US Executive/Judiciary - Coursework Example

US Executive Executive Order 13658 - Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors This executive order is intended to increaseefficiency and productivity in all government contracts. The executive order increases the minimum hourly wages of people employed in Federal government contracts to $10.10 (Woolley and Peters 1). The president argued that increasing the basic pay for workers would increase the quality of work done by contractors as well as reduce the cost of doing business. Moreover, the executive order is aimed to improve the economy as a whole given that an increase in wages increases consumption and government spending.

The executive order 13658 is essential given the economic condition of the country. The 2007-2009 financial crisis crippled the economy leave people without a job while had to do with reduced income. Therefore, increasing the minimum wage will go a long way to bringing back the confidence of the people to spend and help the country out of the crisis. I support this executive order because families need a decent living standard where they can afford the basic needs as well as others non-basic needs.

Moreover, it has been found that when families have a variety of choices to choose from because of increased wages the life expectancy increases as well. JudiciaryCapital punishment (Hall v. Florida)The case for Hall has dragged in the court since 1978 when he was sentenced to death for killing Karol Hurst. Since that sentence, Hull sought appeal to consider the court decision given that he was mentally challenged. However, his appeals were not forthcoming until the Supreme Court ruled on the case of Atkins v.

Virginia in 2002. The Court in Atkins v. Virginia ruled that capital punishment for people with a mental disorder constituted an unusual and cruel act, which is against the Eighth Amendment (Hall v. Florida 1). Thus, Hull filed a petition to contest the death penalty in Florida. He argued that he should be exempted from the death sentence because of his mental condition. Moreover, the Supreme Court of Florida ruled by a majority vote that the Hull death sentence was unconstitutional (Hall v. Florida 1).

I support the Supreme Court ruling on Hull case because he acted out of his mind when he committed the offence. Moreover, the earlier sentences relying on the IQ test does not exhaust the test of a mentally challenged person. Therefore, an IQ test does not solely determine the conditions of one’s mind. For that reason, Justice Kennedy and the college were write in residing the death sentence for Hull. Any interference with the working condition of a person’s mind amount to a disability and ought to be considered when applying the death penalty.

Hull certainly got met justice that could have been delivered long after his execution was it not for his persistence appeals. Death sentence should be abolished, as it is a cruel punishment even for normal persons. The constitution guarantee respect of human rights and those who violate human dignity ought to be punished by imprisonment rather than death. Work CitedHall v. Florida. The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. 2013. U.S. Supreme Court Media. 14 March 2015. Woolley, John and Gerhard Peters.

"Executive Order 13658 - Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors." 09 February 2014. The Presidency. Web. 15 March 2015.