Category: Government

ASSIGNMENT: In this course, you learned that forming or joining interest groups is one way that Americans can participate in the U.S. political system. Recall that interest groups are formal associations of individuals or organizations that act to advance a shared interest and often attempt to influence government decision-making and public policy. For this assignment, you will create a hypothetical interest group around a cause or issue that is of interest to you. You will establish policy goals and strategize to meet those goals. By doing so, you will apply what you’ve learned about how the U.S. political system functions and about interest group formation, strategies, and incentives.
To complete the assignment, download the Create an Interest Group template and follow the directions below. You will return the completed template as your Touchstone submission.
Step 1: Select an issue or cause that is of interest to you, and prepare to create a hypothetical interest group that will advocate for the interest. The issue or cause could be big and national in scope (for example, gun safety); it could be small and local in scope (for example, cleanliness of the public park in your town); or anywhere in between. Note: Submissions that analyze existing, real-world interest groups will be returned ungraded.
Once you’ve selected an issue or cause, think about your goals and what you would want your interest group to accomplish. Talk to friends, family, or community members, or research on the Internet to learn more about the issue.
Step 2: Download the Create an Interest Group template and review the prompts. Think about the specific policy and membership goals of your hypothetical interest group, the barriers to achieving those goals, and the strategies that would best lead you to success.
Step 3: Fill in the Create an Interest Group template. You will respond to the following prompts. Remember to include in-text citations when summarizing, quoting, paraphrasing, or including statistics or data from outside information sources!
Your Interest Group
In approximately 6-8 sentences, give your hypothetical interest group a name, and describe the issue or cause it supports or opposes and why.
What type of interest group is it?
Goals
What are your specific policy goals? Specify at least 2.
Which level(s) of government and which government branch(es) will you target, and why?
Is there one political party that might be more receptive to your goals? Why or why not?
What barriers exist to meeting your goals? Specify 2 or more. Examples might include the free rider problem, lack of popular support, lack of political support, financial barriers, or others.
How might your group overcome each of those barriers?
Membership
Who will you target for membership and how will you grow it?
What sorts of incentives can your interest group provide?
Actions
Choose two inside lobbying approaches and two outside lobbying approaches that your interest group will use. Explain how each will contribute to the goals. You can choose from the menu provided (below), or brainstorm your own ideas.
REFERENCES (include, as needed, for any sources cited)
Checklist for Success:
❒ Did you review the suggested tutorials?
❒ Did you create a hypothetical interest group (i.e., not analyze an existing one)?
❒ Did you fill in all sections of the Create an Interest Group template?
❒ Did you review the grading rubric and compare it to your response?
❒ Did you review the example Create an Interest Group submission to see an example of a completed assignment?
❒ Did you include in-text citations when summarizing, quoting, paraphrasing, or including statistics or data from outside information sources?
❒ Did you proofread your work for proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization?
C. Requirements
The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:
Submission must include your name and the date.
Use a readable 11- or 12-point font.
Composition must be original and written for this assignment and all writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Acceptable file formats include .doc or .docx file.

