government essay

352 American Government Essay Topics & Research Ideas

Icon Calendar 25 September 2024
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American government essay topics present a comprehensive spectrum for exploration, each varying in depth and complexity. Some themes may include the functionality of constitutional democracy in the United States (U.S.), the examination of civil liberties and rights, or the intricacies of the federal system. Students may delve into the analysis of influential Supreme Court decisions, the evolving role of the Presidency, or the workings of Congressional lawmaking. Contemporary subjects, like campaign finance reform, immigration policy, or the impact of media on political discourse, are also important. Unraveling the politics of environmental policy or the checks and balances system’s practicality offers bright themes. In turn, investigating the role of lobbyists and interest groups or dissecting the dynamics of public opinion and voting behavior can give intriguing insights. Thus, American government essay topics not only foster a deeper understanding of the nation’s political landscape but also stimulate critical thinking and analytical skills.

What Is an American Government Essay Topic and Its Purpose

According to its definition, an American government essay topic is a specific theme or issue that examines key principles, functions, and dynamics of the United States (US) political system. For example, the main purpose for selecting an American government essay topic is to encourage a thorough analysis of crucial mechanisms that govern US society and foster a better understanding of citizens’ rights and responsibilities (Abernathy, 2024). In writing, different ideas can explore various aspects, including the Constitution, the separation of powers, federalism, civil rights, and the electoral process. Further on, by examining specific subjects, students can engage with fundamental questions regarding a real role of government, rights of citizens, and some impacts of policies on society (Helo & Saikku, 2021). Basically, these themes foster a deeper appreciation of critical complexities of governance, highlighting an entire balance between liberty and order, and an ongoing evolution of American political ideals. Moreover, through rigorous exploration of hot American government topics, students can develop their analytical skills, enhance their civic knowledge, and contribute meaningfully to discussions about governance and public policy (Crossley & Tian, 2022). In turn, they serve as a vital tool for promoting informed citizenship, encouraging individuals to reflect on their responsibilities within a democratic society and an actual importance of active participation in a current political process.

American Government Essay Topics & Research Ideas

How to Choose

Choosing a good American government essay topic involves several key considerations to ensure a meaningful and engaging exploration of a subject matter. Firstly, students should select a unique topic that resonates with personal interests or current events because an entire passion for a particular subject can enhance an overall quality of an analysis (West et al., 2019). In principle, conducting preliminary research can help them to identify controversial issues that are both relevant and rich in content, such as an impact of recent legislation, a role of social movements, or historical constitutional debates. Furthermore, students’ ideas should be specific enough to allow for in-depth exploration while remaining broad enough to provide ample sources and perspectives (Callinan et al., 2017). Basically, an entire consideration of an intended audience is crucial because a chosen theme that appeals to a general audience may differ from one suited for a scholarly setting. Moreover, it is important to frame an American government essay topic in a way that allows for critical analysis, posing questions that encourage exploration of implications and consequences (Helo & Saikku, 2021). As such, consulting with instructors or utilizing academic resources can provide guidance and feedback, ensuring a selected essay topic is both viable and significant within a broader discourse of an American government. In turn, some steps for picking a good American government essay topic include:

Identify Interests and Current Events: Reflect on personal interests related to an American government or review current events and issues in a political landscape to select a subject that is engaging and relevant.
Conduct Preliminary Research: Explore various resources, such as academic articles, news reports, and government publications, to gather information on potential ideas and themes to reveal existing debates, gaps in knowledge, or emerging issues worth exploring.
Narrow a Focus: Choose an American government essay topic that is specific enough to allow for a detailed analysis but broad enough to provide sufficient material.
Consider an Audience: Think about who will be reading an entire essay and tailor a chosen topic accordingly.
Seek Feedback and Refine: Discuss potential American government essay topics with peers, instructors, or mentors to gain insights and feedback, ensuring a chosen theme is relevant, significant, and conducive to critical analysis.

Easy Government Essay Topics

Understanding Democracy: Basic Concepts and Principles
Different Types of Government: A Comparative Study
Voting Systems: Pros and Cons of First-Past-the-Post
Government’s Part in Economic Development: An Overview
Public Health: Government’s Responsibilities and Duties
Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens: A Closer Look
Elections: Understanding the Electoral College System
Why Do We Need a Constitution? An Elementary Explanation
Importance of Civic Education in a Democracy
Federal vs. State Powers: An Introduction
Social Security: Functions and Challenges
Government Regulation of Media: Freedom vs. Responsibility
Public Transportation and Government’s Involvement: An Overview
Differences Between Presidential and Parliamentary Systems of Government
Local Governments: Responsibilities and Functions
Citizen Participation in Government: Why Does It Matter?
Understanding Public Policy: A Basic Analysis
Freedom of Speech: Government and Constitutional Protection
National Security and Individual Privacy: Striking a Balance

