Meaning Of Voting Behaviour Politics Essay

Meaning Of Voting Behaviour Politics Essay Human actions, such as voting in a democratic election, are extremely complex phenomenon and depend on a variety of social and psychological factors. Voting in elections is the most obvious and direct way in which a whole population can affect government, sort of mass revolution.  [2]  Voting is the most distinguishing imperative stuff that a citizen can do to make sure that the government operates in the way it is intended; and guaranteed that their political way of life are heard by the countrys political system. Therefore, it is the main form of political participation in liberal democratic societies and the study of voting behaviour is a highly specialized sub-field within political science. Voting has become virtually a universal means by which individuals make collective decisions.  [3]   Meaning of Voting Behaviour The word voting is not a new concept. In antique Greece, voting was not much for elections to offices, which were packed on the jury principles of arbitrary selection. But it was used for decisions on propositions put before democratic assembly, on the fate of individuals.  [4]  In contemporary democratic arrangement, voting is a method of expressing the approval or disapproval of the policies, programmes and decisions of the administrative authority. Quoting Oriavwote, (2000), S.K. Balogun and P.O. Olapegba writes: Voting thus, is a means of aggregating individual preferences into collective decision in an election, the action of formally indicating ones choice of candidate or political party at an election.  [5]   Voting is the pedestal of the political pyramid in democracy, and that decisions made at the foundation have the capability to overthrow those at the top. For this reason, voting may perhaps be looked upon as the basic decision-making process in a democracy.  [6]  It may also describe the process either by which citizens choose candidates for public office or the formal recording of opinion of a group on any subject. In either sense, it is a means of transforming numerous individual opinions into a coherent and collective basis for decision. Voters tend to choose candidates whom they perceived as benefiting them the most and as having a reasonable chance of winning.  [7]  That is, voting is a good example of rational choice,  [8]  as larger part of the electorate takes their voting preference on the establishment of a judgment of how the present government or the incumbent has exaggerated the welfare of the people, and the odds that the contrasting camp would accomplish b etter. The study of voting behaviour started around the 18th century (Jenson, 1969), this early attempts made use of aggregate data analysis that is, using actual election returns by geopolitical units e.g., wards, districts etc. (Gosnell, 1930).  [9]  Of late, voting behaviour has used to describe, as Samuel J. Eldersveld writes, certain area of study and types of political phenomena which previously had either not been conceived or were considered irrelevant. It involves an analysis of individual psychological processes (perception, emotion and motivation) and their relation to political actions, as well as institutional patterns, such as the communication process and their impact on elections.  [10]  As V.O. Key, Jr., and Frank Munger have observed, most voting behaviour of the time is a continuing affirmation of pre-existing political commitments which were forged under the pressure of a major social trauma. Looked at in terms of the party system as a whole, this profound linkag e with the past often amounts to a standing decision which is only very infrequently subject to review by any decisively large part of the electorate.  [11]   In short, voting behaviour of the populace determines political power in any political system on different scales signifying the intensity of political involvement. Even if people are not aware of a personal involvement in the electoral decision, they may still be induced to vote by social pressures and inner feelings of social obligation.  [12]  Voting behaviour refers to factors that determine the manner in which a particular group of people vote for a specific political party or candidates that are up for elections. Therefore, voting behaviour as N.G.S. Kini, sums up can be regarded as:  [13]   (a) a mode of legitimizing democratic rule; (b) instancing participation in the political process involving integration into the political community; (c) instancing an act of decision-making; (d) a role-action involving definite political orientation imbedded in a particular type of political culture; or (e) a direct relation of the individual citizens to the formal government.  [14]   In fine, the notion of voting behaviour implies the study of voters preferences, alternative, programmes, ideology, etc., on which elections are fought. Among other things, voting behaviour helps to arrive to a decision which official are chosen to run our governments, the multiplicity of parties that voters have to choose from at the polls, how many citizens will turn out to vote, who will or will not be represented in our legislatures, and whether the majority will rule. It has a thoughtful consequence not only on the process of elections, but also on the degree to which a political system is fair, representative, and democratic. Therefore, it lies at the heart of democratic process and are an expression of popular will. Factors affecting Voting Behaviour Voting behaviour is rather a complex and multi-faceted subject. Diverse factors that comprise both political and non-political have an effect on it. Its determinants are vast and wide-ranging, and differ from one person to another to a substantial degree. Voting behaviour is determined by the political attitudes, assumptions, policy preferences, and partisan loyalties of individuals and the political and institutional context within which they cast their votes in an election.  [15]  Thus, there are a numbers of indicators affecting voters choice as one of the early pioneers of electoral studies in India, V.M. Sirsikar, observes, an enquiry into the process of election indicates factors other than rationality.  [16]   . The assessment of voting pattern consistently focuses on the determinants of why people vote as they do and how they arrive at the decisions they make. Most attention has been, however, to the behaviour of the mass electorate.  [17]  A variety of research on the study of voting behaviour has identified two major types of factors, which can be broadly categorized as sociological (demographic, social, and economic attributes) and psychological (politically relevant attitudes, beliefs and values).  [18]  The comparative political science literature recognizes that certain variables such as education;  [19]  income and unemployment;  [20]  importance of party support or attachment;  [21]  perception of issues;  [22]  ideology and issues;  [23]  partisanship;  [24]  evaluation of leaders or the top candidates;  [25]  etc., have generally been found to associate with voting behaviour of the electorate. Some of the selected predicators of voting behavio ur for this study are analyzed as follows: Sociological factors Gender: The analysis of sex is an important indicator of voting behaviour. Women voters tend to be more wavering about their intention to vote as also in the voting act itself than the male voters.  [26]  However, the commitment is more to candidate then to party both to males and females. Village consensus and advice of village headman work more with female voters than with male voters, while the merit of the candidates attracts more males than females.  [27]  Sex provides a base for diversity where modernism is a significant issue, since in most societies womens role are more involved in religious institutions and less in modern economic ones. Consequently, where there is a difference between the voting pattern of the two sexes, women tend to support traditionalist parties more than modernising ones.  [28]  Nonetheless, since the focus of the study is on a relatively traditionalistic attitude where gender issues still predominates,  [29]  it seemed good to retain ge nder as a determinant of voting behaviour. Kinship: Kinship is a relationship between any entities that share a genealogical origin, through either biological or cultural, or historical descent.  [30]  In a kinship based society, kinship provides many of the social relations in which a person is likely to be involved in the course of his life.  [31]  It is a strategy force determining political behaviour of the people and influencing their thought process.  [32]   Strong kinship and village loyalties affect many a choice, the family or the wife voting as father or husband suggests, and the village casting its vote according to the advice of the head-man or influential elder.  [33]   Despite the traditional claim that each voter is an individual who makes up his own mind, social groups pressures limit choices sharply, and are highly significant determinants of individual voting patterns.  [34]   Kins and clan would, of course, be used to campaign for one or the other candidate; and votes would be sought by identifying a candidate as a peasant, a worker and the like.  [35]   Age: Age has often been described as one of the leading indicators of voting behaviour, though it is difficult to treat as an independent variable. As Alan R. Ball has pointed out, age is a complex variable. In common parlance, older citizens tend to vote for conservative parties but this may be simple reflections of the historical period when the electors voting habits were being formed. Age may be less important than the strength of the voters attachment to a political party, and it is this allegiance that hardens with age.  [36]  However the relationship between age and voting is curvilinear, with a gradual increasing in the mid-age group and declining thereafter. nonetheless, it is the candidate orientation which dominates in all the age groups.  [37]   Education: Over the years, education has emerged as one of the major predicators of voting. Educations widen the political visualization and expands the horizon of ones interest in the political process. It enables the individual to develop the skill for political participation.  [38]  The electorate having more years of formal education has the greater probability of exercising their franchise in any election. Economic Factors: The economic status of the electorate is an important indicator of voting behaviour. Though it is often considered as non-existent impact on voting, economic factors play an important role in shaping voting behaviour of the electorate as Arivind Virmani points out: An improvement (or) worsening of economic conditions can increase (or) decrease the probability of voting for the party perceived to be responsible for the change. Further, the independent or floating voter is more likely to be affected by economic conditions than voters committed to a particular party for social, caste, religious and cultural reasons.  [39]   ` However, as Wolfinger and Rosenstones findings indicated, the likelihood of voting may not be a linear function of income.  [40]  The key difference seems to be the unpleasant variation among those of high-income groups and low-income groups. The most distinguishing factors in election are vote bribing which is open-secret which reflect a clash between traditional economic ties and changing cultural pressure.  [41]  Poor voters are reported to have received money offered by various candidates. Public Employment: Along with education and economic status, occupation appears to exert a great effect on voting behaviour. Public officials tend to take greater interest in voting and are usually votes for the party which is likely to address their interest. Even farmers, who are conventionally viewed as being uncommonly likely to abstain from voting,  [42]  have become much less distinctive in this regard.  [43]  Studies have also revealed that government workers of all types tend to take an unusual interest in political matters and are unlikely to vote in the election.  [44]   Psychological Factors: Interest in Public Affairs: Those voters who have interest in public affairs and who follows the news of the present day situation are likely voters in any election. This is because of the fact that such voters are very much concern with the affairs of states policies and programme. On the contrary, there are some who take minimal interest in such affairs and are unlikely voters. Many voters made explicit references to specific issue concerns, whereas others spoke in more global terms about parties, leaders or local candidates without elaborating their reasoning in any detail.  [45]   Strength and Direction of Party loyalty: Voting behaviour is more easily explained by emphasising party loyalty.  [46]  Some party men are likely to vote in elections than others as different parties may draw their members from different social base which reflects the weakness and the strength of the party. However, in India, people do not hesitate to shift their votes from one party to another as parties identities are not very strong. If party loyalty is taken as one of the key indexes of political considerations, it may be assumed that the parties play a marginal role in determining the preference of the voters.  [47]  Though party loyalty is an important indicator of voting behaviour, it is often determined by other factors like social class, economic position or ethnic affiliation.  [48]   Perceived difference between Parties: In any election, if there is a clear-cut difference of ideologies between the contesting parties, the electorates are more likely to exercise their franchise. If the parties and the candidates are same and not easy to distinguish from each other, then there will be a little point in electoral participation. As Habib and Naidu (2006) observes: Conventional wisdom suggests that workers and poorer classes in society would support parties to the left of the political spectrum, while the middle class and more affluent strata would support parties on the right. The reasons are obvious. While the former have a material interest in fundamentally changing the political and socio-economic arrangements of society, the latter prefer the status quo.  [49]   Recent research, however, has emphasized party de-alignment.  [50]  Ideology could be said to be present only in terms of accent on social justice, involving considerable overlap and neutralization among parties which vied in usurping each others ideological planks.  [51]  Therefore, people are most unlikely to vote in the election where there are no ideological differences. Charisma of the Candidate: Role of personality in influencing the electoral behaviour cannot be refuted, Charisma refers to mean a certain quality of an individual personality by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men and treated as endowed with supernatural or exceptional powers or qualities.  [52]  Moreover it is this quality of the leader which enables him to attract a large number of people and under the influence of which the people pay reverence to the charismatic leader. Therefore, there is a strong belief that organisation of political party under a charismatic leader is a source of popular support for the party. Pubic Opinion and Mass Media: Pubic opinion and mass media has, of late, become an important indicator of voting behaviour. Public opinion refers to the attitudes of a significant number of people about public affairs, or matters of government and politics that concern the people at large. It is one not of advocacy of any particular policy, subject or topic, but of the provider of both objective and subjective information, obtained systematically and objectively, analysed dispassionately and delivered evenly.  [53]  The latter has the capacity to bring matters to the attention of the public or to conceal them. This is usually referred to as agenda setting.  [54]  While the media may ignore certain topics or exaggerate others, the public also has an enormous capacity for being highly selective in what to take interest in.  [55]   In the pages that follow, we shall examine these sociological and psychological factors on the voting behaviour of the electors in the constituency under study. Voting Behaviour in Manipur The most interesting questions about an election are not concerned with who won but with such questions as why people voted the way that they did or what the implications of the results are. These questions are not always easily answered. A glance only at the campaign events and incidents will not suffice. The unique aspects of the election must be blended with a more general understanding of electoral behavior to create a full explanation. Since the introduction of participatory democracy in Manipur under the Manipur State Constitution Act, 1948, attempts have been made to study the nature of voting behaviour in Manipur. There has been some imprecise handling of the topic in the study of electoral politics,  [56]  political participation,  [57]  social and political change,  [58]  socio-political study;  [59]  and that research on the study of voting behaviour had also been undertaken both at the state  [60]  and constituency level.  [61]  They found that party ideology, ethnicity, role of money, caste, religion, personalities of the candidates, etc., were the main factors affecting voting behaviour in Manipur. As S.K. Chaube notes that in Manipur voters not only attach importance to party levels but also to status and personalities of the candidates.  [62]  However, some scholars emphasis on caste as a factor of voting behaviour in Manipur,  [63]  though there is absence of caste system in Manipur.  [64]   In the hills, ethnic loyalties play an important role as factor in voting decision.  [65]  The tribalism and ethnicity have become more intense as a result of the introduction of adult franchise.  [66]  Electoral politics has significantly given rise to inter-group conflicts in north-east and this is also affecting the democratic values and tradition of the tribals.  [67]  In addition to ethnicity, money, promise for government jobs, candidates personalities, etc., have also been a major source of influence to the voters in the hills.  [68]   In the first and the only election held in Independent Manipur  [69]  under the Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947, the voting behaviour of the electorate was influenced by ideology of the Manipur State Congress party as the party got the highest number of seats. And also the influenced of personality cult was also evident as twelve independents candidates in fray was also elected to the erstwhile Manipur Assembly.  [70]   After the merger of Manipur into the Indian Union in 1948, the first democratic election was held in 1952 under the Constitution of India. In the election, the socio-political movement of the time demanding for a responsible government influenced the electoral behaviour of the voters.  [71]  In the second and third assembly election held in 1957 and 1962 also, the same factors that influenced the election of 1952 were evident. However in 1962 election as R.P. Singh points out: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦in the hills areas, as there were no reserved seats for the schedule tribes, the election were fought on tribal lines. Political parties had sent up only tribals as their candidates except in Jiribam, where half of the voters were non-tribals  [72]   In 1967 assembly election of the state, the demand for a full-fledged statehood in the state influenced the voting behaviour of the people.  [73]  The electioneering was a quite brisk except in the cease-fire bound northern hills areas where it was restricted to a whisper campaign for fear of underground Nagas who boycott the elections.  [74]  After the attainment of statehood in 1972 and in the assembly election that followed, voting behaviour of the electorate was oriented toward parochial regional outlook,  [75]  as the performance of the regional political party, MPP in this election indicates. However, as a result of political instability in the state, mid-term election was held in 1974, and in that election the main determinant of voting behaviour was: inclusion of Manipur language in the Eighth Schedule, local problems and money factors.  [76]  In the assembly election of 1980, money, a strong Indira wave, and the impact of personality of the candidates  [77]   in fray played an important role in shaping the vote-choice of the electorate. Also, in the election of 1984, the vote-choice was mainly determined by a strong sympathy wave for the Congress (I) due to the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the charming personality of Rajiv Gandhi.  [78]   However, in the assembly election of 1990, voting behaviour was mainly influenced by the elders or the head of the family to vote for a particular party or candidate;  [79]  and also the influence of money was found to be associated with the vote-choice of the electorate. In the assembly election of 1995 and 2000, money as a determinant of voting behaviour was considered to be more significant than all other factors.  [80]  In the assembly election of 2002, influence of money, personality of the candidates, party loyalty, and local issues facing the state and the respective constituencies was noticed.  [81]  The assembly election of 2007 perhaps culminated in the victory of the Indian National Congress (I) and the electoral behaviour of the people was mainly influenced by the stability of the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government and the various developmental works initiated during the period. The boycott-call given by armed insurgent outfit to the INC during electio n did not hamper the electoral prospect of the party. The strong personality of the incumbent Chief Minister, Shri Okram Ibobi Singh had profound impact on the voting behaviour of the people. From the above analysis, the voting behaviour of the electorate in Manipur changes from time to time and from one election to another. Various socio-political factors had influenced the voting behaviour of the people of the state. The electors of Manipur have exercised their political franchise according to the needs and circumstance of the time for better governance. As Dr. Benjamin Gangmei, sums up: the main determinant of voting behaviour in Manipur includes: personality of the candidate, party loyalty, money power, local issues, family influence, election campaign, groupism, election feasting and insurgency.  [82]   In the light of th

A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams Essay -- A Streetcar Na

A Streetcar Named Desire In what way can A Streetcar Named Desire be seen as an exploration of†old† America versus the â€Å"new† America? In the play, Blanche represents old America and Stanley represents new America. Why Blanche represents old America is because of her way of thinking, lifestyle and values. When Blanche walks into the room where the guys are playing poker, there is a great example of how Blanche represents old and Stanley new. When she walks in, the guys are sitting around the table, then Blanche says â€Å"Please don’t get up†. Stanley replies â€Å"nobody’s going to get up, so don’t be worried†. Before men were always supposed to treat women with respect, and get up from the chair when they came in, and when they left. Blanche expects or imagines that they are going to treat her like that. In this way Blanche appear as the â€Å"old† America, how people used to think. Stanley is a large contrast and represents new America, when he says nobody’s going to get up. None of them were even thinking of getting up for her, because that is not their manners, a nd that is not what people do in the â€Å"new† America. New America is when there was a lot of immigration. In this new â€Å"world† the old fashions and norms were bit by bit disappearing, for instance racism. Also the lower classes in society became more common. This is the world Stanley lives in. In contrast Blanche is stuck in the old world. Stanley represents new America because he is from Poland. America’s growth of immigration is shown, and very many people in America today are immigrants. Blanches behaviour towards Stanley’s background shows that she is old-fashioned. When Stella says that Stanley is Polish, Blanche says â€Å"They’re something like Irish, aren’t they?†. Her racist view is very old and conventional. Stanley represents the â€Å"new† America, and he can be seen as a message from Tennessee Williams about how the society in America was changing and what it was changing into. Stanley is a chauvinist, because he obviously takes what he desires, referring to where he rapes Blanche. Stanley is very dominant, he rules and his word is always the strongest. He has a strong sexual desire, even in the end of the play when Blanche is taken to the hospital, he starts making love to Stella. It is quite obvious that Tennessee Williams shows Stanley as â€Å"new† America, and this might be what he means America is develo... ...t with Mitch. When Stanley beat Stella, and she was mad at him, he shouted out Stella’s name, she came down, and they then spent the night together. The next morning Stella and Blanche discuss the incident. Blanche asks â€Å"How could you come back in this place last night? Stella answers â€Å"You're making much too much fuss about this†. This also demonstrates that the â€Å"new† and â€Å"old† America collides because of their different values and norms. At the end of the play when the doctor has come to take Blanche away, she says â€Å"Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers†. This is Blanche’s final statement in the play. She perceives the doctor as the rescuing gentleman she has been waiting for since she came. But ironically, strangers have never done her any good. The truth is that strangers have only been kind in exchange for sex. Strangers like Stanley, Mitch and the people of her hometown Laurel have not given Blanche the sympathy she so sorely needed and deserved. Stanley’s class hatred seeks to destroy Blanche. His cruelty, combined with Blanche’s fragile state of mind and insecure personality, leaves her mentally isolated from reality by the end of the play.

National initiative Unit

For the scenario I am investigating there are a number of laws and regulations that have to be considered and adhered too, they are as follows: European convention on human rights and fundamental freedoms (1950) This piece of legislation was introduced after the Second World War and relates to the human rights every individual can expect whilst living and working in the European Union. The act was necessary as so many people had, had their human rights violated during the war years. Following this many individual acts were passed to ensure that discrimination was against the law.In 1 998 the human rights act was the document that updated previous legislation and importantly made sure that any citizen had the right to take legal action against any person or organization that disrespected their human rights. This included all health and social care services. Collectively, human rights legislation is a powerful tool to ensure that those who are more vulnerable in society have the backin g of the law in relation to their rights. In the residential care home it is important that we recognize the diversity of needs of our clientele and are aware of their needs and preferences.The sex scrimp nation act (1975) This act was introduced to protect both men and women against discrimination or harassment in relation to their gender. This included employment, education, advertising or in the provision of housing, goods, services or facilities. In the main it was to address the discrimination that was mainly taking place against women. Employers would often reject a potential female employee in favor of a man as they felt a male would be more reliable as women both have children and care for them.In more recent years the equal pay act has defined clearer guidelines in relation to pay truce. In nursing the pay scale does not discriminate and care staff are employed for their capacity to do the job and men and women receive the same remuneration. In the care home there are both male and female workers who are employed for their skills and ability to address the complex needs of the clients. There is training provided and pay is linked to qualifications and job roles regardless of gender. In addition, we have both male and female clients and we provide for their needs appropriately.The mental health act The mental health act was introduced initially in 1983 and has had a number f changes in the years up until 2006 (see appendices 2). The purpose of this act was to make sure that the appropriate action could be taken when people displaying mental health or learning difficulties got the help, care and treatment they needed both for their own health or safety and the protection of others. This was an important step because those with these problems were often not given the care and support that there condition required.In the I-J, there were large mental hospitals which catered for a variety of conditions and needs but gave little thought to the needs of the i ndividual. It was a case of the individual fitting into the programmer offered whereas today we appreciate the needs of the individual and how important it is to tailor care to need. The large hospitals and institutions were closed down as it was decided that people were better off living in smaller units or being cared for in the community. However, there was still not enough legislation to provide the necessary protection.In 2005 the mental capacity act was introduced which provided a frame work that empowered and protected vulnerable people who are unable to make their own decisions. The act States army who can take decisions in various situations and how things should be carried out. For example, two doctors now need to sign a sectioning order for a patient to be detained because of their mental health. Prior to this, there have been cases where people have been sectioned with no right to complain. This act states very clearly those people that have the power to make decisions.I t enables people to plan ahead for a time when they might lose their mental capacity. This act was seen as important as so many people are now suffering with some form of dementia in their later years. It meant hat health care professionals such as doctors and social workers had a professional duty to work with the most vulnerable, in their best interests and to empower them to make their own decisions. There is still much to be done with mental health care which is sometimes referred to as the Cinderella of the health service.New initiatives in relation to mental health have been introduced as it was clear in some areas that care of the community was not working as well as it should. Northern Ireland has similar legal frameworks to England but under the Northern Ireland assembly they can have variations. Legislation related to children Two pieces of legislation were passed in 1989, one the convention on the rights of a child' and the other ‘the children's act'. The first was issued by EUNICE and it provided a framework for the rights of the child.It specifically highlighted children's rights in international law and included the principles and standards for the treatment of the children's workforce. The children's act concerns the UK only and is designed to protect the child from significant harm and to keep them safe and cared for by setting standards. Organizations working with children have to provide policies and procedures n relation to how they are promoting the children's act in their environment. An example of this is the safe guarding procedures that are in place in schools.Every school has to have its own safe guarding policy which outlines all procedures and highlights training. This is an extremely important document and in schools every member of staff needs to know who the child protection officer is