Local Government Issues Presentation

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Select a local government within your state to analyze. You may select either an urban, suburban, or rural government to review.

Prepare a 10- to 12-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation addressing the following:

  • Describe which area you chose: urban, suburban, or rural. Briefly describe the area’s demographics and characteristics.
  • Describe the local form of government and identify the major elected officials of your selected area.
  • Identify the major public policy issues, current events, and challenges this government faces and analyze one in depth.
  • Discuss how the state government is addressing the issue you selected.
  • Provide at least two potential, realistic solutions to the public policy issues, current events, and challenges this government faces.

Include speaker notes to provide more in-depth information.

Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines.

The War Powers Act

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Please see the attached pdf essay War Powers Act.jpg (also posted above), “The President versus the World: How Presidents Seized Control of the War Power”.  This page addresses the 1973 War Powers Act and how it has evolved over the past 40 years.  Essentially, the conclusion drawn in that essay is that the War Powers Act is essentially ineffective and, for all intents and purposes, powerless to stop Presidents from unilateral military control and deployment of troops into combat.

If this is so, after having read that page as well as the preceding page, answer the following questions:

  1. If no judicial court of authority, namely the United States Supreme Court, has stricken the 1973 War Powers Act and declared it null and void constitutionally, how is it that the authors of the text book are able to conclude Congress has few, if any, war powers remaining?  How can this be?  The law is the law, is it not?  (Specifically, explain the political phenomenon that has occurred here and has similarly occurred in other legal and constitutional matters allowing the law to be ignored.)
  2. Attempting to think as objectively as possible and placing your political partisan beliefs aside (looking at presidents as just that, presidents, as opposed to Democratic or Republican presidents) what does the increase in presidential unilateral military power do to the United States as a nation, for better or worse?  (There is no correct answer, yet think through the checks and balances consequences.)

Human Rights-NGO’s And IGO’s

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Addressing human rights issues is a major objective for intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the global community. International organizations promote, support, and protect human rights. They also provide service for those affected by human rights violations and abuses. For example, organizations may promote girls’ education and provide services for girls who are forced from school to work in a factory. The strategies that IGOs and NGOs use to address human rights, as well as external factors, greatly impact the outcomes of their efforts. Your task for this application is to explore the strategies that help to address human rights issues in a given region or nation and examine external factors that might impact human rights issues.

To prepare for this Application:

  • Review Chapter 7 in the course text Controversies in Globalization: Contending Approaches to International Relations.Think about humanitarian intervention as a strategy for addressing human rights issues.
  • Review Chapter 10 in the course text International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance. Pay attention to strategies IGOs and NGOs use to address human rights issues in the global community.
  • Review the interactive map and select a case scenario related to human rights to use for this assignment.
  • Think about IGOs and NGOs that might provide services to address the human rights issue in the case scenario.
  • Consider strategies IGOs and NGOs might use to address the human rights issue.
  • Think about factors that might impact human rights issues in the region or nation in the case scenario.

The assignment: (1.5–2 pages)

1. Describe the human rights issue from the case scenario you selected and the region in which it is occurring.

2. Describe one IGO and one NGO that provide services to address the selected human rights issue.

3. Explain one strategy and one technique the IGO and the NGO might use to address the selected human rights issue.

4. Explain two factors that might impact the human rights issues in that region or nation.

**Please cite the resources provided in text at least 3 separate times.

All references are provided so please use them.

Instructions

Roll your cursor over a region of the globe. In each region, you will find four case scenarios representing each of the global issues that you explore throughout the course: democratization, human rights issues, environmental issues, and health issues.

The case scenarios provide you with a brief example of a global issue occurring in that region of the world. You will use the case scenarios to complete an Application Assignment.

For the Application Assignment in Week 3, you should be prepared to address the following:

· Briefly describe the selected region and the global issue from the scenario.

· Describe one I-G-O and one N-G-O that provide service in that region to address the global issue.

· Explain at least one strategy the I-G-O and N-G-O use to address the global issue in the region you selected.

· Explain two factors that impact the global issue in that region. Be sure to use examples to illustrate your points.

Remember, you will be completing and submitting an Application Assignment based on the scenario.

Note: You may use the animated time line from Week 1 or the Internet to search for information on international organizations (I-G-Os and N-G-Os).

