Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Law science'
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Cunningham, Graeme James. "Law, rhetoric, and science : historical narratives in Roman law." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2018. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/41030/.
Full textBehan, Maeveen. "Science and Lore in Animal Law." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194253.
Full textTravis, Mitchell. "Interrogating personhood : law and science fiction." Thesis, Keele University, 2013. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.602983.
Full textKhalili, Sinan. "Law as a Science : The Scientific Requisite." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Juridiska institutionen, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-204083.
Full textLaukyte, Migle <1981>. "Law and Science through the Lens of Patent Law and Software Agents." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2010. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/3114/.
Full textBain, Jonathan. "Subjective-Objective-Subjective: The Science Of Propaganda." Master's thesis, Faculty of Law, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32197.
Full textAl-Dusri, Fahad. "The effectiveness of forensic science service in the State of Kuwait in criminal investigations and proceedings : forensic science practice in Kuwait." Thesis, University of Exeter, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.288002.
Full textBicego, Carl P. "The precautionary principle in law and science, nomos and narrative." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1996. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp04/MQ26408.pdf.
Full textForret, Joan Boyce. "An Interface between science and law: What is science for members of New Zealand's Environment Court?" The University of Waikato, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10289/2667.
Full textHagelüken, Alexandra. "The impact of EC law and WTO law on domestic law : a critical analysis of the case law of the European Court of Justice." Thesis, McGill University, 1998. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=21683.
Full textZhang, Jiaxin. "Power-law Graph Cuts." The Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1418749967.
Full textSimon, Katie. "Finding synergistic conservation values? Māori tikanga, science, resource management and law." The University of Waikato, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10289/2639.
Full textHanda, Sunny. "Reverse engineering computer programs under Canadian copyright law." Thesis, McGill University, 1994. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=22693.
Full textRecently both the European Union countries and the United States have accepted reverse engineering as an exception to copyright infringement. The European Union has opted for a legislative solution, whereas in the United States several courts have construed the fair use exception contained in that country's Copyright Act as allowing reverse engineering.
In this paper, it is argued that Canada must also adopt a reverse engineering exception to copyright infringement. It is claimed that the implementation of such an exception is justified through examination of the underlying policy goals of copyright law in the context of an economic framework. Reverse engineering fosters the creation of standards which, it is argued, increase societal wealth. The existence of a reverse engineering exception is consistent with the balance between the economic rights of individual authors and societal technological progress, which copyright seeks to maintain. It is demonstrated that copyright exists as the only form of applicable intellectual property protection which can broadly limit the disclosure of concepts underlying computer programs.
It is suggested that an effective exception should be statutorily based. It is felt that the existing fair dealing exception contained in the Canadian Copyright Act is juridically under-developed and too uncertain to provide an effective solution to the reverse engineering problem. A legislative solution would send a clear message to the software industry as well as to the courts, and could prohibit contracting out of the Copyright Act which would potentially be allowed were a judicial solution sought. It is further suggested that the statutory exception should broadly allow the process of reverse engineering as opposed to limiting it to cases where compatibility is sought. Narrowing the exception creates conceptual difficulties in applying limits to reverse engineering. Allowing a broad exception would avoid these difficulties while continuing to provide copyright holders with protection if, after the reverse engineering process is concluded, their protectable expression is used within another's software product.
Genneby, Johan. "Hard Decisons, Soft Laws : Exploring the authority and the political impact of soft law in international law." Thesis, Linköping University, Department of Management and Economics, 2003. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-1864.
Full textThe question of whether there is soft law in international law has been as much the subject of contemporary debate as whether or not there is private legal authority in the international society. The legal boundaries seem to be blurred by the process of globalisation and the recent shift in international law. The traditional definition of international law has been outdated as new forms of treaties has introduced new subject of law to the judicial arena. At the same time a supplementary map of law has been added to the cartography of international law, soft law. These correlating processes have comprehensive political and legal consequences at both the international and national levels. This essay examines and identifies soft law from a legal-political perspective and locates and explores private forms of legal authority on the map of contemporary international law. In respect to theory, it accounts for an interdisciplinary approach involving issues of both international law and international relations. In the process this study examines issues regarding the relative legal normativity and the blurring of legal authority in international law. The focus is on the legal character, the constitutive practices and the legal and political influence of soft law. It discusses the influence and power exerted by soft law over state actors in the international system and at the national level. The essay finds that soft law is of substantial relevance in the international ambit. To some extent a limited normative force of certain norms is recognized in soft law even though it is conceded that those norms would not be enforceable by an international court or other international organ. To say that it does not exist because it is not of the enforceable variety, might blind students of international law to another dimension of the landscape of international practice. Soft law does not translate to soft obligations in the reality of international society, and it seems to be some confusion surrounding the obligations conceived by it. The research here presented suggests that its political and legal power is substantial. The researched examples do not display any real private legal authority in soft law. This is because soft law is found to be a separate phenomenon from international law proper. However, soft law’s impact on national governments combined with the wider acceptance of the presence of private actors in the creation of soft law suggests that private power is noteworthy in comparison. In one of the studied examples, the soft law is concluded by private business representatives solely, but in requiring the status of soft law it is dependant on the recognition of the international and national legal bodies.
