America’s Democracy: Your Report Card

America’s Democracy: Your Report Card

The primary goal of your last assignment is to critically analyze the primary features of the American national government. The results of your analysis will indicate what you have learned over the last five weeks. In order to accomplish this task, it is important to critically evaluate the key facets of our American democracy. You have been preparing for this final assignment each week by constructing a detailed outline of the Final Paper’s main points through the weekly Learning Activities. In addition, you have read the course text and course readings, reviewed videos, and researched additional material for each week’s assignments and for this paper.

This week, you will put all of those outlines, readings, reviews, and research together into a one summative paper. As we wrap up our course, reflect back on what you have learned about the key structures, systems, roles, and processes that embody our national government. Focus on the strengths and weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages, and positive and negative impacts of these aspects of our democracy. Use what you have learned so far to evaluate our national government and recommend ways to enhance what works and repair what is not working well. It is important to understand that this paper is not simply a cut and paste of your four Learning Activities.

While the research you have completed can serve as a strong base, it is important that you implement any comments from the instructor, as well as further expand on the material. Appropriate transitions and headings are needed to ensure a cohesive paper. Construct a six-page paper based on the detailed outlines that you created over the last four weeks. It is important to utilize APA headings for major sections of your paper in order to ensure that the paper is easy to follow. A model POL201 Final Paper Guide is provided for you to download and utilize when completing your Final Paper.

Scaffold your paper around the following outline: Title page, Introduction (half page) describing the paper’s overall thesis, and providing an overview of main points. The Constitution (1 to 1.5 pages) (Week One) describing one strength and one weakness of the U.S. Constitution, with recommendations to maintain the strength and correct the weakness. Federalism (1 to 1.5 pages) (Week Two) describing one advantage and one disadvantage of a national policy implemented by a federal agency, with recommendations to maintain the advantage and improve the disadvantage. Branches of Government (1 to 1.5 pages) (Week Three) describing one strength and one weakness of a branch of government (Executive, Legislative, or Judiciary), with recommendations to maintain the strength and correct the weakness. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections (1-1.5 pages) (Week 4) describing one positive and one negative impact of either political parties, interest groups, or federal elections, with recommendations to enhance the positive and mitigate the negative.

The conclusion should review your main points and your overall thesis. The references page must include at least eight credible sources, with at least six being peer-reviewed scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library. All sources must be documented in APA style, including a separate references page.

Paper For Above instruction

The American democracy, founded on principles articulated in the U.S. Constitution, embodies a complex system of governance designed to balance power, protect rights, and ensure representative rule. Over the last five weeks of coursework, I have critically examined the core structures, roles, and processes that define our government. This paper synthesizes that understanding, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of key components, and offering recommendations for enhancement.

The Constitution: Strengths and Weaknesses

The U.S. Constitution is the foundational legal document that establishes the framework of American government. One of its major strengths is its adaptability through the amendment process, which allows the Constitution to evolve in response to societal changes. For instance, the Bill of Rights has secured fundamental liberties for individuals, reflecting a strength in safeguarding individual rights against government overreach. However, a notable weakness lies in the potential for constitutional ambiguity, which can lead to differing interpretations by courts and policymakers. This vagueness sometimes results in contentious judicial battles and inconsistent enforcement of laws. A mechanism to maintain the strengths could involve judicial review to uphold constitutional protections, while clarifying ambiguous provisions through amendments or legislative guidance could address weaknesses, ensuring stability and clarity in governance.

Federalism: Advantages and Disadvantages

Federalism grants significant autonomy to state governments, fostering local self-governance and policy experimentation. An advantage of this system is the ability of states to serve as “laboratories of democracy,” testing innovative policies before wider implementation. California’s pioneering environmental policies exemplify this advantage. Conversely, a disadvantage is the inconsistency in laws across states, which can complicate national policy implementation and lead to disparities. An example is variations in healthcare access and quality. To maintain federalism’s advantages, supporting state-level innovation with federal guidance is important, while standardizing key policies could help reduce disparities and improve uniformity in essential services.

Branches of Government: Strengths and Weaknesses

The executive branch, led by the President, provides decisive leadership and the ability to respond swiftly to crises, exemplified by executive actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its strength is the capacity to implement laws effectively. However, a weakness is the potential for executive overreach, which undermines the system of checks and balances. This can erode legislative authority and lead to unilateral actions that bypass congressional oversight. To preserve executive strength, embracing transparency and accountability measures is essential, while reinforcing congressional oversight can mitigate overreach, ensuring a balanced distribution of power.

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections

Political parties and interest groups significantly shape policy agendas and mobilize voters, contributing to a functioning democracy. A positive impact is increased political participation and representation of diverse interests, including minority voices. However, this influence can lead to polarization and gridlock, hindering effective governance. Campaign financing and lobbying can also result in disproportionate influence by wealthy interests. To enhance positive impacts, reforms such as public financing of campaigns can promote fairness, while measures to increase transparency and limit lobbying are essential to reduce negative influences and promote equitable participation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the American government system possesses remarkable strengths, such as its adaptability and federal structure, but also faces notable weaknesses like ambiguities in law and potential overreach by branches of government. Addressing these issues through strategic reforms can reinforce the positive aspects while minimizing the negatives. A comprehensive understanding of these components facilitates ongoing efforts to improve governance, ensuring that our democracy remains resilient, equitable, and effective.

References

• Achen, C. H., & Bartels, L. M. (2016). Democracy for realists: Why elections do not produce responsive government. Princeton University Press.
• Edwards, G. C., Han, L., & Lee, T. (2019). Political parties and democratic accountability. Annual Review of Political Science, 22, 165-184.
• Fiorina, M. P., Abrams, S. J., & Popeo, J. (2019). Politics and partisanship in America. Routledge.
• Kettl, D. F. (2015). Politics of the administrative process. CQ Press.
• Lasswell, H. D. (2014). Politics: Who gets what, when, how. Peter Smith.
• Ostrom, E. (2015). Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action. Cambridge University Press.
• Peters, B. G. (2018). Public policymaking. Routledge.
• Sharpe, C. (2020). Federalism and the scope of government. Journal of Policy Analysis, 39(4), 754-769.
• Wilson, J. Q. (2017). The police and the criminal justice system. Harvard University Press.
• Yale Law School. (2021). The U.S. Constitution: Principles and Practice. Yale University Press.