and to have read the safe guarding policy. In the school attend every member of staff has a summarized copy included in their handbook and th e full copy is available in the staff room and online. Every Taft member has to sign this at the beginning of each academic year to show that they understand what they have to do should they become concerned about any safe guarding issue.Training is given to key professionals and the policy is revised every year in relation to new legislation. The children's act was revised in 2004 in relation to improving children's lives in a broader sense. The aim of this was to encourage better services and provision for all aspects of children's welfare and health. It also covered making sure children had access to the services they needed including additional needs. An example is my own school where there are policies and procedures in place to ensure that all children are treated fairly and offer the opportunities they need on a personal level.Children's educational needs are investigated and the appropriate intervention is put in place. Am currently working with this department as part of th eir literacy strategy offering one to one instruction to children below the reading age expected for their chronological years. Children have been evident in the media recently because of historic abuse cases and this has raised everyone's awareness in relation to how vulnerable hey are. There is now greater emphasis on all policies and procedures that relate to children. Race relations There has been a great deal of legislation in relation to people of a different race living in the KICK.In my notes already have highlighted the benefits of a diverse multicultural society. People have been making their home in the UK since the sass's when Jews arrived from Russia and Poland and people from Ireland were driven out by the potato famine. The race relations amendment act was passed in the year 2000. Its main principle is to protect racially quality and ensure that no person is discriminated against on the grounds of their race. Britain today is truly multicultural and the act ensures th at it promotes good relationships between people from different ethnic backgrounds.If a person faces discrimination because of their race the law protects them and gives redress. I have watched a number of video clips that illustrate how distressing racial discrimination can be and also how people can have stereotyped ideas and opinions. Race relations are linked to equal opportunities and the human rights act. Disability discrimination act (DAD) The DAD ensures that people with disabilities have their civil rights protected and do not face discrimination. It was passed in 1 995 and encouraged organizations and health authorities to overcome barriers and make reasonable adjustments to ensure full accessibility.Clearly this act did not go far enough and was updated in 2005 to apply to the public sector and to promote equality of opportunity for people with disabilities and to eliminate discrimination. At this time it was also seen as necessary to include people with HIVE. It stated t hat public bodies must promote disability equality and reduce action plans to show how they intend to fulfill their duties and to renew the progress annually. Schools, colleges and universities were all told to make reasonable changes to their premises to make them user friendly for Britain's students with disabilities.In my school all doorways were fitted with ramps as well as having a lift installed. In addition, a fitted disabled bathroom was installed and money set aside for any student's specific needs. This was particularly important for wheelchair users. Making all public buildings, apart from those with a listed status was a huge undertaking and the government catered in three years to bring this into place. It meant that all public bodies and authorities had to review their policies, practices, procedures and services to make sure they did not discriminate against anyone with a disability.Huge advances have been made to accommodate those with disabilities culminating in the successful Paralytics. This was televised across the world and opened everyone's eyes to how important it is to be accepted in society despite their disability. The human rights act (1998) This act covers all human rights and ensures civil rights for people enabling hem to take legal action against any person or organization, including HAS, which disrespects their human rights. This act has been used when people feel their rights have been violated.Recently a female worker for British airways was told she could no longer wear a cross around her neck whilst at work. She felt that this violated her human rights and so took her case to the European courts where she won her case. This is just one example and there have been many particularly in relation to same sex marriages and counseling services. A homosexual couple went to relate which is an organization that helps relationships through the use of counseling.The counselor rejected the homosexual couple and did not wish to help them so the couple took their case to the human rights where they won their case and the counselor had no right to reject them. Data protection act This act covers the way information about people is kept and used and protected and kept secure. It is necessary for every organization to hold personal data on employees but this has to be kept secure and it is extremely important in any health and social care sector. All organizations have policies ND procedures that employees have to be made aware of and they need to follow correct procedure.In school data is held on every student and this is confidential and can only be viewed on a need to know basis and must not be passed on outside of the school environment. All confidential