Category: Federal Government

I have attached the writing instructions. You have to choose one of the prompts given. The textbook is Dautrick, K., Yalof, D & Bejarano, C. THE ENDURING DEMOCRACY, Seventh Edition, CQ Press. 

*Formal Assessment Guidelines – Texas Policy Paper
Introduction
This activity is an opportunity for you to closely examine a contemporary policy issue facing the state of Texas. Over its history, the Texas government has had many conflicts with the national government as part of the dynamics under a federal system of governance. These disputes have heated up in recent years, and include immigration policy, education policy, environmental policy, social welfare policy and many others issues. Select one of personal interest and objectivelyoutline the nature of the dispute (i.e., this is not an opinion piece or editorial, you are to write dispassionately). This will allow you to work towards finding a solution.
Take into consideration constitutional disputes as well as political, economic and cultural differences. Look at the history underlying the dispute, how it is playing out within the governing institutions, and how you think the issue may be resolved, assuming that is possible.
Completing this activity is a mandatory component of this course. It serves as the standard course assessment for all GOVT 2306 students. Failure to submit this project in its entirety will result in a failing grade for the course. There are three steps to completing this project.
Step 1: Identify the issue and how both the US government and Texas government have been currently addressing it (historical perspective). 
Step 2: Gather a minimum of three scholarly research articles and additional news/current events relevant to the topic.
Step 3: Prepare a formal policy report that is a minimum of 1000 words (excluding cited text), which includes a discussion of the following:
A statement of the current policy
Reasons for initiating changes
Policy options to be considered
Pros and cons of each option
Recommended course of action
Reasoning for selecting that course of action
The grading standards used to assess the quality of your work for this policy paper will be detailed in a grading rubric, which will be provided during the semester.
It is strongly suggested that you use the library database at the start of the semester to begin researching a topic. This assignment requires carefully planning throughout the semester. Refer to the course calendar for the specific due date. The final draft is to be submitted via the submission guidelines identified by the instructor.

Your objective for the assignment is to create a political party which will involve you informing the class about your organization and persuade them to vote for your party. You will understand how a political party/ party platform is created and a political party’s role in the election process. The following information should be included in your presentation:
1. Party Name: Example- Republican Party
2. Party Symbol: – A logo of your party
3. Party Slogan: Example- Libertarian Party: Minimum Government, Maximum Freedom
4. Party Mission Statement: Example- Democrats believe that we’re greater together than we are on our own—that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, when everyone plays by the same rules. Our party is focused on building an economy that lasts—an economy that lifts all Americans.
5. Party Platform: Issues: Where does your party stand? Pick 5-7 of the issues on the next slide to include in your platform. Explain your party’s beliefs in on each of the issues. I gave you some specific points under each issue to get you thinking. You may need to do some research first before commenting on them.
What is your Party’s Platform?
Foreign Policy- ISIS, U.S. involvement in Middle East, global war on terror.
Energy- Natural gas (Fracking), alternate sources of energy.
Health Care- Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare). Should the government provide healthcare to its citizens?
Environment- Should the Federal government be involved in protecting the environment? Should there be penalties for companies who pollute? Setting more land aside to be protected.
Immigration/ Border Security- Amnesty for illegal immigrants, punishment for companies who hire illegal immigrants. Building a wall on America’s border with Mexico.
Taxes- Tax increases or cuts for wealthy/ middle class/ poor, raising income tax %, or going with a flat tax (%) rate.
Gun Control: 2nd Amendment Rights – Stronger or more lenient gun laws.
Equal pay for women- Should companies be forced to pay women the exact same wages for the same job that a man does? Is this a decision for state governments, federal government, or private companies?
Raising the Minimum Wage- Should the current federal minimum wage of 7.25 an hour be raised? To what amount? Is this a decision for state governments, federal government, or private companies?
Education- School vouchers, common core standards- should federal government be involved in public education?
National Security- How will your party’s policies protect the country. Balancing citizens’ individual freedoms with national security.
You will create the project individually using PowerPoint. Please understand that you are creating your own political party. You are not giving me information on parties that already exist. This is your chance to be as creative as possible. 

