Reference no: EM133239114
Assignment - Federal Architecture in The United States Government Discussion & Response
Description - This week, explore the flow chart that represents the political architecture of the USA HERE. Since the Constitution created three branches--Article I created a bicameral Congress, Article II created an Executive branch headed by a President and a VP with basically two powers, and Article III created a federal judiciary, the political architecture of today represents not simply the idea of separation of powers and the resultant checks and balances that result, but the history of governing in general. The current existence of the Executive Office of the President (EOP), fifteen cabinets, and a wide array of regulatory agencies, public corporations, and other institutions with powers that range from spying and intelligence gathering (CIA) to an independent institution for engaging in monetary policy (the Federal Reserve Board) represent the complexities of the political architecture, the responsiveness of the system, and other themes too.
For the discussion board this week, you can discuss whatever you want regarding the political architecture of the USA, but it would be interesting to see what students have to say about the following questions:
What would Madison (the so-called "father" of the Constitution) have to say about the political architecture of today?
Is the current size of the national (federal) government consistent with what the founding fathers had in mind?
Do you see any redundancies or overlaps across the government?
Is there any institution/organization that you would create?Explore the flow chart Political Architecture of the USA and make some comments about the political architecture of the USA, paying particular focus on the separation of powers and checks and balances (feel free to discuss some of the more important checks and balances that arise due to the separation of powers). Is the current political architecture consistent with what the founding fathers had in mind? Depending on your answer, comment on how (or if) the political architecture of today is consistent or not with specific examples. Also, say something about the EOP, the cabinets, and the regulatory agencies and other independent institutions within the executive branch that have been created through time (for example, the CIA, the Federal Reserve Board, the Environmental Protection Agency). Make sure that you post your own unique thread and respond (at least) to one student post )each week, the minimum is two posts- one that is your own and own that is a response to a student's thread/post). For this topic, in the Content area there is something labeled Political Architecture. When you go there, you will be able to see the flow chart of national government, a look at a small but very important agency in Congress, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While the main focus is the national flowchart (i.e., the political architecture of the current government of the USA), looking at the other three websites and exploring them will enhance your understanding of how complex the government actually is (and these are just a few of the many bureaucracies of the USA, and this not counting the 50 states!).
POST - There are over 87,000 governments in the USA. The primary focus in this class is the one national government, represented by the three branches created by the federal Constitution, and the 50 states, since they are essential in the complex system of checks and balances and separation of powers doctrine in practice throughout US history. For a look at the basic political architecture, take at a look at THIS. To look at one small part of the US Congress and an important but relatively unknown organization called the Government Accountability Office (GAO), look HERE and scroll down and watch the 2 minute video that overviews the basic purpose of the GAO to get a sense of a non-partisan institution within both chambers of Congress that is created to attempt to oversee and keep the entire Executive branch "accountable," whatever that is determined to be when a committee or subcommittee asks for a GAO report. To take a look at a cabinet level organization such as the Department of Defense, look HERE. For a regulatory agency such as the Environmental Protection Agency, look HERE.
Respond to the below post - By looking at the chart, the structure appears to be organized. You have the constitution at top as the head with three branches: legislature, executive and judicial directly below the constitution. I think that Madison would be in disagreement with the political architecture of today. I'm sure he would want the executive branch to hold more power.I notice that the departments that everyday citizens rely on daily are located at the bottom of the chart. For example, some of the departments; Education, labor, justice, transportation, etc. I do feel these departments are just as important as the ones located at the top.I cannot come up with an institution or organization to create. Maybe something pertaining to mental health since that is something that is lacking in our society. So many needs help yet there are little and few resources. Especially the ones who aren't wealthy.