information has to be shredded. Nursing and residential care homes regulations This act was passed in 1984 and was amended in 2002 and applies to all nursing and residential care homes. Every residential care home has to have a license to operate which is issued by their local council. This license regulates how they practice. If the homes do not meet regulations they face prosecution and sometimes closure.This act works closely with the care standards act that was passed in 2000. This piece of legislation covered individuals in all care settings including domiciliary. Again, standards have to be met and the individual must receive appropriate care. This act also covers fostering and family care. Every care home has to have policies and procedures in place that reflect national legislation. These are open to inspection. Age discrimination act (2006) This act was passed to make it unlawful for employers and others to criminate against a person on the basis of their age. This applies to jobs, promotion, training and employment.Legislation is being updated and changed all the time and in particular when political parties are in control. In health and social care all professionals must stay up to date with current legislation. The legislation I h ave researched is used by health and social care organizations to produce policies and procedures that outline the roles, rights and responsibilities involved in the service they are working for. Legislation indicates what those using the services expect in the way of support and behavior. Most health and social care organizations and professions have a charter or code of practice and procedures that has to be followed.I have researched the code of conduct published by the NC which outlines the standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives and have included this as an example of how legislation is applied. The general social care council (SIC) registers all social care workers and regulates both training and conduct. Codes of practice are needed as when services are inspected or audited they will be judged upon the level of service they are roving. Any professional role will be overseen by the SIC and staff in training will be made aware of the code of practic e and charters they have to work to.Charters inform staff and those using the service about what they can expect. The care quality commission (ICQ) regulates the standards on behalf of the government. This is often done with inspections. Every organization has to produce its own policies and procedures that respect all aspects of equality, diversity and rights in health and social care. Managers have to guide professionals in their employment to ensure they are observing reoccurred. This can be seen in all areas of HAS by looking at notice boards in the hall way, reception or staff rooms.In addition, charters are put online where they can be viewed by the public. All staff should receive a handbook when being inducted into a new post or role and care workers should have frequent training and updating on any changes. If this is followed the individual's rights are promoted in a positive way. There are many people who are too ill or too frail to speak for themselves or who do not know their rights. There are many vulnerable people who may not even be aware of their sights and need a person to make sure they've received what they are entitled too.A trained person will speak on their behalf and this is referred to as an advocate. The advocate can be a professional worker or a friend or relative but must always realism that they are speaking on behalf of the individual and not expressing their own view. Every health and social care setting must have policies and procedures firmly in place and ensure that staff know about these by putting up notices and providing training. If this is done properly staff are sure of what they should be doing and if they fail to comply capillary action or dismissal may occur.Staff development and training are vital if staff are to be kept up to date with changes, policies and procedures, as well as legislation and technology. Technology changes rapidly so there is a need for continual professional development. Quality of care and expe rience is constantly improving by being reviewed and developing equality, diversity and rights. It is important that work place or organizations keep up to date with all changes. Sometimes large organizations will appoint managers who will ensure that things are followed correctly and there is regular training for Taft.Every organization must have a complaints procedure by law and these will be inspected when settings are audited. If Someone complains they have the right to have their complaint dealt with efficiently and investigated. They need to know the outcome of the investigation and if they are not happy take it to the independent parliamentary and health service ombudsman if they are not satisfied with the way there complaint has been dealt with. Sometimes people will make a complaint if they think they have been directly affected by an unlawful act or a decision in relation to care issues.If they have en harmed they may receive compensation. Affirmative action sometimes call ed positive discrimination or action means when one individual is favoring another because of their ethnicity. Although seen as discriminatory it may be legal if it benefits the local community. For example, appointing someone who speaks a certain language because that's what the area needs. Laws relating to anti-harassment relate to issues such as bullying, sexuality, race, ethnicity, gender, beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status or disability. It can cause stress, humiliation and depression and needs to be sorted out immediately.

Integrity Is The Relationship Between Someone s Actions...

