Select ONE of the following topics to discuss in Writing Assignment 1. The writing assignment should be a minimum of 750 words. You should use information from the textbook and outside sources to complete the assignment in the textbook. You must include a Works Cited page and in-text citations. See the Writing Assignment Instructions for more information.
Writing Assignment 1 — 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? Find an example of a policy conflict (such as marijuana legalization, the Affordable Care Act, voting rights, civil rights, immigration, same-sex marriage, etc.) between a state (or states) and the federal government. What were the arguments made by the federal government and states about the issue? How were their differences resolved (if it is an issue that hasn’t been resolved, what steps have been taken by each side to advance their position)?
Descriptive representation is a way of thinking about representation in which it is thought to be important that representatives have the same racial, gender, ethnic, religious, or educational backgrounds as their constituents. Review how Congress has changed over time with respect to race, gender, veteran status, education, and religion in the Pew Research articles “The changing face of Congress in 7 charts” and “Racial and ethnic diversity increases yet again with the 117th Congress.” Discuss the different trends in Congress and what you think it means for the representation of citizens in the House and Senate? Does it matter if members of Congress look like most Americans? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of stronger descriptive representation in Congress?
Watch a conversation with Jeffrey Rosen (the Director of the National Constitution Center) and read the essay by William Marshall (on the Interactive Constitution website) about the expansion of presidential power. Identify and discuss the five reasons for the expansion of presidential power? The video and essay were published towards the end of the Obama Administration. Discuss each reason with respect to the Trump Administration and the Biden Administration. Have these two presidents continued the expansion of presidential power? [Be sure to provide examples.] Do you think modern presidents are becoming too powerful or do you think the expansion of power has been necessary? Make sure to explain your reasoning.
The Founding Fathers wanted the courts to be protected from politics. In what ways was the judiciary designed to limit the role of politics? Are the courts completely immune from politics in their work? Why or why not? What role does politics play in Supreme Court confirmation proceedings? Should there be term limits for federal judges, including Supreme Court justices? Why or why not?
Select ONE of the following topics to discuss in Writing Assignment 1. The writing assignment should be a minimum of 750 words. You should use information from the textbook and outside sources to complete the assignment in the textbook. You must include a Works Cited page and in-text citations. See the Writing Assignment Instructions for more information.
Writing Assignment 1 — 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? Find an example of a policy conflict (such as marijuana legalization, the Affordable Care Act, voting rights, civil rights, immigration, same-sex marriage, etc.) between a state (or states) and the federal government. What were the arguments made by the federal government and states about the issue? How were their differences resolved (if it is an issue that hasn’t been resolved, what steps have been taken by each side to advance their position)?
Descriptive representation is a way of thinking about representation in which it is thought to be important that representatives have the same racial, gender, ethnic, religious, or educational backgrounds as their constituents. Review how Congress has changed over time with respect to race, gender, veteran status, education, and religion in the Pew Research articles “The changing face of Congress in 7 charts” and “Racial and ethnic diversity increases yet again with the 117th Congress.” Discuss the different trends in Congress and what you think it means for the representation of citizens in the House and Senate? Does it matter if members of Congress look like most Americans? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of stronger descriptive representation in Congress?
Watch a conversation with Jeffrey Rosen (the Director of the National Constitution Center) and read the essay by William Marshall (on the Interactive Constitution website) about the expansion of presidential power. Identify and discuss the five reasons for the expansion of presidential power? The video and essay were published towards the end of the Obama Administration. Discuss each reason with respect to the Trump Administration and the Biden Administration. Have these two presidents continued the expansion of presidential power? [Be sure to provide examples.] Do you think modern presidents are becoming too powerful or do you think the expansion of power has been necessary? Make sure to explain your reasoning.
The Founding Fathers wanted the courts to be protected from politics. In what ways was the judiciary designed to limit the role of politics? Are the courts completely immune from politics in their work? Why or why not? What role does politics play in Supreme Court confirmation proceedings? Should there be term limits for federal judges, including Supreme Court justices? Why or why not?