Political science

1. Do you think money plays too much of a role in our politics? 2. In your mind, do those with power in Canada ignore the wishes of the rest of us? 3. Have you ever thought about joining or contributing financially to a political party? Why or why not?

Prepare 250- to 300-word response to this question: How does public opinion influence American politics? Be sure to cite 3 examples of how public opinion affected political decisions in the last year. Please write this in a liberal/democratic point of view.

After reading all the module content materials, Rainey chapter 11 and Farazmand chapter 10, answer the following (200 words each): 1. Rainey (2014), Chapter 11 discusses leadership. Briefly explain four theories or models of leadership. 2. Explain leadership theories, styles, and their differences in organizations. Which of the models do you find most effective? 3. Identify 3-4 criteria for organizational effectiveness. 4. In addition, include at least one self-initiated question (guidelines for SIQs are in the syllabus) at the end of your response; then reply to at least one classmate’s question in 50 words.

Answer the questions separately, 2-3 paragraphs each. 1. Here is an article from just before Trump’s July 4 event at Mt. Rushmore about Doris Kearns Goodwin’s views on presidential leadership. You can scroll down and click on her actual remarks on television, specifically comparing Trump with the presidents she wrote about in her book. https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/07/06/doris-kearns-goodwin-cnn-presidential-historian-trump-coronavirus-pandemic Talk about what leadership should have looked like in the pandemic, and there are plenty of positive examples from both Republican and Democratic governors, as well as negative examples as well. And, of course, many positive and negative examples from many countries around the world, from Germany and Denmark, on the one hand, to Brazil and Mexico on the other. What’s the common thread for success or failure internationally? Populist leaders vs. respect for experts and consistent leadership. But the beauty of Goodwin’s work is that she offers us historic examples and helps us think more clearly about the qualities in leadership we need today. 2. What was interesting or surprising, or what did you learn, about the presidents portrayed (FDR and LBJ), and/or the epilogue.

In 1957, Congress added “under God” after “one nation” to the Pledge of Allegiance. A lawsuit was filed in California arguing that rules requiring students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance with its affirmative reference to God violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment. The case of Elk Grove Unified School District v Newdow (2004) went to the Supreme Court. While the Court chose to not decide the issue by arguing that Newdow did not have standing, the establishment clause was widely discussed in oral arguments. The oral argument for this case can be found on the Oyez website for online streaming or to download the MP3 file at http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2003/2003_02_1624 (Links to an external site.). Listen to the relevant selections of the argument. The school district’s attorney argues this issue at 17:16 to 26:17, and Newdow, representing himself, argues the issue from 30:17 to 44:0. What are the facts of this case? Explain the establishment clause of the First Amendment? What did the courts decide and why? Do you agree or disagree with the Court? Do you agree or disagree that the Pledge of Allegiance should be recited as “One nation under God”?

