Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
wages; living; stronghold
retailer
pose
keep
coincidence
TOEIC vocab test: Free word games: Online Nouns Quiz Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Word: sovereignty



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
lure vs attract | Usage of BEING
Listening exercises
Message
Author
Word: sovereignty #1 (permalink) Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:53 am   Word: sovereignty
 

Hi,

I have some question on the meaning of 'soverignty' here below. It's about California court which upholds gay marriage ban :

Quote:
The court’s decision brought angry gay right supporters into San Francisco streets. Ilona Turner of the National Center for Lesbian Rights criticized the court.

“The court has tarnished its legacy, as the defender of equality.”

But the opponents of gay marriage applauded the decision.

"This is a victory for the people. Uh… the sovereignty of the people is so important in our system of government .”

For Harry Reilly, another opponent of gay marriage, said voters have decided the issue once and for all.

“Whether or not, people like that or not, that’s what the people want.”

Gay activists and their supporters are vowing to continue the fight with another ballot measure that would cancel out Proposition 8 passed by voters last November.

The measure limited marriage in the state to a union between a man and a woman. On Tuesday, the state court rejected the argument that the measure illegally revised the state constitution.

But the justices were unanimous in upholding the thousands of same-sex marriages performed last year. ...

http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-05/2009-05-26-voa44.cfm


I don't understand why the interviewee uses 'sovereignty of the people' here.

I think, maybe because Proposition 8 was passed by "voters" and he pointed it out here. (The court eventually agreed to that measure.) Actually sovereignty of people means people govern and control their country and one of that kind of acts is maybe making the law or measure by voting.

If I were wrong, or have another opinion, please tell me.

Thanks,
sweetpumpkin
Sweetpumpkin
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Posts: 313
Location: S.Korea

Word: sovereignty #2 (permalink) Sat Sep 12, 2009 1:45 am   Word: sovereignty
 

You are right.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's
Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Mister Micawber

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 7445
Location: Yokohama, Japan

English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Here is all you want to know about English! Click to subscribe to free email English courseWhat do you know about the progressive forms?
Word: sovereignty #3 (permalink) Tue Sep 15, 2009 11:10 am   Word: sovereignty
 

Thanks, MM. The interviewee's whole interview may be edited and mean differently from my view. But it's my guess as far as I can. Smile
Sweetpumpkin
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Posts: 313
Location: S.Korea

Word: sovereignty #4 (permalink) Tue Sep 15, 2009 11:37 am   Word: sovereignty
 

Mister Micawber wrote:
You are right.


Quote:
Are you really in Yokohama? What do you do there?

_________________
Love love love love co-co-nuts, I I I I Island.
Fimbriae
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Posts: 150
Location: Ceres

Word: sovereignty #5 (permalink) Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:12 pm   Word: sovereignty
 

You can read about me if you click the links in my signature, Fimbriae.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's
Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Mister Micawber

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 7445
Location: Yokohama, Japan

Display posts from previous:   
lure vs attract | Usage of BEING
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Word: sovereignty All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on English Forums
Meaning of this phrase: the place of grave importanceA recent survey of senior-class presidents in high schools around them nation...What’s coffee and tea taste do you like?Question about no "the"Sentence: I used a marketing strategy called the Joel's method before.We are going to school - what it means?"I was born and I live in New York."different between "in" and "inside""have no experience in this regard"What does "and you" mean?Argh... countable or uncountable...Group word: a pod of dolphins, a school of fishes, a herd of cows, etc.What do we call that person who teaches us in a firm?Past Simple vs Present PerfectPlural problem: The patient returns for his left tibia and fibula fracture.Sentence: The two girls had been close since college and shared the same...Ending a sentence with a prepositionWhich tense should I use? - This is the first time I (play) tennis.Word: sovereignty

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail