What are the problems that the policy is supposed to fix? What are the solutions that fix those problems? When did the policy go into effect? Are there data available before the policy was implemented and afterwards?

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Policy Solutions Paper Guidelines

The purpose of this paper is to identify how a policy is meant to solve a problem. Write as if you are explaining to measure and evaluate the policy. You will need to use a policy that is already in effect, preferably by a government agency.

  • What are the problems that the policy is supposed to fix? What are the solutions that fix those problems?
  • When did the policy go into effect? Are there data available before the policy was implemented and afterwards?
  • Who or what was the target for this policy ie who or what was this policy supposed to impact?
  • Who is affected by this policy? Have those that are affected by the policy articulated their feelings about it?
  • Is there a public discourse about the policy? If so, what is said? Are there supporters and opponents of the policy? Is their information correct?
  • Analyze the policy by discussing the outcomes of the policy. Does the policy do everything that it intended? Does the policy solve the problem?
  • Is it possible that the policy created new problems (policy paradox)?
  • Evaluate the policy by discussing cost-benefit analysis. What is the total cost of the policy? Are the benefits worth it?

-Include relevant information, but limit your scope of information. You have to continually ask yourself, is this a NEED to know piece of information, or just interesting to know.

-For research look in newspapers, legislator websites, government documents, policy journals, and official documents for organizations (Interest groups)

-Formal information: This paper will be 5-7 pages long, double spaced in 12pt Times New Roman font with one-inch margins.

Read lecture slides and seminar article for that week. Choose a question from the end of lecture slides.

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Weekly assignments.

Read lecture slides and seminar article for that week. Choose a question from the end of lecture slides. See instruction doc for more details.

Describe the background of your case: the plaintiffs, the story, and how the case got to the Supreme Court. State the main questions of the law the case involves and describe what arguments the different sides present.

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Kennedy v. Bremerton School District

For this paper you will be select a recently decided Supreme Court case relevant to major questions in America politics from the list of cases provided below.
The goal of the paper is twofold. First, the cases present a chance to study important real-world issues in American politics beyond our coverage in class of congressional and presidential politics. Second, this paper allows you to connect the issues of your case to what we have learned in class. You should discuss relevant information about civil rights, civil liberties, and theories of judicial decision-making from class and your readings. Specifically, your paper should include the following:

 Describe the background of your case: the plaintiffs, the story, and how the case got to the Supreme Court.
 State the main questions of the law the case involves and describe what arguments the different sides present.
 Identify the major legal precedent(s) of the case.
 If the case has been decided: Explain the ruling, including a description of the written opinion and dissent. If the case has not been decided: explain the predictions based on oral arguments.
 Assess the implications of this decision for broader questions of civil rights or civil liberties
 Describe how the issues of this case have factored into electoral politics—campaigns and elections. Discuss how the two parties used issues pertaining to this case (if they did) in their campaigns in 2020.
 Illustrate public opinion on this issue using recent polls.

Do you agree with this assessment? Are we uninformed? Do we wait till a crisis happens to voice our opinions?

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CASE STUDY

The framers of the Constitution were concerned that everyday citizens would not be able to understand or comprehend the makings of our government. They felt that everyday citizens were uninformed and did not care what was going on in our government. Even today we see where citizens are interested in government affairs seemingly only if our country is in turmoil such as unemployment, recessions, civil unrest, etc. Do you agree with this assessment? Are we uninformed? Do we wait till a crisis happens to voice our opinions?

Rawls and Bentham explain their basis of decision making in justifying their decision. Explain the basis of your decision. Justify your decision. What will this mean in future decisions that you make as a legislator? What are the pros and cons of your decision making process?

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Signature Writing Assignment 1

You are a Texas Senator on a three person Senate Committee on Education.  The committee has been given an extra $2 million by the Comptroller of Public Accounts who shows that there has been a significant increase in tax revenue in the state.  The money will go toward college scholarships in public universities.  The committee’s job is to decide on proper allocation of the funds and make a recommendation to the full Senate.

Senator Rawls represents an economically challenged portion of urban Dallas.  Senator Rawls grew up in this neighborhood and expresses that poor people are the individuals most in need, and that all extra resources should go to those most in need.  Senator Rawls recommends that all scholarships be need based.  Senator Bentham represents and was raised in an upper middle class portion of Houston.  Senator Bentham says the money should go to the students who are excellent high school students who want to major in STEM fields.  Senator Bentham says the investment will produce and overall healthier society and that ability to succeed in college in an important field is more import than being in personal need because the investment is more likely to produce more overall good in things like medical procedures, drugs, and infrastructure.

You are the third and deciding vote.  In 300-400 words, explain the following in the order outlined by the numbers below:

  1. What is your decision on how to distribute the money?
  2. Rawls (give to those most in need) and Bentham (give to those who will give the most back) explain their basis of decision making in justifying their decision. Explain the basis of your decision.  Justify your decision.  What will this mean in future decisions that you make as a legislator?  What are the pros and cons of your decision making process?
  3. What about general experiences in your life caused you to have the core beliefs to make your decision?