Summer 2020Comprehensive Exam QuestionsPlease answer five of the eight questionsThe exam consists of eight broad questions covering various aspects of Homeland Security and associated topics during your tenure here in our program. You are to answer five of the seven questions. The first three are required and then choose two more. We designed the exam to give you the flexibility to write extensively on those aspects of Homeland Security you find most interesting, pressing, worrisome, etc. The expectation is that your response to each question will be original, well written, grammatically correct, cogent, relevant, and worthy of the effort that you and your faculty put into the program. You may use any text or reference you used while in the program, any sourced material must be properly cited (APA format). The evaluation rubric is included with the exam.R1 (Required) Thoroughly explain the relationship between civil liberties and domestic security in the American tradition. Based upon your understanding of the competing needs of security versus civil liberties, Describe how we maintain the appropriate balance on is one subordinate to the other? Utilizing the resources available to you, state and defend your position on this complex issue. ( In other words – take a stand and support this stand with citation and rhetoric) Civil liberties granted to Americans have increased over the past centuries such as expanding them to women and minorities, but with the rising need of strong domestic security, our civil liberties have become more restrained in the past two decades. Civil liberties and domestic security are two important and necessary aspects in the U.S. but tend to conflict with one another as one tends to be affected negatively as the other becomes stronger. Within a democratic society, there is a necessary balance to be made of these two areas which also responds appropriately with modern concerns. Although we have had these civil liberties included in the ten amendments, the right to exercise them have been limited numerous times in our country’s history. Civil liberties have also been expanded to women and minorities through blood, sweat, and tears along with millions who advocated for civil rights, women’s rights and union’s rights. From this tremendous effort to fight for these rights, a devotion to keep these rights from being taken away has been developed. This has caused for domestic security policies desired to be put in place which may constrain civil liberties, to be dealt with high sensitivity and long debates before they are implemented. When determining which is subordinate to the other, there is a case for both sides, but I would argue that civil liberties are subordinate to domestic security. There is evidence of this shown after 9/11 with the swift passing of the PATRIOT ACT. This Act clearly had large constraints on civil liberties, but due to the attacks, the American people were calling for a quick and strong response which allowed to the Act being passed in less than _____ when an Act of that stature would normally take ____ long to be debated and implemented. R2 (Required) Thoroughly explain the traditional level of cooperation among federal, State, and Local agencies for domestic security, national preparedness, and disaster response. How have these agencies transformed their traditional models in response to the challenges that have developed and what must these organizations do to remain relevant in the future?Most Americans weren’t focused on national security in the 1990s, but many government entities, researchers, and think tanks were then developing plans based on perceived future threats. For example, on May 22, 1998, President Clinton issued Presidential Directive 62 (Protection Against Unconventional Threats to the Homeland and Americans Overseas) and Presidential Directive 63 (Critical Infrastructure Protection), which many view as preliminary plans for a Department of Homeland Security. There was also the Gilmore Commission in 1999 and the Hart-Rudman Task Force in 2001. Thus, the concept of Homeland Security was developing not so much as a bureaucratic response to attacks and disasters, but as bureaucratic policy development focused on changing the federal bureaucracy to meet future attacks.In short, policy experts identified issues of national security import (e.g., terrorist attacks) and recommended a plan for addressing them (the National Homeland Security Agency), but public interest never galvanized sufficiently to force congressional implementation. That would all change on 9/11, but even so, no definitive definition of homeland security has emerged.R3 (Required) Discuss the evolution of homeland security from a policy perspective, encompassing post-9/11 iterative development of organizational and mission frameworks to address man-made disasters (e.g., terrorist acts), natural disasters (e.g., Hurricane Katrina), and both (all hazards). How has the concept of homeland security changed, and how has that effected organizational changes at the federal level? Are these changes the result of policy decisions or after-the-fact reaction to catastrophic events, i.e., has the national approach to homeland security essentially been proactive or reactive?Choose two of the following:In instances of criminal or terrorist activities involving computers, explain in detail the processes that are required to gather and maintain chain of custody of evidence. Please include the legal steps which must be taken in order to create or gather this evidence in addition to the physical processes that are required.What are the grounds for a nation taking preemptive action to counter the potential of a terrorist strike? How is this decision supported or justified on moral / ethical grounds? Does the justification have more to do with might (power) of is it based in the right to self-defense / self-preservation? Does this apply to all levels of response from a drone strike to boots on the ground? Who should be responsible for making these decisions? Defend your answers.Define Terrorism in the classic and modern sense, utilizing the references you have available. Based upon your understanding of these definitions, describe the differences, if any, between global, transnational and domestic terrorism. Describe the motivations given for involvement in terrorism on an individual, sub-group, and a nation/state level. Utilizing these ideas give your position on the role that terrorism is going to play in shaping America in the future.Describe in detail the leadership skills necessary to lead at the federal or state level at a homeland security agency including ethical / moral dilemmas that are likely to arise.Understanding that Homeland Security consists of 22 separate organizations how do you foster a like-minded supportive culture as opposed to the current contentious and competitive culture that has been the history of these organizations?

