3. A close examination of the Article II of
the Constitution (Executive Branch) suggests that the founding fathers, leery
of tyrannical monarchs, deliberately made vague the powers and responsibility
of the president. Yet the institution of the presidency has grown, over time.
This expansion of presidential power and the growth of the federal
bureaucracies, through executive interpretation of
...[Show More]
3. A close examination of the Article II of
the Constitution (Executive Branch) suggests that the founding fathers, leery
of tyrannical monarchs, deliberately made vague the powers and responsibility
of the president. Yet the institution of the presidency has grown, over time.
This expansion of presidential power and the growth of the federal
bureaucracies, through executive interpretation of Article II of the Constitution, is a dominant feature of the modern
presidency.
Directions:
Using the accredited sources listed below please provide two, specific,
historical examples that demonstrate the 'growth' in presidential power during
the 20th and 21st centuries.
List of Academic Resources:
Although
you may additional academic articles obtained from the Library - here are
some notable academic articles:
Tushnet, M. (2015). The Presidential Empire.
Dissent (00123846), 62(2), 101.
Savage C. Takeover: Return of the Imperial
Presidency [article]. Washburn Law Journal [serial online]. 2008;(2):299.
Available from: HeinOnline, Ipswich, MA. Accessed April 13, 2015.
Carey, G. W. (2007). The Problem of the
Imperial Presidency. Modern Age, 49(4), 443-451.
Rudalevige, A. (2006). The New Imperial
Presidency : Renewing Presidential Power After Watergate. Ann Arbor: University
of Michigan Press.
Boyer, P. (2010). The Imbalance of Power: How
the Manhattan Project gave birth to the imperial presidency. American Scholar,
79(2), 105-108.
Although
slightly edited for format: these ‘responses' were crafted by undergraduate
students: Discussion Board Example
4. The United States Congress is divided into
two parts (bicameral): the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
Whereas the U.S. Senate is comprised of two senators per state, the House of
Representatives divides 435 representatives among each state, according to U.S.
Census data. By constitutional law each state has at least one congressional
representative. That said, many populous states have over twenty congressional
representatives. California has over fifty congressional representatives!
A
congressional representative serves two year terms. A representative proposes
bills, amendments, and resolutions, and serves on a myriad of congressional
committees. Yet, in contrast to a U.S. senator, your congressional
representative serves a distinct, geographical area – his or her congressional
district. Thus, they are charged with representing the political will of the
citizens in their district.
Using
the House of Representatives official website (www.house.gov) investigate your district’s member of
Congress. If you do not know your congressional representative, enter in your
zip code to locate your congressional district and representative. Then, access
your congressional representative’s individual website. Examine your
congressional representative's legislative policies (proposed bills and voting
record) and constituent services (how the office of your representative helps
the citizens in their district).
Directions:
Write a letter to your congressional representative regarding a specific piece
of legislative policy or constituent service. Articulate, in detail, how a
specific piece of legislation or constituent service aligns with your
individual, political views. Post your completed letter as your main
post.
Although
slightly edited for format: these ‘responses' were crafted by undergraduate
students: Discussion Board Example
5.
In 1803 The Supreme Court heard the case,
Marbury v. Madison. Chief Justice John Marshall, writing on behalf of a
unanimous court, stated “it is emphatically the province and duty of the
judicial department to say what the law is.” (Marbury v. Madison, 1803) In
other words, the Supreme Court has the power to interpret law - be it
congressional legislation or executive action. The Supreme Court’s power of
judicial review is a salient component of this country’s ‘checks and balance’
system. Here is a full account of Marbury v. Madison.
Through the policy of judicial
review The Supreme Court has influenced political, economic, and social law
within the United States.
Directions: Please select two
Supreme Court cases that have influenced American society. For each case:
·
Identify the historical circumstances of the
case
·
Explain the Supreme Court’s decision
·
Evaluate the resulting impact of the case on
U.S. society and you
Although you may pick two
Supreme Court cases relevant to this discussion - here are some notable Supreme
Court cases:
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Gibbon v. Ogden (1824)
Dred Scott v. Standford (1857)
Plessy v. Ferguson ( 1896)
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Korematus v. United States
(1944)
Brown v. Board of Education
(1954)
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Roe v. Wade (1973)
United States v. Nixon (1974)
Regents of University of
California v. Bakke (1978)
Bush v. Gore (2000)
Citizens United v. Federal
Election Commission (2010)
United States v. Windsor (2013)
King v. Burwell (2015)
6. Since ratification of the U.S. Constitution
many groups of people have struggle to achieve equality under the law. Even
after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights many
people received little to no rights. In particular, women could not vote,
Native Americans had limited protections, and almost all African Americans
suffered the yoke of slavery.
It
took sixty years after the passage of the U.S. Constitution for this country to
address the societal notion of equality. As per the Fourteenth Amendment,
ratified in 1868, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge
the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any
state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of
law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the
laws.” The Fourteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty sixth Constitutional Amendments,
coupled with legislation passed during the 1960s Civil Rights era greatly
enhanced minority rights. In addition, Supreme Court cases such as Dred Scott, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, Craig v. Boren, Regents of the University of
California v. Bakke, and Romer v. Evans have
narrowed or expanded equality.
Directions:
Select a group of people that you believe to have struggled or are still
struggling for full legal equality under the law.
·
Identify the historical or current
circumstances of this struggle for legal equality.