source page at the end and 750 words. the topics are below  Topics covered in Lessons 1 and 2
The U.S. Constitution creates a federal system of government whereby powers are distributed between a national government and fifty state governments. There are times when the federal government and state governments clash over state laws that may violate federal law or federal mandates. What methods does the federal government use to get states to comply with federal mandates? What are the ways that states can resist federal mandates? Provide a specific policy example (I.e. marijuana, the Affordable Care Act, same-sex marriage, etc.), explain how their differences were resolved (if it is an issue that hasn’t been resolved), and what steps have been taken by each side to advance their position).
The number of people represented by each member of the U.S. House of Representatives has more than tripled since the size of the House was permanently set at 435 members in the early 20th Century. Argue whether or not the House needs to add new representatives. How does the size of the House of Representatives compare to democratically-elected legislatures in other countries?  Explain whether or not expanding the House would lead to better representation for Americans. Is there a limit to the size the House can reach before it cannot operate effectively and efficiently as a legislative body?  Explain your position on this question.
The Founding Fathers wanted the federal courts to be protected from politics. In what ways was the judiciary designed to limit the role of politics? What criteria are examined when the Senate discusses and, ultimately, votes to confirm or reject a presidential nomination? Provide examples. How did the emergence of political parties in the United States affect the role of politics in the federal courts (along this same line of nomination and confirmation of federal judges)? 
Topics covered in Lessons 3 and 4
Select a presidential election where the winner of the popular vote did not win the Electoral College. Explain how many votes (and in which states) were needed to give the Electoral College to the candidate who lost the election. Argue whether or not most states need to continue to use winner take all (WTA), need to switch to a congressional district model (like in Maine and Nebraska), or need to switch to a proportional model of awarding electoral votes (i.e. a candidate wins 40% of the popular vote in the state, so he or she receives 40% of the state’s electoral vote). 
Read “In past elections U.S. trailed most countries in voter turnout.” According to Dautrich et al. (the assigned book for the class), what are some of the causes of low voter turnout in the United States? Discuss at least two ways to increase voter turnout (these ways must be used by some states or other countries or have been proposed by voting rights advocates). How successful have these proposals been at increasing turnout? Argue whether or not these proposals would be able to increase voter turnout. Also, argue for whether or not high voter turnout is important.

Must contain a work cited page and the topics can be any of the following Topics covered in Lessons 1 and 2
The U.S. Constitution creates a federal system of government whereby powers are distributed between a national government and fifty state governments. There are times when the federal government and state governments clash over state laws that may violate federal law or federal mandates. What methods does the federal government use to get states to comply with federal mandates? What are the ways that states can resist federal mandates? Provide a specific policy example (I.e. marijuana, the Affordable Care Act, same-sex marriage, etc.), explain how their differences were resolved (if it is an issue that hasn’t been resolved), and what steps have been taken by each side to advance their position).
The number of people represented by each member of the U.S. House of Representatives has more than tripled since the size of the House was permanently set at 435 members in the early 20th Century. Argue whether or not the House needs to add new representatives. How does the size of the House of Representatives compare to democratically-elected legislatures in other countries?  Explain whether or not expanding the House would lead to better representation for Americans. Is there a limit to the size the House can reach before it cannot operate effectively and efficiently as a legislative body?  Explain your position on this question.
The Founding Fathers wanted the federal courts to be protected from politics. In what ways was the judiciary designed to limit the role of politics? What criteria are examined when the Senate discusses and, ultimately, votes to confirm or reject a presidential nomination? Provide examples. How did the emergence of political parties in the United States affect the role of politics in the federal courts (along this same line of nomination and confirmation of federal judges)? 
Topics covered in Lessons 3 and 4
Select a presidential election where the winner of the popular vote did not win the Electoral College. Explain how many votes (and in which states) were needed to give the Electoral College to the candidate who lost the election. Argue whether or not most states need to continue to use winner take all (WTA), need to switch to a congressional district model (like in Maine and Nebraska), or need to switch to a proportional model of awarding electoral votes (i.e. a candidate wins 40% of the popular vote in the state, so he or she receives 40% of the state’s electoral vote). 
Read “In past elections U.S. trailed most countries in voter turnout.” According to Dautrich et al. (the assigned book for the class), what are some of the causes of low voter turnout in the United States? Discuss at least two ways to increase voter turnout (these ways must be used by some states or other countries or have been proposed by voting rights advocates). How successful have these proposals been at increasing turnout? Argue whether or not these proposals would be able to increase voter turnout. Also, argue for whether or not high voter turnout is important.
Below is a current event topic that can also be used for ONE of the writing assignments.
Current event paper (topic chosen by the student and approved by instructor): The purpose of this assignment is for students to provide their perspective on a domestic or foreign policy issue (for example, trade, cost of prescription drugs, military intervention, economic sanction, etc.). Students will prepare a summary and analysis of a current policy issue in American government. The issue must be reported in a news story during the term of the course (this news story is one of the sources you will use for the paper). A deeper understanding of the issue can be developed by reading additional articles or information on the topic. You must cite your reference (news story), as well as any other sources from which you use information in the writing assignment. The selected topic must be submitted to the instructor to ensure that it is appropriate for your analysis.

