TOPIC : Any issue that is now or has been addressed on any decision-making level (local, state, national) of the A merican political arena.
FRAMEWORK: The elements of the Political System Diagram on the class wiki and handed out with the syllabus.
SOURCES: You should cite at least 3 reliable sources of information for the issue you chose (books, newspapers, magazines, online sites, interviews, etc.
OUTLINE OF PAPER:
Introduction
Briefly describe the issue and the political arena (local, state, national) in which it took or is taking place.
Inputs/Demands
-Who is making the demands/generating the inputs
-What are the demands/inputs they're making
-Where is support/opposition coming from
-Why do they support/oppose
-How are they making their demands/support/opposition known.
Conversion Mechanism(s)
-Which political body or bodies are involved in making a decision on the issue.
[Executive (person, office, department), legislative (committee/subcommittee in each house if applicable), Judicial (what level of the court system, which judge(s) involved if relevant)]
-Apply Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How as above.
Output or Expected Output
-Type of decision made - law, rule, executive order, court decision, etc.
-Compromises made to reach decision or legal basis for decision-level
Feedback or Expected Feedback
-Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How
Relationship to What You've Learned
Briefly describe how the information in one or both textbooks and/or the experience of our classroom Camelot simulation is similar or different from the process involved in addressing the issue. Use at least 2 citations from the text(s) in relating your issue to what you've learned. (You can do 1 citation from each text or 2 from the same text.)
Optional: Your Views on the Issue
You may express your views on the issue and why you hold them at the end of the paper.