Touchstone 2: Government in My Community
ASSIGNMENT: For this assignment, you will research and write about an issue that is important to you, to your community, or to Americans in general. To do this, you will investigate the ways that government in the United States has or has not addressed your selected issue. As part of your research, you will choose at least five articles from newspapers, magazines, or other online sources that highlight the U.S. government’s response to the issue. You will then identify and analyze this response and provide a personal reflection on the impact. In doing so, you will deepen your engagement with course content by applying what you’ve learned in Units 1 and 2 about the U.S. federal system and the division of powers among and between the different layers of government. To complete the assignment, download the Government in My Community template, and follow the directions below. You will return the completed template as your Touchstone submission.
Government in My Community Template
Example Government in My Community Submission (PDF)
In order to foster learning and growth, all essays you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any plagiarized or recycled work will result in a Plagiarism Detected alert. Review this tutorial for more about plagiarism and the Plagiarism Detected alert: Touchstones: Academic Integrity Guidelines. For guidance on the use of generative AI technology, review Ethical Standards and Appropriate Use of AI.
A. Directions
Step 1: Select an issue that is important to you, your community, or to Americans in general. If you reside in the United States, your community could be your geographical community (e.g., your neighborhood, town, or city) or the broader state or national community. If you do not reside in the United States, your community could be a group with shared characteristics with whom you identify.
You can choose any issue, but your assignment must focus on how government officials are addressing the issue within the United States or as a matter of U.S. public policy. Here are some ideas to get you started: immigration; border security; public school policy; public safety; gun rights or gun control; victim rights; student testing; school choice; abortion; access to public transportation or city services; energy, environment, conservation, or economic issues; healthcare (cost of medicines or health insurance, health care access); homelessness; the death penalty.
Step 2: Find and read at least five articles from newspapers, magazines, or other online sources that highlight the government’s response to the issue. It is important that your articles do not only describe the issue or present opinions on the issue from general members of the public. Look for sources that communicate how government officials in the United States have responded or are responding to the issue. You will be asked to identify government officials by name in your articles.
hint
Ideas for sources include news articles; speeches from political candidates or current office holders; campaign ads; press releases; and data collected from non-profit organizations, among others. The website www.usa.gov can be a good starting point for learning about government responses to various issues. Other online sources for information about government policy and services could include (but are not limited to):
www.realclearpolitics.com
www.reuters.com
State or local government websites
Political party websites (e.g., democrats.org; www.gop.com)
www.pewresearch.org
Step 3: After completing your research and reflecting on what you’ve learned, fill out the Government in My Community template. The suggested total word range is 1500-2500 words. You will respond to the following prompts:
What is the issue or problem that is impacting your community? Describe the issue or problem and its effects. (Remember to use in-text citations anytime you paraphrase, summarize, quote, or include data or statistics from your sources!)
In the U.S. federal system, which level of government (local, state, or national) or branch (executive, legislative, judicial) is responsible for addressing the issue? Is there more than one? Explain your reasoning. Be sure to include evidence from the U.S. Constitution and from the course to support your explanation.
Identify all of the government officials discussed in your sources. Include their names and the level of government and agency that the officials represent. For example, are they a member of Congress? A city council member? Or a member of a federal, state, city, or county agency?
How have these government officials attempted to address the issue? Describe their actions, citing evidence from all five articles or other online sources with in-text citations. For help understanding how and when to include in-text citations, see Section D “Additional Resources” (below).
In your opinion, has the government done a good job addressing the issue? Why or why not? What more should be done, and by which level of government?
Step 4: Compile your reference list in the APA style. Section D. “Additional Resources” (below) will help you to understand how to add your sources to the Government in My Community template.
Checklist for Success:
❒ Did you find articles that specifically communicate how government officials in the U.S. have responded or are responding to the issue you’ve selected, and have you identified who those officials are?
❒ Did you complete all sections of the Government in My Community template?
❒ Did you review the grading rubric and compare it to your response?
❒ Did you review the example Government in my Community submission to see an example of a completed assignment?
❒ Did you include in-text citations and a reference list in the APA style for 5 unique sources?
B. Rubric
Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs Improvement (50%) Non-performance (0%)
Descriiption of the Issue
Describes an issue that is impacting the community and its effects. (10%)
Thoroughly describes an issue and clearly explains how it is impacting the community. Identifies two or more effects. Describes an issue and briefly explains how it is impacting the community. Identifies at least one effect. Describes an issue, but does not explain how it is impacting the community. Briefly mentions an issue, but the issue is ill-defined, unclear, or otherwise or difficult for a reader to understand. Does not describe an issue, or submits so little work that no credit can be given.
Understanding of the Federal System
Displays understanding of the Constitution and the U.S. federal system. (25%)
Identifies which level(s) of government in the U.S. are responsible for addressing the issue. Explanation is supported with evidence and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the Constitution, the U.S. federal system, and the powers of federal, state, and local government. Identifies which level(s) of government in the U.S. are responsible for addressing the issue. Explanation is supported with evidence and demonstrates an adequate understanding of the Constitution, the U.S. federal system, and the powers of federal, state, and local government. Identifies which level(s) of government in the U.S. are responsible for addressing the issue. Explanation may confuse or misinterpret the Constitution, the U.S. federal system, and the powers of federal, state, and local government. Identifies which level(s) of government in the U.S. are responsible for addressing the issue, but explanation is not supported by any evidence and shows little to no understanding of the Constitution, the U.S. federal system, and the powers of federal, state, and local government. Does not identify or discuss which level(s) of government in the U.S. are responsible for addressing the issue, or submits so little work that no credit can be given.
Structure of Government
Identifies U.S. government officials from sources. (10%)
Identifies all government officials discussed in the sources, including their names and the level of government and office/agency that the officials represent. Identifies most government officials discussed in the sources, including their names and the level of government and office/agency that the officials represent. Identifies some government officials mentioned in the sources, including their names and the level of government and office/agency that the officials represent. Identifies some government officials discussed in the sources, but their names and/or level of government or office/agency that the officials represent is missing or wrong. Does not identify any government officials discussed in the sources, or submits so little work that no credit can be given.
Government’s Response
Describes how government in the U.S. has attempted to address the issue. (25%)
Describes how government or government officials in the U.S. have addressed the issue and draws thoughtful conclusions about how well the issue has been addressed. Response cites 5 or more sources that highlight a response by the government to the issue. Describes how government or government officials in the U.S. have addressed the issue and draws some conclusions about how well the issue has been addressed. Response cites at least 4 sources that highlight a response by the government to the issue. Describes how government or government officials in the U.S. have addressed the issue and draws conclusions, but descriiption and conclusions may be brief and underdeveloped. Response may only cite 3 sources that highlight a response by the government to the issue. Describes how government or government officials in the U.S. have addressed the issue, but does not draw conclusions, or descriiption and conclusions may be brief and underdeveloped. Response may only cite 1-2 sources that highlight a response by the government to the issue. Does not describe how government or government officials in the U.S. have addressed the issue and draw conclusions, or submits so little work that no credit can be given.
Reflection
Reflects on additional or alternative government response(s) to the issue. (20%)
Reflects on additional or alternative government response(s) to the issue. Reflection relates the appropriate level of government(s) in the U.S. to the additional or alternative response(s). Reflects on additional or alternative government response(s) to the issue, but may not relate the appropriate level of government(s) in the U.S. to the additional or alternative response(s). Reflects on an additional or alternative government response to the issue, but the response demonstrates limited engagement with the issue. Briefly mentions an additional or alternative government response to the issue, but the response demonstrates little to no reflection or engagement with the issue. Does not reflect on additional or alternative government response(s) to the issue, or submits so little work that no credit can be given.
Conventions
Submission follows conventions for standard written English and meets requirements. (10%)
There are almost no errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization; all length and formatting requirements are met. There are minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that do not impede readability; length and formatting requirements are nearly met. There are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that somewhat impede readability; length and formatting requirements are nearly met. There are consistent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that significantly impede readability; length and formatting requirements are not met. Submission does not meet the minimum threshold for points to be awarded.
C. Requirements
The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:
Use a readable 11- or 12-point font.
All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
Composition must be original and written for this assignment and all writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
The suggested total word range is 1500-2500 words. Submissions should not exceed 6,000 words.
Submissions that focus on non-U.S. governments will be returned.
Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Submission must include your name and the date.
Include all of the assignment components in a single file.
Acceptable file formats include .doc and .docx.
D. Additional Resources
The following resources will be helpful to you as you work on this assignment:
APA In-Text Citations: The Basics
In-text citations are inserted into your writing to document the source of your information. APA-style in-text citations include the author and the date of your source (Jones, 1998). This site provides an overview of when and how to include APA-style in-text citations in your response.
APA Reference List: Basic Rules
This site includes a comprehensive overview of APA-style reference lists, as well as individual pages with instructions on how to format reference lists for various source types, including electronic sources (i.e., articles found on websites).
The website also includes a citation generator, which will cite your sources automatically in APA. You may use this citation generator for your reference list.

1. What is your selected topic and why are you interested in this subject? You can pick any topic you are interested in that an interest group or lobbyist might address before lawmakers. Be sure to use your own words as this section is an opinion section. Provide a specific example of how the topic picked impacts you in some way in your answer to question 1. (Note: VoteSmart has a Texas Interest Groups page which might help in finding a topic of interest – Vote Smart – Facts For All Links to an external site.).
2. What interest group is working in this area and why did you select this particular group? Provide a link to the interest group website(s) you used to do your research in your answer to question 2.
3. How has your group worked to influence public policy? Have they lobbied politicians? Tried to influence the public? How much money have they spent? You must use specific examples from the interest group website(s) to answer this question.
4. What interest groups may oppose your selected interest group and how effective have they been? Again, provide links to the opposition website(s) and be sure to reference specific examples from the website given of how they oppose currently your selected interest group. In answering how effective they have been, use data or other specific examples and evidence to back up your claim and be sure to cite your data/examples.
5. In your opinion, will your group be effective in getting their agenda codified into public policy? This answer should focus on Texas only and whether any of their agenda will get codified or passed in Texas. Give an example of what policies you think they can or cannot get passed in Texas and analyze why you think the item(s) can or cannot get passed. You can include a general discussion about the U.S. and whether it will also be codified/passed in the U.S., but to get credit for this portion, you must specifically refer to Texas as the main part of your answer.

