CHECKS & BALANCES PROJECT 2016

Directions: A responsible citizen of the United States understands how the constitutional principle of checks and balances protects the three branches of government. You write an essay about the effectiveness of the system of checks and balances related during a particular administration, You must:

1.    State a position that evaluates whether the system of checks and balances worked during a particular Administration by evaluating whether it prevented one branch from exercising too much power.

2.    Provide background on your position by describing the Administration.

3.    Provide background on your position by explaining how one branch checked or could have checked another during this time with two or more examples.

Provide reason(s) for your position that include:

·      An evaluation of whether one branch increased its power during this Administration relative to another with two or more examples to support your position.

Make explicit references within the paper or presentation to three or more credible sources that provide relevant information AND cite sources within the essay.

General Library Resources

http://humanitiescampuslibrary.weebly.com/checks-and-balances.html

President Barack Obama Resources 

https://www.thenation.com/article/presidents-plan-military-action-requires-congressional-checks-and-balances/

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/february_2015/should_obama_ignore_the_federal_courts

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/17/federal-judge-in-texas-blocks-obama-immigration-orders/

http://theusconstitution.org/text-history/485

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/17/obama-defends-checks-nsa-surveillance

President George W. Bush Resources 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/georgewbush

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/magazine/09power-t.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&

https://www.aclu.org/blog/checks-balances-and-national-security-agency

http://www.li.suu.edu/library/circulation/Stathis/OrnsteinWhenCongressChecksOutSp12.pdf

http://portalsso.vansd.org/portal/page/portal/Media_Pages/Media_CBA/CBA_Pathfinders_Checks_Balances

1.     INTRODUCTION

a) Explain Checks and Balances- why is it important?

b) Background information of your selected Administration

c) State your position (Thesis Statement) – Did checks and balances work during this Administration? (one to two sentences)

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2.     EXAMPLE #1 (SUPPORTING YOUR POSITION)

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3.     EXAMPLE #2 (SUPPORTING YOUR POSITION)

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4.    CONCLUSION

ESSAY SAMPLE

Was Checks and Balances Effective During the Obama Administration?

The system of Checks and Balances is a unique feature of Constitution to help ensure that no one branch became too powerful. Each branch has powers that it can use to check and balance the operations and power of the other two branches. The Legislative branch is responsible for creating and passing laws that all American citizens must follow. They also have the ability to check the Executive Branch by approving Presidential appointments. The Executive Branch is responsible for executing laws that were established by the Legislative Branch. The Executive Branch has the ability to check the Legislative branch by vetoing legislation passed by Congress. The Judicial Branch is responsible interpreting the laws and determining if actions are constitutional. The Judicial branch has the ability to check Congress by declaring whether legislation is constitutional or not.

Barack Obama was elected as the 44^th president of the United Stated in 2008 and took office after his inauguration in 2009. Obama’s election was historic and unprecedented, as he became the first African-American president of the United States. Obama campaigned and preached the message of having “hope and change” for all American citizens and wished for both the Democratic and Republican politicians to work together. Obama was elected as the United States faced a multitude of problems. America was still in two grueling wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with no end in sight. The federal government maintained a trillion dollar deficit and could not afford to pay its own bills. Also, the U.S economy was in a recession and the unemployment rate increased rapidly. During Obama’s tenure through 2008- present he has accomplished many of his signature goals. Obama ended the costly war in Iraq, authorized the assassination of Osama bin Laden, and passed the Stimulus Package to save the American economy. Although it was a difficult process, Congress passed Obama’s most important initiative called The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). This ensured that all Americans have access to health insurance. However, he was unable to collaborate with Congress on many initiatives. “Throughout President Obama’s first two years in office, Senate Republicans waged war on his judiciary nominees — allowing only a handful of them to be confirmed. (Senate Confirmed A Smaller Percentage Of Obama’s Judges Than Any Other President In History)This lack of collaboration has the Obama to take action on his own and pursue action without Congress.

With that said, the principle of Checks and Balances has been ineffective during the Obama Administration. Obama’s airstrikes against Syria without the approval Congress and executive orders to fix the immigration system demonstrate how Checks and Balances do not work.