Category: Government

Electoral competition is the bedrock of democracy. Yet of Texas’s 38 congressional seats (the members that Texas sends to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC), only 3 seats (maximum) are competitive (in reality, it’s probably more like 1). It is all but impossible for 35 of Texas’s members of Congress to lose their seats owing to a process known as gerrymandering. This process is exacerbated by people self-clustering into politically like-minded communities. Note u must use these 5 sources and site them
Links-

Texas May Have The Worst Gerrymander In The Country

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/18/1081295373/the-big-sort-americans-move-to-areas-political-alignment
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/25/texas-election-turnout/

What We Lose When We Lose Competitive Congressional Districts

Electoral competition is the bedrock of democracy. Yet of Texas’s 38 congressional seats (the members that Texas sends to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC), only 3 seats (maximum) are competitive (in reality, it’s probably more like 1). It is all but impossible for 35 of Texas’s members of Congress to lose their seats owing to a process known as gerrymandering. This process is exacerbated by people self-clustering into politically like-minded communities. Note u must use these 5 sources and site them
Links-

Texas May Have The Worst Gerrymander In The Country

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/18/1081295373/the-big-sort-americans-move-to-areas-political-alignment
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/25/texas-election-turnout/

What We Lose When We Lose Competitive Congressional Districts

Electoral competition is the bedrock of democracy. Yet of Texas’s 38 congressional seats (the members that Texas sends to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC), only 3 seats (maximum) are competitive (in reality, it’s probably more like 1). It is all but impossible for 35 of Texas’s members of Congress to lose their seats owing to a process known as gerrymandering. This process is exacerbated by people self-clustering into politically like-minded communities. Note u must use these 5 sources and site them
Links-

Texas May Have The Worst Gerrymander In The Country

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/18/1081295373/the-big-sort-americans-move-to-areas-political-alignment
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/25/texas-election-turnout/

What We Lose When We Lose Competitive Congressional Districts

Analytical paper that relates to Texas government. I have attached the sample and rubric/guidelines. The title has to the same as the article source. Article has to be from a reputable newspaper. Ex. Dallas morning news, texas tribune.

Principal-agent relationships, where one political actor delegates certain responsibilities to another actor, are pervasive in politics. One exists between the public and members of Congress and another one exists between Congress and executive branch agencies. Describe both relationships by telling us: Who is the principal and who is the agent? What responsibilities does the principal delegate to the agent? What mechanisms exist for the principal to oversee, monitor, and—when necessary—punish the agent? What opportunities and resources exist for the agent to exploit this relationship and adhere to the principal’s demands less faithfully than the principal desires?
Then, identify a group in the United States that had grievances with its treatment by one or more federal agencies, in the past or at present, and demanded policy change. You can construe groups broadly; a racial or ethnic minority, an economically disadvantaged group, and people disproportionally impacted by a natural disaster, among others, are all acceptable. Articulate this group’s grievance by specifying the laws, regulations, or their implementation that the group saw as inadequate, unfair, or unjust. How did the group, as a political principal, seek to bring about policy change by influencing Congress, executive agencies, or both? How did Congress and/or executive agencies meet the group’s demands? What fundamental problems of delegation in principal-agent relationships does this episode reveal?
Write your response in an essay 4 to 5 double-spaced pages long, using a standard font type such as Times, a 12-point font size, and 1-inch margins. Cite sources using a standard citation style (for example, the Chicago style), and use both in-text citations and a list of references appended to the end of the essay. The list of references is not included in the pages allowed. While there is no minimum required number of sources cited, the failure to cite sources for factual and argumentative claims constitutes plagiarism. For more specific criteria, consult the attached rubric.

(40 Points)
First, choose ONE of the following topics:
Replacing the Electoral College [PDF] or Online VersionLinks to an external site.
Gerrymandering [PDF] or Online VersionLinks to an external site.
Second, read the article provided on Canvas for your topic [the links above will take you there]
Third, find a separate, current article on the topic from trusted news sites*
Fourth, write your paper. Respond to ALL of the following prompts in order

