National & State Power and Responsibility During the Covid-19 Pandemic

I uploaded the essay requirements. I need 5 pages (not including the sources cited page and the cover page.) I will make the cover page. Everything should be included up in the file I attached. There must be 3 NYTimes articles, do not use other sources please, unless they are Washington Post or the other website mentioned. Also, please be sure to use the Federalist papers as a source as well. The struggle for democracy is also listed as a source. It is a textbook that I cannot upload as it is too big. If you want me to take pictures of it, then email you them, I can do that too. Please let me know if you have any questions.

American Government ~ POL 101

Ms. Dorinda TetensJohn Jay College Email: dorindatetens@hotmail.com

2ndPAPER ASSIGNMENTDUE: December 1, 2020

send to email address above (pdf file only) NO PAPERSACCEPTED after 11:58pm December 1

ASSIGNMENT:

Revisiting Federalism: National & State Power and ResponsibilityDuring the Covid-19 Pandemic

Context:

The domestic and global Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the continuing struggles over the boundaries and expectations for US federalism (along with other struggles around economic-class, gender, and racial disparities). Our previous discussions about federalismdemonstratedthat it is not a foregone conclusion that the federal government will take action during a national crisis. So, even though the US Constitution and US Supreme Court cases have established legal parameters for federalism, elected government officials guide or determine the direction of action or inaction by the national government, particularly at a moment of crisis.As discussed in class, during the Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover did not believe the national government needed to intervene in the systemic national and global economic crisis. He believed that state and local governments should handle the systemic crisis. In his re-election campaign, he encouraged individuals to pull themselves up by their “boot straps.” NY State Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt took a different approach to the crisis by establishing NY State agencies and programs which helped NY State residents. He took a different approach to federalism when running for US President, with his “new deal” for America. Hoover was not re-elected; Roosevelt replaced him. President Franklin D. Roosevelt led a national response to a systemic crisis. Today’s pandemic is similar in that the beliefsof the current US president continue to affect the role of the national government to address (or not) the spread, containment, and outcomes of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Paper Assignment:

Based upon the potential powers and responsibilities that the national government and state governments have within federalism, assess the actions and inactions of elected government officials around the national and international Covid-19 pandemic. In particular, how have the current US President and state governors(Democrats and Republicans)handled this crisis, since February? What is their conceptualization of the function and boundaries of federalism during this crisis? Which approach or approaches have you determined (through critical analysis) may be the most productive one(s)?In other words, what has happened and what could have happened? What is happeningand what could be happening and why? Critically analyze the current national government’s statements and actions (as well as inactions) in the national and global crisis –the Covid-19 pandemic, in the context of federalism. When and how has the current US President asserted national

authority and rights as well as “states’ rights” linked to state authority and responsibility? Has the national government lived up to its promises and guidelines? What have the states done and what do Republican and Democratic state governors continue to ask of the national government?

REQUIREMENTS:

This is not an opinion paper.Your paper must present a reasoned argument that is supported by facts (verified information not assumptions or political propaganda) from legitimate sources and this includes critical analysis of politicians’ claims(i.e., compare political statements to facts). In order to assess the current dynamics of federalism during this crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, start with the founder’s intent for federalism with the Federalist Papers you have read. What did they think the national government’s role should be within federalism for the country to function well? (Nos. 39&45) What did they expect the president’s role to be vs the congress’s role to be in the national government, within the system of federalism? (Nos. 37 & 70) Once you have this foundation, assess if cooperative federalism, competitive federalism, innovation federalism, and devolution help you to understand what is happening during this crisis (or may help elected government officials). This can include expectations for federalism, potential flaws in federalism and potential remedies through federalism. For example, when you critically analyze the events that have transpired, do all of these approaches to federalism make sense? Some states may provide innovation in the approach to containing the virus (or testing for it), but other states’actions can lead to a spillover effect with a negative impact to the country’s efforts. Can and should the national government prevent the spillover effect? Yes or No, explain why. If yes, explain how? Also, should states be competing with each other and the national government for basic necessities (such as ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), testing supplies, and medications) during this crisis? Should the Defense Production Act, that the US President invokedin a few instances, be fully used (as only the president can do) so that the competition for basic supplies can stop and the national government can order them and regulate the production and distribution for the nation, to ensure supplies are available and prevents price gouging, as many state governors (and medical professionals) continue to request? When constructing your argument, take into consideration that the Defense Production Act could have beenused by this president to create a stockpile of resources to be available for surges in the spread of the infection and a 2ndwavethat was predicted, but it was not.In addition, while you can look at any statements by any governors who areRepublicansorDemocrats, it is instructiveto knowwhat governorsfrom MA, MD,OH, CT, NJ, NYsaid at the beginning ofthe pandemic. Requests from both political parties wereconsistent. It is also important to notice what happened later in other states. Whatdidstate governors do in conjunction with the current president’s recommendations(not the task force) and what were the consequences? Did any state governors change their policiesand what were the consequences? (TX, AZ, FL, GA etc.)Finally, assess what approach to US federalism will be the most productive during this time of crisis.

Technical Requirements, Citations, and WARNINGS:

The paper must be five to sevenpages, double-spacedwith standard margins and font. You are required to useThe Federalist Papersand The Struggle for Democracy.In addition to these twosources, you need to use a minimum of 3New York Timesarticles;you can use articlesas early as February 2020through present day. In addition, you can use the Washington Postand you can use C-span.org to recap political statements about the pandemic. If you want to cite any sources that were not used in classor recommended in this assignment, I must approve them at least twoweeksprior to submitting the paper. The maximum is two, in additiontothe sourcesalready required.Requests can be made in writing, no later than2 weeks priorto the submission of thepaperand we can discuss the request during office hours. Make the request in enough time for us to be able to discussyour reason for needing the additional source.All sources you use must be cited and cited appropriately, both within the paper and at the end of the paper. If you have any questions about whether or not you need to cite a source or how to cite a source, ask. Any paper that does not use appropriate citations will automatically have ten points subtracted from a possible one hundred. If there is any type of plagiarism, the paper will not be read and there may be formal charges brought against you (see syllabus and Undergraduate Bulletin). Any paper that does not cite any sources from class will not be read; therefore,it cannot be graded.Submit your paper as pdf fileto dorindatetens@hotmail.com, by Tuesday,December 1, 2020 no later than 11:58pm. Makesureyou indicatewhich specific classyou are taking with me –in the subject line of the email.

Suggestions:

Start thinking about your paper now. Make sure you understand the assignment. If you create an outline (even an informal one), this can help you determine what issues you will address. Then create a clear thesis that you will support throughout the body of the paper. If you have any questions, contact me during office hours or make an appointment.Additionally, office hoursvia Zoommaybe scheduled to discuss the paper further (TBA via email). But, do not wait for these Zoomoffice hours to start the paper. Startyour assignmentnow.When you do this, it may lead to questions about your work that you can bring to me.NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED!