A recent presidential election, new Administration, unified government, and renewed interest in separation of powers between co-equal branches, executive authority over the bureaucracy, the role of congressional oversight all point to a relevant range of subjects for you to select a topic, engage in research and analysis, and compose an essay addressing a current topic that illustrates executive-legislative relations.

Washington, D.C. is an extremely competitive, political town and you must work hard to govern — whether it is via legislation, an executive order, or to keep or increase your agency funding — it is an important part of government. No matter when on the legislative calendar or President’s agenda, you sell your ideas and compete for attention, staff, funding. 

Choose an issue of contemporary relevance to the federal government — it may be an issue of primarily legislative oversight or initiative or executive branch purview. However, in particular, identify a current issue of contention between the branches and present a reasoned argument or analysis describing the problem or conflict and how the branches work (or fail). 

1. Submit a written analysis on a current topic of your choice. If you have any questions about relevant topics, please reach out to your Instructor.
2. A quality report will be betweeN(3-4 content pages).  
3. Clarity and detail, as well as connections to the structure and powers of each branches, are more important than length.
4. You should use at least 5 quality sources to research and clarify your thoughts. When appropriate, the sources should be cited within the body of your analysis (using MLA
5.  (Links to an external site.)
6. Links to an external site.
7.  or APA 
8.  (Links to an external site.)
9. Links to an external site.
10. style). A complete bibliography or Works Cited should be and the end of your submitted document and will include all sources from which you gathered information. URLs alone are NOT a sufficient citation (See MLA
11.  (Links to an external site.)
12. Links to an external site.
13.  or APA
14.  (Links to an external site.)
15. Links to an external site.
16.  style guides).
17. Be sure to check for clarity and appropriate word usage; complete sentences; correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. 
18. You should demonstrate substantial understanding about your topic and the current state of play on the issue.
19. Be sure to follow all guidelines as outlined in the full Writing Assignment Rubric (click here).

PLEASE SOMEONE HELP! I AM TERRIBLE WITH THIS STUFF AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THEYRE ASKING!

Analyze and critique the theory and practice of the politics and governments of the United States and California.

Instructions

In your essay writing for this course, use at least two of the following “tools” to analyze the piece. In your introductory paragraph (or second paragraph in some instances) mention which two tools you are using. This is the backbone of your thesis and should help with the structure and organization of your paper.

Feel free to employ your artistic freedom in your piece, and I do not grade based on my personal beliefs and values. I grade the essay based on the quality of the analysis, the supporting evidence/examples, grammar, structure, organization, and clarity. Length is not a factor, as an essay is only as long as it needs to be. That being said, an essay is not done until it has completed its purpose; in this case using two types of analyses to develop further understanding.

Analyze in an essay. Use two tools of analysis.

• Compare and contrast (two or three sections of a piece)
• Compare and contrast (with outside information/experts such as academic experts, politicians, textbooks, and other professional sources)
• Apply to something you know (pop culture, other text, experience, historical examples, other material)
• Reinterpret (put the author’s ideas into your own words, communicate their point in a new way)
• Relevance (does the author’s ideas apply to something going on today?)
• Argue for (provide several examples why the author is correct)
• Argue against (provide at least one example why the author is incorrect)
• Proscribe (criticize the author or the piece)
• Prescribe a solution to a problem the author raises, or propose a better solution than the author gives
• Identify if author has a bias and explain with examples

 Then use outside information to give examples.

Include a full introduction of the author and his text (Francis Fukuyama, Origins of Political Order Chapter 5, “The Coming of the Leviathan”).

The Coming of the Leviathan

Examples

Thesis might look like: In order to better understand Fukuyama, we will compare and contrast two sections. Similarities and differences will be pronounced. These similarities and differences can be exemplified with pop culture. Using the popular show ___________ from Netflix, we can better understand Fukuyama’s argument about state formation.