Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act or UIGEA outlaws certain activities associated with online gambling. It prohibits those who engage in the gambling business from accepting payments. The payments mentioned here refer to the ones coming from online gambling that’s unlawful. Violations can attract imprisonment up to five years.

It may also lead to imposition of a hefty fine on the violator. The act has not defined the business of betting or wagering, but it certainly defines what it is not. A business involved in betting or wagering can only be prosecuted if it participates in unlawful online gambling.

Illegal Gambling Business Act

This act applies to anyone managing, financing, supervising, directing, or owning any part of an illegal gambling business. Such individuals or businesses may violate laws of a political sub-division or a state where they conduct their activities. The Illegal Gambling Business Act may also apply to offshore gambling operations taking wagers from bettors in the United States.

This requires the fulfilling of certain conditions. They mostly have a connection with the state laws and the Congress.

The Wire Act

Generally, the Wire Act covers those in the business of gambling. The act outlaws the ones in this business who use interstate telephone facilities for transmitting bets. It also outlaws those in the gambling business who use interstate telephone facilities for transmitting information associated with gambling.

Offenders have to face imprisonment for up to two years. Additionally, imposition of a hefty fine may also follow. When one compares this to the other federal gambling statutes, the act has been used more sparingly. This is why it lacks certain interpretative benefits and can’t be useful for prosecuting simple bettors.

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations

The provisions of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations or RICO may apply in case of illegal gambling. Violations of the Wire Act, the Travel Act, and Illegal Gambling Business Act are RICO predicate offenses. The RICO violators are subject to imprisonment of up to twenty years. Additionally, they may also have to pay a hefty fine. The property used for the conducting the criminal activities might also be confiscated. The one committing a RICO offense need not be a human. The offender can also be an entity, such as a partnership or corporation.

Travel Act

The elements of this act cover those who travel in inter-state or foreign commerce. Using a facility in inter-state or foreign commerce to distribute the proceeds of business involving gambling violates the act. The Travel Act might serve as the basis for prosecution under the statutes of RICO and money laundering.

The Supreme Court once determined that this act is not applicable to ordinary customers of an illegal gambling business. It might cover inter-state solicitation of such customers.

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A greater emphasis is placed on the importance of human dignity and values. It suggests the use of reason and science for the resolution of problems. One of the major aims of humanism is to help people achieve personal growth. It also intends to make this world a better place in this process. This philosophy is considered important in several fields, including psychology.

The psychology of humanism

There’s a greater stress on free will, self-actualization, self-efficacy, and other such concepts in humanistic psychology. It makes constant efforts to help individuals achieve their fullest potential and enhance their well-being. This is much better than concentrating on human dysfunction. The origins of humanistic psychology dates back to the mid-20th century.

During those times, it emerged as a reaction to behaviorism and psychoanalysis. These were the two concepts that had dominated psychology during the first-half of the 20th century. Behaviorism involved the study of the conditioning processes that were instrumental in producing behavior. The unconscious motivations that were responsible in driving behavior were studied through psychoanalysis.

According to humanist thinkers, behaviorism and psychoanalysis took a pessimistic approach. The humanist thinkers felt that the focus of these two fields were on the most tragic of emotions. They thought that both behaviorism and psychoanalysis failed to acknowledge the role of personal choice.

One might get the impression that these three schools of thought compete against each other. However, the truth is that each of these branches of psychology are doorways to understanding human mind and behavior.

Types of Humanism

1. Renaissance Humanism

Renaissance humanism developed towards the end of the middle ages. This development was the result of a revival of classical letters. It also developed owing to the renewed confidence in human beings’ ability to determine truth and falsehood for themselves.

2. Western Cultural Humanism

Originating to a great extent in ancient Rome and Greece was this rational and empirical tradition. It gradually evolved throughout the history of Europe. Today, it is a basic part of the Western world’s approach to science, ethics, political theory, and law.

3. Christian Humanism

Many see Christianity as a more human-oriented faith. So, Christian humanism advocates a human being’s self-fulfillment through the Christian principles. This type of humanism was in most part the product of Renaissance. A part of it also hints at the influence of Renaissance humanism.

4. Modern Humanism

This type of humanism is also called Scientific Humanism, Naturalistic Humanism, Democratic Humanism, and Ethical Humanism. Corliss Lamont was among its greatest proponents. He saw it as a naturalistic philosophy. According to him, it relies mainly on science, reason, human compassion, and democracy. It rejects all forms of supernaturalism. Modern humanism includes both religious and secular elements.

5. Philosophical Humanism

It’s an outlook or a way of life that’s centered on human interests and needs. Philosophical humanism’s sub-categories include modern humanism and Christian humanism.

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In a country that’s under a dictator’s rule, it is the dictator or the king who possesses all the power. A democratic society guarantees liberty, justice, and equality to its people. Now, let’s take a look at some of the main characteristics of a democratic society:

1. Freedoms

One of the most important characteristics of a democratic society is that individuals enjoy certain freedoms. Among them are freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of association. The democratic countries have certain limits of power and authority, especially when deciding things for its citizens. Without the existence of such freedoms, a society can’t be truly democratic.

2. Pluralism

In a democracy, a society doesn’t function according to a certain religion. There’s clear separation of a religious institution and state. Tolerance, neutrality, and inclusion are some of the founding principles of a democratic society. They allow different political parties, ethnic groups, religions, and worldviews to co-exist peacefully.

3. Individual rights

Individual rights form the basis of a democracy. The right to run for political office and the right to vote are some of the examples of such rights. Besides this, every individual has the right to his or her safety and security.

4. Rule of law

There are a set of laws that everyone has to abide by in a democracy. There’s no exception in this regard. In sharp contrast, countries where there’s dictatorship have an absence of well-established laws. The dictator or the ruler generally decides how the laws would apply to the country’s common people.

5. Minority rights

There are certain foundational rules in democratic societies. They usually find mention in the constitution. Such rules prevent the majority community in the country from oppressing the minorities.

6. Bureaucracy

Democracies worldwide have elected representatives controlling the bureaucracies of the state. There’s greater accountability and monitoring of the individual who derives authority from the state. This is done through an appropriate process, which investigates complaints coming from the public. Even before entering into international agreements, the state requires the consent of its people.

7. Accountability

Democracies have a proper system in place for holding the decision-makers accountable for the results. Let’s say a particular government department overspends or fails to achieve its goals. In this case, the heads of this department are held accountable.

8. Legal process

The state has to follow an established legal process. This ensures fairness and equality in the justice system. In a democratic society, even the state can’t override a set of legal procedures.

9. Civility

Democratic countries have some efficient mechanisms for resolving issues, such as peaceful protests, laws, and norms. This is also known as civility. It is the culture of resolving the differences without using violence.

10. Checks and balances

Every representative of the government has independent oversight and limited power in democratic countries. This is ensured with the help of checks and balances. It refers to a government system, which empowers separate departments that keep an eye on other departments. This avoids a particular department from wielding too much power.

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