Roman Empire :: essays research papers

The Roman Empire The people were happy. This is the underlying cause of the astounding length of time and space that the Roman Empire occupied most of the known western land. Great rulers met their downfall when they put their own status in front of the well being of the people they govern. When the citizens are left high and dry and not regarded as important to their society then this is when there is an overthrow of power and a new ruler comes into play. Citizens had a place in politics, they have lots of entertainment, they had the best army in the world to protect them, and Rome was the place to live and would be that way for many years. Many leaders come and go but it is the great ones that we remember, the ones that make people enjoy life. The emperors that are not approved by the people are the ones that turn a new leaf of evil once they have a military victory. The thrill of so much power gives them the urge to be the best in the world. They move on and conquer other nations and forget about their own people. Julius Caesar cared about his people and wanted to be the "ruler for the people," rather than the "ruler of the people." When he gain power of Rome from the hands of Pompey there was no reign of terror, but a policy to restore economic and prosperity to Rome. This period of time in Rome is known today as the golden age of Roman literacy and development. The minds of the people are expanding. Another example of the Roman citizens' happiness and prosperity comes during the rule of Caesar's grandson Octavian, better known to history as Augustus. Once Augustus rises from the new triumvirate as the ruler of the empire, he introduces different types of social reform that appease the people and keep them on his side. Augustus is a classical man and wanted to bring back the ancient moral to the citizens. He reduced the size of the army and gave soldiers land and money. He imports food and gives it away to the people. Augustus transformed Rome from city of bricks to a city of marble by building temples and basilicas to represent his power as well as his love for the city that he takes care of.

