DISCUSSION QUESTION
- Do you think the U.S. government’s system of checks and balances is a detriment to policymaking? Why or why not? Do the current partisan battles suggest that we may need to adjust our policymaking system? What might be done?
- Under what conditions might states be better positioned to take the lead in making policy? Conversely, when should the federal government take the lead? Think about some current issues such as education standards, immigration, and gun control policy. Which level of government may be best positioned to address these issues?
- Has the Trump administration been effective so far in policy development? Discuss some of the major successes and failures and what factors contributed to the successes or failures.
- Is the American public capable of playing a more active role in the policymaking process than it currently does? Or would greater public involvement in policymaking pose risks to the quality of decision making? Why do you think so?
- What role does interest group information play in policymaking? What do you see as the potential positives and negatives of having groups provide this information to policymakers? What might policymakers want to take into account when receiving information and data from interest groups?
- Excessive partisanship, gerrymandered congressional districts, policymakers beholden to special interests, and government stalematetend to dominate the Washington, D.C., news. Might there be ways to reboot the system so that it could work more effectively, efficiently, or ethically?
- Some state legislatures (North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan) have attempted to limit the powers of the governor upon losing party control of the executive branch during the lame- duck period after an election. Is this a legitimate use of policymaking authority? Why or why not? What are the potential concerns or benefits?
