GOVT 2305 113 Federal Government Essay Test #4 Chapters 12, 13 and 15
Instructions:
This test is worth 50 points towards your grade. There are twelve questions, each worth 4 points. Each question should be answered as completely as possible, requiring an itemized list, a short answer (4-5 sentences). Use all provided resources to answer the questions.
Q uestion 11 and 12 : There is no right or wrong answer here; however, it is imperative that you substantiate your commentary. These questions must be answered in a short answer and is to be a minimum on 200 words.
Questions will be provided as listed; answers are to be submitted in typed form, preferably as a Microsoft Word document. Then, please attach your document to the appropriate place in Blackboard. If there are any questions regarding this procedure, please do not hesitate to contact me. Good luck to all!
1) What are the constitutional powers and roles of Congress?
2) What are the unique roles of each the House of Representatives and the Senate? In addition, what are the differences between the trustee and delegate view of representation?
3) What are the different types of congressional committees? Briefly describe each one. Also, briefly describe the House and Senate leadership.
4) What are the roles of the President of the United States? Briefly describe each.
5) What are executive orders? What are they designed to do?
6) Describe the roles the Vice President plays as part of an executive administration.
7) What are the three major sources of law in the United States? (check your notes)
8) How is the federal court system structured? Explain the difference between
general and limited jurisdiction.
9) What is judicial review? Also, describe the difference between strict construction and broad construction, as well as judicial activism and judicial restraint.
10) What are the different types of opinions issued by the US Supreme Court? In addition, what are the three different courses of action the Court can stipulate?
In September and October of 2018, Americans witnessed what was arguably the most contentious confirmation hearing for a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court in American history. The nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, possessed impressive credentials, including a law degree from Yale Law School and experience as Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. However, he was also accused by several woman of sexual harassment and misconduct, primarily by a former high school classmate named Christine Blasey Ford. While some of the claims were clearly unsubstantiated, there were other claims that some of the Senators sitting on the Senate Judiciary Committee felt were indeed credible. In what largely became a battle between Republican senators, who supported Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation, and Democratic senators, who were against his confirmation, American society felt itself becoming polarized over Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Eventually, Judge Kavanaugh was confirmed by the United States Senate. However, some Americans began to wonder if there was a better method available in nominating federal judges. Hence, the question posed to you for this discussion board is as follows:
11) Should We Change The Method By Which We Select Federal Judges? Why or why not? (minimum of 200 words)
One of the major criticisms of the federal bureaucracy is that it is simply too big. The larger our government is from an organizational standpoint, the more expensive it is to operate it. While a majority of Americans feel that most of the bureaucracy is necessary in order for the American government to operate effectively and efficiently, there some persons in this country that believe that we can streamline our government and eliminate some parts of the government for the purpose of saving money. For instance, many Republican Party candidates running for that party’s nomination for President in 2016 proposed abolishing the Department of Education, including Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz, and Senator Rand Paul. In a bit of irony, former Texas governor Rick Perry currently serves as Secretary of Energy under President Donald Trump. However, in 2012, when he was running for the Republican Party’s nomination for President, he proposed abolishing that very cabinet department.
This leads us to the question for this week’s discussion board post, which is as follows:
12) Which governmental agency or department can we do without, if any, in order to reduce the costs of operating the government? (minimum of 200 words)
***Extra Credit***
What is the Presidents Cabinet? Please provide a list of at least eight members of the Cabinet?
