Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Limits Of The Scientist's Responsibility To Communicate With Laymen, James M. Lufkin

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The scientist's responsibility to communicate with the layman is limited first by the layman's ability to understand him, and second by the layman's "need to know." These are very real limits, and in fairness, they should always be considered carefully in any assessment of the scientist's social responsibility.

Voter Registration In Minnesota, Winston W. Benson

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

This is a study of Minnesota's system of permanent voter registration used by 71 municipalities in the state. The commissioner of registration in each of these municipalities was sent a questionnaire on which he indicated his reaction to the effectiveness of the system.

The results indicated that regulations should be changed to provide for the following: (l) spot checks on the accuracy of information given by registrants; (2) notification of previous registration district when a voter registers in a new district; (3) use of permanent registration files in school elections; (4) better communications between county and municipal governments in keeping …

The Internal Challenge To Malaysia, Gordon P. Means

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

This paper presents an account of the activities of the major opposition parties in Malaysia. Because Indonesia has tried to utilize some opposition parties to bring about the downfall of the present government of Malaysia, special attention has been given to the impact of Indonesia on the Malaysian political scene.

The Problem Of Membership In International Organization, W. Hartley Clark

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Membership problems plague international organizations of all types. All organizations are in some way exclusive, and there is a hierarchy of acceptable joiner-nations with the European nations leading the list. Each organization appears statistically to have a norm of membership toward which its number tends. If it falls short of the norm, it is under compulsion to expand. If it exceeds the norm, expulsions or boycotts are likely to ensue. The ideal condition of an organization, therefore, is "normal" membership, not necessarily "total" inclusion of all nations legally admissable. More is to be lost by too large an organization than …

The Politics Of Municipal Reform, A. B. Villanueva

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

When modernization of city government is proposed in a community in which taxes ore going up, administrative authority is fragmented, municipal structure is clumsy, and citizen estimate of the city council is somewhat low, popular attitudes toward municipal reform are favorable. But those persons who have empires to defend and interests to protect in the city hall, will defend the status quo and resist the introduction of proposed innovations. Some may even fight back with all the fury irrational men can have at their command, and thus the reform movement produces strange side effects and unfortunate after effects.

Two Views Of Non-Voting: A Critique, Stephen L. Wasby

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The view that non-voting is bad is contrasted with the view that non-voting can be functional for a political system. Works by Schattschneider and Berelson et al. are examined. Limitations in their arguments are pointed out, particularly the farmer's assertion that non-voters are being manipulated and the letters' emphasis on the short-run aspects of the system. The arguments are related to traditional conceptions of democracy.