[10 points] Summarize the article provided. Focus on what you consider to be the most important aspects of the issue. Remember to think in terms of “who benefits and who doesn’t” from different approaches/policies. [Include quotes, references & citations]
>This section should be at least three robust paragraphs.
[10 points] Summarize the separate, current article you found relating to the issue. [Include quotes, references & citations]
>This section should be at least one robust paragraph.
* Acceptable sources include the news sections [not opinion or editorial sections]: NPRLinks to an external site., BBCLinks to an external site., NYTimesLinks to an external site., PBSLinks to an external site., Washington PostLinks to an external site., LATimesLinks to an external site., Sacramento BeeLinks to an external site., CSMLinks to an external site..
[10 points] Describe and Explain two connections between what you’ve learned from reading about this issue to specific concepts from class. Try to avoid the most obvious connections to the exact concept of your paper topic. Look for different connections.
[Remember to use, quote, cite course materials – textbook or slides – for the connections.]
>This section should be at least two robust paragraphs.
[10 points] Conclude the essay by reflecting on what you have learned and/or what questions you have about the topic.
>This section should be at least one robust paragraph.
Requirements
The essay portion should be 4-5 pages (double-spaced)
You must use/reference/cite (MLA or APA) at least 4 sources:
The article provided on Canvas for the topic
One additional article with new information
Two lecture slide and/or textbook sources
Provide a separate Works Cited page citing all of the sources used using MLA or APA format. (Remember that every idea that is not your original thought needs an in-text reference AND a supporting end source citation.)
APA Style Guide: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.htmlLinks to an external site.
MLA Style Guide: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.htmlLinks to an external site.
textbook link: https://openstax.org/details/books/american-government-3e

Part 1: The Bill of Rights:
-Explain why the Anti-federalists pushed for the Bill of Rights to be included in the US Constitution. What reasons did they cite as necessary in response to the desire of Federalists to create a strong central government?
-Explain some of the civil liberties that were included and established individual freedoms for Americans.
-Explain how the Supreme Court has expanded civil liberties in the U.S. since the creation of the Bill of Rights. Include in your discussion the role of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Explain the balance of power between the individual and the government as interpreted by the Supreme Court.
Part 2: Analyze these civil liberties in two important areas of controversy today:
-Analyze the pros and cons of expanding government surveillance and give me your verdict on whether we should decrease civil liberties in the name of national security.
-When it comes to freedom of speech analyze the pros and cons on whether the free speech clause of the US Constitution grants corporations the right to unlimited campaign contributions to politicians.

Paper Specifics- This is a brief 1-2 page paper over your position on a policy currently being debated by U.S. Congress. Be sure to include both your name and the BILL NUMBER on the top of the page. The paper should be single-spaced, 12 pitch font, and be divided into the following subsections.
Policy Problem – What is the problem the bill is trying to solve? Is it a real problem or one created to score political points? You will want to use data and sources to support your argument.
Policy Solution –How will the bill address the stated problem? Who is the target population? Who benefits the most from the policy, and who bares the costs. Be brief. Most bills in Congress have a summary attached. You will get most of your information from the bill summary.
Policy Position – What is your position on the proposed solution? How will the policy impact the problem? Will it create a new problem? Why should we support or oppose it? Again you will want to use data when possible and cite sources. Each section of your papers should be subtitled (i.e. policy problem, policy solution, policy position).
Double space between sections. Include a works cited page at the end. Use APSA style for your citations.
A manual for APSA citation style can be found at this link:

Home

Though this is a position paper, avoid using 1st person in your writing. It must appear to be objective. Avoid using subjective phrases, “I feel”, “I think”, etc. Pick your policy carefully. Avoid choosing a 200 page policy.
In addition to the congressional website provided, you will also want to use multiple news and policy sources. I have posted a list of policy sources.
CONGRESS SITE: https://www.congress.gov/
THE HILL SITE: https://thehill.com/

Special Assignment #3
THIS WEEK YOU ARE LEARNING ABOUT POLTIICAL PARTIES. EACH POLITICAL PARTY PUBLISHES A PLATFORM, WHICH IS A LIST OF THEIR BELIEFS AND THE AGENDA THEY WILL AIM TO ACCOMPLISH IF THEY ARE ELECTED. TAKE A LOOK AT THE POLITICAL PARTY PLATFORMS FOR THE THREE POLITICAL PARTIES BELOW. ASK YOURSELF: WHICH POLITICAL PARTY DO I MOST IDENTIFY WITH? WHY? WHY NOT THE OTHERS?

WRITE A THREE PARAGRAPH ESSAY WITH THE FOLLOWING THESIS:

I most closely identify with the _____________________ Party.

Then go on to give the reasons why – (Example – If you support the Republican Party due to “Equal Rights for the Unborn”… tell me why you support that platform agenda item)

Your three paragraph essay:
Include an introduction a conclusion and a lot of evidence in the middle.
Follow MLA formatting guidelines
Include a works cited (for each of the website/platforms and any other sources you use)

Republican Party of Texas Platform:
Platform – Republican Party of Texas
Link to searchable PDF Link to 2020 Platform
Republican Party of Texas
Democratic Party of Texas Platform:
Our Platform — Texas Democratic Party
Texas Democratic Party
https://www.texasdemocrats.org/platform
Libertarian Party Platform Texas
https://www.lptexas.org/platform
Libertarian Party of Texas
All your freedoms, all the time!
Libertarian Party of Texas

What is the Interests groups , What its function in the political community and how they are effect on the policymakers, and what is limiting of their influence. Answer these question with 3to 4 pages , follow the instructions in attached file. Please follow and include everything in details on instructions pages attached. Thank you