Current Events Research Paper/ WEEK 5 AMERICAN GOV. PROJECT
Instructions WEEK 5 POL2076 PROJECT DUE: 8/16/2020
Current Events Research Paper
Draft a paper that critically analyzes a current, domestic or foreign political issue of importance to the United States. Students will (1) identify a current political event to analyze; (2) research and summarize the different approaches to understanding the political issue selected; (3) provide a clear, personal analysis of the issue and an explanation of the core values and assumptions that informs their analysis. The student will be expected to support their discussion with primary texts and pre-approved secondary sources (including, but not limited to the course text, online lectures, and a list of suggested online resources). Your paper should be 68 pages in length and include proper APA citation. Remember, you should utilize information provided from each week of the course to complete your essay.
Submission Details:
Submit your document to the Submissions Area by the due date assigned.
POL2076 WEEK 5 PROJECT RUBRIC ASSESSMENT
Criteria
No Submission
0 points
Emerging (F through D Range) (18-21)
21 points
Satisfactory (C Range) (21-24)
24 points
Proficient (B Range) (24-27)
27 points
Exemplary (A Range) (27-30)
30 points
Criterion Score
Identified a current domestic or political issue of importance to the United States
Student did not submit assignment
Did not meet assignment expectations with no clear topic identified.
Response meets basic assignment expectations with minimal breadth and depth of critical thinking showing lack of understanding.
Response meets expectations as good depth and breadth showing a depth of critical thinking and appropriate response for assignment.
Response meets expectation with all components addressed showing comprehensive critical thinking meeting all requirements of the assignment.
/30
This table lists criteria and criteria group name in the first column. The first row lists level names and includes scores if the rubric uses a numeric scoring method.Criteria
No Submission
0 points
Emerging (F through D Range) (60-69)
69 points
Satisfactory (C Range) (70-79)
79 points
Proficient (B Range) (80-89)
89 points
Exemplary (A Range) (90-100)
100 points
Criterion Score
Explained the different approaches to the political issue selected. Present all sides of issue identified – both arguments for and against showing a clear understanding of the issue chosen.
Student did not submit assignment
Response submitted does not meet assignment expectations showing little or no understanding of topic chosen.
Response meets basic expectations with minimal breadth and depth of critical thinking shown with vague response showing a clear lack of understanding of the varying political approaches to resolving chosen topic issue and reasons for those approaches.
Response meets expectations with good breadth and depth of critical thinking and appropriate response for assignment. Attempted to show an understanding of the varying political approaches to resolving chosen topic issue and reasons for those approaches.
Response meets expectations with a very good breadth and depth of critical thinking and appropriate response for assignment. Discussion shows an in-depth understanding of the varying political approaches to resolving chosen topic issue and reasons for those approaches.
/100
This table lists criteria and criteria group name in the first column. The first row lists level names and includes scores if the rubric uses a numeric scoring method.Criteria
No Submission
0 points
Emerging (F through D Range) (60-69)
69 points
Satisfactory (C Range) (70-79)
79 points
Proficient (B Range) (80-89)
89 points
Exemplary (A Range) (90-100)
100 points
Criterion Score
Provided a clear personal analysis of the issue and an explanation of the core values and assumptions that informs their analysis. Section requires student to provide their personal analysis demonstrating a good understanding of the issue chosen
Student did not submit assignment
Personal analysis does not meet assignment expectations showing little or no depth of understanding. Personal analysis lacking for chosen topic
Personal analysis meets basic assignment expectations showing minimal understanding and minimal personal analysis of chosen topic
Personal analysis meets assignment expectations showing a good understanding and a good personal analysis of chosen topic
Personal analysis exceeds assignment expectations showing a very good understanding and insightful personal analysis of chosen topic
/100
This table lists criteria and criteria group name in the first column. The first row lists level names and includes scores if the rubric uses a numeric scoring method.Criteria
No Submission
0 points
Emerging (F through D Range) (6-7)
7 points
Emerging (F through D Range) (7-8)
8 points
Proficient (B Range) (8-9)
9 points
Exemplary (A Range) (9-10)
10 points
Criterion Score
Used appropriate primary texts and outsider of class academic resources
Student did not submit assignment
No outside of class references or used class textbook.
