Assemble & Associate :: essays research papers

Assemble and AssociateThe first amendment of the Constitution is one of the most fundamental and essential appendages to the C onstitution that statesmen could ever drive made. It basically provides the way and means for any citizen of the United States to speak freely, worship freely, assemble with whomever they want, and complain to the government. One of the most important of those freedoms however, is the responsibility of association. Association protects the even offs of persons to enter into relationships with one another unhampered by intrusive governmental regulation. More specifically expressive association protects the office to associate with others in pursuit of a wide variety of political, social, economic, educational, religious, and cultural ends. The right to associate, being derived from the provisions of free speech and assembly, is fundamental to all private associations so that they exponent have the right to their own standards for membership and leadersh ip.The male child Scouts of America has been a private organization with the mission and chartered purpose of providing character-building experiences for young people since its cosmos in 1910. The organizations Oath states, On my honor I will do my best to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. It is a scouts duty to uphold this oath and live by the scout law. In April of 2000 the Boy Scouts of Americas rights to establish its own standards of membership and continue to instill the values of the Scout Oath and Law into the scouts were challenged.An individuals position as assistant scoutmaster of a New Jersey troop was revoked after a division of the Boy Scouts learned that the individual was an avowed homosexual and gay rights activist. The assistant scoutmaster filed suit in the New Jersey Superior Court, and alleged, among other matters, that the Boy Scouts had violated a state law prohibiting discrimination in places of public accommodation on th e basis of sexual orientation. The Boy Scouts held that this violated their First Amendment right of expressive association. The Boy Scouts of America believe an avowed homosexual is not a role model for the values espoused in the Scout Oath and Law.The right of association is utterly the most important principle in the issue of the Boy Scouts of America and their right to be selective in their requirements of leadership. The Boy Scouts have the right to assemble with whomever they choose.