Individual Management/Leadership Style

There are few, if any, hotter topics in management, business and organization theory at the present time than ‘leadership'. Leadership is the block at the top of the model of a good team, not because it is most important, but because it is the ultimate goal of an effective, efficient team. A good leader shares responsibility and glory, is supportive and fair, creates a climate of trust and openness, and is a good coach and teacher. Yet the test of a truly good leader is that the team operates as smoothly whether the leader is present or absent. Problem solving, decision making, team participation and conflict resolution are fundamental leadership activities. Rarely, are there any dead certainties in the world of business – especially in the current and foreseeable climate of uncertainty, ambiguity and paradox. Fear of failure, consequent risk-aversion and reluctance to move very far from ‘safe ground' or comfort zones can severely limit the quality relevance and na ture of decisions taken by those in managerial and leadership roles (Autry 50).Problem solvingSuccessful problem solving involves a search for the best problem space as well as the best program. Problem solving involves processing information. This is a three stage process:1. Recognizing the task environment. First, one perceives the events, interprets these invents and recognizes the nature of the task—e.g. notice disquiet in the office and see that the task is to identify how the disquiet can be resolved.2. Transformation into the person’s problem space. Next one views the task in a specific way. Here one has to be quite specific about the goal—what has to be done, where one stands in relationship to the goal and what kinds of acts need to be carried out in order to reach the goal. For example, from experience one will know that one cannot jump to any quick conclusions about the source of the disquiet in the office but will know how to set about finding out th e source of the disquiet.3. Processing the data and moving towards the goal. Depending on how the problem space has been conceived, one uses various kinds of information given with the problem or drawn from memory to process the data so as to move towards the problem solution. For example, in the illustration one will have had experience, of diagnosing problems of unrest in the office and will be able to call upon this experience along with information noted which is specific to the current situation in the office.In the course of working through the above steps the problem solver will notice whether any of the steps or series of steps he or she makes reduces the distance to the goal—i.e. resolving or solving the problem. If this seems to be the case then the problem solver will continue with that line of enquiry. If the steps do not seem to be productive then alternative steps will be followed. Progress and search for solutions are related to constant feedback of information obtained from people and objects in the problem situation.Problem solving involves the search for the most successful programs. However, successful problem solving may not so much be a search for a successful program as a search for the best problem space. It would seem, however, that both are required to increase the likelihood of finding good solutions to problems.Decision makingDecision making is effective when the leader is aware of and uses many methods to arrive at decisions. Consensus is often touted as the best way to make decisions—and it is an excellent method and probably not used often enough. But the team the leaser also uses majority rule, expert decision, authority rule with discussion, and other methods.Effective decision making is essential to a team's progress; ideally, leaders that are asked to solve problems should also have the power and authority to implement solutions. They must have a grasp of various decision-making methods, their advantages and disa dvantages, and when and how to use each. Leaders that choose the right decision-making methods at the right time will not only save time, but they will also most often make the best decisions.A key aspect of the leader's decision-making style, in bringing about productive synergy, is the ability to create opportunities for dialogue and shared reflection with others which lead to joint ownership of problems, solutions and decisions. Communication is crucial in the natural development of synergy. Simple techniques such as the use of open-ended questions can help to strengthen rapport as a necessary preliminary to peak communication, eg:†¢ ‘How could we do that better?'†¢ ‘What would be a viable option that would give us ‘x' but would avoid doing ‘y'?'†¢ ‘What would you really like to see happen here?'†¢ ‘What would you do?†¦ What would you do next?†¦ and then?'†¢ ‘How could we make  £50,000 saving on the fi rst stage of project ABC?'†¢ ‘Let's take your idea of starting with product development – then let's see it from marketing's perspective, before we commit to a decision'.†¢ ‘I like your proposal – let's build on that and see if we can improve on Graham's target'.The asking of ‘open' questions, in a non-threatening, non-judgmental way, with appropriate attendant body language, eg nodding, ‘mirroring' posture and gesture, reinforcing and adding to the other's contributions – are simple, but crucial techniques for giving positive messages of approval and encouragement. A demonstrable shift from authoritarian to supportively authoritative demeanour may be essential, before peak communication, synergy and ‘flow' – indicating personal authenticity in decision making – can come about between people, with the resultant mutual and shared payoffs.In the interests of both operational synergy and strategic crossfunctiona l interdependence, so-called ‘private intending' in decision making needs to function at a level which reconciles the need for fast, adaptable individual initiative, on the one