Pamp, Caroline. "Intellectual property in science /." Stockholm : Jure Förlag, 2010. http://www.hgu.gu.se/Files/fakultetskansli/abstract/Spikblad%20Caroline_Pamp.pdf.
Full textFarley, Erin Jennifer. "Deliberating science juries, scientific evidence and commonsense justice /." Access to citation, abstract and download form provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company; downloadable PDF file, 309 p, 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1251900581&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=8331&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
Full textFrederiksen, Soren David. "The mediating discourses of the expert witness, science, fingerprinting, and the law." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp01/MQ57658.pdf.
Full textGilson, Cedric Charles. "Resources for mediating the incommensurability of science and law in legal contexts." Thesis, University of Westminster, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.442108.
Full textFrederiksen, Soren David Carleton University Dissertation Law. "The mediating discourses of the expert witness; science, fingerprinting, and the law." Ottawa, 2000.
Find full textDavis, H. G. "Conceptions of 'politics' in English law : a study based on aspects of extradition, charity and labour law." Thesis, University of Reading, 1989. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.329315.
Full textOchse, Aaron Richard. "Targeted Killing, Drones and International Law| How U.S. Practice is Shaping International Law." Thesis, The George Washington University, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1556566.
Full textSince 2002, the United States has been conducting drone strikes as an integral part of its war on terror against al Qaeda. This paper discusses the evolution of that practice and considers the legal implications of the targeted killing of alleged members of al Qaeda and its affiliate organizations in non-battlefield situations. It argues that the U.S. is negatively influencing international law at a time when the law is unsettled with regard to non-battlefield targeting of members of armed opposition groups. Further, some of the strikes conducted by the U.S. violate the principles of distinction, proportionality and military necessity. The paper suggests that the U.S. should alter its course of actions, support a more restrained view of the boundaries of targeted killing, and limit any targeted killings to high-level members of terrorist organizations.
Winterbottom, David Mark. "Pattern formation with a conservation law." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2006. http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/10180/.
Full textZapata, Lugo Jose Vicente. "Sustainable development : a role for international environmental law." Thesis, McGill University, 1993. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=26232.
Full textIt is further argued that sustainable development has not succeeded in enhancing environmental protection because of the erroneous efforts made to reduce it from a field of international environmental law to a norm of international environmental law. States, communities and individuals should be more concerned with developing new and firm principles in the field of sustainable development. These principles would eventually become the new norms of international and national law and thus, the cornerstone of an era of environmental protection that does not impinge upon the development that humankind is dependent upon.
Beland, Christopher D. (Christopher David) 1978. "Digital technology and copyright law." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/16818.
Full textIncludes bibliographical references (p. 88-108).
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Intellectual Property is an ideology of the late Twentieth Century which reserves property-like rights in information, so that creators may extract its economic value. Current American copyright law draws mainly from this concept; it has been constructed through history by negotiation between various established economic interests. Information Freedom is a competing ideology which has been successful in the software community. It emphasizes the dangers of over-propertization and the benefits of freely accessible resources, especially non-depletable information resources. Compromise must be reached in a practical (non-ideological) fashion in order to achieve the social goals of: production of creative content (encouraged by fair but not excessive compensation for creators); promotion of scientific, political, technical, artistic, cultural, and economic progress by removing obstacles to accessing content and taking advantage of innovations which change the status quo; protection of creative freedom; and ensuring quality and diversity in the content which is created. Civil disobedience as a means to achieve these goals may be counterproductive if it results in tighter technological restrictions on content availability or stricter legal mechanisms; legal reforms proposed by Lawrence Lessig and Jessica Litman are unlikely to be enacted. Internet-based technologies have strong potential to increase exposure to diversity, decrease costs, and improve the subjective experience for music consumers. Cheaper film-making equipment may have similar positive effects for motion pictures to a lesser degree. Internet bandwidth and other practical limitations suggest that immediate changes in video distribution and consumption patterns are more likely to be driven by the availability of Digital Video Recorders, or perhaps competing Video On Demand services. Different economic models which fund content creation may be appropriate for different applications, and may in some cases further social goals better than strong propertization. Alternative models include voluntary contributions (either from creators or consumers); indirect benefit by establishing reputation, selling related services, cross-promotion, or selling advertising; and public funding. The history of telecommunication, including the telegraph, radio, television, and the Internet, provides evidence that important uses for new technology may not be initially obvious, that the maturation of digital information technology and related economic models is just beginning.
by Christopher D. Beland.
