{"id":433946,"date":"2018-04-15T07:35:21","date_gmt":"2018-04-15T07:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essaypaper.org\/policy-making-in-the-federal-system-2\/"},"modified":"2018-10-24T08:53:48","modified_gmt":"2018-10-24T08:53:48","slug":"policy-making-in-the-federal-system-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.benedictsol.com\/blogs\/policy-making-in-the-federal-system-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Policy-making in the Federal System"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Short Essay \u2013 Policy-making in the Federal System
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The U.S. government\u2019s expansive role in public policy is caught in a swirl of conflicting cross-currents. On the one hand, popular expectations about government\u2019s 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?).\u00a0
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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\u2013not 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.\u00a0
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Research and write an essay on a specific policy in the area that you select. (Note: The word \u201cpolicy\u201d is used interchangeably with the word \u201cprogram.\u201d) Your essay must:<\/p>\n

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  1. Clearly identify a specific federal policy (the policy \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0must raise issues of federalism because it requires national, state, and \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0local interaction and invites tension across different levels of \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0government), and summarize the elements of the policy, including the \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0problem it is supposed to solve or improve.\u00a0<\/li>\n
  2. Summarize the history of the policy. In your summary, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0explain how the policy raises issues of federalism.\u00a0<\/li>\n
  3. Analyze the main pros and cons in debates about the \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0policy.\u00a0<\/li>\n
  4. Evaluate the pros and cons from two perspectives:\u00a0\n
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    • The policy\u2019s effectiveness. In your evaluation, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0clearly explain your definition of effectiveness and how it should be \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0measured or determined.\u00a0<\/li>\n
    • The policy\u2019s consistency with the constitutional \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0framework of federalism. In your evaluation, clearly explain your \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0interpretation of American federalism\u2019s constitutional framework and why \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the federal policy is or is not consistent with it.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Follow these requirements when writing the short essay:<\/p>\n

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      1. The body of the essay (excluding the title page and \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0reference page) must be at least 750 words long.\u00a0<\/li>\n
      2. The essay must start with a short introductory \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0paragraph which includes a clear thesis statement. The thesis statement \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0must tell readers what the essay will demonstrate.\u00a0<\/li>\n
      3. The essay must end with a short paragraph which \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0includes a conclusion. The conclusion and thesis must be consistent.\u00a0<\/li>\n
      4. The essay must logically develop the thesis in a way \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0that leads to the conclusion, and must be supported by facts, fully \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0explained concepts or assertions, and persuasive reasoning.\u00a0<\/li>\n
      5. The essay must address all subtopics outlined above. At \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0least 20% of the essay must focus on subtopic six, listed above (your \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0evaluation of the various pros and cons about the policy).\u00a0<\/li>\n
      6. Your essay must cite at least one academic article \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0found in the Ashford Online Library and at least three other kinds of \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sources (e.g., Supreme Court opinions, magazine or newspaper articles, the \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0course textbook, and reliable websites).\u00a0<\/li>\n
      7. Use your own words. While brief quotes from sources may \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0be used, altogether the total amount of quoted text must be less than five \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0percent of the body of your essay.\u00a0<\/li>\n
      8. When you use someone else\u2019s words, they must be \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0enclosed in quotation marks followed by an APA in-text short citation \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0(author, year, and page) to your source. The in-text citation must \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0correspond to a full APA citation for the source on the reference page at \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the end of the essay.\u00a0<\/li>\n
      9. When you express someone else\u2019s ideas, arguments, or \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0facts in your own words, your statement must be followed by an APA in-text \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0short citation (author, year, and page) to your source. The in-text \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0citation must correspond to a full APA citation for the source in the \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0reference page.\u00a0<\/li>\n
      10. The form of the title page, the body pages, and the \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0reference page must comply with APA style. Additionally, the title page \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0must include the course number and name, the instructor\u2019s name, and the \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0date submitted.\u00a0<\/li>\n
      11. The essay must use logical paragraph and sentence \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0transitions, complete and clear sentences, and correct grammar, spelling, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and punctuation.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        For information regarding APA, including samples and tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center within the Learning Resources tab on the left navigation toolbar in your online course.
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        The\u00a0Ashford Writing Center (AWC)\u00a0\u00a0has two kinds of tutoring available to you.<\/p>\n