This document outlines requirements for a short essay on a federal policy issue involving tensions between national, state, and local control. The essay must: 1) Identify a specific federal policy that requires interaction across levels of government and invites tension, summarizing the policy's goals and history. 2) Analyze the main debates around the policy's effectiveness and consistency with principles of federalism. 3) Evaluate the policy from the perspectives of its effectiveness in solving problems and compatibility with constitutional federalism, explaining these standards.

1. Short Essay – Policy-making in the Federal System
The U.S. government's expansive role in public policy is caught
in a swirl of conflicting cross-currents. On the one hand,
popular expectations about government's responsibility to solve
problems often exceed the capacity of state and local authorities
to respond effectively. On the other hand, policies developed at
the national level may not sufficiently reflect the great diversity
of interests across the US to be effective at the local level.
Moreover, the search for effective policy is further complicated
by theoretical debates about the constitutional framework of
federalism (e.g., what limits on national power can be derived
from the 10th Amendment?).
Select a policy issue that is in the middle of these cross-currents
between national, state, and local authority. It must be a policy
area other than education (the focus of Discussion One in Week
Two). Some examples include: federal health care policy (e.g.,
Obamacare, Medicaid–not Medicare); federal transportation
policy (e.g., federal transportation subsidies); federal highway
policy (e.g., federal rules about the minimum drinking age,
speed limits, or safety); federal urban planning and renewal
policy; federal poverty, welfare and unemployment policies;
national security policies that intersect/conflict with local
police power; and federal disaster planning and relief. These are
only examples. The policy area that you select must have a
significant federalism component that requires national, state,
and local interaction. It should also involve issues with a strong
potential for tension or conflict among different levels of
government.
Research and write an essay on a specific policy in the area that
you select. (Note: The word “policy” is used interchangeably
with the word “program.”) Your essay must:
Clearly identify a specific federal policy (the policy must raise
issues of federalism because it requires national, state, and local
interaction and invites tension across different levels of
government), and summarize the elements of the policy,

2. including the problem it is supposed to solve or improve.
Summarize the history of the policy. In your summary, explain
how the policy raises issues of federalism.
Analyze the main pros and cons in debates about the policy.
Evaluate the pros and cons from two perspectives:
The policy’s effectiveness. In your evaluation, clearly explain
your definition of effectiveness and how it should be measured
or determined.
The policy’s consistency with the constitutional framework of
federalism. In your evaluation, clearly explain your
interpretation of American federalism's constitutional
framework and why the federal policy is or is not consistent
with it.
Follow these requirements when writing the short essay:
The body of the essay (excluding the title page and reference
page) must be at least 750 words long.
The essay must start with a short introductory paragraph which
includes a clear thesis statement. The thesis statement must tell
readers what the essay will demonstrate.
The essay must end with a short paragraph which includes a
conclusion. The conclusion and thesis must be consistent.
The essay must logically develop the thesis in a way that leads
to the conclusion, and must be supported by facts, fully
explained concepts or assertions, and persuasive reasoning.
The essay must address all subtopics outlined above. At least
20% of the essay must focus on subtopic six, listed above (your
evaluation of the various pros and cons about the policy).
Your essay must cite at least one academic article found in the
Ashford Online Library and at least three other kinds of sources
(e.g., Supreme Court opinions, magazine or newspaper articles,
the course textbook, and reliable websites).
Use your own words. While brief quotes from sources may be
used, altogether the total amount of quoted text must be less
than five percent of the body of your essay.
When you use someone else's words, they must be enclosed in
quotation marks followed by an APA in-text short citation

3. (author, year, and page) to your source. The in-text citation
must correspond to a full APA citation for the source on the
reference page at the end of the essay.
When you express someone else's ideas, arguments, or facts in
your own words, your statement must be followed by an APA
in-text short citation (author, year, and page) to your source.
The in-text citation must correspond to a full APA citation for
the source in the reference page.
The form of the title page, the body pages, and the reference
page must comply with APA style. Additionally, the title page
must include the course number and name, the instructor's
name, and the date submitted.
The essay must use logical paragraph and sentence transitions,
complete and clear sentences, and correct grammar, spelling,
and punctuation.
For information regarding APA, including samples and
tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center within the Learning
Resources tab on the left navigation too