, the social policy reports are expertly researched and written, showing all sides of an issue. Chapters follow a consistent organization, exploring three issue questions, then offering background, current context, and a look ahead, as well as featuring a pro/con debate box. All issues include a chronology, bibliography, photos, charts, and figures.

PREFACE1. Women and Work Are women better off today than they were 50 years ago? Are women limiting themselves? Should workplaces become more accommodating for women? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography2. International Adoption Should international adoptions be promoted? Has the Hague Convention improved the international adoption process? Can the decline in international adoptions be reversed? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography3. Child Poverty Should Congress expand welfare funding? Are poor children now in elementary school a lost generation? Is single motherhood a bigger cause of child poverty than the low-wage economy? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography4. Home Schooling Should governments oversee home schooling more strictly? Is home schooling academically superior to public schooling? Can home schooling help the public school system? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography5. Tea Party Movement Does the Tea Party represent only a narrow segment of the population? Will the Tea Party movement reshape the Republican Party? Does the Tea Party attract conspiracy theorists? Background Current Situation Outlook Update Notes Bibliography6. Climate Change Are catastrophic climate change impacts inevitable? Is climate engineering a good idea? Should the United States adopt a carbon tax? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography7. Gay Rights Are governments and society more receptive to gay rights? Does a backlash threaten advances made by gays? Should the United Nations and other international bodies be promoting gay rights? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography8. Homeless Students Are federal programs to assist homeless students working? Are school systems doing enough to help homeless students? Do homeless students have more academic troubles than other disadvantaged students? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography9. Caring for Veterans Is the VA benefits system broken beyond repair? Is the VA adjusting to the needs of 21st-century combat and technology? Is the VA improving rapidly enough? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography10. Government Spending Is too much being spent on mandatory programs? Is too much being spent on Social Security and Medicare? Is too much being spent on discretionary programs? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography11. Minimum Wage Would raising the federal minimum wage mean job losses? Would raising the federal minimum wage reduce poverty? Would raising the federal minimum wage help the economy? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography12. Assessing the New Health Care Law Should the health care law be repealed? Will Americans be better off because of the health care law? Will the health care law cost too much? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography13. Aging Population Should Americans work longer? Will spending on health care for the elderly bankrupt the United States? Will the young and old fight over resources? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography14. Gun Control Would a ban on assault weapons reduce gun violence? Would mandatory background checks of all gun buyers keep guns away from criminals and other dangerous people? Do state laws allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons make communities safer? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography15. Mental Health Policy Should states make it easier to force the mentally ill into treatment? Does the medical profession define mental illness too broadly? Do insurers treat mental and physical health equally? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography16. Domestic Violence Should violent partners be arrested and prosecuted against a victim's wishes? Do batterer intervention programs work? Can health care practitioners effectively screen and counsel victims of domestic violence? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography17. Border Security Has the border security buildup made the United States more secure? Is it possible to "seal" the U.S. borders? Is the United States paying enough attention to security at its ports of entry, Canadian border and coasts? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography18. Assissted Suicide Do the terminally ill have a right to choose when to end their lives? Does permitting assisted suicide lead to abuse? Does the Hippocratic Oath ethics code prevent doctors from helping patients die? Background Current Situation Outlook Notes Bibliography