Attempted outside of class references. References used not acceptable.
Only one acceptable outside of class reference
Used two appropriate outside of class references
/10
This table lists criteria and criteria group name in the first column. The first row lists level names and includes scores if the rubric uses a numeric scoring method.Criteria
No Submission
0 points
Emerging (F through D Range) (6-7)
7 points
Emerging (F through D Range) (7-8)
8 points
Proficient (B Range) (8-9)
9 points
Exemplary (A Range) (9-10)
10 points
Criterion Score
Used correct grammar and spelling. Conformed to APA citations and page length guidelines (6-8 pages)
Student did not submit assignment
Grammar errors in basic writing and spelling. No attempt at APA or page length not met or both.
Some errors noted in basic writing, grammar and spelling. Attempted APA formatting with some errors noted in APA. Page length met.
Good writing, spelling and grammar. APA formatting acceptable. Page length met.
Excellent writing, spelling and grammar. Proficient APA formatting acceptable. Page length met.
/10
Rubric Total ScoreTotal
/250
Overall Score
Overall Score
No Submission0 points minimum
Emerging (F through D Range)173 points minimum
Satisfactory (C Range)198 points minimum
Proficient (B Range)223 points minimum
Exemplary (A Range)250 points minimum POL2076 American Government Week 1 Lecture
Nature of American Democracy
It is essential that we understand the nature of American democracy. American democracy is unique because of its history and the specific social and economic conditions that have shaped its development.
The American Revolution differed fundamentally from comparable movements in Europe. American political leaders did not appeal to a body of privileges that the actions of the monarchy were allegedly violating. Instead they appealed to traditional rights supposedly enjoyed by all British subjects, regardless of status, and to theories of popular sovereignty and natural rights advanced by John Locke and others. When conciliation and compromise with the British government failed, the Declaration of Independence in 1776 gave eloquent expression to these concepts. The lack of a rigid system of estates and hereditary privileges in American society, the fluid boundaries that separated the social strata, and the traditions of local government in the colonies from New England town meetings to the elected legislatures blunted the kinds of conflicts between aristocrats and commoners. These differences help to explain the unique character of the American rebellion, which was simultaneously a war for independence and a political revolution. The theories that supported the rebellion, and the continuing alliance between social strata, made it the most democratic revolution of the 18th century. However, more importantly, it was the first successful rebellion by an overseas colony against its European master.
Our form of democracy is not a true “democracy” in the Greek sense of the word. Unlike the old “New England town meetings,” we are too large and too diverse a nation to allow everyone to have a direct hand in governing. Rather, we are an “indirect” or “representative” democracy. In theory, we all have the right to have a say in our government, but are not necessarily involved, directly or indirectly.
Characteristics of American Democracy
The characteristics of American democracy are: individualism, political equality, popular consent, majority rule with the preservation of minority rights, and personal liberty.
Individualism
American democracy places a tremendous amount of weight on the individual. In actuality, the individual is deemed more important than the state.
Political equality
The definition of political equality has varied considerably over time. The importance of political equality is another reflection of American stress on the importance of the individual. The adage “one person, one vote” implies a sense of political equality for all.
Popular consent
This is the idea that governments must draw their powers from the consent of the governed. Derived from social contract theory, the notion of popular consent was central to the Declaration of Independence and its underlying assumption that governments must derive their powers from the consent of the governed.
Majority rule with the preservation of minority rights
Majority rule implies that only policies supported by most of the population will be made into law. The theory says that the citizens have the right to decide what is best for them. In the United States, the majority does wield the most power; however, in the United States, respect for minority rights are fundamental, best embodied in the Bill of Rights. Even a minority of one may trump majority rule if fundamental rights are involved.
Personal liberty
Personal liberty is perhaps the single most important characteristic of American democracy. The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence best expresses that the role of government is to secure “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for its citizens. Over time personal liberty has changed to the freedom “to” do those things that are important to us, free from government interference.
Democracy or Representative Republic?
Democracyis associated with the ancient Greek City-States in which all citizens met in the public forum to discuss and debate the issues of the day. Every eligible citizen could participate in the discussion and vote in this forum with the majority deciding the outcome. This is known as direct or pure democracy where all eligible voting citizens vote and decide the outcome with majority rule. This form of democracy is associated with the town hall meetings used by the early Pilgrims.
A Republic is a sovereign or government in which power resides in elected individuals representing the citizen body and government leaders exercise power per the rule of law. Another definition is a form of government in which power is explicitly vested in the people, who in turn exercise their power through elected representatives. An easy way to remember is the Pledge of Allegiance to flag and to the Republic for which it stands.
One of the characteristics of American democracy is popular consent which is the power vested in our elected representatives. Today, our population is too large and we elect representatives which speak for us and decide issues on behalf of those they represent making us a representative republic.
Characteristics of American Democracy are what we Americans hold near and dear to our hearts. It is what makes us who and what we are. It colors our beliefs, politics, and actions, both here and abroad. Our American democracy was born out of a desire to allow people to determine their own paths and their own futures. It provided the opportunity for the downtrodden, abused, and misrepresented to have a say in their lives and their government. POL2076 American Government Week2 Lecture Notes
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
What exactly is the difference between civil liberties and civil rights?
Civil liberties are the protection of the individual’s freedoms from infringement by the government. These include things like freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, freedom of religion, and a free press.
Civil Rights are the protection by the government of the individual’s freedoms from infringement by others. These include things like equal treatment in education and the workplace. A good example is the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Why is this distinction important?
The Bill of Rights (the 1st 10 amendments to the Constitution) is an enumerated list of rights, championed by the anti-Federalists, to keep the government from limiting the freedom(s) of US citizens. Although the Constitution cannot be changed other than by amending it, the Bill of Rights is being interpreted and subsequently altered in practice daily.
For example, our freedom of speech is not absolute and, therefore, we cannot say whatever we want whenever we want. Whether it is yelling “fire” in a crowded movie theatre, speaking out against the government during wartime, or using foul language during prime time, our government limits our freedom of speech. It does not matter whether the government’s intent is noble or not; in theory, the Constitution guards against the governments regulation of our daily lives and personal choices.
Watchdog groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and individuals such as Larry Flint of Hustler magazine or Howard Stern, radio shock jock, are constantly battling to keep the government from stepping into limit “freedoms” associated with the Bill of Rights. It does not matter whether we as individuals like the message; the Bill of Rights allows everyone equal access to those freedoms. Just because the Neo-Nazis in Northern Idaho want to march through downtown Spokane, or the local truck stop carries pornography, or the Cincinnati Museum of Art has a show featuring works that express political dissent, we are not required to agree with the message or participate. American political culture is predicated upon the theory that individuals should have the right to choose and that government should not have the power to determine what is appropriate social, political or economic behavior.
We as Americans have a unique democratic system that allows us access to a diverse range of belief systems and social practices. Democracy, in theory, gives each individual the right to make the choices that suit each citizens interest and conception of the good life.
Federalism
Federalism is the separation and distribution of power and decision making between the national and state governments, whereby each entity has the ability to create public policy that directly impacts its citizens. Additionally, both entities have shared powers, such as passing laws and taxation. It is important to consider however, that the idea of federalism is not very neat and tidy.
Our text differentiates between three approaches to building governance structures: (1) a federal system, (2) a confederation, and (3) a unitary system. Each type has its strengths and weaknesses.
In a federal system, the relationship between national and state government has ranged from cooperative to confrontational. The so-called shared responsibilities have created a difficult relationship between the national government and the states. Regulating firearms is an example. As if this is not difficult enough, both entities ultimately gain their power from the consent of the people.
When the federal government provides or withholds funding to states to control policy in an area in which it has no jurisdiction, we call this fiscal federalism or coercive federalism. Fiscal federalism is an example of how the federal government shapes public policy through its control over the allocation of resources. This is consistent with a very common definition of politics, deciding who gets, what, when and how.
This same difficult relationship can be seen in other areas, such as social welfare and education. Our Constitution clearly states that the federal (or national) government has supremacy over the states when policy conflicts. However, this does not mean that the national government has jurisdiction in every area. Fiscal or coercive federalismthe national governments use of money to persuade states to follow a specific policyis a tactic used to direct policies in areas of state control that have national implications.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Before the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, segregation existed in much of America with those of African-American descent having separate facilities for everything from drinking fountains and restrooms, to schools, lunch counters, hotels, entrances, and the like. This thinking also extended into the workplace. Some jobs were not available to some as the stereotype based on ones skin color or gender dictated the jobs available. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The law ended unequal applications of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, the workplace and public accommodations. The idea was put forth by President Kennedy in a speech on Civil Rights on June 11, 1963 and was implemented in federal government contracts. Legislation to correct these inequities was introduced and signed into law on July 2, 1964. This legislation guaranteed all citizens equal protection of the law under the 14th Amendment and protected voting rights under the 15th Amendment. This legislation codified the vision of the founding fathers where all American citizens were equal under the law and entitled to civil rights backed by the full authority and force of the Federal Government. While the initial powers to enforce this legislation were weak, over time these powers have been supplemented and increased to the point where this legislation is the significant force in protecting our civil rights today with its protective umbrella expanding to other forms of discrimination as society continues to evolve. 2
POL2076 American Government Week 3 Lecture
Plethora of Political Influences
As with all things in life, we as political individuals are a sum of our parts. In other words, our political selves are influenced by a number of factors. These factors, in turn, define how we behave politically. This is called “political socialization.” Through the process of political socialization, we develop our attitudes towards government, resolving conflict, the acquisition and distribution of wealth, our perception of leadership, power, etc. Family, education, religion, peers, friends, age, gender, and the media are important influences on the political socialization process.
Try to recall your earliest memory of the President of the United States. What did you think of him? Of the Republican or Democratic party? It is likely that what your parents thought about the president and his party shaped your earliest feelings and attitudes. Similar processes also influenced your early attitudes about the American flag or the role of the police. Socialization occurs on many different levels.
However, to be politically socialized at an early age does not mean that we don’t change or evolve politically. If you question your parents and grandparents on their political affiliation and participation, you will find that as you get older, other influences outside of the family begin to impact and shape your perception of political reality.
Traditionally, if you were a Republican, it was because your parents were Republican, and their parents were Republican, and so on. However, because of technological advancements like cable television, the cell phone and the internet, our homes and local communities have opened to social, economic and political influences beyond our immediate environment. Other factors have gained greater influence over us. This has weakened the traditional role of institutions like the family and religious institutions in the political socialization process.
Identifying Your Political Self
Before we can truly talk about our political opinions, it is important to identify our political selves. Your text analyzes the factors that influence our political socialization: family, education, religion, peers, friends, age, gender, and the media.
We, in turn, can look at how these influences shape our political beliefs and party affiliation. For example, we can look at issues that have traditionally differentiated the Democrats from the Republicans to see where we fall as individuals along thepolitical spectrum. But remember that although the US is considered atwo-party systemthere are many other political parties and perspectives other than the Democrats and Republicans. With a two-party system, however, there are two primary players.
