Our nation's storied history highlights the importance of federal and state government relations. Relations soured during the years guided by the Articles of Confederation and led to the more perfect union detailed in the Constitution. Take a few moments to think about federal and state cooperation during the periods associated with reconstruction following the Civil War, recovering from the Great Depression, implementing changes during the Civil Rights Movement, and combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this assignment, you will choose a contentious issue. Describe how the federal and state government did not agree on solving the issue at first but were able to work together towards a solution that benefited your community. You will explain how the conflict was solved or is being solved. You will evaluate the success or failure of the solution(s) to your chosen issue and recommend better ways of nurturing good relations in the future.
Big Question
How does American federalism distribute, share, and limit power and responsibility?
Instructions
- Open the American Federalism Document (opens in a new window) and download a copy of the document to your computer (click the Download button). You will answer all questions for this assignment in the American Federalism document. Google Doc Version
- Choose one of the following contentious issues to address.
- Civil rights
- Education
- Environmental regulations
- Healthcare
- Immigration
- Marriage
- Military
- Product safety
- Roads and highways
- Taxes
- Research your topic and find either a historical or current event that concerned both federal and state governments.
- One example for education is teacher certification.
- Discuss an issue about which the federal and state government have disagreed.
- Describe how the federal and state government have historically not agreed on solving the issue. (one paragraph)
- Describe how the conflict has been solved or is being solved. Include public policies or court cases that impact the solution. (one paragraph)
- Analyze how American federalism distributes, shares, and limits power and responsibility. Use examples from other issues or court cases as evidence to support your position. (one paragraph)
- Evaluate the success or failure of the solution(s) for your chosen issue. Recommend a better way to nurture good relations in the future. (one paragraph)
- Include a bibliography using at least two sources in MLA or APA citation format. Use Easy Bib to help you create the citation.
Big Question
How does American federalism distribute, share, and limit power and responsibility?
Checklist
Use this checklist to make sure you have completed the assignment.
- I have read the instructions on how to complete my assignment.
- I have reviewed the rubric to see how my assignment will be graded.
- I have downloaded the American Federalism document.
- I have chosen one contentious issue to address in my assignment.
- I have researched my chosen contentious issue to identify an event with historical federal and state government significance.
- I have written one paragraph describing how the federal and state government have not agreed on my chosen issue.
- I have written a second paragraph describing how the issue has been solved or is being solved, including policies or cases as evidence.
- I have written a third paragraph analyzing how American federalism distributes, shares, and limits power and responsibility, including policies or cases as evidence.
- I have written a fourth paragraph evaluating the success or failure of the solution and recommending a better way to nurture good relations in the future.
- I have included a bibliography of at least two sources of information in MLA or APA citation format.
- I have proofread my answers and support to make sure it is well written.
- I have converted my completed American Federalism document to a PDF file.
Submission
Once you have completed your American Federalism document, convert the document to a PDF file, and upload the document into the course. Please submit your completed assignment using the Add Submission button below.
Grading
This assignment will count for 30% of your grade in this unit. The following rubric is used to grade your assignment.
When Federal and State Governments Disagree Rubric| Category | Criteria | Points |
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| Government Issue Research | The student has provided a complete and accurate description of how the federal and state government have had conflicts about the chosen issue with evidence in the form of court cases, events, or public policies. | 10 |
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| Public Policy as a Solution | The student has provided a complete and accurate description of how the conflict has been solved or is being solved with evidence in the form of court case decisions or public policies. | 10 |
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| Government Power Sharing | The student has provided a complete and accurate description of how American federalism distributes, shares, and limits power and responsibility with evidence in the form of supporting issues or cases. | 10 |
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| Public Policy Resolution Success | The student has provided a complete and accurate description of the success or failure of the solution(s) and has recommended viable ways to nurture good relations in the future. | 10 |
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| Bibliography | The student has included a bibliography of at least two sources of information in MLA or APA citation format. | 5 |
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| Timeliness | The student has submitted the assignment on or before the due date. | 5 |
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U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (1931). "Unemployed men queued outside a depression soup kitchen opened in Chicago by Al Capone." [Image]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new window). [Public Domain]
Add submission
Submission status
| Attempt number | This is attempt 1 ( 1 attempts allowed ). |
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| Submission status | No submissions have been made yet |
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| Grading status | Not graded |
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| Last modified | - |
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| Submission comments | Comments (0) |
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Grading criteria
Rubric| Government Issue Research | | Not attempted. 0 points | The student has attempted to research the topic, but may need significantly more detail and/or accuracy in the response. 6 points | The student has provided a satisfactory description of how the federal and state government have had conflicts about the chosen issue. 8 points | The student has provided a mostly complete and accurate description of how the federal and state government have had conflicts about the chosen issue. 9 points | The student has provided a complete and accurate description of how the federal and state government have had conflicts about the chosen issue with evidence in the form of court cases, events, or public policies. 10 points |
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| Public Policy Solution | Not attempted. 0 points | The student has attempted to answer the question, but may need significantly more detail and/or accuracy in the response. 6 points | The student has provided a satisfactory description about how the conflict has been solved or is being solved with evidence in the form of court case decisions or public policies. 8 points | The student has provided a mostly complete and accurate description about how the conflict has been solved or is being solved with evidence in the form of court case decisions or public policies. 9 points | The student has provided a complete and accurate description about how the conflict has been solved or is being solved with evidence in the form of court case decisions or public policies. 10 points |
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| Government Power Sharing | Not attempted. 0 points | The student has attempted to answer the question, but may need significantly more detail and/or accuracy in the response. 6 points | The student has provided a satisfactory description of how American federalism distributes, shares, and limits power and responsibility with evidence from supporting issues or cases. 8 points | The student has provided a mostly complete and accurate description about how American federalism distributes, shares, and limits power and responsibility with evidence in the form of supporting issues or cases. 9 points | The student has provided a complete and accurate description about how American federalism distributes, shares, and limits power and responsibility with evidence in the form of supporting issues or cases. 10 points |
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| Public Policy Resolution Success | Not attempted. 0 points | The student has attempted to answer the question, but may need significantly more detail and/or accuracy in the response. 6 points | The student has provided a satisfactory description about the success or failure of the solution(s) and has recommended ways to nurture good relations in the future. 8 points | The student has provided a mostly complete and accurate description about the success or failure of the solution(s) and has recommended viable ways to nurture good relations in the future. 9 points | The student has provided a complete and accurate description about the success or failure of the solution(s) and has recommended viable ways to nurture good relations in the future. 10 points |
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| Bibliography | Not attempted. 0 points | The student has included a bibliography of only one source and/or has not presented the information in MLA or APA format. 3 points | The student has included a bibliography of at least two sources of information in MLA or APA citation format 5 points |
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| Timeliness | The student has not submitted the assignment on or before the due date. 0 points | The student has submitted the assignment on or before the due date. 5 points |
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