320 RSH WK5

The purpose of this paper is to provide practical application of material learned by developing concepts presented in the textbook and presentations. The paper must be at least 2,400 words (double spaced, 12-pt font) and include at least 6 scholarly sources in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible. You must include a title page and a page of references. 

In order to write this paper, you will need to carefully study the materials and concepts that you have gathered and analyzed in this course.  Stylistic points such as grammar and spelling will be considered in grading. Your paper must be in current Turabian format. Doing the minimum amount of work does not guarantee a perfect score. 

Topic: Presidential relations with Congress

The Research Paper has 2 steps. First, you will analyze the situation provided in the case study.  Second, you will apply the concepts learned in this course in order to answer the questions provided.

Be sure to use any information you can gather to answer your questions including any actual cases you can provide as factual support for your conclusions.

The Scenario:

Our country was founded on the principles of limited government, individual autonomy, respect for privacy, and the rule of law.         

U.S. presidents, however, have often supported sweeping initiatives as a response to existing problems and, perhaps, to give themselves a legacy. U.S. President Barack Obama was determined to institute a federally directed national health care system. To bring about passage of this legislation, President Obama and congressional Democrats strong-armed members of Congress and offered numerous incentives for the votes of wavering members. The push for Obamacare, as well as other presidential initiatives soured President Obama’s relations with Congress. Eventually both Republicans and Democrats became critical of Obama.

Obama, of course, was not the first president to push an executive agenda that ran afoul of the Congressional agenda and often eroded Constitutional principles.  

As a part of your essay, fully explain the following:

• How does the executive's relatively new and easy ability to unilaterally make war against foreign nations affect the Constitutional balance?
• What is the impact of the veto power?
• What Constitutional issues are raised by spying by drone and satellites, universal electronic surveillance, and warrantless search and seizure?
• Is such executive overreaching a new phenomenon?
• What is the significance of presidential signing statements?

Justify all of your answers with supportive examples and cited in The Modern Presidency.

Lastly, be sure to analyze the questions within the context of things that you learn by following political events. In this regard, do not rely exclusively on the textbooks for the course.

Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 5.