The Code: Living with Genetic Abnormalities: The Merten Family
At 2 and 3 years of age, Scotty and Chris Merten--short, physically weak, and severely retarded--were referred to Dr. Edward McCabe. As he and his associates were to learn, the two brothers had a rare combination of three genetic disorders that also...
The Code: Living with Genetic Abnormalities
When a child with a genetic or other abnormality is born, parents need information as well as support from the medical community. Even the same genetic disease like cystic fibrosis will vary in. its clinical severity. The doctor's main task is to he...
State of Mind: Thought Disorder Schizophrenia, The
Impaired cognitive functioning, memory loss, or delusions may be caused by brain injuries, tumors, or the aging process as in Alzheimer's disease. One form of dementia is the thought disorder schizophrenia. The causes of schizophrenia are unknown, b...
Government by Committee: Organizing for Congressional Business
Congress has twin organizational bases: committees where most of the substantive work on legislation occurs and the leadership provided by the party. Initially Congress tried to operate as a "committee of the whole" but the gridlock that resulted mo...
Rule of Nine: Selecting and Deciding Cases
Selecting the cases for any given court year begins the summer before the Supreme Court's term begins. Law clerks assigned to each justice reduce the number of petitions that will be placed on the discuss list. If four justices agree to take a case,...
Rule of Nine: Supreme Court Vacancies
A president's opportunity to appoint someone to the Supreme Court extends his or her influence long past the presidential term. The selection of a nominee is primarily influenced by ideological compatibility, identity politics, and competence. On a ...
Rule of Nine: Lower Court Nominations
The selection of lower court nominees has its own set of problems. Although the president is generally not as involved in the process, it is becoming more difficult to recruit legal talent because of the income differential. As prestigious as a judi...
Rule of Nine: Qualifications for the Federal Bench
Legal scholars are asked to comment on qualifications and characteristics they think are important for nominees to the federal bench. Douglas Kmiec favors nominees who are "learned in the law and...capable, based on experience and temperament and in...
Rule of Nine: State Court Systems
Each state has its own court system, with the State Supreme Courts having the final say on what the state law is, and the U. S. Supreme Court stepping in with the final say on federal law. When the Federal Gun Free School Zone Act was invalidated by...
Reason, Reflection and Language
Philosopher Daniel Dennett talks about the power of language. He observes that it is language that gives humans the ability to look into the future, as well as to reflect and reason in ways other organisms cannot.