Group Research Assignment

I have divided the class into four work groups of four or five students each. Every group will assign each of its research questions to one of its members. Within each group, every student will ask another to review her or his paper. The reviewer’s name should appear on the paper, along with that of the author.

• Essays should be double‑spaced and no more than six pages long. (Use twelve-point type.) I will not read past the sixth page.
• Use secondary sources to establish context. Use primary sources for the bulk of your research. Seek information in scholarly journals and government publications. Wherever possible, rely on hard data such as election returns and polling results. Do not just rely on news media accounts, which may be inaccurate.
• Cite your sources, using proper format, such as Turabian.
• Watch your spelling, grammar, diction, and punctuation. Errors will count against you.
• Submit essays to the Sakai dropbox by 5 PM on Friday, 14 November. (Yes, you have two extra days.) Papers will drop a gradepoint for one day’s lateness, a letter grade after that. I will grant no extensions except for illness or emergency.

Blanchard-Reed, Chong, Covarrubias, Dobie

• When a reporter asked about the federal response to Ebola, the White House press secretary said: "you can sort of take this up with James Madison, right?"  What did he mean?  Does federalism help or hurt the response to disease and other emergencies?
• Explain the relationship between events in Ferguson and posse comitatus. Consider both the militarization of police, and the role of the military in civil order.
• Governor Brown has signed an expansion of California's production tax credit.  Hollywood applauded, but was it a good idea?
• Explain the outcome of the 2014 Wisconsin gubernatorial race. Take the story back to the historic 2012 recall election.

Greenberg, Hill, Ivy, Landeros

• Explain the current controversy over civil asset forfeiture. What is the case for it? What is the case against it?
• Why are levels of economic inequality so much greater in some states than in others?
• What is likely to happen as a result of Shelby County v. Holder?  Give serious consideration to arguments on both sides of the case.
• Explain the outcome of the 2014 North Carolina Senate race.

Landgraf, Ludlam, Ma, Muller, Pandya

• Some argue that strong party organizations would mean less polarization. Do you agree or disagree?
• On marijuana and same-sex marriage, do liberals and conservatives tend to stay with their customary positions on federalism and states' rights?  Explain.
• Would splitting California into six states make sense?
• Texas leads the nation in the creation of jobs at all pay levels.  Why?  Are there any downsides to Texas job growth?
• Explain the outcome of the 2014 Kentucky Senate race.  (Include the primary campaign.)

Peck, Plumlee, Stewart, White, Zemke

• Explain butt-legging. Is it an inevitable product of federalism? What can the federal government do to stop it?
• Evaluate the National Popular Vote Compact, weighing arguments for and against it.
• How have federal prosecutors used "honest services fraud" charges to nail state and local officials?  Do such prosecutions jeopardize federalism?
• Explain the outcome of the 2014 Colorado Senate race.
• Explain the outcome of the 2014 Iowa Senate race.