Running head: LEGAL AGE DECISION
Legal age decision
Mercydes Rendon
Samantha Pacheco
Braden Hammond
Ryan Burgess
Uni 110
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LEGAL AGE DECISION
Since the founding of the United States, and especially after the failure of the articles of
confederation, there has been a major push to form a more superior head of government. By
doing so military, taxes, and immigration have become equal grounds for all states to follow,
forming an organized union of different territories. While the New-Jersey plan fell to the
Virginia plan in 1787, the power and size of states in the U.S. has significantly increased since
then, and a push for more self-governing states has risen in recent years. This discussion over
‘state jurisdiction’ vs ‘federal jurisdiction’ is controversial, and problems often arise when one
states decisions interfere with another’s. A new topic has come into recent light regarding the age
of adulthood, and its place within federal jurisdiction. While states have a right to certain aspects
of government such as education, and spending, the age of adulthood should remain under
federal policy, as to not cause problems between states.
Leaving the states to determine the age of adulthood or drinking can cause harmful and even
detrimental problems for each entity. For example, having a state where the drinking age is 18
with a sister state of a 21-drinking age can lead to teens traveling far distances in order to get
there fix. Thus, leading to dangerous situations for the teen and others surrounding. It can also
cause some states to become upset with others as they may think they are trying to compete or
one up them in rules. Fairness is needed in order to keep sanity between states and citizens who
reside in each state's, which is why the age decision should be decided by the federal government
not each state. Another leading problem could be between equality of states and the people
within that state.
The federal government should determine the legal adult age due to the fact that it would be easy
for everyone to follow the same rules. If every state could choose what legal age they want it
would create chaos all over. For example, one might say the speed limit in Delaware should be
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LEGAL AGE DECISION
65mph on the regular streets because it’s less populated but in Arizona it stays 45mph. That ruins
the importance of everyone being equal in the United States because it can lead to some states
feeling superior than other states. Not to mention, if any state decides to make a change they can
be effected by it in a negative manner financially wise. Research shows “Under current policy,
any state that chooses to set it’s drinking age under 21 must forfeit of its annual federal highway
appropriation”( Choosersresponsibility 1). This quote shows how conflicts can occur between
states because one might be upset another state might have more money than them.
Americans should have equal rights across America whether it be drinking age, driving age, or
even the age to buy lottery tickets. All of America lives under one constitution so we shouldn't
have to live by different laws in different states. This could create complications for each state
due to the differing state laws. For example, “Unless and until the federal government grants a
waiver of a current law, Vermont will not put at risk its receipt of federal highway funds. In the
fiscal year 2005, the amount in question was approximately $17 million”. States wouldn’t give
up money just to make things equal between states when they can keep money and fix problems
across their state.
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LEGAL AGE DECISION
Resources
Responsibility, C. (n.d.). Retrieved November 09, 2017, from
http://www.chooseresponsibility.org/policy_change/
[. (n.d.). What is the Age of Responsibility? Retrieved November 09, 2017, from
http://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/What-is-the-Age.html
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