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Emergency Powers: Understanding The Benefits While Mitigating The Consequences, Savannah Valentine

University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review

This note compares the short-term benefits and long-term consequences of emergency powers using examples from several countries and offers solutions to mitigate those consequences. Historically, emergency powers were only granted in times of true crises. In those circumstances, emergency powers can serve an important purpose: to help the government run smoothly and efficiently. Unfortunately, permanent power grabs are now more common and the standard for what constitutes an emergency has weakened severely, often resulting in civil rights infringements. Possible solutions to this problem include understanding the negative effects of sunset clauses in emergency acts, increased awareness of manufactured emergencies, encouraging …

Is A Duty To Pay Tax Inherent In Affirmations Of Human Rights?, Jonathan M. Barrett

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 (the Universal Declaration), as the preeminent statement of human rights, informs numerous cognate covenants and declarations of rights, and charters of rights included in national constitutions. Unlike the rights declarations of the Enlightenment, the Universal Declaration affirms broad welfare rights, in addition to civil and political rights. No right or set of rights is superior to another; they are indivisible, interdependent and interrelated.

Declarations of rights may also include duties. The Organization of American States’ American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man 1948 (“the American Declaration”), for example, includes …