Republicans havetraditionallyfavored:
Strong defense spending
Prayer in public schools
Abolishing abortion
Minimal government involvement
Business – employers rather than employees
Death penalty
Democrats havetraditionallyfavored:
Strong domestic/welfare spending
Strong separation of church and state
Pro-choice
Stronger government involvement
Unions – employees rather than employers
Anti-death penalty
Regardless of where you locate yourself on the political spectrum the fact remains that in this day and age people often cross party lines. This means that if we use the political values we have discussed to locate ourselves along the political spectrum, we would most likely find that we hold ideas from each party, thereby moving most of us more towards the moderate center.
Historically, Democrats and Republicans voted along strict party lines; people always voted for their party’s candidate and adhered to the party’s position on issues. Because of the changes that America has experienced throughout the 20th century, the average person does not follow such strict patterns anymore. This has made the campaigning process very difficult, as many of us are nowissue-orientedvoters rather thanstrict party-linevoters.
Polling
We hear much today regarding political polling as part of our current political process. Polls are used to predict election outcomes or determine perspectives on a current political issue. Done correctly, polling is an accurate social science with a high degree of accuracy. Polling requiresfollowing strict rules regarding sample size, random selection of participants and margins of error. At best, polling is only a snapshotof a moment in time. Moods shift and opinions change as more information becomes available. For polling to accurately work, a representative sample based on many factors which represents the larger population must be identified. A representative random sample of the identified population must be taken and is usually done by telephone. Sample size determines the margin of error with a larger sample size having a smaller margin of error. Polling questions and the set of response choices can bias poll outcomes if they are not neutrally presented in an unbiased manner. Demographic weighting emphasis and lack of access to all in a random sample can impact outcomes. Therefore, one must look at the internals of a poll to see if it was scientifically conducted to determine the credibility of a poll. Besides trying to accurately gauge public sentiment on a political issue, polling can be used to achieve a pre-determined outcome as part of the political process to show support for a political position. Polls are also conducted to achieve a desired outcome to form the basis for a media news story. As one can see, polling has a variety of uses and thus one should do research to determine the purpose of the poll before accepting the polling results. Regardless of its purpose, polling remains an integral part of the political process. Page | 2
POL2076 AMERICAN GOV. Wk. 4 LECTURE
The Electoral Process
Few areas in American politics seem to be in such need of change and reform as campaigns, voting, and elections. Polls show that many Americans are dissatisfied with the length of campaigns, vicious campaign strategies, poor caliber candidates, and the overpowering influence of campaign contributions on the electoral system. In the 2000 presidential election, there was also dissatisfaction with the apparent inadequacy of the Electoral College. Few serious reforms result because the reforms might affect the people in office. Once the campaign fury subsides, most citizens want to get on with their lives and allow elected officials to take office and govern society.
The cost of waging a national or statewide campaign continues to rise due to the need to obtain media coverage, to use new technology, and to hire many campaign professionals. The issue of how campaigns are to be financed in the future, while still preserving freedom of speech and press for all, including the candidates, is one that will continue to demand the attention of American voters and politicians.
The Internet undoubtedly will play an even greater role in campaigns of the future, forcing society to deal issues as transparency, truthfulness of the content of Web publications and the security of one’s own interactions with the Internet. The success of mail-in balloting in Oregon suggests American political system may embrace new forms of voting such as mail-in voting, telephone balloting, or Internet voting more in keeping with the emerging society and technology of today.
Perhaps the most important issue for the future of our political system is the increasing cynicism and apathy of the American electorate. As voter participation falls and cynicism rises, the nation will need to address the issues that have sapped the public’s confidence in both the government and the electoral system
Additional Materials
People and Politics Interest Groups
The role of interest groups in America has been in question since the writing of the Constitution. James Madison, among many others, worried about how to control the “mischiefs of faction,” while recognizing that the very business of a democracy is to resolve the conflicts among different interests. Today the power of interest groups is probably greater than ever before. PACs sponsored by interest groups are able to raise and spend huge amounts of money to support candidates and parties; groups use modern technology, and increasingly the Internet, to rally and inform their membership; and Congress seems unable to get beyond the adjudication of interests to write policy for the good of all.