the purpose of this assignment is to describe how the social security retirement fund systemworks and craft a reform to ensure its ongoing fiscal soundness. To demonstrate the ability to assemble a well-organized paper that is clear and mechanically sound. To develop communication skills that will help you write persuasively in the future. 
This social security essay will be used as a proposal to improve an exisiting public policy. -Old age survivor and disability insurance (OASDI) or as it is more commonly called Social security, faces an uncertain economic future given its trends in revenue and spending. Your task is to describe the reason why this concern is very prevelant and offer a solution. Your goal is ti propose changes to Old-Age and Survivors insurance (OASI) component of social security where your proposal maintains: social security’s status as social insurance (contributory) program, would be popular enough politically to be accepted, is fiscally (mathematically) sound. Fortunately, researchers have offered many changes to social security to meet elements of the criteria above, so you do not need to create one of your own. 
See additional attatchments for further detailed instructions. 
Regarding format, double spaced 12 point font with 1 inch margins, left aligned and indent the first line of each paragraph one-half inch. Include Banner ID number 900728638 and name in the upper-left hand corner of the first page and indicate the degree AA in the upper right hand corner of the first page. must have no fewer than 3 sources indicated. 

the purpose of this assignment is to describe how the social security retirement fund systemworks and craft a reform to ensure its ongoing fiscal soundness. To demonstrate the ability to assemble a well-organized paper that is clear and mechanically sound. To develop communication skills that will help you write persuasively in the future. 
This social security essay will be used as a proposal to improve an exisiting public policy. -Old age survivor and disability insurance (OASDI) or as it is more commonly called Social security, faces an uncertain economic future given its trends in revenue and spending. Your task is to describe the reason why this concern is very prevelant and offer a solution. Your goal is ti propose changes to Old-Age and Survivors insurance (OASI) component of social security where your proposal maintains: social security’s status as social insurance (contributory) program, would be popular enough politically to be accepted, is fiscally (mathematically) sound. Fortunately, researchers have offered many changes to social security to meet elements of the criteria above, so you do not need to create one of your own. 
See additional attatchments for further detailed instructions. 
Regarding format, double spaced 12 point font with 1 inch margins, left aligned and indent the first line of each paragraph one-half inch. Include Banner ID number 900728638 and name in the upper-left hand corner of the first page and indicate the degree AA in the upper right hand corner of the first page. must have no fewer than 3 sources indicated. 

