Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 1 P24 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 218 ALDERMAN OR ALDERWOMAN . I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY THAT SOME PERSON BE HERE TO DEFEND Zenger. James Alexander Controversy continues to surround the ATF. Some critics say that its agents are not sufficiently trained to carry out the types of operations its administrators seem to favor. Others contend that it lacks a coherent mission and that many of its duties such as enforcement of alcohol regulations are better suited to other agencies. The move toward a complete split between the agencies was expected to take some time. Information on the ATF is available online at . FURTHER READINGS Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives Web site. History of ATF from Oxford Univ. Press Inc. 1789-1998 . Available online at http . gov about website home page http accessed December 9 2009 . Reavis Dick J. 1998. The Ashes of Waco An Investigation. New York Syracuse Univ. Press. . Government Printing Office Web site. Available online at http accessed July 4 2009 . CROSS REFERENCES Alcohol Branch Davidian Raid Explosives Gun Control Weapons. ALDERMAN OR ALDERWOMAN A public officer of a town or city council or a local legislative body who is elected to the position by the persons he or she represents. ALEATORY CONTRACT A mutual agreement between two parties in which the performance of the contractual obligations of one or both parties depends upon a fortuitous event. The most common type of aleatory contract is an insurance policy in which an insured pays a premium in exchange for an insurance company s promise to pay damages up to the face amount of the policy in the event that one s house is destroyed by fire. The insurance company must perform its obligation only after the fortuitous event the fire occurs. V ALEXANDER JAMES James Alexander born in 1691 in Scotland was an eminent lawyer who became famous for his support of FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. In 1715 Alexander immigrated to America and began a
