The Mask of Ra :: essays research papers

This book sucked, actually I didn't read it, it was to long and I had to little time.456555555555555554gfdgkldf;aslksdd;lfsalf;dsldlf;ksdfBack to essays. Home. Legislative Analysis for the National Minimum Drinking Age Act by Alex Koroknay - Palicz The National Minimum Drinking Age Act is perhaps the law that has the most impact on the day-to-day lives of America's youth since it was signed into law on July 17, 1984. While the 21-year-old drinking age seems imbedded in American society, it is only a recent innovation. Most people do not know that the drinking age was only made a national law in 1984, and only after a determined battle by special interest groups. First and foremost this paper will discuss the history of the drinking age issue in America. Then covering the people involved in this issue. This bill concerned many notable politicians and lobbyists, fighting for it and against it; they left their impact on the future of our nation. These eminent people have gone down in history for the effect they have had on this piece of legislation. Following that this paper will delve into the lengthy process that is required for an idea to become a bill and finally be passed into law. Both houses and several committees exerted their influence on this and helped it on its way. Special interest groups also had a profound effect on this piece of legislation. Finally I will add my own conclusions about the bill and analyze the political process. The history of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act truly started back before Prohibition. The temperance movement used selective prohibition (drinking ages) as a stepping stone approach to their goal of outlawing all alcohol. Finally they did achieve the goal of total Prohibition of alcohol, and in 1919 the 18th amendment to the constitution was ratified. Although do to the seemingly ineffectualness of Prohibition and the change in public opinion, the 18th amendment was in 1933 repealed by the 21st amendment. What followed was a compromise with the lingering temperance movement and the modern drinking age was established. "The political failure of general Prohibition meant that American adults would increasingly focus justifications for alcohol policy less on the perils of drunkenness and more on the tenuous concept that adults can drink properly but youths cannot or should not." (Males 190) From the end of Prohibition until 1984 drinking ages were determined by the states, many of them had the age at 21 while several lowered the age to 18 for the purchase of beer.