hand, with necessary collaborative responses, on the other. As organisations reduce, hierarchically, and become flatter structures, with greater emphasis upon project team working, so decision-making needs to be considered increasingly, as a natural team process, as well as an individual role prerogative – particularly as crucial end results come more and more to depend, ultimately, upon willing and accountable collaborative effort.Team participationA team is a group of people who share a common purpose and work in a coordinated and interdependent relationship. Teams help members create a positive culture; one identified by high-trust levels. Team relationships allow members to align with the culture and the team’s purposes. They lead to synergy. Successful leaders who commit to — a nd deliver — outstanding results, do so as a result of the effective leadership and management of their teams. They understand that their route to success is, inevitably through engaging, focusing and mobilizing others' brainpower, horsepower and commitment.Team participation engages the mental and emotional involvement of leaders and followers: that is, the involvement of the member’s egos as well as their physical and mental capacities. Teaming also asks members to exercise their creative self and to increase their personal sense of responsibility through involvement. Team members need to recognize that the corporation wants their total involvement. And, when given, involvement increases the member’s sense of responsibility and ownership for the corporation and its results.If communication is the most important team characteristic, participation is the second most important. Without participation, you don't have a team; you have a group of bodies. Balanced par ticipation ensures that everyone on the team is fully involved. It does not mean that if you have five people each is speaking 20 percent of the time. Talking is not necessarily a measure of participation. We all know people who talk a lot and say nothing. It does mean that each individual is contributing when it's appropriate. The more a team involves all of its members in its activities, the more likely that team is to experience a high level of commitment and synergy (Depree 52).Balanced participation means that each team member joins the discussion when his or her contribution is pertinent to the team assignment. It also means that everyone's opinions are sought and valued by others on the team. Participation is everyone's responsibility. As a team moves from a forming stage to more mature stages of group development, team members must make certain that everyone is an active participant. If you have team members who did not participate early in the formation of the team, they wi ll withdraw even more as the going becomes more difficult. Two important things influence team participation: the leader's behavior and the participants' expectations.A leader's behavior comes as much from attitude as from anything. Leaders who are effective in obtaining participation see their role as being a coach and mentor, not the expert in the situation. Leaders will get more participation from team members if they can admit to needing help, not power. Leaders should also specify the kind of participation they want right from the start. Will everyone share their own ideas and then decide what to do or will the group discuss the pros and cons of the leader's idea?Leaders need to create a participative climate. They must make it a practice to speak last to avoid influencing others. Often a leader may put an idea on the table â€Å"just to get things started.† But what happens? Everyone jumps on the idea and stops thinking. People may feel, â€Å"Well, if that's what she wants, that's it.† Leaders need to reward risk taking. Those â€Å"half-baked† partial ideas that people bring up may be just what gets the team moving toward a solution, idea, or new opportunity (Denis, Lamothe and Langley 69). Leaders must always protect the minority views. Anyone can think like everyone else. It takes courage to think and speak differently.Conflict resolutionConflict, while sometimes productive, often represents a negative effect on organizational interaction. Diversity sometimes intensifies conflict. Differing values, customs, and beliefs among employees provide the foundation for conflict. This kind of cultural diversity can produce negative results, confusion, and stress. While diversity produces more ideas, it also forces people to clarify their views. Conflict resolution becomes a significant leadership task in which leaders become mediators of difference. They need to be power brokers to allocate influence and resources. Leaders often need to r esort to any of the following strategies for dealing with conflict (Storey 11):Domination – assuming the decision and rejecting dissenters,Containment – ignoring the issues, minimizing them, demanding rationality and objectivity in making the decision/dealing with the issues, maintaining control and confining the issuesCapitulation – getting one party to back down and surrender  Compromise – accommodating dissenters' positions insofar as is possible and asking each to give up some intractable positionsIntegration – seeking a conclusion satisfying to parties involvedSeveral forces are driving us to adopt conflict resolution strategies associated with values integration: the move toward excellence and cultural diversity, changes in demographics, and increasing pressure for innovation and creativity.ReferencesAutry, James. (1992). A. Love and Profit: The Art of Caring Leadership. New York: Avon Books, 1992.Denis, J.L., L. Lamothe and A. Langley (200 1) â€Å"The dynamics of collective leadership and strategic change in pluralistic organizations†, Academy of Management Journal 44(4).Depree, Max. (1989). Leadership Is an Art. New York: Doubleday.Storey, John. (2004). Leadership in Organizations: Current Issues and Key Trends. Routledge: New York.