NOTE: In answering your question, use the optional materials below and your own research as necessary to back up your opinion.
Texas Ethics Commission Registered Lobbyists – (https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/search/lobby/LobbySimpleSearch.php)
Lobbying in Texas: A Guide to the Texas Law – (https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/data/resources/guides/lobby_guide.pdf)
Open Secrets – Follow the Money – ( https://www.opensecrets.org)
VoteSmart – Texas Interest Groups – (https://justfacts.votesmart.org/interest-groups/TX/)

1. What is your selected topic and why are you interested in this subject? You can pick any topic you are interested in that an interest group or lobbyist might address before lawmakers. Be sure to use your own words as this section is an opinion section. Provide a specific example of how the topic picked impacts you in some way in your answer to question 1. (Note: VoteSmart has a Texas Interest Groups page which might help in finding a topic of interest – Vote Smart – Facts For All Links to an external site.).
2. What interest group is working in this area and why did you select this particular group? Provide a link to the interest group website(s) you used to do your research in your answer to question 2.
3. How has your group worked to influence public policy? Have they lobbied politicians? Tried to influence the public? How much money have they spent? You must use specific examples from the interest group website(s) to answer this question.
4. What interest groups may oppose your selected interest group and how effective have they been? Again, provide links to the opposition website(s) and be sure to reference specific examples from the website given of how they oppose currently your selected interest group. In answering how effective they have been, use data or other specific examples and evidence to back up your claim and be sure to cite your data/examples.
5. In your opinion, will your group be effective in getting their agenda codified into public policy? This answer should focus on Texas only and whether any of their agenda will get codified or passed in Texas. Give an example of what policies you think they can or cannot get passed in Texas and analyze why you think the item(s) can or cannot get passed. You can include a general discussion about the U.S. and whether it will also be codified/passed in the U.S., but to get credit for this portion, you must specifically refer to Texas as the main part of your answer.

NOTE: In answering your question, use the optional materials below and your own research as necessary to back up your opinion.
Texas Ethics Commission Registered Lobbyists – (https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/search/lobby/LobbySimpleSearch.php)
Lobbying in Texas: A Guide to the Texas Law – (https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/data/resources/guides/lobby_guide.pdf)
Open Secrets – Follow the Money – ( https://www.opensecrets.org)
VoteSmart – Texas Interest Groups – (https://justfacts.votesmart.org/interest-groups/TX/)

paper is a hypothetical situation, written in the third person point of view, and must be 2 full pages.

paper is a hypothetical situation, written in the third person point of view, and must be 2 full pages.

The focus of the assignment will be on writing informative annotations for
the purpose of research along with a synthesis that integrates the assigned articles, comparing
them in response to a prompt question. (Use the attatched template)
Only these two articles are to be written about:
Thomas, Clarence. 2000 “Why Federalism Matters.” Drake Law Review 48, no. 2: 231–238.
AND
Rubin, Edward L. 2001. “Puppy Federalism and the Blessings of America.” The Annals of the
American Academy of Political and Social Science 574, no. 1 (March): 37–51

Brexit And the Devolution of UK Settlements:
A Qualitative Case Study Of the Socio-Political Factors and Consequences of Brexit On Scotland
for this thesis paper we need you to
1. Making sure that there’s no element of AI present
2. Spelling/ grammar fixed, plus making sure tone is formal and academic rather than conversational.
3. APA format, both in the body and reference sections.
4. Page numbers and headers
5. Table of Contents professionally done; also title/ cover page and abstract well done.

Essay Question:
What is the history of the Electoral College? How has the Electoral College changed the outcome of elections throughout history? Is it still necessary in today’s election process given the availability of information about each candidate? Compare and contrast the Electoral College to the use of the popular vote.

Paper Information:
Please write a 4-page paper but no more than 8-page paper (not including your title page and work cited page). The paper needs to be 4 full pages.
The paper needs to have a separate title page (name, date, title of paper, and class information)
The paper needs to have a separate work cited page
The paper should include an Introduction, Thesis, Supporting Paragraphs, and Conclusion.
The paper must be doubled spaced, Times New Roman with 12-point font, and 1-inch margins
Page numbers should be at the bottom of each of the pages
Paper should be in MLA format. For questions about MLA format, please visit: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
The paper needs to be submitted to HCC Canvas as a Word document

Title Page:
The paper needs to have a separate title page, which include the following:
Name
Date
Title of paper
American Government

Work Cited Page:
Must have at least 3 sources other than our classroom textbook
Work Cited must be in MLA format.

Write 275-word response to the article attached. APA-7 Citation format. 3 sources. 1 source must be the Bible.