GOVT 2305: Federal Laws and Policies

1. Brief summary paper (2 pages + Works Cited page)

   • Answer the following questions:

     • What is the current policy? (Make sure to focus on federal [NOT state] policy)

     • What have the implications of this policy been?

     • How does this policy (and its outcomes) compare to other countries’ policies (and outcomes)?

     • How do you suggest this policy be changed and why would this new policy be an improvement (or what are the advantages of the policy as-is)?

     • Please avoid “I feel” and “I believe” statements.  Instead try “The consequences of said policy include…”
        

2. Presentation (5-6 minute presentation including visuals, plus 3-4 minute Q&A per topic)
   • Things to consider:
     • What implications do you think these changes would have for the US as a whole?
     • What criticism would these changes likely face AND from whom?
     • Who does the current policy benefit (or, if you are proposing a change, who specifically would it benefit)?
     • Please make sure that you sign up for a spot early.  First come, first served.
        

• You are responsible for submitting your paper and your presentation online on the day you present BEFORE the start of class. You are also REQUIRED to bring a paper copy of your paper to class.
   
• Being prepared/knowledgeable about your research area and able to answer 5-6 questions will, in large part, determine your presentation grade. 
  
  
• Please do not be late to class.  (You will lose points if you are.)
   
• If you are nervous about presenting, please see me to discuss alternatives (such as creating a video to show to the class in lieu of a live presentation). 

• Bill of Rights
• Electoral policy
• Energy policy
• Environmental policy
• Crime and corrections policy
• Fiscal and monetary policy
• Education policy
• Welfare policy
• Healthcare policy
• Controlled substances policy, etc.

NOTE: Once you have chosen a policy area, conduct preliminary research to narrow down your research interests; if you are interested in crime and corrections, don't broadly address these themes, instead focus on something like the death penalty (or even more specifically—death penalty for minors or for people with disabilities).

1. CQ Researcher - Page is defaulted to "Browse by: Topics". Alphabetical order by broad category.  

• Example: Choose Energy or Environment, Climate, and Natural Resources
• Narrow: You will see suggested paper topics such as Climate Change, Nuclear Energy, Green Energy, Electric Vehicles and more.
• Focus: Renewable Energy, specifically Nuclear Power. 
• Question: What is the U.S. nuclear power policy?  Does it differ from other countries?  What are the pros and cons of our policy for the U.S. and the world? Where do you find the current policy and which agency or department administers it?

Read the report to gain deep insight into the topic.  Make sure the publication date is within the last three years. Look for "updated" reports. 
 

2. Opposing Viewpoints - Click "Browse Issues".  Choose a broad category based on your current interests. 

• Example: Choose Immigration.  Subjects are listed in alphabetical order.  Be sure to look at related topics on the same page. 
• Narrow: Children of Undocumented Immigrants, Birthright Citizenship, Policies and Restrictions on Legal Immigration, etc. 
• Focus: Legal Immigration, Border Control and Airport Security or Border Crossing in Canada or Mexico; Policy to Build a Wall on the Mexico/U.S. Border
• Question: What is the U.S. federal policy on border control, specifically airport security?  What is the current policy?  What are the pros and cons of the current policy? Can it be improved?  Where do you find the current policy and which agency or department administers it?

• Think of a topic that interests you: (environment, women's issues, immigration, prescription (or recreational) drugs, copyright)
   
• Find a focus if the topic is too broad
  • Example: Instead of environmental, focus on "solar energy"
  • Example: Instead of women's issues, focus on "gender-based discrimination"
     
• Research specific federal laws about your topic
  • Example search: "List of federal laws regarding immigration in the US"
  • Another example: "US federal environmental policies"
  • One more: "Federal acts associated with federal copyright law in the United States"
     
• Type "site:gov" in the search bar to pull up actual government websites/resources
  • Example search: "US federal environmental policies site:gov"