Triad F / Fall 2010

Triad F Integrated Assignment

A Legal Memorandum: Following a Federal Issue

(Due November 19)

You will demonstrate your understanding of congressional law and the political system of the United States by writing a legal memorandum. You are to pick an issue which you feel needs reform (change), and you will need to research the issue finding the best way to make change happen. This will require an understanding of the entire U.S. Government system.

Writing Details: You will write a 4-5 page Legal Memorandum describing how your issue has made its way around the three branches of government and your recommendations on what needs to happen next.

When choosing an issue, please make sure you can find ALL of the information needed in order to complete the assignment. All requirements mentioned below must be fulfilled in order to earn the grade. This is an integrated assignment, which means you will be utilizing information you have learned in all of your triad courses, and the grade will count for all of your triad courses.

The assignment sequence follows:

Legal Memorandum: (Your Issue)

To: Triad F

From: (Your Name)

Date: November 19, 2010

Subject: (Your Issue)

The “Issue” Section

(Due October 8) – 10%

The first section of the legal memo should be the "Issue" section. This is a description of the legal issue or legal question you will explore from a political perspective, not your perspective. You will be exploring this issue in detail, so this section needs to include the history of this issue and facts about your issue that you have researched, including citations. You can also include information on why this issue is important, but this assignment is not meant to be a persuasive paper about your opinion of an issue. You are not convincing your reader to side with you on the issue.

The “Analysis” Section

This is the main body of a legal memo. In this section you will analyze your issue using multiple resources within each branch of government.

The Legislative Branch (Due October 22) – 10%

You will begin by examining what effects Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives) has had/ or is currently having on your issue. You will only be looking at the 110th and 111th sessions of Congress. Make sure your topic is somewhat relevant and researchable during these sessions. Be specific when researching and reporting information about your topic (who said what and when in Congress?). This information is available through a number of resources available online. In addition, attempt to follow the actual Bill associated with your issue and if it stalls, explain why.

The Judicial Branch (Due November 5) – 5%

Next you will begin researching how your issue has been dealt with in the judicial branch. You will examine and write about two cases that you find in the Westlaw database. These cases should be in support of your position on the issue. Alternatively, you may use cases that involve dissenting opinions of your stance on the issue if you think it will help support your argument. If you want to make a change in the status quo – you may have to look at “dissenting opinions” which are found in appellate cases and Supreme Court cases – that disagree with the majority decision.

For example, if you disagree with censorship, you should find two federal court cases that have decided that censorship is in violation of the first amendment. If you wish to find dissenting opinions, you would find a case that ruled censorship is legitimate in certain instances. Your “Analysis” section will be the place to describe these cases.

The Executive Branch (Due November 5) – 5%

You will also need to discuss how your issue has been dealt with in the executive branch of government. You will explore what the current and previous President (Barack Obama and George W. Bush) have said (if anything), The Cabinet, or different Departments within the Executive Branch (Homeland Security). Make sure you report this information from the resource you found it in and include accurate, detailed information.

The Analysis section will ultimately be a detailed overview of how your issue has found its way through each of the three branches of government. If your issue has not reached a certain branch of government or is still in the process, be sure to explain that. If you do not mention all three branches, you will lose points.

The "Recommendations" Section

(Due November 12) – 10%

In this section you will describe the steps that should be taken with this issue to affect change in our society. Describe the history of this issue and the status quo. Argue for change in the status quo. Consider if another bill needs to be introduced. Would someone in one of the branches need to do something to get a bill moving again? What about interest groups? How will change in the status quo be implemented? Who exactly should you contact to start the reform process? What steps should be taken? Be specific- would you utilize a grassroots effort, lobby to your Congressman, what will you do to MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Your Final “Legal Memorandum” Submission

(Due November 19) – 60%

You will turn in each of the elements of the legal memorandum on the dates mentioned above. Your FINAL SUBMISSION will combine each of the elements into one final document. We are asking for each section chronologically to ensure that you are including the information necessary to do well on the assignment. It would be in your best interest to revise and improve each draft when your Seminar instructor returns it to you.

Writing Requirements

  • Your Legal Memorandum must address all of the aspects outlined above.
  • You must use at least 2 court cases from Westlaw. (You may use more than two if you choose).
  • Use sources that include information about your issue from the EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE and JUDICIAL branches.
  • Cite all sources using (APA)
  • Include a References page for all sources.

Formatting Requirements

  • Your Legal Memorandum must be at least 4-5 full-pages long, typed and double-spaced.
  • Use a standard 12-point font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica.
  • Use page numbers.
  • Use 1-inch margins on the sides and 1-inch margins on the top and bottom of the page.
  • Use a References page. This should be added to the end of your Legal Memorandum, but is not counted as pages towards the page length requirement.

Grading

This assignment is worth 20% of your final grade in Political Science/Seminar and 10% of your final grade in Composition, and will be graded on the following criteria:

  • that your Legal Memorandum addresses each section posed in the instructions above;
  • that you analyze the legislative branch accurately,
  • that you analyze sources to include the judicial and executive branch perspectives.
  • that you write clearly and observe standard grammar;
  • that your Legal Memorandum meet page length expectations; and
  • that you follow the formatting instructions.

What you need from your Triad Courses:

Composition:

  • Genre
  • Structure/Organization of an Academic/Legal Memorandum
  • Research

Seminar:

  • Personal Connection to Politics
  • Identifying Values/Goals
  • Critical Thinking on a Complex Issue

Political Science:

  • Understanding of the Different Functions of the Branches of Government.
  • Power and Citizenship in American Politics.
  • Understanding of How Change Happens in the U.S. Political System

Triad F / Fall 2010

Issue Ideas:

  • Pledge of Allegiance
  • Employment opportunities
  • Health care
  • Energy
  • Taxes
  • Civil Rights – Gender, Race, etc.
  • Immigration
  • Economy
  • Railroad
  • Copyright Laws
  • Interstate system
  • Transportation
  • Public Safety
  • Housing Finance
  • Environment
  • Federal Prisons
  • Technology
  • Housing Finance
  • Medicaid
  • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
  • Government Agencies
  • Abortion
  • Affirmative Action
  • Death Penalty
  • Economy
  • School Vouchers
  • Gun Control
  • Homeland Security
  • Immigration
  • Religion
  • Same-sex marriage
  • Social Security
  • United Nations
  • War in Iraq/Afghanistan
  • War on terror/terrorism
  • Welfare
  • No Child Left Behind
  • Unemployment
  • Financial Reform
  • Blogging
  • Affirmative Action
  • Privacy
  • Stem Cell Research
  • Environment
  • Global Warming
  • Corporate Fraud
  • Censorship
  • International Trade
  • Euthanasia
  • Medical Marijuana/Legalization
  • Energy Resources
  • Medicare
  • The Prison System
  • Student Debt