Explore the Theme of Monstrosity in Frankenstein Essay

Montrosity is a key in Frankenstein, and it affects both the Creature and Victor, whilst at the same time , Shelley argues that society is monstrous through injustices of the time and the social conventions. Frankenstein could be said to be the monster himself- when he says â€Å"miserable monster† whom â€Å"I had created†, we see Shelley implicitly suggest, through the alliterative phrase, that just as â€Å"Adam was created in God’s image† so too was the Creature born in the image of Victor. Moreover, the idea that Frankenstein is himself the monster is reinforced by â€Å"or rather cell†. â€Å"Cell† refers to a prison cell, and is used symbolically to represent the idea that just like a cell is for criminals, who perform acts of monstrousity, so to is Frankenstein the â€Å"criminal† commiting an act of â€Å"monstrosity†. On the other hand, we could argue that it was not so much the act of creation that was monstrous, but rather Frankenstein’s reaction. By writing â€Å"I ran out of the room† we see Victor perform the ultimate rejection, and therefore, shunning the responsibilty that exists in the binary between â€Å"Parent† and â€Å"Child†- as John McRae argued. It is interesting to note that Frankenstein rejects the monster because of an innate selfishness- â€Å"the beauty of the dream vanished† implies that Frankenstein’s physical conception does not equal that of his mental conception, and that because Frankenstein’s plan are in disarray, his rational scientific methods- â€Å"I selected†¦in proportion† show this- are replaced by emotional responses; which for him, is territory unknown- in the same way Walton seeks to â€Å"ascertain the secrets† or how the Creature wants to understand human behaviour at the De Lacy’s. Thus, we see a connection between Victor and the Creature- whom he describes as â€Å"miserbale monster†. Furthermore, the fact that Frankenstein can only respond to the Creature’s birth in empirical, scientific observations- â€Å"pearly white teeth, dull eyes†- constrasts with Elizabeth’s response to William’s death- â€Å"O I have murdered my child†. By portraying Elizabeth in a positive light- she forms an emotional response, which juxtaposes with the sterile feelings of Frankenstein at the conception of the Creatue, Shelley implies that women present a greater degree of humanity- and thus criticises the male dominated society on education- whilst they may read â€Å"Shakespeare† and â€Å"Agrippa†, women will be worldly-wise, (no doubt influence by her feminist mother) and that they are necessary to prevent monstrosities. This idea of the female role is reinforced by the fact that as the novel progresses, the women are slowly being removed- first his Mother, then Justine and then Elizabeth- â€Å"I saw Elizabeth†¦held the corpse of my dead mother†. This presents Frankenstein’s mental degregation and ultimately, the ctalyst for the mosntrous act- so Shelley presents the idea of a dichotomy between man and women- Darwin supported this by suggesting the hierachy of reproducion- man and woman is better than man alone. However, it could also be argued that Frankenstein’s settings augment his monstrousity- we see a sense of isolation- â€Å"solitude† is repeated, implying that by imposing self-exile, Frankenstein detaches himself from society and its rules and that he has become an â€Å"outsider† (McCrae)- much as the monstrousity that Victor calls the Creature, is also an outsider. Indeed the connection between the two is best examined by the Shelley use of the mountain-top- â€Å"Chamonuix, where I saw him†- which alludes to the idea of the Creator and Creation meeting (Hayward), both as equal, with both, arguably as montrous, Victor for abondoning the Creature, and the Creature (for Victor) a representation fo his failure. By using â€Å"Solitude and â€Å" Filthy Workshop of Creation†, Shelley implies that this isolation leads to thoughts of monstrousity- Godwin influecned her argiung it â€Å"was a nusery of madmen†. This separation from society is symbolic too. If Geneva is â€Å"Eden†, then by extending against the limits of knowledge-â€Å"if no man broke the rules† suggests no remorse- he cut himself off, much like Lucifer in Paradise Lost- and thus, Shelley implies that this inner monster within Frankenstein and all of us, can only be restrained by a balance- whether, male or female, or equal laws. The idea that the monstrousity is within Frankenstein (and therefore us) is suggested by â€Å"wildness in his eyes†- he claims the Creature to be â€Å"wild†, but if the eyes are â€Å"windows to the sould†, Shelley suggests and innate montrosity in him (and us); an â€Å"id† that is the carnal desires. This contrasts the idea of the Monster’s â€Å"dull eyes†- which challenges the idea that the Creature is the monstrosity- this challenge is the reason why Shelley uses the Chinese Box Narrative- the various â€Å"narritve eyes† makes us formulate our own judgement. In fact, the Moster, may be the most human of us all- he â€Å"imitates the physiognamy and manners† in the same way that Justine did, yet both are treated unfairly. This idea of an unfair treatment alludes to Shelley’s belief that monstorusity exists in society- so whilst we can say it was Victor’s nature to be monstorus (and that society placed limits to prevent this), the nurturing of him within society is what leads to the monstrosity arguably. In the case of the Justine, the irony is that she is treated â€Å"un-JUSTlY† contrary to her name- which perhaps could be Shelley’s sly reference to her desire for female eqaulity (influenced by Wollstencraft –the feminist motehr) – a name is afforded to all, and Justine’s name contain’s justice- therefore, when she â€Å"is found guilty†- there is a trangression of nature, in the same way that Frankenstein transgresses nature by creating life. This presents the idea that society is too quick to judge- just as Frankenstein believes â€Å"seemingly to grab me†, Justine is quickly found guilty- regardless of Elizabeth’s plea- no wonder Shelley present s the law in such a negative light- â€Å"judge†¦meddle in the dark side of human nature†, because it is flawed and makes rash decisions. Thus, we see Shelley regard society as the monster. To conclude, monstrosity is pervades throughout the novel, affecting all characters and being influenced by setting and society. Yet, in the same way that the Creature was Frankenstein’s creation, the novel coould be seen as her monster-shunned by contempories but exposing the reatiy of monstrosity within us all.