S.B.
Baudouin, Christine. "La procréation assistée au Québec: de la science de laboratoire au service public." Thesis, McGill University, 2012. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=110698.
Full textLes avancées scientifiques des dernières années en matière de reproduction de l'être humain ont changé notre conception traditionnelle de la maternité et de la famille. La loi sur les activités cliniques et de recherche en matière de procréation assistée adoptée par le gouvernement du Québec en 2010 offre à ses citoyens un accès étendu aux techniques de reproduction comme si ceux si avaient un droit subjectif et absolu de s'en prévaloir. Etant perçu comme un véritable service public, la procréation assistée appartient désormais au domaine de la santé publique et intéresse la société toute entière parce qu'elle devient un enjeu collectif. Ce constat émane de deux phénomènes principaux : Le premier est que la loi québécoise est le reflet des normes éthiques nord-américaine, soit l'autonomie, le bien-être, la non-maléficience et la justice. Le second est le phénomène de la médicalisation de l'infertilité. Suite à ce constat, il est normal que la loi québécoise soit soumise à la critique notamment quant à la façon dont les principes éthiques qui la sous-tendent ont été interprétés pour ne servir que des intérêts individualistes, utilitaristes, et au détriment de la santé des femmes. Contrairement à l'approche préconisée par la société française, nous verrons que le législateur québécois a manqué l'occasion de s'interroger sur les conséquences à long terme d'une telle loi sur l'ensemble de sa population et de prévoir une réflexion publique avant l'adoption de la loi.
Sen, Maya. "Essays on Causality, Race, and the Law." Thesis, Harvard University, 2012. http://dissertations.umi.com/gsas.harvard:10333.
Full textGovernment
Alem, Mohammed Y. "The applicable law to international commercial contracts : harmonization perspectives between civil and common law?" Thesis, McGill University, 1991. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=61160.
Full textIn fact, today, there is a detectable effort on the international level to harmonize the laws, especially in relevance to international contracts, in order to provide a better environment for world trade.
When we decided to go through this subject, we had in mind the importance of understanding this harmonization tendency on the international sphere. That may be the reason why we have tried, in this thesis, to expose the harmonization process adopted by some recent conventions. Our purpose was to prove that, even though differences and disparities may exist, as long as there is a uniform tendency toward social and cultural uniformity, one might predict that these divergencies would eventually even out. We see in this tendency an indication of the convergence of the Common and Civil Law toward the same destination: make this world a better place.
Pardolesi, Roberto, and Massimiliano Granieri. "The Future of Law Professors and Comparative Law." IUS ET VERITAS, 2014. http://repositorio.pucp.edu.pe/index/handle/123456789/123064.
Full textEn el presente artículo, los autores analizan las posiciones acerca de los objetivos del Derecho Comparado como una disciplina autónoma, así como la intersección entre Derecho y la economía y sus implicancias en los futuros estudios del Derecho. todo ello se estudia a en relación no solo a lo que es el Derecho, sino con lo que debería ser. Finalizan los autores proponiendo una nueva perspectiva para los abogados comparatistas, buscando revitalizar la investigación jurídica.
Lowe, Sabine. "Responsibility and liability in general public international law and in the law of outer space." Thesis, McGill University, 1992. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=60670.
Full textIn the first part of the thesis, the concept of responsibility for internationally wrongful acts is contrasted with that of liability sine delicto. The examination seeks to define the principles upon which each is based and to determine the respective legal significance, scope and applicability. The analysis of both concepts is guided and influenced by the work of the International Law Commission.
The second part focusses on the law of outer space. A scrutiny of the relevant norms reveals which stage of development this fairly new subdivision of international law has reached with regard to responsibility and liability.
Leander, L. H. "Liberty, democracy and legislation : law against the powerless." Thesis, Brunel University, 1991. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.292563.
Full textMora, Guerra Mario Ivan. "Privacy law issues for encryption and government control in Mexico." Thesis, McGill University, 1996. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=27462.
