Improving the English Language

Samuel Johnson and Noah Webster were about the science of the English language, but Mark Twain was all about the art and comedy of English.

Enjoy below -- and visit the Mark Twain Project.      

Mark Twain

 "A Plan for the Improvement of English Spelling"

For example, in Year 1 that useless letter "c" would be dropped to be replased either by "k" or "s", and likewise "x" would no longer be part of the alphabet.

The only kase in which "c" would be retained would be the "ch" formation, which will be dealt with later.

Year 2 might reform "w" spelling, so that "which" and "one" would take the same konsonant, wile Year 3 might well abolish "y" replasing it with "i" and iear 4 might fiks the "g/j" anomali wonse and for all.

Jenerally, then, the improvement would kontinue iear bai iear with iear 5 doing awai with useless double konsonants, and iears 6-12 or so modifaiing vowlz and the rimeining voist and unvoist konsonants.

Bai iear 15 or sou, it wud fainali bi posibl tu meik ius ov thi ridandant letez "c", "y" and "x" -- bai now jast a memori in the maindz ov ould doderez -- tu riplais "ch", "sh", and "th" rispektivli.

Fainali, xen, aafte sam 20 iers ov orxogrefkl riform, wi wud hev a lojikl, kohirnt speling in ius xrewawt xe Ingliy-spiking werld.

[Law Writer must note that the "Plan" above has also been attributed to  M.J. Yilz, in a letter written to the The Economist.]

NC Legislative Architecture

The North Carolina State Legislative Building opened in 1963. The building was designed by Edward Durrell Stone (1902-1978) in the modern style. It is located one block north of the Capitol in Raleigh. The building has a 22-foot wide, red-carpeted stair that leads from the front entrance to the third floor galleries for the House and Senate. There are roof gardens as well as garden courts at the four interior corners. Each pair of brass doors leading to the House and Senate chambers weighs 1,700 pounds. A 12-foot diameter brass chandelier in the rotunda weighs 750 pounds. Brass chandeliers in the chambers and the main stair are eight feet in diameter and weigh 625 pounds each. The building is open to the public daily and tours are available.

Architect Edward Durell Stone with his son, landscape architect Edward Durell Stone Jr., photographed during the 1960s. (Photo by Benjamin Hicks Stone.)

Mr. Stone also designed the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.  He was appointed to the Presidential Commission of Fine Arts by Richard M. Nixon in 1971, reappointed by President Gerald R. Ford in 1976, and again in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. Of Interest: Link to other structures designed by Edward Durrell Stone and his firm.

The Legislative Process -- First Reading

The legislative process is the process of government by which bills are considered and laws are enacted. With the exception of Nebraska's unicameral legislature, the other 49 states each have a legislature consisting of two chambers (bicameral), making the enactment of laws predicated upon the agreement of both chambers of the legislature. North Carolina has a House of Representatives and a Senate that combine as the General Assembly. The nomenclature may differ among the states, yet the functions of the legislative process remain the same.

A sponsor's idea is transformed into a bill draft by a law writer. When satisfactory to the sponsor, the bill is introduced or read the first time. "First reading" happens when the bill number, the name of the sponsor, and the long title of the bill are read on the floor of the house during session ("house" in this context denotes either chamber).

The legislative process is governed by rules. Each chamber adopts by resolution the detailed requirements for filing and acting upon bills, including the scope and bounds of each legislative committee to which bills may be referred for hearing.

Generally, a bill is assigned to a substantive, policy committee based upon the subject matter of the bill.  A bill requiring the expenditure of funds is referred to an appropriations committee. A bill that raises revenue through the imposition of taxes or fees is referred to a finance committee. (Some jurisdictions call these "fiscal" committees.)

A hearing on a bill includes presentation of the bill by the sponsor or a member of the committee, an analysis by legislative staff, and testimony or comments concerning the measure from interested parties. Legislative committee meetings are public meetings for which proper advance notice must be given. The meetings are often well attended when there are bills of general interest or some controversy.

The committee then votes to pass or amend the bill, or to defeat the bill by giving it an unfavorable report. (A bill may die in committee through inaction if the rules allow.) Some bills are re-referred for consideration by another committee. Some bills leave the committee and go directly to the floor for consideration by the body during session.

Next: Second and Third Reading

Supreme Court of the United States of America

JUSTICES

 John G. Roberts, Jr.

Nominated by President Bush

Seated as Chief Justice

December 29, 2005

John Paul Stevens

    Nominated by President Ford

   Seated December 19, 1975

Antonin Scalia

Nominated by President Reagan

Seated September 26, 1986


Anthony M. Kennedy
Nominated by President Reagan
Seated February 18, 1988

Clarence Thomas

Nominated by President Bush

Seated Octber 23, 1991

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Nominated by President Clinton

Seated August 10, 1993

Stephen G. Breyer

Nominated by President Clinton

Seated August 3, 1994

Samuel G. Alito, Jr.

Nominated by President Bush

Seated January 31, 2006

Sonia Maria Sotomayor

Nominated by President Obama

Seated August 6, 2009

Ideas Become Law

The legislator's idea is part one. The spark for the idea may derive from the member's personal experience, a request from the executive branch or a local government agency, the advocacy of a public interest group, the information provided by a lobbyist, or an e-mail or telephone call from a constituent. The spark might come from a matter in the news or from a member's conversation with a legislator from another jurisdiction.

Next, the member will take the idea to the legislative staff for assistance in turning the idea into a law. The legislator's communication of the "legislative idea" to the bill drafter is the beginning of the legislative drafting process. 

All communications between drafter and sponsor are confidential and privileged. The law writer is charged to understand fully the member's aim and the subject matter involved. This is Law Writer's favorite part of the process. 

The legislator is entrusted under the constitution with making law. That trust is placed by thousands of voters. It is a privilege for a law writer to take on the responsibility of assisting the sponsor to craft the best law to effectuate the member's solemn intent. No brag. Just fact. Law writing is a very unique vocation.

A bill is more than the sum of its parts.  For the record, the basic elements of a bill include:

Bill Number - Each bill will have a number that also includes an identifier of the chamber from which it comes. Of course, if one is in Nebraska, there is only one chamber in its unicameral legislature. The rest of the states are bicameral.

Sponsor(s) - Their names appear on the bill in North Carolina and most other jurisdictions.

Long Title - Depending on the jurisdiction, the long title gives pertinent detail in brief about what the bill does.

Short Title - More like a "nickname" or very brief way to reference the legislation.

 

Enacting Clause - Very special lead in language at the beginning of a bill that puts the people on notice that "The General Assembly enacts . . ." or some similar phrase. Generally required by the state constitution to make an bill into law in order to declare the source from which the law claims to derive its authority. To put it another way, a bill cannot be enacted unless it contains an enacting clause.

Sections - A bill may add new law, amend existing law, or repeal existing law. Each of these functions will appear in one or more sections of a bill. Each section of a bill bears a numbered or lettered designation and each section must be uniquely designated. Each legislature has its own rules as to how sections are designated. A law writer must follow those rules.

Applicability - A section that defines who or what the law applies to. Sometimes, an applicability clauses resolves constitutional issues or merely prevents undue confusion.

 

Effective Date - Every bill must have an effective date section. That section itself should take effect on the earliest effective date in the act. Common sense. But when bills get lengthy and are amended numerous times with new and revised sections, it is possible to err in this regard. A law writer must pay attention to such things.