GOVt HELP

Research paper. Instructions are all in the document. Pick ONE topic that you would like to write about. 5 pages long. Must have bibliography. Due by Wednesday April 24 by 10 AM Central time!

Research Paper Topics – Government 2301

You may choose any of the following topics for your research paper. Your paper should be a minimum of five double-spaced pages with a font of no larger than 12 pitch. Remember that any research paper should include an introductory and summary paragraph. If none of these topics is of interest to you – I’m open to your suggestion – but you must clear the topic with me FIRST. You should include a bibliography with your paper. Remember that websites change periodically. If you click on the icon and it does not work – do a search for the topic or agency. You are free to go to other websites to supplement the material. If you have any problems, contact me. THIS PAPER IS DUE BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY, APRIL 25.

1. Changing Hispanic Power in America (

http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/congress

)

In recent years, the great cultural diversity of America has been reflected by the increasing number of Hispanics in the American population. Demographers predict that Hispanics will eventually become the largest minority group in the nation, possibly surpassing African Americans in total numbers. In addition, Hispanic voting has been on the upswing in elections. Appropriately, Hispanic representation has also been increasing. In order to gain an additional perspective on this trend, go to the above listed URL, entitled “Hispanic Americans in Congress.” Select the link to the Table of Contents and then hit “Introduction.” Read the several pages of material and answer the following questions:

· Which three states first sent Hispanic representatives to Congress? What effect did the Spanish-American War have upon the history of Hispanic Americans in Congress?

· Who were Dennis Chavez and Joseph Manuel Montoya?

· Why did the first half of the 1990s witness an increase in the number of Hispanic members?

· What is the Hispanic Caucus, when was it established, and why is it significant?

Select the back button on your browser and return to the main page and Table of Contents. Find the link entitled “Hispanic Americans in Congress, 1822-1935, List by Geographic Locations” and focus on the most recent years available.

· Which states in the 1990s have provided most of the Hispanic congressional legislators?

Now click on the links for any five contemporary Hispanic representatives. Read their short biographies and answer the following:

· Are there political, social, and economic issues that seem common to the policy interests of the five Hispanic representatives?

· On which important committees and subcommittees do the Hispanic legislators serve?

· Is there any overlap among those respective committee/subcommittee assignments?

· What to the various assignments tell you about Hispanic interests/needs in America?

2. Unratified Constitutional Amendments –

The Failed Amendments – The U.S. Constitution Online – USConstitution.net

and

http://www.oyez.org/cases/1901-1939/1938/1938_7

While 27 amendments have been added to the U.S. Constitution, there have also been six other amendments that have been approved by Congress but not ratified by the requisite number of states. Go directly to the first website and read the material on each of those amendments. Now, respond to the following tasks and/or questions:

· Summarize the content of each non-ratified amendment.

· Explain the significance of Coleman v. Miller vis-à-vis the ratification process (2nd link).

· Which of the six amendments in question was actually signed by the president?

· Can you suggest any reasons why these amendments were not ratified?

· Why do you think the proposed ERA amendment was given additional ratification time?

Other constitutional amendments have been proposed over the years as well, but they have not been able to clear both houses of Congress by the requisite two-thirds vote. Once again, using any available search-engine of your choice, try to find one example of a contemporary proposed constitutional amendment that Congress has considered. Summarize this amendment’s content and purpose.

3. Civil Liberties –

Home

Go the American Civil Liberties website listed above and choose three issues to read about. Summarize and express your opinions regarding stories found in the features, highlights, or congressional categories.

3. Civil Rights – The Death Penalty

First, choose one of the following movies to rent and view:

The Green Mile

The Live of David Gale

The Chamber

Dead Man Walking

If you have another movie in mind, check with me and it might work as well.

Provide a summary of the movie and the apparent position regarding the death penalty. Then, do a search on the “death penalty” and gather information both pro and con regarding this highly controversial issue. Take a position and defend that position based on what you have seen and/or read.

4. Public Opinion –

http://www.galluppoll.com/

The Gallup Organization has been taking polls of public opinion since 1935. It is one of the world’s foremost polling organizations. Go to the website above and read about polling, then answer the following:

· Describe the basic principle of probability sampling. What role does the concept of “equal probability of selection” have to play in this process?

· What is a random sample? Describe a process by which you could get a true random sample of a population.

· What U.S. national sample size is required in order to be accurate within a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points?

· What role does the wording of the questions have to play in getting an accurate picture of public opinion? Why does Gallup often test several different wordings of a question when they are asking questions about a new content area?

· Choose a poll on the website and analyze it in terms of the questions that you have already answered.

5. Interest Groups –

Choose an interest group that you think you would like to join after graduation from college. Now, go to its website and read everything. Then, in your essay, explain why you would like to be a member of this interest groups and summarize everything that you learned about this group. You may use any resources that you need to gather information regarding the interest group.

6. Elections –

http://www.opensecets.org/races/index.asp

Go to the “Open Secrets) website above which maintains a profile for all members of congress who ran in the last election. This profile analyzes all campaign contributions and their sources. Select your state and then your senator and house representative and answer the following:

· How much money did each candidate raise for the 2012 election?

· List the amount and percentage of total funds received from PACs.

· While on the website, summarize as much information regarding the money spent in Texas during the last election in 2012 – i.e. where the spending came from, who contributed, etc.

· Finally, click on the Stats at a Glance and summarize your findings regarding the elections across the nation.

Note – if you choose this question, you’ll want to look at the information from the primaries that were held earlier this year. Then take a look after the general election in November and see if they have updated their website.