Overview
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ASSIGNMENT: VIDEO: Local Government-A Model for American Democracy | Jim Nowalk | TEDxBaldwinHighSchool
Long-time Congressman and former Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill popularized the phrase “All politics is local,” calling attention to the robust influence local interests and issues can have on decision-making at the federal and state levels. Whitehall Mayor Jim Nowalk will take a similar perspective as he shares his observations and experiences based on 37 years of service to several local governments. Mayor Nowalk believes that local government is, in many ways, a model of American democracy and as such, can offer lessons from which the federal and state governments could benefit. With the political and social turmoil created by the 2016 presidential campaigns and the failure of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania to adopt a 2015-16 budget, these lessons in efficient and effective governance from local municipal governments may well provide the solutions for which the American people and the citizens of Pennsylvania are searching. Mayor Jim Nowalk is a 1970 graduate of Baldwin High School and a 1974 graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he received a BA in government. After graduating from Duquesne University’s School of Law in 1978, he was hired as an Assistant County Solicitor for Allegheny County, assigned to John J. Kane Hospital. He later served as the Executive Director of the four Kane Regional Centers. He has been an attorney in private practice since 1989.
Answer the following four questions based on the assigned material.
- Compose a short summary (2-3 sentences) of the assigned article or video.
- Highlight the THREE most important points made by the author and/or speaker. Explain your choices.
- Discuss why this article and/or video may be useful to someone studying state and local governments. Make connections to the concepts introduced in the course.
- What conclusion (findings) did the speaker or author reach? Discuss any limitations mentioned as well as implications for future research.
Your initial discussion postings (150-200 words)words) should demonstrate an understanding and analysis of the assigned readings and videos. It may be helpful to reference the assigned material in your response demonstrating connections between your thoughts and the course resources. It is not necessary to use citations on the discussion board (unless you are using outside sources).