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Majority Opinion (majority + opinion)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Law and Criminology50%

Selected Abstracts

Relevance of Web documents: Ghosts consensus method

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2002
Andrey L. Gorbunov
The dominant method currently used to improve the quality of Internet search systems is often called "digital democracy." Such an approach implies the utilization of the majority opinion of Internet users to determine the most relevant documents: for example, citation index usage for sorting of search results (google.com) or an enrichment of a query with terms that are asked frequently in relation with the query's theme. "Digital democracy" is an effective instrument in many cases, but it has an unavoidable shortcoming, which is a matter of principle: the average intellectual and cultural level of Internet users is very low,everyone knows what kind of information is dominant in Internet query statistics. Therefore, when one searches the Internet by means of "digital democracy" systems, one gets answers that reflect an underlying assumption that the user's mind potential is very low, and that his cultural interests are not demanding. Thus, it is more correct to use the term "digital ochlocracy" to refer to Internet search systems with "digital democracy." Based on the well-known mathematical mechanism of linear programming, we propose a method to solve the indicated problem. [source]

A ,sea change' for collective bargaining as the U.S. Supreme Court permits unions to agree to arbitration for discrimination claims

ALTERNATIVES TO THE HIGH COST OF LITIGATION, Issue 5 2009
Christopher Walsh
Last month's U.S. Supreme Court decision in 14 Penn Plaza LLC v. Pyett may signal a big change in the skills needed by labor arbitrators, according to Christopher Walsh, of Newark, N.J. He analyzes the case and tells readers what to expect as a result of Justice Clarence Thomas's majority opinion. [source]

The Politics of Palliative Care and the Ethical Boundaries of Medicine: Gonzales v. Oregon as a Cautionary Tale

THE JOURNAL OF LAW, MEDICINE & ETHICS, Issue 1 2007
Bryan HilliardArticle first published online: 2 MAR 200
The U.S.Supreme Court's 6-decision in Gonzales v. Oregon is the latest defeat for the Bush administration in its sustained attack on Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law. Both the majority opinion and the major dissent in Oregon provide an opportunity to assess the dangers inherent in allowing a political agenda that emphasizes the sanctity of life and minimizes professional ethical obligations to overshadow quality patient care at the end of life. [source]

Prospects for the Two-party System in a Pluralising Political World

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 2 2002
Andrew Norton
Political commentators argue that the major political parties are in decline. This article sets out evidence for this view: minor parties and independents securing 20 percent of the vote at federal elections, declining strength of voters' party identification, and issue movements playing a large role in setting the political agenda. Possible causes for these trends range from the political, such as policy failure, undermining traditional constituencies, and ignoring public opinion, to sociological forces, such as postmaterialism, individualism and serious disaffection. However, the article argues Labor and the Coalition will be the dominant political players for the foreseeable future. In most lower houses, the electoral system favours the major parties which on balance is a good thing. The major parties have taken concerns of interest groups into account, while balancing these against majority opinion. They simplify choice for an electorate only moderately interested in politics, and can be held accountable in a way minor parties and independents cannot. [source]