In the future, Americans will need to consider whether to limit the role that interest groups can play in campaigns and elections, either by reducing the financial support that these groups can give or by eliminating their influence altogether through public financing strategies. The goal of such an approach is to expand the power of all taxpayers, and not just special interest groups, to impact the electoral process. It is unlikely that there will be any attempt to severely limit the contact that interest groups have with political decision-makers, since the First Amendment protects their right to access. Lobbyists could, however, be required to report every contact publicly; interest groups could be required to make public the amount that they spend on attempts to influence government; and the use of media by special interest groups could be regulated.
The existence of interest groups, nonetheless, has great advantages for a democracy. By participating in such groups, individual citizens are empowered to influence government in ways far beyond the ballot. Groups do increase the interest and participation of voters in the electoral system. In addition, these groups can protect the rights of minority interests through their access to all branches and levels of government. No doubt, numerous groupsparticularly among segments of society that have largely been left out of the political processwill take advantage of the internet to promote their interests at a lower cost. In any case, political participation in a pluralistic society, with its emphasis on group struggle and representation, will more than likely expand the number, role and function of interest groups within the political process.
Electoral College
The founding fathers established the Electoral College in the Constitution as a compromise between those who advocated for election of the President by the Congress and those who advocated for election of the President by the people. From the Connecticut Compromise of 1787, each State has two Senators and members of the House of Representatives based on population. The Presidential election is held every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November per the Constitution with the popular vote outcome determining how the Electoral votes will be cast for each State and Washington D.C. The total number of Senators and Representatives of each State determine its number of electoral votes. Currently there are 538 electoral votes available with 535 from the States and 3 from Washington, D.C. because of the 23rd Amendment. To win the Electoral College, it takes a minimum of 270 votes.Thus, 50 separate State elections and Washington, D.C. occur with a winner-take-all approach with the exceptions of Nebraska and Maine who have a modified popular vote concept. The winning party based on the popular vote outcome selects a slate of electors who meet on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December to officially cast the States Electoral Votes per State law which requires the vote to mirror the popular vote outcome. The election process is completed when Congress meets in joint session on January 6th in the year following the election in November in which the results are canvassed. The Electoral votes are tallied and the President of the Senate (current sitting Vice-President) declares the winner. The President-Elect takes office on January 20th following the year in which the election was held. POL2076 AMERICAN GOVERNMENT WEEK 5 LECTURE
Branches of the Government
The Constitution of the United States explicitly lays out the responsibilities and requirements of both houses of the Congress, the Presidency, and, to a lesser degree, the Supreme Court and the judicial branch. However, many people feel that there is an informal, unofficial fourth branch of government providing external influences on the policies and goals of our political system.
Some feel that the fourth branch is the media. Media representation of American society and politics strongly influences public opinion, as well as influencing policy makers by representing (or misrepresenting) the actual desires of the American public. The power of the press dictates what we, the American public, hear and often provides a spin on issues that in turn influences policy makers. The media can favor or criticize a candidate or official. Through the use of sound bites in the news, complex policy issues can be grossly oversimplified or under explained.
Others feel that interest groups are the fourth branch of government. Interest groups and their financial arms exert power by providing information, policy analyses and money. Their access to our governing officials is above and beyond that allowed to the average citizen, not to mention their financial contributions to political candidates and campaigns.
On the positive side, however, the power of the many represented by interest groups can influence any issue at any time.
Still, there are others that feel that the federal bureaucracy is the fourth branch of government. The saying goes “Presidents may come and go, but the bureaucracy goes on and on and on.” The permanency of the bureaucracy adds stability to government. At the same time, however, it is insulated from the rigors of the election process. Any changes or reforms of the bureaucracy must come from either the legislative or executive branch and may only be effective as long as that administration is in power. However, bureaucracies are not necessarily the evil, inefficient entities that we imagine them to be. They provide structure and continuity to our political system. They, rather than the three branches themselves, affect our lives every day at every level. From the mattresses we sleep on, to the food we eat, to our ac
