POL201: American National Government

NO PLAGIARISM

The U.S. government’s expansive role in public policy is caught in
a swirl of conflicting cross-currents. On the one hand, popular expectations
about government’s responsibility to solve problems often exceed the capacity of
state and local authorities to respond effectively. On the other hand, policies
developed at the national level may not sufficiently reflect the great diversity
of interests across the US to be effective at the local level. Moreover, the
search for effective policy is further complicated by theoretical debates about
the constitutional framework of federalism (e.g., what limits on national power
can be derived from the 10th Amendment?).

Select a policy issue that is
in the middle of these cross-currents between national, state, and local
authority. It must be a policy area other than education (the focus of
Discussion One in Week Two). Some examples include: federal health care policy
(e.g., Obamacare, Medicaid–not Medicare); federal transportation policy (e.g.,
federal transportation subsidies); federal highway policy (e.g., federal rules
about the minimum drinking age, speed limits, or safety); federal urban planning
and renewal policy; federal poverty, welfare and unemployment policies; national
security policies that intersect/conflict with local police power; and federal
disaster planning and relief. These are only examples. The policy area that you
select must have a significant federalism component that requires national,
state, and local interaction. It should also involve issues with a strong
potential for tension or conflict among different levels of government.

Research and write an essay on a specific policy in the area that you
select. (Note: The word “policy” is used interchangeably with the word
“program.”) Your essay must:

1. Clearly identify a specific federal policy (the policy must
   raise issues of federalism because it requires national, state, and local
   interaction and invites tension across different levels of government), and
   summarize the elements of the policy, including the problem it is supposed to
   solve or improve.
2. Summarize the history of the policy. In your summary, explain
   how the policy raises issues of federalism.
3. Analyze the main pros and cons in debates about the policy.
4. Evaluate the pros and cons from two perspectives:
   • The policy’s effectiveness. In your evaluation, clearly explain
     your definition of effectiveness and how it should be measured or
     determined.
   • The policy’s consistency with the constitutional framework of
     federalism. In your evaluation, clearly explain your interpretation of American
     federalism’s constitutional framework and why the federal policy is or is not
     consistent with it.

Follow these
requirements when writing the short essay:

1. The body of the essay (excluding the title page and reference
   page) must be at least 750 words long.
2. The essay must start with a short introductory paragraph which
   includes a clear thesis statement. The thesis statement must tell readers what
   the essay will demonstrate.
3. The essay must end with a short paragraph which includes a
   conclusion. The conclusion and thesis must be consistent.
4. The essay must logically develop the thesis in a way that leads
   to the conclusion, and must be supported by facts, fully explained concepts or
   assertions, and persuasive reasoning.
5. The essay must address all subtopics outlined above. At least
   20% of the essay must focus on subtopic six, listed above (your evaluation of
   the various pros and cons about the policy).
6. Your essay must cite at least one academic article found in the
   Ashford Online Library and at least three other kinds of sources (e.g., Supreme
   Court opinions, magazine or newspaper articles, the course textbook, and
   reliable websites).
7. Use your own words. While brief quotes from sources may be
   used, altogether the total amount of quoted text must be less than five percent
   of the body of your essay.
8. When you use someone else’s words, they must be enclosed in
   quotation marks followed by an APA in-text short citation (author, year, and
   page) to your source. The in-text citation must correspond to a full APA
   citation for the source on the reference page at the end of the essay.
9. When you express someone else’s ideas, arguments, or facts in
   your own words, your statement must be followed by an APA in-text short citation
   (author, year, and page) to your source. The in-text citation must correspond to
   a full APA citation for the source in the reference page.
10. The form of the title page, the body pages, and the reference
    page must comply with APA style. Additionally, the title page must include the
    course number and name, the instructor’s name, and the date submitted.
11. The essay must use logical paragraph and sentence transitions,
    complete and clear sentences, and correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.