Regions

North America

Application of the Death Penalty

Although use of the death penalty is on the decline, the United States is one of the few industrialized nations that employs the death penalty in the criminal justice system. Many are against the use of the death penalty, and others think that it is applied unfairly. Consider the following situation. A murder is committed in a bar. The victim is a young woman. The last person the victim spoke to before being murdered is a bar regular who left the bar after having three drinks. He goes home alone and falls asleep. When the police come to question him, he cooperates and answers all questions. He has no alibi, since no one recalled when he left the bar and no one saw him go to his home. He is arrested, tried, and convicted based on evidence in the case. He is sentenced to death and placed on death row to await execution. Despite his claims of innocence, the legal system does not respond. A death penalty activist in Italy contacts the convicted man. In a letter to the inmate, he explains that there are international organizations to address this injustice and there are strategies to help prove his innocence. In addition, the letter explains factors that may impact this human rights issue in the United States.

Latin America (Includes Central America)

Reproductive Rights

A state-run health clinic in rural Bolivia is the primary care agency for the region. It is small but serves local women who are mostly of the Quechua culture.

A local woman arrives at the clinic with pregnancy complications. She is poor and has four children already. Due to complications, the pregnancy cannot be sustained, and the woman has a miscarriage.

She and her husband are asked to sign papers to permit the doctors to perform a dilation and curettage (D&C). This is a basic medical procedure after miscarriage. Unbeknownst to the woman, the signed papers give permission for the woman to be sterilized.

The doctors perform the sterilization procedure without ever informing the woman or her husband. Though the practice is illegal, it is commonplace. Local women are reluctant to go to the clinic for help, and there is an increase in pregnancy-related death in the region. You are an activist who is interested in women’s issues. Having heard about this situation, your goal is to set up a program for volunteers in the region to address this issue. This will require funding and planning on your part. You must submit a proposal for funding that states which international organizations (I-G-Os and N-G-Os) will administer the program. You must also explain specific strategies that will be utilized to address the issue.

Africa

War Rape in the D-R Congo

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (D-R Congo) and other parts of Africa, women and children are routinely raped by soldiers as part of a campaign to terrorize civilians in war-torn areas. In the D-R Congo, it is estimated that 75% of all women have been brutally raped by soldiers.

Victims of war rape are often re-victimized by their home communities. They may be shunned by their spouses, extended family, and neighbors because rape is considered to be taboo and shameful. In addition, those close to rape victims may fear reprisals by soldiers if they show allegiance or sympathy for the rape victims in this situation. You are an international aid worker sent to the D-R Congo to report on what international organizations are doing to address this horrific human rights abuse. You interview victims, aid workers, government officials, and administrators from a variety of international organizations working in the D-R Congo. You are to write a report that includes which organizations are addressing the issue and strategies they are using.

Asia/Pacific

Freedom of Speech

In China, a local writer is jailed after writing a manifesto for political reform that embraces many democratic principles. His incarceration comes without due process, and he is not allowed visitors. There are reports that the prisoner is being tortured and that the death penalty without trial may be imposed. These actions are in violation of internationally accepted human rights norms and standards, but they continue to occur.

You are an aid worker in one of many N-G-Os working in China. Your activities within China are restricted by the government; therefore, you must contact other international organizations working in the region but outside of China to enlist help in addressing this issue. Keep in mind that you should contact an I-G-O and N-G-O to address the issue and that you must define strategies to address it. You should also take note of factors that affect this human rights issue.

Europe

Human Trafficking

In Russia, a 19-year-old waitress is approached by her boss. He offers her a new job opportunity in Western Europe. He tells the waitress that she will work in retail and make a higher salary. She agrees to leave her home nation and travel with other young women to work abroad.

Unfortunately, this is a ruse to illegally kidnap the young women and force them into prostitution. The young woman is beaten, raped, and forced to have sex with multiple partners. Attempts to escape are met with violence. Passports and other legal documentation are confiscated, making it impossible for the young woman to leave. You are a retired police detective in London and wish to become active in combating this issue. Before you become involved, you decide to research organizations (I-G-Os and N-G-Os) that work to address this issue. You also hope to find information about strategies used to address human trafficking and research factors that affect this global issue.

Middle East

Domestic Violence

In a small town in Afghanistan, a 14-year-old girl is forced to marry a 50-year-old man in a marriage arranged by her parents. After the marriage, the young girl is disfigured by her husband, who throws acid in her face. His reason for committing this atrocity is that her dowry is not enough to sustain the family. Though this awful crime is a violation of international human rights norms and standards, the man is not prosecuted by the local police. You are a health worker who treats the young girl in the hospital. You decide you want to provide more than just medical help for her. You agree to gather information for her about international organizations in Afghanistan or neighboring regions that can help her with addressing this human rights issue. You also agree to gather information for her about strategies that are regularly used to address these issues. As you gather the information, you should look at factors that impact this human rights issue.

