Assignment
QUESTION 1
For this topic, I would like you to locate your elected officials and enter your address in the top right search box.
Scroll through the resulting information to find your STATE-LEVEL district-specific representatives (for the legislature - Nevada Senate and Assembly; not congressional districts, executive branch, or university regents.
In particular, I want you to focus on state-level elected officials that represent particular districts - the State Senators and State Assemblypersons. (NOT members of the U.S. House, such as Jacky Rosen or Dina Titus OR members of the U.S. Senate, such as Dean Heller or Catherine Cortez Masto, or the Executive Branch, such as Governor Sandoval).
Tell us a little about BOTH of them:
To which party does the individual belong? How long have they been in office? Did they hold a prior elected office? Read about the individual, either on this website or on their own website, and find something that strikes you as a good thing, or something you disagree with, and tell us about it - perhaps a vote for something you did or did not agree with. Would you vote for this person if they stood for election again? Why or why not?
ALSO remember that when you refer to a political party, you need to capitalize that party. There is a big difference between a democrat (a general term) and a Democrat (a member of the party); a republican (a general description) and a Republican (a member of the party).
Question 2
In your own words, respond to the following (showing mastery of both text and lecture):
Later this year, Nevada will elect a new governor (as well as the other positions in the plural executive.
Conduct a brief research project and tell me:
1. Who are the primary candidates from the major parties?
2. What are their primary messages to the voters?
3. Does one candidate or the other seem to fit with the political subculture that we identified for Nevada? How, or why?
QUESTION 3
DISCUSSION QUESTION (POLITICAL PARTIES)
Complete an online search for a minor political party (this would disclude the Democratic Party, as well as the Republican Party) and tell us about it.
Visit their website and determine what their platform is. In all likelihood, it will focus on a particular issue (e.g., gun control, or illegal immigration). If possible, post the link to the party's website in your posting. Then answer the following: Is this party likely to gain ground in America? Why or why not? (Hint: the answer is almost certainly going to be "NO", so what I am looking for here is an explanation as to WHY - based on the thoughts discussed in the book and lecture - this particular party will likely not enjoy success). If you are responding to another student posting in this thread, consider other reasons why it may not succeed and offer them in your response.
QUESTION 4
Assume for a moment that a group of people wished to legalize marijuana at the federal level. Would you advise this group to form a political party or an interest group? In your response, show (based on readings and especially lecture) why one would NOT be beneficial and another WOULD be be beneficial. Your own policy preferences for this issue are not part of the equation; you are simply an adviser to the group.
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.