Choose one of the Supreme Court cases presented in Lesson 5. Please describe the basic facts of this case, why this decision was important, and how it changed or impacted Americans. You are encouraged to use external sources (outside the Lesson Notes) to aid in presenting facts and opinions on the case. Prepare a fully developed essay of at least 500 words and cite sources […]

Your firm has been investigating the possibility of locating facilities in an East Asian country such as Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, or Singapore. You have been asked by the chief executive officer (CEO) to research what has been happening in these countries in terms of environmental legislation and laws regarding wages and hours. He has asked you to prepare a report that addresses the following information:

Americans expect their presidents to get things done, to solve problems, to govern effectively, and to be strong leaders. The framers of the Constitution did not envision such presidential leadership. A scholar of the presidency points out that Article II of the Constitution gives the president scant formal power to influence congressional policy-making (Simon, n.d.).  He also notes that the framers intentionally designed a process […]

In a recent lecture at Yale University, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer cautioned that while most citizens assume that judicial review is an enduring part of American government, judges should not take it for granted. He advises that if judges wish to preserve this undemocratic power they should follow a judicial philosophy that will “build confidence in the courts” (Breyer, 2011). Justice Breyer goes on […]

You are the risk manager for a large city (you can use the nearest metropolitan area to where you are currently located). You have been asked to prepare an overview report of the municipal emergency response to a “dirty bomb” incident. Include an introduction that examines the availability of low-level nuclear material stateside and abroad. Also address the logistics of decontamination and the disposal of […]

Partisan considerations have increasingly influenced the selection of federal judges. Interest groups on the right and the left have insisted on the appointment of judges who hold compatible views. Presidents and members of Congress have also increasingly sought appointees who will decide issues in ways they prefer. What is your view? Should politics play such a large role in judicial appointments? Or should merit be […]

Social security for retirees is paid through payroll taxes on the current workforce. However, because retirees are living longer and increasing in number, the inflow of payroll tax revenue from workers at some point will be insufficient to fund the outflow of social security payments. One solution to the problem would be to increase taxes on workers. Another solution would be to reduce retiree benefits […]

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 U.S. to be effective […]

Prompt: Childhood obesity is growing at an increasing rate.  Should fatty foods, such as potato chips, cookies, and soft drinks, be banned from elementary school?  Develop a persuasive speech that argues for or against banning fatty foods from elementary school.  You will construct a traditional, five-paragraph speech (introductory paragraph, 3 body paragraphs, concluding paragraph) that answers this prompt.  The total length of pages should not […]

Levin-Waldman (2012, pp. 186-89) analyzes how “iron triangles” link Congress, the bureaucracy, and interest groups in self-serving relationships that influence policy in ways that are contrary to the public interest. In 1961, at the end of President Eisenhower’s second term, he gave a farewell address to the nation in which he warned of the dangers of a “military-industrial complex.” Many commentators today see the military-industrial […]