and recent efforts to heal and rebuild....

An overview of Senegal's geography and history, along with an exploration of the political, economic, and cultural landscape of this country located in western Africa....

Suriname in Pictures explores the history and government, economy, people, geography, and cultural life of Suriname. This edition includes comprehensive text with strong curriculum ties, beautiful full-color photography throughout, and interesting, detailed sidebars. ...

Pack your bags! We're headed to Russia. On this whirlwind tour, you'll learn all about the country's landscape, culture, people, and more. We'll explore Russia's cold, frozen tundra and wide open steppes, take a subway ride through Moscow, and watch a beautiful Russian ballet. A special section introduces Russia's capital, language, population, and flag. Hop on board and take a fun-filled look at your world....