We have learned so far that Presidents have various duties and responsibilities. In order to carry out these duties, Presidents are entrusted with numerous powers. One of these powers is the President’s veto power. Take a look at the following link to find out the veto rate by U.S. Presidents past and present: http://www.senate.gov/reference/Legislation/Vetoes/vetoCounts.htm (Links to an external site.) Why do you think our three most recent Presidents (Donald J. Trump, Barack H. Obama and George W. Bush) have exercised their veto power far less than Presidents who came before them?

A fundamental issue established at the outset of this course is the fact that becoming involved in terrorist activities is a process, where numerous factors can affect the mindset and actions of an individual. We have covered many of these issues and influences, so concerning this matter, compare and contrast at least two different radicalization models (Borum’s Pathway and Moghaddam’s Staircase) that explain terrorist motivations. In this research paper also summarize behavioral and psychological factors associated with disengaging from terrorism and describe what efforts or programs are most effective in countering radicalization and why. Recommended Source: King, M. and Taylor, D. M. (2011). The Radicalization of Homegrown Jihadists: A Review of Theoretical Models and Social Psychological Evidence. Terrorism & Political Violence, 23(4), 602-618. You should start with this article and then use other sources as well to make sure you hit the 8 expected scholarly references for this research paper. Assignment Specifics: • The body of your report is to be at least FOUR FULL pages in length (not counting title page and references) and is to contain the following: • A brief introduction, with the topic and your thesis • A main body, containing the “meat” of the paper, where you provide the requested information supported by class readings and with your analysis • A conclusion, summarizing your information clearly and concisely

You will write 2 essays on separate topics and submit them as 1 assignment. For each essay, you will write a 2.5 pages research-based paper in current APA format. Each essay must include 5–7 references in addition to the course textbook and the Bible. I attached a detailed instruction and reading material relevant to the assignment, so please kindly check. Essay #1 • What is the basic problem with making religion a relevant factor in USFP? For example, why do you think religious freedom agendas are not a top USFP priority? Or, differently, why does America cultivate close strategic relationships with nations like Saudi Arabia that foster an extremely intolerant form of Islamic belief and practice? • What seem to be the main obstacles to making religious values (Christian or other) of foreign nations the basis for the conduct of USFP? In other words, why can American Christians not simply demand that their government coerce foreign powers to accept its version of religious freedom as a condition of any alliance? Essay #2 Read Huntington’s article, “Clash of Civilizations,” and watch the presentation “Clash of Civilizations.” • In no more than 1 paragraph, summarize Huntington’s argument. • In another 1–2 paragraphs, defend Huntington’s argument’s plausibility or rational defensibility. Why does he believe that the organization of conflict will increasingly follow cultural-religious divisions? • In the remainder of the essay, critique the article. What are its shortcomings, weaknesses, gaps, or faulty assumptions? Hint: Think about key US allies around the world. Are they exactly like America ethnically, culturally, and religiously?

The president I choose to write about is George W. Bush This is who I want the paper to be on. Do not quote any other president, but George W. Bush. The instruction are to Think carefully about the choice because your role is not deifying a president, but honestly evaluating the president’s record using the guidelines Landy and Milkis used in their book. Some of the guidelines they used in classifying a great presidents consist of The legacies and visions they left while in office to reach for change. The Leaders were also able to educate the people about their agendas and win their alliance. They are great leaders and builders of their parties amid times of political realignment. They were ambitious and took opportunities. They knew what people wanted actions, words, and optimism. The president that are considered great presidents in the landy & mikis book are Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, George Washington, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The aim is not only to shed light to their individual career, but rather to find some common thread that will enable to better understand the presidential office itself, higher possibilities as well, as its necessary limitations. A great president took action when was required. The study of presidential greatness is an attempt to examine both potentialities and the limits of democracy itself. The sources used must be peer reviewed.