The Pros and Cons of Screenplay Competitions

The Pros and Cons of Screenplay Competitions Screenplay competitions have long served as a means for fledgling screenwriters to call attention to their talent, especially if they have little else to draw from in the way of Hollywood relationships. As a former literary manager and screenplay competition judge, I can confidently say that the most skilled storytellers will ultimately get noticed in such settings. However, there are a few thing screenwriters should know before submitting. First, not all competitions are created equal. In fact, only a small handful will truly mean anything when it comes to advancing your career, and even then, only if you place in at least the top 10 percent. So, what competitions are worth your hard-earned 50 bucks? Below is a list of what I believe are the top 10 screenplay competitions today based on credibility and access they provide to the industry: 1.  Ã‚     Academy Nicholl Fellowship oscars.org/nicholl 2.  Ã‚     Sundance Screenwriters Lab sundance.org/programs/feature-film#labs 3.  Ã‚     Final Draft Big Break Contest https://store.finaldraft.com/big-break-contest.html 4.  Ã‚     TrackingB trackingb.com/contests/?contest_id=36 5.  Ã‚     Launch Pad https://www.tblaunchpad.com/ 6.  Ã‚     Slamdance http://showcase.slamdance.com/Screenplay-Competition 7.  Ã‚     Scriptapalooza scriptapalooza.com/home.php 8.  Ã‚     PAGE International https://pageawards.com/ 9.  Ã‚     BlueCat bluecatscreenplay.com/ 10.  Ã‚     Austin Film Festival https://austinfilmfestival.com/submit/screenplay-and-teleplay-submissions-2/ What makes these competitions so widely trusted compared to others in the marketplace is their long history of rewarding quality writing and the high caliber of judges they hire – many of whom are respectable producers or managers. This translates to greater industry access for top finishers in addition to generous cash and other prizes. Several of these competitions, such as Slamdance and BlueCat, also provide written feedback to all entrants; so even if you don’t place, you get some constructive criticism that can be used to better your material for the next one. Another key takeaway: it means more to do well in one or two highly respected competitions like the Nicholl or Sundance than to do well in dozens of lesser-known competitions. Industry types are more apt to trust the informed opinion of a few accredited peers than a bevy of unknowns. Furthermore, entry fees for preeminent competitions aren’t higher on average than less notable ones, meaning you’re spending less and getting more value for your dollar So then, what scripts typically do best in competition? Readability is key. Proper formatting, spelling and grammar alone will elevate your material above half the submissions. After that, the focus is on craftsmanship. A coherent three-act story structure coupled with compelling characters, clever plotlines and crisp dialogue will catapult you to the quarter- or even semi-finalist stage. Reaching this level is all but guaranteed to generate reader requests and perhaps even some phone calls from interested parties. However, the screenplays that advance to the finalist level and beyond – the ones that get you in-person meetings – often have one very special, very ironic ingredient: they boast unfamiliar ideas and storylines that may not be marketable enough to get the film made. Numerous colleagues of mine, from Nicholl judges to professional script consultants, have confirmed as much. Essentially, there’s a disconnect between scripts that place highly in competitions and those that get produced because competitions look at creative writing skill over marketability and reward highly original ideas that eschew the very market trends and genre conventions production companies seek. Bottom line, screenplays that win competitions are less likely to get made than they are to serve as calling cards for agents, managers and producers who want talented writers-for-hire. While it may not be the path you planned, it’s still a step toward becoming a professional screenwriter. And a very viable one for those with real talent.

An Overview of Early Childhood Education

An Overview of Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Education is a term that refers to educational programs and strategies geared toward children from birth to the age of eight. This time period is widely considered the most vulnerable and crucial stage of a persons life. Early childhood education often focuses on guiding children to learn through play. The term commonly  refers to preschool or infant/child care programs. Early Childhood Education Philosophies Learning through play is a common teaching philosophy for young children. Jean Piaget developed the PILES theme to meet the physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social needs of children. Piagets constructivist theory emphasizes hands-on educational experiences, giving children the chance to explore and manipulate objects. Children in preschool learn both academic and social-based lessons. They prepare for school by learning letters, numbers, and how to write. They also learn sharing, cooperation, taking turns, and operating within a structured environment. Scaffolding in Early Childhood Education The  scaffolding method of teaching  is to offer more structure and support when a child is learning a new concept. The child may be taught something new by employing things they already know how to do. As in a scaffold that supports a building project, these supports can then be removed as the child learns the skill. This method is meant to build confidence while learning. Early Childhood Education Careers Careers in early childhood and education include: Preschool Teacher: These teachers work with children ages three to five who are not yet in kindergarten. The educational requirements vary by state. Some require only a high school diploma and a certification, while others require a four-year degree.Kindergarten Teacher: This position may be with a public or private school and may require a degree and certification, depending on the state.Teacher for First, Second, and Third Grades: These elementary school positions are considered to be part of early childhood education. They teach a full range basic academic subjects to a class rather than specializing. A bachelors degree is required and a certification may be needed, depending on the state.Teacher Assistant or Paraeducator: The assistant works in the classroom under the direction of the lead teacher. Often they work with one or more students at a time. This position often does not require a degree.Childcare Worker: Nannies, babysitters, and workers at childcare centers usually perf orm basic duties such as feeding and bathing in addition to play and activities that may be mentally stimulating. An associates degree in early childhood development or a credential may result in a higher salary. Childcare Center Administrator: The director of a childcare facility may be required by a state to have a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education or a certification in Child Development. This position trains and supervises the staff as well as performing the administrative duties of the facility.Special Education Teacher: This position often requires additional certification beyond that for a teacher. The special education teacher would work with children who have special needs, including mental, physical, and emotional challenges.

