Assignment:
In this class we focus on government, work on our reading and writing skills (something we can all work on our entire lives!), and work on and practice our critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is El Centro's focus for its Quality Enhancement Plan. Critical thinking is described by El Centro this way: "Critical thinking is a disciplined and continuous process of asking the right questions and practicing logical thought processes to come to justifiable conclusions." See www.elcentrocollege.edu. This test focuses on all three of these objectives. Please use complete sentences, proofread your responses, reach a conclusion in your answers, and support your conclusions. Remember - in this class you are never graded on your opinion, but on your ability to form an opinion and support it - which is essential to critical thinking!
Each test question is worth equal points. Each answer should be at least one paragraph long (5 to 6 sentences). Please proofread your responses and make sure you use complete sentences.
The Presidency
1. There has been much discussion about whether the President of the United States should have to be a natural born citizen. Do you think the President of the United States should be born in the United States or does it matter to you? Why or why not?
2. You read about the President's formal powers and inherent powers. An inherent power Presidents have used is the inherent power to make Executive Orders. This power and the orders made are routinely criticized by the public and the President's opposing party. When President Obama was in office, he issued an Executive Order regarding immigration that would have effectively legalized millions of currently undocumented and unauthorized immigrants. Some states disagreed with President Obama's ability to issue this Executive Order and the constitutionality of the Order went before the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ultimately held President Obama could not issue an Executive Order on immigration. Immigration and naturalization are powers that are given to the Legislative Brach under the Constitution. Do you think President Trump should be able to issue Executive Orders on immigration? Why do you think the states were challenging President Obama's ability and some would challenge President Trump's ability to make an Executive Order on immigration? Do you agree OR disagree with a President's ability to issue an Executive Order on immigration? Fully explain your answer.
The Courts
3. Do you think federal judges should be appointed for life or do you believe they should have to run for election? Why? What do you see as the pros and cons of each option?
4. When there is a vacancy on the United States Supreme Court, the sitting President appoints a new justice with the approval of the United States Senate. Depending on the politics of the President making the appointment, you could get a more liberal minded justice OR a more conservative minded justice and the political make-up of the United States Supreme Court could change which could impact the outcome of decisions.When making an appointment to the United States Supreme Court, the President will also take other qualities into consideration like previous experience, personal life, and the likelihood the potential justice will get approved by the Senate. If you were the President and were to fill a vacancy on the United States Supreme Court, tell me the qualities you would seek out in making an appointment. Fully explain your answer.
State and Local Governments
5. A big topic in this area has to do with education. Do you think public K-12 education should be directed from the federal government and the federal government should set national standards in education? Or do you believe the state and local governments should take the lead in setting educational standards for their state and local governments? Why do you think the way you do and fully explain your answer.
The Bureaucracy
6. If you were the President of the United States running for election and were asked if you would work to increase the size of our government bureaucracy, decrease it, or keep it the same size, what would your answer be and why? We have an upcoming presidential election in November 2020 and this question will get asked repeatedly of your candidates!
Domestic Policy
7. A major topic in domestic policy right now is immigration reform. If you were in the United States Congress, what would your priorities be in terms of immigration and why? One major issue that must be addressed is what to do about the immigration status of individuals who are currently living in the United States in an unauthorized capacity- some people believe those individuals should be given an "easier" path to citizenship because they are already here and in our society. Others believe those individuals should not be given any advantages because they came to the United States in an unauthorized / illegal capacity. What are your thoughts on how to solve this issue?
8. Your book identifies the three major areas of domestic policy as social welfare; science, technology, and education; and business stimulus and regulation. If you were the President of the United States which area would you identify as being the most important on your agenda and fully explain.
9. Do you think it is realistic for the United States government to balance its budget? Why or why not?
Foreign Policy
10. A major topic in the foreign policy area today is how far the United States should intervene in humanitarian crises in other countries. Some people say the United States has a moral responsibility to intervene if there is a humanitarian crisis in another country or an issue like an oppressive dictator taking advantage of the people. Some people say the United States should worry about its own people, that we have people in our country who are suffering, and we should not intervene in a crisis in another country unless it directly impacts the United States in some way. Presidents and members of the United States Congress will give their opinions on this when they are running for election. What are your thoughts and fully explain your answer.