Presidential Advisor

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You are an advisor to the President tasked with cutting at least $300 billion from the budget. The president wants your recommendations to cut lines, not large categories. Explain why you chose those cuts.

Note: These are not true US budget numbers.

 

 

DOMESTIC PROGRAMS AND FOREIGN AID Cut some foreign aid to African countries  $17 billion
  Eliminate farm subsidies  $14 billion
  Cut pay of civilian federal workers by 5 percent  $14 billion
  Reduce the overall federal workforce by 10%  $12 billion
  Cut aid to states by 5%  $29 billion
MILITARY Cut the number of nuclear warheads, and end the “Star Wars” missile defense program  $19 billion
  Reduce military to pre-Iraq War size and further reduce troops in Asia and Europe  $25 billion
  Cancel or delay some weapons programs  $19 billion
HEALTHCARE Enact medical malpractice reform by reducing the chances of large malpractice verdicts  $ 8 billion
  Increase the Medicare eligibility age to 68  $ 8 billion
  Raise the Social Security retirement age to 68.  $ 13 billion
EXISTING TAXES Return the estate tax to Clinton-era levels, passing on an estate worth more than $1 million to their heirs would have portions of those estates taxed.  $ 50 billion
  End tax cuts for income above $250,000 a year  $ 54 billion
  End tax cuts for income below $250,000 a year  $ 172 billion
  Payroll tax increase for people making over $106,000 annually contributing more to Social Security and Medicare.  $ 50 billion
NEW TAXES Institute a Millionaire’s tax on income above $1 million  $ 50 billion
  Add a national 5% sales tax  $ 41 billion
  Add a tax on carbon emissions  $ 40 billion
  Tax banks based on their sizes and the amount of risk they take.  $ 73 billion
Total gap covered by your budget plan   $_________________

 

 

 

Use evidence (2 cite sources) APA and textbook cite to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least 2 outside scholarly source.

Textbook cite is ——

Magstadt, T. M. (2017). Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutions, and Issues(12th ed.). [Bookshelf Version]. Retrieved from bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781337512831

Note: Advice to the president should be written with each paragraph explaining, DOMESTIC PROGRAMS AND FOREIGN AID, MILITARY, HEALTH CARE, EXISTING TAXES AND NEW TAXES

2 pages paper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary of chapter 13

Public policy issues attempt to satisfy five basic goals: security, prosperity, equality, liberty, and justice. Security is the most fundamental goal of government, because a country cannot pursue or preserve other values without it. In pursuing security, government attempts to protect citizens from foreign enemies, from fellow citizens, from natural enemies, and, in some instances, from themselves.

In the United States, the goal of prosperity has historically been associated with a free-enterprise economy based on the idea of the commercial republic. In the twentieth century, however, the government has attempted to promote the economic well-being of individuals through social welfare and other programs. These programs have sparked heated debate over the proper role of government in economic matters, especially as the budget deficit has increased. Problems in the educational system endanger U.S. competitiveness in the international economy. Income distribution also made for a lively topic of national debate in recent years and became a front-burner issue after the Wall Street meltdown in the fall of 2008. The election of Barack Obama and the economic recession have made extravagant executive bonuses and income disparities front-page news.

The goal of equality in the United States has been closely identified with the effort to end racial discrimination. Two landmark Supreme Court cases in the post–Civil War period helped perpetuate state laws and public attitudes upholding established patterns of racial inequality. Later, Brown v. Board of Education (1954) spearheaded the civil rights movement, which culminated in legislative, judicial, and administrative measures aimed at bringing about genuine racial equality. These civil rights gains were followed by new controversies over mandatory school busing to achieve racial integration and affirmative action guidelines designed to rectify past inequalities. Other major public policy issues related to equality have addressed the rights of various ethnic groups, women, and the poor and disadvantaged.

The pursuit of liberty is a core value of U.S. society. Among the personal liberties protected explicitly by the First Amendment are freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion. The right to privacy, or freedom of choice, is another significant aspect of personal liberty in the United States.

We can narrowly define the pursuit of justice as the government’s attempt to ensure fair and impartial treatment under the law. In the United States, the criminal justice system strives to uphold a commitment to due process, or fair procedure. The controversial exclusionary rule attempts to balance the defendant’s right to due process against society’s right to be protected against criminals. Debates about judicial discretion and capital punishment also attempt to balance defendants’ and society’s rights.

Conflicts among these five goals prevent any one of them from being fully realized. A moderate, well-informed, and fair-minded citizenry is thus essential to sound public policy and a sustainable democratic order.