The U.S. government faces conflicting pressures regarding its role in public policy. Citizens expect the government to address national problems, but policies developed at the federal level may not consider local diversity and are constrained by debates around constitutional federalism. This document provides guidelines for a short essay analyzing a specific federal policy that involves interaction between national, state, and local authorities, such as health care, transportation, or disaster relief. The essay must define the policy, trace its history, discuss effectiveness and consistency with federalism, and cite academic and other sources in APA style.

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 toolbar in your online
course.