Full textThis thesis studies the legal challenge of achieving a balanced legislative answer that ensures maximum protection of privacy without conflicting with law enforcement. It also warns the Mexican Consultant Committee on Informatic Policies about the potential problems that the use of encryption technologies will create in Mexico and proposes some solutions.
Mexico is urged to reform its laws pertaining to privacy and confidentiality, and to regulate the illegal and beneficial uses of encryption, in order to achieve a comprehensive and poised legal and administrative infrastructure for information technologies, privacy and encryption. We lay out basic legal parameters to shape a future encryption law in Mexico, emphasizing that the Mexican Government should guarantee that any Mexican can use, develop, market, import or export any encryption product, and that in no event should the Mexican Government impose any compulsory encryption standard. In order to control the criminal use of encryption, we suggest lawful compulsory decryption and certain encryption use restrictions in cases where these technologies are found to have been used to further a crime.
Kletzer, Christoph. "The mutual inclusion of law and its science : reflections on Hans Kelsen's legal positivism." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2005. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/251950.
Full textKlinkner, Melanie Josefine. "Towards improved understanding and interaction between forensic science and international criminal law in the context of transitional justice." Thesis, Bournemouth University, 2009. http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/12876/.
Full textLazare, Jodi. "The use of social science evidence in constitutional adjudication: overcoming the challenges of the adversarial system." Thesis, McGill University, 2013. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=114143.
Full textCe mémoire étudie le traitement judiciaire de la preuve issue du domaine des sciences sociales dans le contexte des recours fondés sur la Charte canadienne de droits et libertés. Il entreprend une lecture en profondeur de deux décisions récentes de première instance, concernant la prostitution et la polygamie, dans lesquelles les juges ont eu à analyser de grandes quantités de données empiriques provenant du domaine des sciences sociales. Il soutient que la priorité que confère le système judiciaire à la persuasion, à la victoire et au règlement définitif des litiges l'empêche de bénéficier pleinement de la contribution que pourraient apporter les sciences sociales au droit et à la recherche juridique de la vérité. La doctrine de stare decisis pourrait, elle aussi, devoir être repensée. Ce mémoire explore de plus l'idée que le système accusatoire convienne mal à la mise en balance d'une multitude d'enjeux incertains, comme le requièrent souvent les contestations fondée sur la Charte. Cette difficulté est aggravée par les lacunes avérées de la formation juridique et par son incapacité à doter les futurs avocats et les futurs juges des compétences non juridiques nécessaires à la prise en compte de données empiriques complexes et contradictoires. Enfin, ce mémoire se penche sur un autre défaut majeur du système judiciaire anglo-américain, la sélection des témoins experts par les parties et le biais inévitable qui en résulte, et offre un bref portrait des mécanismes procéduraux alternatifs. De façon générale, les difficultés à combiner le droit et les sciences sociales ne peuvent être remédiées qu'en se dirigeant vers un mode plus inquisitoire de résolution des litiges constitutionnels.
Provost, Rene. "International human rights and humanitarian law : fusion or confusion?" Thesis, University of Oxford, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.285439.
Full textEisler, Jacob Morse. "Personhood and the Law of Corruption in Federal Courts." Thesis, Harvard University, 2016. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:33493326.
Full textGovernment
Fortin, Pierre 1960. "Artificial space debris and international law." Thesis, McGill University, 1990. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=59927.
Full textThe purpose of this thesis is to analyse the appropriate technical aspects of the artificial space debris issue and to explore the legal ramifications of the question.
The first chapter is devoted to the technical aspects and covers topics such as the origins and location of artificial space debris, the hazards they constitute, the anticipated damage that might be caused by such debris and the likelihood of its occurrence.
In the second chapter, the legal aspects are explored by first looking at space law generally. A brief historical perspective of space law as well as the role of the United Nations in the making of space law is offered. Space law as it relates to the space debris issue is then analysed by first trying to define terms such as "space object", "component parts" and "space debris". Particular emphasis is then placed on issues like jurisdiction and control over space debris, international responsibility for space debris, their identification and, finally, liability for damage caused by space debris.
Ives, Robin. "The politics of publicity : the new science of political economy in eighteenth-century France." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.367462.
Full textLapointe, Hélène. "Regional open skies agreements : law and practice." Thesis, McGill University, 1995. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=22696.
Full textThen, the thesis conducts a detailed study of the law and practice pertaining to regional Open Skies Agreements in Europe, Latin America, Australasia and in the Asia/Pacific region.