Finds 3 outside resources, either academic op-eds or journal articles, supporting your viewpoint. When citing these sources, please include a bibliography in the Chicago style. Be sure to convey who your source is, and why they are a relevant expertise? This assignment will be due 3/28 at midnight.

What have you learned from the film All the President’s Men? Why is it important to understand the Watergate scandal?

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Political Science Question

Choose one of the following questions.

(1) What have you learned from the film All the President’s Men? Why is it important to understand the Watergate scandal?

(2) All the President’s Men follows the story of two Washington Post journalists who worked to uncover the Watergate scandal. Discuss the role of the media or journalism in American politics.

You can look it up inline if you never watched before also here is some more sources about watergate scandal.

In 2,000-2,500 words describe the histories of race included in the work of Deloria, Du Bois, Vasconcelos, and Trevino and indicate (at length) which of these conceptions of the history of race has the best explanatory power. In other words, which one are you most convinced by?

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Du Bois Tactics

So far in class we have largely discussed the historical making of race and racial differences in the United States. In 2,000-2,500 words describe the histories of race included in the work of Deloria, Du Bois, Vasconcelos, and Trevino and indicate (at length) which of these conceptions of the history of race has the best explanatory power. In other words, which one are you most convinced by? Make sure to indicate the important conceptual and historical ideas each author is proposing or arguing against. You may use other texts we have read in class as supporting documents. These include Dunbar-Ortiz, Roediger, and any of the movies we have watched so far.

Are block grants feasible instruments for reforming federal grants-in-aid through consolidation, deregulation, and devolution? What criteria should be used?

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Public Administration Questions

The State Education Department of Jay (an imaginary 51st state) requires any person who wishes to teach in its public schools to have earned an M.E. degree (Master of Education) from a classroom-based program, pursuant to a regulation it adopted last year, which superseded its previous practice of individual reviews leading to approval for some teachers whose degrees were awarded by online programs. The Jay State Legislature enacted a statute requiring any licensing decision to be treated as a contested case, as well as the 2010 MSAPA. Article 4 of MSAPA requires agencies to provide evidentiary hearings to persons wishing to challenge their decisions in contested cases. Arthur took all his required coursework in person at Hamilton State Teachers College. His mother’s serious illness required him to move back to Jay State suddenly and he used up all his savings, so he was unable to pay required fees by the Teachers College deadline, and lost the opportunity to obtain his degree. However, Jay State’s Extension College, which is primarily an online program allowed him, for a nominal fee, to transfer his credits there and thus to earn an M.E. degree from them on that basis. Does Arthur have a right to a hearing to challenge the Jay Education Department’s decision to deny him teaching certification as its rule precluded certification based on an online program? Why or why not? Would the result be any different had the federal APA applied? Why or why not? (minimum 500 words)

Question/Text Reference: Administrative Law: The Sources and Limits of Government Agency Power, Feldman, Daniel L., Sage Publishing (2016)

Chapter 15 discusses federal grants-in-aid to state governments. Discuss what they are and provide examples. Also, answer the following questions:
* Are block grants feasible instruments for reforming federal grants-in-aid through consolidation, deregulation, and devolution?
* What criteria should be used?
* What does the record show about the trade-off of fewer federal dollars for greater recipient flexibility and discretion?

(minimum 500 words)

What are some of the key environmental justice issues surrounding food, agriculture, oceans and aquaculture? Who are the main groups impacted and why?

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Political Science question

  • What are some of the key environmental justice issues surrounding food, agriculture, oceans and aquaculture?
  • Who are the main groups impacted and why?
  • Is it possible to move in a more positive direction regarding these concerns and how?

Make some decisions about an ideal political system based on what we’ve already studied and some independent research.

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POLS101 I002 Winter 2023

This is the foundation of your final presentation. The purpose is to begin forming and researching ideas, so the final presentation isn’t a rush job in four weeks. To review how to construct an outline in Chicago/Turabian format, visit this link. https://www.bibliography.com/chicago/preparing-a-chicago-author-date-essay-outline/

You will need a title, and then you’ll need to make some decisions about an ideal political system based on what we’ve already studied and some independent research. Here are some of the decisions you’ll need to make:

I. What is the foundational ideology?

  • A. Why?
  • B. What is an advantage of this ideology?
  • C. What is a disadvantage of it?

II. What is the form of government?

  • A. Why?
  • B. What is an advantage of this system?
  • C. What is a disadvantage of it?

III. Political participation

  • A. Party system?
  • B. Civil rights?
  • C. Interest group influence?

Your completed outline will be more detailed, but consider these three main pillars of the presentation to get started on your research. Don’t overthink it, either. You can change your mind and reasoning for the final presentation later in the course. In fact, after learning and researching more, it would be surprising if nobody did have some second thoughts on the initial ideas in the outline. The Topic and Outline rubric has more details on expectations and scoring.