زبان تخصصی

With respect to the legislative branch, the author notes a bill, sponsored by Senator Harris in 1966, to create a National Foundation for Social Sciences.  However, the community of social scientists was divided on the issue.  The bill failed.  Instead, the National Science Foundation undertook to expand its activities to include the social sciences, and, thereby, insure a unified scientific voice in public policy.  In addition, the author notes the Full Opportunity and Social Accounting Act of 1967, sponsored by then Senator Mondale, intended to provide information for policy making in the areas of education, welfare, employment and health, and, as well provided for the creation of a Council of Social Advisors.  While the bill passed the Senate it was never acted on by the House of Representatives.

With respect to the judiciary branch of government, the author notes, with Horowitz, that the judiciary has tended to use social science research as a surrogate for precedent.  The author notes the following example of utilization of social science research by the American courts:  (a) in 1908 Justice Brandeis decided in favor of a maximum 10 hour day for women on the basis of social scientific evidence concerning the consequences of a longer working day;  (b) in 1954 the US Supreme Court in Brown vs. the Board of Education decided, on the basis of  social science evidence, that segregation led to feelings of inferiority which lowered the motivation to learn and led to unequal educational experience;  (c) in 1967 the US Supreme Court in Loving, et al vs. The Commonwealth of Virginia, on the basis of anthropological data, determined that race was a social concept thus laying the groundwork for a judicial decision regarding the constitutionality of the Virginia