Short Essay – Policy-making in the Federal System
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:
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.
Summarize the history of the policy. In your summary,
explain how the policy raises issues of federalism.
Analyze the main pros and cons in debates about the policy.
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:
The body of the essay (excluding the title page and reference
page) must be at least 750 words long.
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.
The essay must end with a short paragraph which includes a
conclusion. The conclusion and thesis must be consistent.
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.
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
The essay must use logical paragraph and sentence
transitions, complete and clear sentences, and correct grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
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