Injectronics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Injectronics - Essay Example Automotive maintenance has undergone radical changes since the introduction of electronics as well as mechatronics in vehicles. Rapid introduction of computer controls to operate engines, steering, braking, suspension and other safety and transmission or comfort functions in today’s vehicles is a huge challenge to both service processes and manufacturing technologies along with failure diagnosis requirements. Many of the modifications in automotive repairs are a result of the initiation of microcontrollers and other electronics in functions within a vehicle. These changes require the remanufacturing companies for such electronic components to improve as significant changes are continually taking place in the industry (Weiland, n.d). Before the advent of electronic controllers, definition of automotive remanufacturing was clear: meaning the renovation of used vehicle parts in accordance with the accepted state so that they can perform similar to new ones. This conventional rema nufacturing may be relevant in future to mechatronics; nevertheless, the definition will be tailored for electronic controllers. ... Currently, vehicles average 35 microprocessors in a vehicle, which are located in various several electronic modules throughout a vehicle and range from simple applications to sophisticated engine controls. The high content level highlights the importance of long-term service plan for electronic control modules. In these vehicles, the service expectations include corresponding electronic modules at least every 4-10 years’ service life with most vehicles lasting 15 years; nevertheless, other vehicles have a high service life of up to 25 years or more. Electronic modules present a difficult service challenge due to many factors such as the fact that microprocessor manufacturers and network manufacturers never have the volume requirements in the service life of a vehicle in order to maintain a production line for producing these service components (APRA global connection, 2009). Market and Competitors Most Electronic Control Module (ECM) utilise four to eight custom-produced micr oprocessors to deter competitors and grey marketers capable of replicating the electronic control module. Therefore, electronic components are often produced in a limited manner and usually the first components to be given as end-of-life production. Remanufacturing of electronic modules is possible through the availability of sold units removed from vehicles or cores; thus, injectronic faces the challenges of maintaining a sufficient collection system that maintains constant return of failed units to sustain the remanufacturing program. Moreover, the core is a failed unit, which has been in use within vehicles for several years; therefore, it is likely that the part is not the latest part since many revisions could have

Discussion board 8 - international relation Essay

Discussion board 8 - international relation - Essay Example In the context of NEIO and CERDS, policies should be made that use an internationalist approach to economics, one that does not benefit rich countries at the expense of poor ones. According to activist Ward Morehouse (1998), CERDS must be supported by the economic policies of individual nations. CERDS makes it easier for nations to do things like impose tax penalties on foreign investment that does not help developing countries to protect and rediversify their local economies. Aid and trade rules should also be changed to ensure that this occurs. The taxes that are imposed should tax domestic and global foreign exchange speculation, as well as on stocks and bonds. Governments should also reassert control over fiscal policies such as tax and public expenditures by re-regulating finance and banking and reintroduce exchange controls. Morehouse states that these practices, supported by CERDS, allow states to change their tax systems to serve the needs of the community. 2. Regardless of o ne’s opinion regarding the Bush administration’s compliance (or lack of compliance) with the international provisions governing the use of force with respect to, among other things, the use of torture, any state that has signed agreements and treaties prohibiting them should adhere to them. If the United States or any other country that is a member of the UN that has signed these treaties violate them in any way, they should be held responsible. Of course, the controversy is if the Bush administration actually did that. Members of the U.S. government, especially in the Bush years, insist that they did not. The U.S. Supreme Court, in its 2006 Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld ruling, declared that military commissions for trying terrorist suspects violated both U.S. military law and the Geneva Convention (Brooks, 2006). The Bush administration held that Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention did not apply to Al Qaeda combatants because its protections applied only to conflicts bet ween states. They reasoned that since Al Qaeda was not a state, the Geneva Convention did not apply to them. The Supreme Court disagreed, which potentially made high-ranking Bush administration officials subject to prosecution under the federal War Crimes Act, something that did not materialize. In 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder made noises to pursue indicting high-level officials such as Bush and his vice-president, Dick Cheney, for their part in torturing prisoners. At the time, Cheney shrugged it off, and any investigation was eventually dropped. Several countries and organizations have called for the indictment of members of the Bush administration for sanctioning torture, but it seems that the Obama administration has little political will to pursue it. Again, if any official, no matter how high-ranking, is guilty of breaking any laws, no matter what it is, they should be indicted for it. 3. The UN and Collective Use of Force When the UN charter was signed by 51 countries, including the U.S., in 1945, one of their goals was preserving peace among nations. The charter described a collective security system in which the Security Council (then made up of the UK, China, France, the U.S.S.R, and the U.S.) would be able to determine when a threat to or breach of international peace and