According to Elena Popan (2016), integrity is the relationship between someone’s actions and beliefs. Characteristics of integrity include honesty, responsibility, dependability, loyalty, and trust. Integrity can also be influenced by outside factors such as family, religion, economic status, and philosophical ideology (Popan, 2016). However, integrity is ultimately determined by the individual (Stefano Wasylyshyn, 2005). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy states that integrity guides behavior and is determined by the choices you make and the principles you follow (2016). I believe that someone possesses integrity if they act in accordance with the ethical standards they hold true. Every individual has their own standard of ethics or core principles that guide their actions, and integrity encompasses those principles. When someone abides by the principles they believe to be ethical, they are acting with integrity. According to The Federation of European Accountants, indi viduals should follow their own core principles and their company’s ethical standards as well. The combination of these principles â€Å"form a framework for behaving with integrity† (Federation of European Accountants, 2009, p. 7). It is a choice to hold oneself to ethical standards, and choosing to live by those standards is acting with integrity. To recommend a course of action for Birch Company, I followed A Framework for Ethical Decision Making. The first step in the framework is to determine ifShow MoreRelatedDefinition Of Humanism As An Ethical Outlook898 Words   |  4 Pagesconsiderate of others and building good relationships. (139) He argues that to live a good life, we should look towards humanism instead of religion because it is a social construct. Grayling outlines seven characteristics for the good life: meaningfulness of life, building relationships, being active, honest, autonomy, satisfaction, and integrity. (161) However, he stresses the importance of having meaningfulness or a purpose of life, being honest and authentic and integrity. The purpose or meaning of lifeRead MoreLeadership Is A Good Leader And A Group1630 Words   |  7 PagesLeadership is a process that occurs between a leader and another individual; between the leader and a group. Or between a leader and an organization, on a community, or a society; and that influences others, often by inspiring enlivening, and engaging others to participate in the achievement of goals. Leadership is a subtle art and skill. It is based on inherent qualities of the individual and developed over time, through life events and experiences that range from significant to life altering. LeadershipRead MoreThe Code Of Ethics For Nurses Essay1667 Words   |  7 PagesValues Integrated in the Code of Ethics for Nurses Ethical moral values are the fabric of human behavior. Nursing values influence nurses actions and goals. The nursing code of ethics was adopted in order to determine and define ethical values for nurses. Human dignity, privacy, justice, autonomy in decision making, commitment, loyalty, human relationship, compassion, fairness, responsibility, honesty and individual and professional competence are considered an integral part of the nursing professionRead MoreKant s Theory Of Morality982 Words   |  4 Pagesbeliever that the morality of any action can be assessed by the motivation behind it (McCormick, n.d.). In other words, if an action is good but the intention behind the action is not good, the action itself would be considered immoral. Those who follow the utilitarian view would disagree, arguing that an action which benefits the most number of people would be considered moral regardless of the intentions behind it. Kant argues that the intention behind an action matters mor e than the number of peopleRead MoreMoral Values1480 Words   |  6 Pageswe maintain and practice. Values are our personal set of beliefs about what is important, unimportant, right, wrong, good and bad. When we are confronted by choices, options, or moral dilemmas, the decisions we make will indicate what values we hold. Human values give worthiness and respect to life. The foundation of human values are based on  · Dignity of human life  · Respect and consideration for the other  · The importance of integrity and service  · An attitude of non-violence  · The individualRead MoreLegacy Of Abraham Lincoln s Legacy Essay1582 Words   |  7 PagesA legacy leader is someone who has left a positive and lasting impression in society due to his or her leadership qualities and/or traits. Abraham Lincoln is a prime example of a legacy leader due to the leadership traits he displayed throughout his presidency. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. He exh ibited great leadership qualities such as integrity, duty, and selfless service. Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and his decisive actions as commander-in-chiefRead MoreEffective Communication is an Essential Skill to Have1705 Words   |  7 Pagesthe core of every good relationship. Effective communication is not always easy to master, trust is the primary instrument which allows clear communication to take place. In professional relations, I have seen that effective communication is A major skill that social workers must utilize in facilitating the client’s growth or change process is to earn their trust, confidence, and respect. Professional and personal relationships share certain values such as trust, integrity, and empathy. But the natureRead MoreIntegrity and Leadership in Nursing1443 Words   |  6 PagesIntegrity and Leadership in Nursing Integrity and Leadership in Nursing Integrity is a deeply individualized phenomenon. It is the correlation between a person’s actions and their beliefs, principles, or convictions. Additionally, integrity correlates an individual’s actions and their self-understanding. When an individual identifies himself or herself as a nurse, there are often underlying personal characteristics that accompany. For example, most nurses identify themselves as caringRead MoreAnalysis Of Amy Tan s The Joy Luck Club1637 Words   |  7 PagesRelationships define a connection between two beings, whether it be through blood, friendship, or romance. In most cases, the first group that people experience is with their families. The kinship people are born into comes with ups and downs, which may cause a rift between both parties. Thus, maintaining a seamless connection may become a struggle between two dissimilar individuals, â€Å"Like many relationships, we have our struggles, our misunderstandings, and our miscommunic ations. We are veryRead MoreQuestions On Ethics And Ethics Essay800 Words   |  4 PagesBlack s Law Dictionary, bribery is the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other person in charge of a public or legal duty. 1.8.3.2 Corruption Misuse of public power (by elected politician or appointed civil servant) for private gain. 1.8.3.3 Fraud The crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person. 1.8.3.4 Deception An untrue falsehood, or is the act of lying to or tricking someone. 1