4.8: Module 3 Assessments

Assignment: Case Study: An American Oligarchy

Use the above link to access the assignment for this module.

This assignment is due in Module 3 .

This assignment aligns with Learning Outcomes 2, 3 and 5.

Directions

Review Module 1 Readings & Resources

• Who Governs? Elitism, Pluralism, and Tradeoffs by OpenStax is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
• Engagement in a Democracy by OpenStax is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Next, take note the of the list of countries below:

• China
• Iran
• Russia
• Venezuela

Further, I would like to also point you in the direction of The CIA World Factbook for additional information on these countries and others. Remember, any information pulled from this report should be properly cited in APA 6 ^th edition style and formatting .

The structure and function of the countries above reflect the definition of an oligarchy; that is, the rule of the elite, be it few or through one individual. This elite system of rulership can take place independently (authoritarian, dictatorship) or coexist with other forms of government such as democracy — including hybrid forms of democracy — theocracy, or, even communism. In terms of democracy, rhetoric in recent years suggests that the U.S. is not wholly democratic; that it is, in fact, an oligarchy. The ever-increasing role of money in campaigning champions this idea, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Elections 2010 Committee. With this in mind, complete the following:

• Identify the government structure of the United States; that is, its organization. For example, the three branches of government and where these branches derive their power.
• Identify the government structure of one of the countries above; that it, its organization. For example, its branches of government and where these branches, if any, derive their power.
• Next, evaluate citizen engagement in American politics; that is, voter participation and/or citizen efforts at lobbying the government. Are their factors that advance or restrain citizen engagement?
• Then, evaluate citizen engagement in one of the countries above; that is, voter participation and/or citizen efforts at lobbying the government. Are their factors that advance or restrain citizen engagement?
• Finally, evaluate American politics in comparison to the country of your choice. Does America reflect an elite theory of government (oligarchy) or does it reflect a pluralist theory (democracy) of government?

Your paper should be five pages in length, excluding title and reference pages. Four scholarly sources should be used, including two from the FSCJ online library. ⁽¹⁾

Submission

Submit the assignment here as a Word document with the file name Lastname_Firstname_Oligarchy.docx. To submit, choose theAssignment: An American Oligarchy? link above and use the file attachment feature to browse for and upload your completed document. Remember to choose Submit to complete the submission.

Grading

This assignment is worth 150 points toward your final grade and will be graded using the Case Study Rubric . Please use it as a guide toward successful completion of this assignment.

Quiz 3

Quiz Document Link

Use the above link to access the quiz for this module.

This quiz aligns with Learning Outcomes 1–5

This quiz consists of 10 multiple-choice and true/false questions. Each question is worth 2 points for the total of 20 points toward your final grading. This quiz covers reading materials from Module 1. You have 30 minutes and 2 attempts with the highest score to complete this assessment. ⁽¹⁾

Look Ahead: Team Project Outline

This assignment is due in Module 4 .

This assignment aligns with Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 4.

Directions

For this project you will work in a collaborative team to identify a political issue. Your team will then research, analyze, develop, and defend a position within that issue. The end product will be a paper that describes the issue and supports your team’s position. Remember, your goal is to select an issue, take a position, and develop a paper to support that position.

Political issues could include discussions on healthcare, immigration reform, American’s marijuana debate, tax reform, religious freedom act, LGBTQ rights, and, etc. If you are unsure of what constitutes a valid political issue, please check with the instructor for guidance in this area.

The outline should minimally contain the following sections:

1. Brief introduction and thesis statement
2. Overview of the issue (research including at least 5 references)
3. The team’s position
4. Rationale for your position (research including at least 5 references)
5. Summary, conclusions and recommendations ⁽¹⁾

Submission

Submit the assignment here as a Word document with the file name Team Outline.docx. To submit, choose the Assignment: Team Project Outline link above and use the file attachment feature to browse for and upload your completed document. Remember to choose Submit to complete the submission.

Grading

This assignment is worth 50 points toward your final grade and will be graded using the Team Project Outline Rubric . Please use it as a guide toward successful completion of this assignment.

Look Ahead: The Constitution Essay

This assignment is due in Module 5 .

This assignment aligns with Learning Outcomes 1–5.

Select one of the following topics to write about:

1. A More Perfect Union? Have we achieved the Constitution’s goals today? To answer this question, think about the goals expressed in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution:
   • Form a strong union
   • Establish equal justice for all
   • Insure domestic tranquility ( that is, peace at home )
   • Provide for the common defense ( today we might say homeland security )
   • Promote the general welfare
   • Secure liberty for ourselves and posterity

   With this in mind, and using an A–F (A, B, C, D, & F) grading scale, assign a grade to each area of the preamble. For instance, assign an “A” if you think the U.S. has lived up to its goal of forming a strong union, and so on and so forth. Your effort here must go beyond mere assertion; that is, simply ascribing a grade to each area. You must qualify the rationale behind your evaluation. You accomplish this task with the use of relevant, scholarly data. You should conclude your paper with one recommendation for improvement in your lowest rated area.

   This paper should be approximately five pages in length. A total of four scholarly sources should be used to stake your claims. Your paper should be in APA format and will be graded based on the attached rubric.

2. What Happened to Our Constitution: Executive Agreements, Executive Orders, and Signing Statements . A functioning legislative branch is paramount to a healthy democracy. To the degree that our Framers embraced this philosophy can be seen in the expansive list of powers granted Congress by the Constitution. However, in recent years, many have pointed to the erosion of the nation’s legislature. In particular, it has been noted that the presidential use of executive agreements, executive orders, and signing statements have harmed America’s doctrine of separation of powers by circumventing the legislative process itself. To this end:
   • Select one of the topics to expound upon, either executive agreements, executive orders, or signing statements.
   • Identify the constitutional basis for such, if any.
   • Provide an example of this tool at work in American federal government;
   • Explain the intersection of such use with the doctrine of separation of powers.
   • Conclude by affirming the strength or weakness of the nation’s legislative process.

   This paper should be approximately five pages in length. A total of four scholarly sources should be used to stake your claims. Your paper should be in APA format and will be graded based on the attached rubric. ⁽¹⁾

Submission

Submit the assignment here as a Word document with the file name LastName_FirstName_Module5Essay. To submit, choose theAssignment: The Constitution Essay link above and use the file attachment feature to browse for and upload your completed document. Remember to choose Submit to complete the submission.

Grading

This assignment is worth 150 points toward your final grade and will be graded using the Essay Rubric . Please use it as a guide toward successful completion of this assignment.