Afterwards, an analysis of the main provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement is made with reference to air transport. Follows, an overview of the state of the Canadian air transport industry and policy.
More importantly, a complete analysis of the New Air Transport Agreement Between Canada and the United States implementing an Open Skies regime as for 1995 is made in Chapter V.
Finally, a critical analysis of this Open Skies Agreement is made and perspectives are given as to the future inclusion of Mexico, Chile and, later on, of all of Latin America.
Huang, Chu Cheng 1964. "Airline labour law : a study of certain labour law rules in international air transport." Thesis, McGill University, 1997. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=34739.
Full textA critical survey of labor regulations operating in the international air transport industry is provided through commentary on the principles formulated by judicial decisions and the theories which underlie their reasoning, helping to clarify both substantive and procedural labor laws affecting international air transport.
A critical analysis of different categories of statutory labor law governing international air transport is also provided to assess the validity of commonly-erected conflict of labor law rules, thereby revealing the inadequacy of the single rule principle in view of the unique and perplexing regulatory interests which are inherent in aviation activity. The divergence between domestic labor statutes and Treaties of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation or bilateral air transport agreements also adds a more subtle aspect to the problems explored.
Jenkins, Ginger Lee. "Negative Appraisal Correlation to PTSD Symptoms Among Law Enforcement Officers." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7155.
Full textBoiron, Hélène. "Vers un systeme européen de responsabilité des entreprises en matière de dommage à l'environnement." Thesis, McGill University, 1996. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=27443.
Full textShort, David 1972. "Assessing the utility of a human rights approach to international environmental protection." Thesis, McGill University, 1995. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=23966.
Full textThis thesis undertakes a critical assessment of a human rights approach to environmental protection, with the aim of suggesting ways in which it could realistically contribute to the protection of the global environment. I consider how the environment may be protected both through the application of presently accepted human rights and through the establishment of a new human right in relation to the environment. I highlight the objections that are raised from both a human rights perspective and an environmental perspective and examine the substantial conceptual and practical difficulties that are encountered. I ultimately attempt to show that although a human rights approach has serious limitations and is unlikely to fulfill the aspirations of its promoters, it does have modest value as one strand of a much wider strategy for environmental protection under international law.
Fortugno, Stefania A. (Stefania Angela). "An ethical and preventive approach to transboundary hazardous waste movements : a view from Canada." Thesis, McGill University, 1993. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=26200.
Full textChesterman, Simon. "Just war or just peace? : humanitarian intervention and international law." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2000. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:a2f9085b-4ca9-4244-bff0-837ea5d4d74b.
Full textConn, Matthew B. "Feeling same-sex desire: law, science, and belonging in German-speaking central Europe, 1750-1945." Diss., University of Iowa, 2014. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/6929.
Full textRamey, Robert A. "Space warfare and the future law of war." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape10/PQDD_0030/MQ55106.pdf.
Full textGuadamuz, Andres. "Networks, complexity and internet regulation scale-free law." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/7795.
Full textPotvin, Andrew F. "A unified solution to constrained configuration control law design." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/12759.
Full textIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 74-78).
by Andrew F. Potvin.
M.S.
Li, William (William Pui Lum). "Language technologies for understanding law, politics, and public policy." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/103673.
Full textThis electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 205-209).
This thesis focuses on the development of machine learning and natural language processing methods and their application to large, text-based open government datasets. We focus on models that uncover patterns and insights by inferring the origins of legal and political texts, with a particular emphasis on identifying text reuse and text similarity in these document collections. First, we present an authorship attribution model on unsigned U.S. Supreme Court opinions, offering insights into the authorship of important cases and the dynamics of Supreme Court decision-making. Second, we apply software engineering metrics to analyze the complexity of the United States Code of Laws, thereby illustrating the structure and evolution of the U.S. Code over the past century. Third, we trace policy trajectories of legislative bills in the United States Congress, enabling us to visualize the contents of four key bills during the Financial Crisis. These applications on diverse open government datasets reveal that text reuse occurs widely in legal and political texts: similar ideas often repeat in the same corpus, different historical versions of documents are usually quite similar, or legitimate reasons for copying or borrowing text may exist. Motivated by this observation, we present a novel statistical text model, Probabilistic Text Reuse (PTR), for finding repeated passages of text in large document collections. We illustrate the utility of PTR by finding template ideas, less-common voices, and insights into document structure in a large collection of public comments on regulations proposed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on net neutrality. These techniques aim to help citizens better understand political processes and help governments better understand political speech.
by William P. Li.
Ph. D.