Ch 13-15 Discussion (p)
You have three topics to choose from in Part A
Question #1: The Presidency
Many of the founders were worried that the office of the President would gain too much power, so the authority of the presidency was limited in a variety of ways. In fact, the title “President” was chosen because, at the time, it did not carry weight and implied authority of “King” or “Monarch”. Since then, however, the power of the presidency has expanded dramatically. There are a variety of reasons that the power of the presidency has expanded since the time of the founding, including changes to how presidents are elected, the expanded scope of activities undertaken by the federal government, the administrative power of the presidency, and the President’s ability to communicate directly with the public. Discuss which of these factors were most important in expanding the powers of the presidency, and the pros and cons of the President having more power today than the founders originally intended.
Question #2: Bureaucracy in a Democracy
Most people have only a vague understanding of how the federal bureaucracy works. We may have had a bad experience with the IRS, or a nice time at a federal park, but the federal bureaucracy touches our lives in many more ways. Often, our lives are shaped by bureaucratic actions that we don’t even know are taking place.
With that in mind, what in the reading this week surprised you the most? Feel free to address a function that you didn’t know that the federal bureaucracy serves, ways that the bureaucracy interacts with Congress, how the public or interest groups can influence bureaucratic decisions, how the bureaucracy has changed over time, or any other topic that you found surprising and informative.
In your response, try to describe how your newfound understanding of the bureaucracy changes the way you think about American government more broadly.
Question #3: The Federal Courts (A)
Once appointed, federal court justices serve until they die or choose to retire, which has both positive and negative consequences. Discuss the benefits of federal judges serving for life and the potential problems that this feature of our judicial system can create. Having weighed both sides of the question, argue whether lifetime appointments make sense today. If you do not support lifetime appointments, propose an alternative that could still accomplish the positive aspects of federal judges serving for life.
Part B
Answer two of the questions below and comment on your classmates’ answers.
1) Imagine the United States is facing a major crisis, like a pandemic or a national security threat. You are part of a government task force. Do you prioritize giving the federal government more power to act quickly (Federalist approach) or limiting government power to protect individual liberties (Anti-Federalist approach)? Explain your choice and consider the possible consequences of your decision
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2) Suppose a new law is proposed requiring all states to follow a uniform education curriculum. Some states argue this limits their freedom to set their own standards. Would you support giving the federal government the authority to enforce the curriculum (Federalist view) or protecting the states’ rights to make their own rules (Anti-Federalist view)? Explain the potential benefits and risks of your choice.
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3) Imagine the government wants to implement a nationwide surveillance program to prevent crime and terrorism. Would you argue that individual rights should always come first, even if it limits government efficiency (Anti-Federalist perspective), or that granting more government power is justified to protect the greater good (Federalist perspective)? How do you balance safety with liberty?
