Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2007 Essay

AbstractThe object of the Federal decease punishment Act of 2007 (S. 447) is to exterminate a wide-range of capitol offenses f alling under the immigration and Nationality Act. This act too commutes the sentences of current and future federal death penalization felons from the death penalty, to life in prison, with come forward the possibility of parole.Public opinion at heart the show of Michigan and throughout the United offers is a concern, along with the wardrobe exposure and hump coverage. The GOP and Democratic parties must take firm stances with the issue in the bill, slice certain special interest groups will be making public claims in the media and through the judicial system. Furtherto a greater extent, there argon electoral concerns inside the State of Michigan that cannot be ignored, as re-election is a reality.HistoryThis legislation has been introduced indoors the Senate and/or House since 1999, and has likewise been rejected by either the Senate court Com mittee or the House Judiciary Sub-Committee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security each time.1 Originally introduced by Sen. Russell Feingold D-WI in 1999 and again in 2007, it has carried as many as 46 cosponsors in the House of Representatives while only carrying one in the Senate. Currently, the bill has no cosponsors and has again, been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further review, however no major bodily functions birth occurred since April, 2007 when introductory remarks were do by Sen. Feingold regarding the issue. (Death penalization, 2007)Public Opinion            For 158 years, the Michigan voters hand over been founded in their unwavering belief for the abolishment of the death penalty. Through all of those years, the voters chip in felt as though the prejudicial value outweighed the probatory value in accepting the death penalty as a reasonable solution in sentencing standards within the State. Furt hermore, the State was the first to terminate the death penalty and Governor John Engler verifyed the decision  to abolish the death penalty by saying, I think Michigan made a wise decision 150 years ago while going on to say, Were pretty proud of the fact that we seizet confine the death penalty. Therefore, the publics opinion within the State of Michigan is understood the abolition of the death penalty is more than pala contraceptive pillle to the Michigan voters. (Bonner, 2000).Media          Todays press coverage, regarding death penalty issues, is not nearly as a focused and thorough as it once was. Media conglomerates are focusing more and more on the sentiment of infotainment, rather than the happenings within the halls of Congress. As a result, showing support for S. 447 would have little coverage, unless the bill made it through the judiciary committee, House, Senate, and to the Presidents desk without issue. However, history sho ws that Congress is not ready to take such a bold step into that direction. Furthermore, press-releases would have to be leaked to the print and television media in the State in order for voters to notice the issue is even world austerely considered in Washington. Once the media knows that support for the abolition of the death penalty, within the federal judicial system might be a serious topic, then that is when the media coverage will be set into motion.Political Parties          Historically, GOP candidates have affirmed death penalty support, while democratic candidates have vehemently spoken against the practice. However, it is Copernican to note that Gov. Engler is also a Republican jockstrap of the death penaltys abolition, who has a tremendous amount of settle within the State as the partys leader. It is also important to note that in the past, each time the bill received a cosponsor, a Michigan Senator/Representative was on the list as one. Therefore, with the States political support base and the legislations historical cosponsor trend it is important to give a sign of support. quest Groups          In Michigan, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is one of the primary organizations associated with the abolition of the death penalty. Furthermore, this organization has made serious progress in its raise up against this form of sentencing within many some other States and should therefore, be monitored. Next, Amnesty external is an organization that, like the ACLU, has initiated an anti-death penalty campaign throughout the United States and has also gone abroad to promote its cause. In addition, the Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death punishment has promoted its idea to restore justice and investigate resources to death penalty sentencing. nevertheless with the many anti-death penalty organizations, there are even fewer pro-death penalty organizations wi th most of which being based in Texas.Elections          Because of the need to take a stance on this issue, the concern for re-election is very real. This is a deeply root cause in the State of Michigan and therefore, it should not be interpreted lightly. A firm stance and an outspoken agenda on initiatives to support this the bills stance is a viable course of action to take if and when the option of pledging support towards the merits of S. 447 becomes a reality. The only other alternative is to stay silent on the issue and focus on other issues within the agenda that can be addressed and promoted.However, coming out against this legislation is not an option because of the dangers it would pose for re-election purposes. This is because it would appear to be a unilateral decision to ignore the voice and stance of the voters in the State for the purposes of taking on a personal agenda, without thought or guard for the constituents of Michigan. T herefore, the only two avenues of approach are full thwarted support, including co-sponsorship of the bill, or silence and the promotion of other legislative issues.References(2007). Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2007, from GovTrack.us Web site http//www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=main &bill=s110-447.Bonner, R (2000). States With No Death Penalty Share Lower Homicide Rates. Retrieved December 12, 2007, from Death Penalty Information relate Web site http//www.deathpenaltyinfo.org / article. php .Footnotes1 Other bills with the same title take on the following S. 1917 (Status Dead), S. 402 (Status Dead), S. 191 (Status Dead), H.R. 2574 (Status Dead), S. 122 (Status Dead), H.R. 4923 (Status Dead).