·
Identify specific actions taken by this
group; and or specific actions taken by the executive, legislative, or judicial
branch to address this inequality.
·
Evaluate the effectiveness of said
actions.
7.
Political Advertisements
One
would have to have hidden under a rather large rock so not to be inundated with
political messages from your television, radio, and Internet during the last
presidential election! Increasingly, candidates at all levels of the political
spectrum use media to craft their message to potential voters. The importance
of media in the political realm cannot be underestimated.
In
today's 'Information Age' the American public have unparalleled access to
political information. Thirty years ago many Americans read their daily
newspaper, listened to their local radio stations, and watched the national
news with Walter Cronkite. Today, thanks to the Internet, the 24-7 cable news
station, and the proliferation of radio stations, Americans have a more varied
access to mass media. The diffusion of mass media allows Americans of a
particular, political bent, access to their niche, political media.
Directions:
Select one political advertisement from a recent, congressional or presidential
election.
·
Provide a brief summary of the political
advertisement.
o What
type of media is the advertisement?
o How
was this advertisement disseminated?
o What
was the message?
·
If possible:
o How
expensive was this advertisement campaign?
o Who
paid for these advertisements?
·
Analyze the content and purpose of the
advertisement.
o What
is the target audience/demographic?
o What
is the argument?
o Was
the advertisement effective or ineffective?
o Overall,
does this advertisement help or hinder the political process?
·
Provide a link for the advertisement.
8.
Campaign Financing
According to federal finance
laws, individual contributions to federal candidates are capped at
predetermined amounts.
An example: you can contribute
$2,700 to a Congressional candidate for each primary, runoff, and general
election. (www.fec.gov) In contrast, an individual
(you) can contribute unlimited amounts of funds towards a Political Action
Committee (PAC). According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), “The term
"political action committee" (PAC) refers to two distinct types of
political committees registered with the FEC: separate segregated funds (SSFs)
and non-connected committees. Basically, SSFs are political committees
established and administered by corporations, labor unions, membership
organizations or trade associations. These committees can only solicit
contributions from individuals associated with connected or sponsoring
organization. By contrast, non-connected committees, as their name suggests,
are not sponsored by or connected to any of the aforementioned entities and are
free to solicit contributions from the general public.” (FEC, 2015)
Directions: Using at least one
specific example, address the influence of political action committees on
campaigns and elections.
·
Provide a brief summary of the political action
committee.
·
Analyze the purpose of this political action
committee.
·
Analyze the finances of this political action
committee.
·
Overall, do political action committees help
or hinder our democracy?
·
Defend your answer with specific rationales.
Reference
Federal Election Commission.
Quick Answers to PAC Questions. Retrieved from
http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_pac.shtml
9.
Modern, U.S. Foreign Policy Doctrines
Since the 1900s most U.S.
presidents have explained their foreign policy goals and interests through the
use of a presidential, foreign policy doctrine. From Washington's Proclamation
of Neutrality to the Bush doctrine of military preemption, presidents have
introduced foreign policy doctrines to best serve U.S. interests abroad.
Many foreign policy doctrines
such as the Monroe, Truman, and Bush doctrines dictated wholesale diplomatic
and military actions. In contrast to Truman's doctrine of Cold War
'containment' the Bush doctrine stated that the United States will actively
intervene overseas in order to safeguard American interests. U.S. military
actions in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia demonstrate this new resolve.
Directions: Select one U.S.
presidential, foreign policy doctrine.
·
Provide a brief summary of the foreign policy
doctrine.
·
Explain the historical circumstances that
produced the military doctrine.
·
Provide a specific example when the military
doctrine was utilized.
·
Analyze the short term and long term result of
this specific example.
·
Evaluate the foreign policy doctrine in terms
of U.S. self-interest and America’s international reputation.
*Although you may pick any
modern, presidential foreign policy doctrine relevant to this discussion - here
are some notable, presidential foreign policy doctrines:
Truman Doctrine
Eisenhower Doctrine
Kennedy Doctrine
Johnson Doctrine
Nixon Doctrine
Reagan Doctrine
Clinton Doctrine
Bush Doctrine
Obama Doctrine
10.
A close examination of the Article II of the
Constitution (Executive Branch) suggests that the founding fathers, leery of
tyrannical monarchs, deliberately made vague the powers and responsibility of
the president. Yet the institution of the presidency has grown, over time. This
expansion of presidential power and the growth of the federal bureaucracies,
through executive interpretation of Article II of the Constitution, is a
dominant feature of the modern presidency.
The growth of modern
presidential power coincides with the growth of the federal budget. Every year
the Office of Management and Budget provides a detailed summary of the
President’s proposed budget. You can review thefederal
budget.
The federal budget spends close
to four trillion dollars a year. The federal budget is split between mandatory
(what the federal government has to spend due to congressional legislation) and
discretionary spending (what the federal government spends as a result of
congressional allotment). Roughly speaking, mandatory spending accounts for
two-thirds of the federal budget and discretionary spending accounts for
one-third of the federal budget.
Directions: If you were an
economic adviser to the president of the United States how would you adjust the
federal budget to address your concerns regarding federal, domestic spending?
·
Select two federal departments,
administrations, or agencies detailed in the President’s proposed budget
·
Within the Table of Contents of the
President’s proposed budget you will see a list of all the federal departments,
administrations, and agencies.
·
In light of growing federal deficits, make
specific arguments for deficit spending or cuts within each selected
department, administration, or agency.
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