Topic:

The US Constitution designed a governing system with “separation of powers” and  “checks and balances.”  While these features help guard against tyranny, they also make it hard for the government to get things done. In this essay, we want you to analyze various factors that explain why it is so hard to pass new laws in Washington today. In your essay, be sure to discuss… a) Congress, b) the Federal Budget, c) Interest Groups, and d) Public Opinion.

You may draw from the lectures, discussions, readings, and modules. However, remember it is easy to blurt out pieces of information. What shows real insight is demonstrating analytical thinking in a thoughtful, organized, and well-written essay.

Plagiarism is representing someone else’s ideas, words, statements or other works as your own without proper acknowledgment. While you do not need to follow a formal citation format for this essay, I do expect you to work independently without help from anyone else – friends, family, whomever.

Format:  No more than 2 pages (double-spaced, 12 point type, 1 in. margins) 

Readings:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2014/02/04/why-you-shouldnt-blame-polarization-on-partisan-news/?arc404=true

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/12/23/trump-can-launch-nuclear-weapons-whenever-he-wants-with-or-without-mattis/

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c2cfe9f96e76f8799d29e1d/t/5c2ebf786d2a732a2d41cfa2/1546567547964/arnold+-+can+inattentive+citizens+control+reps.pdf

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/congress-diverse-makes-history-representation_n_5c2e97b5e4b0407e9089e7db

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c2cfe9f96e76f8799d29e1d/t/5c2ebeddcd8366ce52523f56/1546567392145/mlkj+-+letter+from+a+birmingham+jail.pdf