There is one writing assignment worth 200 points.  The purpose of this essay is to provide students with an opportunity to discuss a key concept or topic in American politics and to show a basic understanding of academic research and reporting skills. Students should offer evidence for their arguments. Thus, a submission that is more comprehensive and detailed will earn a higher point total. The assignment should be a minimum of 750 words. The submission must include a work cited page (Note: there must be a parenthetical citation at the end of each sentence that contains information from a source). The textbook can be one of the sources included on the works cited page (sources other than the textbook may/should be used as well).
You should use Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spacing, and one-inch margins on all four sides of the paper. The assignment is to be formatted according to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style which includes works cited page but does NOT include a title page. Students should research this style in order to properly format the assignment (see the Purdue Online Writing Lab).
All writing assignments will be analyzed using SafeAssign.  Do not cut and paste information from an online source or copy information directly from the chapter without using quotations and citing the information. Do not use generative artificial intelligence programs (such as ChatGPT) to prepare your assignment.  Essays that contain plagiarized material will receive a significant reduction in points or a zero.  Students may receive a failing grade in the course for submitting plagiarized material.
Online assistance for writing assignments is available through the Writing Lab in Blackboard. Select Enroll from the dropdown box by the EnglishTutor link. Also, you may use the library’s Research Paper Review service to get helpful feedback on your work before you submit it.
topic to write on 
Select a presidential election where the winner of the popular vote did not win the Electoral College. Explain how many votes (and in which states) were needed to give the Electoral College to the candidate who lost the election. Argue whether or not most states need to continue to use winner take all (WTA), need to switch to a congressional district model (like in Maine and Nebraska), or need to switch to a proportional model of awarding electoral votes (i.e. a candidate wins 40% of the popular vote in the state, so he or she receives 40% of the state’s electoral vote). 

Questions: 
42. What does the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution require?
60. What is the supremacy clause? Why does the supremacy clause matter? Provide an example.
39. What is the equal time rule, and why is it important?
38. Why is the American system for electing members of Congress often referred to as “winner take all”?
37. What actions prompted the Constitutional Convention?
36. Who are free riders? Provide an example of a free rider.
27. What is due process, and why is it important?
23. Define “expressed power.” Where are these powers spelled out?
17. What did the Nineteenth Amendment do? What was the effect of its passage, and were there still limitations?
16. What are the three foundational values of the American political system? Provide an example of how these foundational values shape political debates and discussion.
6. What are three key differences between the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution?
2. Why was the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges(2015) significant?
4. During the founding era, who were the strongest supporters of adding a bill of rights to the Constitution? Why?

Select one of the following topics to write about:
A More Perfect Union? Have we achieved the Constitution’s goals today? To answer this question, think about the goals expressed in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution:
Form a strong union
Establish equal justice for all
Insure domestic tranquility (that is, peace at home)
Provide for the common defense ( today we might say homeland security)
Promote the general welfare
Secure liberty for ourselves and posterity
With this in mind, and using an A–F (A, B, C, D, & F) grading scale, assign a grade to each area of the preamble. For instance, assign an “A” if you think the U.S. has lived up to its goal of forming a strong union, and so on and so forth. Your effort here must go beyond mere assertion; that is, simply ascribing a grade to each area. You must qualify the rationale behind your evaluation. You accomplish this task with the use of relevant, scholarly data. You should conclude your paper with one recommendation for improvement in your lowest rated area.
This paper should be approximately five pages in length. A total of four scholarly sources should be used to stake your claims. Your paper should be in APA format.
What Happened to Our Constitution: Executive Agreements, Executive Orders, and Signing Statements. A functioning legislative branch is paramount to a healthy democracy. To the degree that our Framers embraced this philosophy can be seen in the expansive list of powers granted Congress by the Constitution. However, in recent years, many have pointed to the erosion of the nation’s legislature. In particular, it has been noted that the presidential use of executive agreements, executive orders, and signing statements have harmed America’s doctrine of separation of powers by circumventing the legislative process itself. To this end:
Select one of the topics to expound upon, either executive agreements, executive orders, or signing statements.
Identify the constitutional basis for such, if any.
Provide an example of this tool at work in American federal government;
Explain the intersection of such use with the doctrine of separation of powers.
Conclude by affirming the strength or weakness of the nation’s legislative process.
This paper should be minimum 1250 words or approximately five pages in length excluding reference and title pages.  A total of four scholarly sources should be used to stake your claims. Your paper should be in APA format