Interesting Government Essay Topics

Privatization vs. Public Ownership: Theoretical Considerations
Decentralization of Power: Unraveling Its Implications
State Surveillance: Dilemma of Privacy vs. Security
National Debts: Examining Their Economic and Political Effects
Monarchies in the 21st Century: An Analytical Perspective
Cryptocurrency Regulation: Assessing Different Government Approaches
Digital Governance: Opportunities and Pitfalls
Constitutional Interpretation: Originalism vs. Living Constitution Theory
Understanding Federalism: A Comparative Analysis
Emerging Role of Artificial Intelligence in Governance
Climate Change Policy: National vs. International Responsibilities
Democracy and Technology: Influence of Social Media on Governance
Public Administration Reforms: Lessons From Around the World
Immigration Policy: Factors Influencing Government Decisions
Separation of Powers: An Inquiry Into Its Real-World Implications
Fiscal Policy during Recessions: Strategies and Outcomes
Authoritarian Regimes in a Digital Age: Unpacking the Complexities
Intelligence Agencies: Examining Oversight and Control Mechanisms
Social Equity and Government Policy: Challenges and Opportunities
Political Dynasties: Assessing Their Influence on Democratic Governance

Academic Level Difference

Academic level differences in American government essay topics reflect an overall complexity and depth of analysis required at various stages of education. At a high school level, common themes focus on foundational concepts, such as an entire structure of government, the Bill of Rights, or an electoral process (Babin et al., 2020). Basically, such subjects encourage students to understand basic principles and demonstrate knowledge of key documents and historical events. In contrast, undergraduate students may cover more specific issues, such as an impact of federalism on state rights or an influence of political parties on an electoral process (Helo & Saikku, 2021). As such, they are expected to engage critically with sources, analyze varying viewpoints, and formulate coherent arguments. At a graduate level, subjects become even more specialized and nuanced, often exploring contemporary challenges, such as key implications of Supreme Court rulings on social policy or some effects of campaign financing on democracy (Abernathy, 2024). In writing, graduate essays require a high level of research, critical thinking, and theoretical application, encouraging students to contribute original insights to ongoing debates. Overall, as academic levels progress, essay topics in American government evolve from basic comprehension to complex analysis, reflecting a deeper engagement with the principles and challenges of US democracy.

U.S. Government Research Paper Topics for High School

The Importance of the Constitution in American Governance
Analyzing the Responsibilities and Powers of the Executive Branch
How Checks and Balances Function to Prevent Power Abuse?
An Overview of Presidential Powers and Their Limitations
The Mechanism of Checks and Balances in Action
Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Electoral College System
The Role of Federalism in Addressing State and Local Issues
Steps Involved in the Legislative Process: A Detailed Examination
How the Supreme Court Shapes American Law and Society?
The Impact of Landmark Civil Rights Legislation on Equality
Political Party Systems: Their Role in American Democracy
Factors Contributing to Voter Apathy Among Young Americans
The Effect of Lobbying on Legislative Decisions
How the Bill of Rights Influences Everyday Life?
Media’s Influence on Political Campaigns and Elections
State Governments and Their Influence in American Federalism
Political Socialization: Factors That Shape Public Opinions
The Significance of Civic Education in High Schools
Social Movements and Their Impact on Public Policy
The Evolution of Campaign Strategies in American Politics

U.S. Government Research Paper Topics for College

Gun Control Policies: Analyzing the Effectiveness in the U.S.
Unraveling the Complexity of U.S. Immigration Reform
Affordable Care Act: A Comprehensive Analysis Post Implementation
Effects of Social Media on the U.S. Electoral Process
Campaign Finance Laws in the United States: A Closer Look
Government Shutdowns: Causes and Consequences in the U.S.
Federalism in the United States: Changing Dynamics
Dissecting the Patriot Act: Implications for Civil Liberties
Constitutional Rights and Digital Privacy: An American Perspective
Polarization in American Politics: Causes and Effects
U.S. Tax Reform: An Analysis of Recent Changes
Influence of Lobbying on Law-Making in the United States
Supreme Court Appointments: Politics and Consequences
Federal Reserve’s Monetary Policy: A Comprehensive Review
Investigating the Role of Super PACs in U.S. Elections
American Infrastructure Spending: Assessing Need and Impact
Analyzing the U.S. Response to Climate Change
Understanding the U.S. Electoral College: Pros and Cons
U.S. Drug Policy: Lessons Learned From the War on Drugs

U.S. Government Research Paper Topics for University

Native American Treaties and U.S. Government: A Detailed Study
Rise of Partisanship: An Exploration Into U.S. Politics
Education Policy in the United States: A Critical Assessment
American Antitrust Legislation: A Review and Analysis
U.S. Military Strategy in the Post-Cold War Era: A Comprehensive Study
Housing Policy and Inequality in the United States: A Detailed Examination
U.S. Trade Agreements: Analyzing Their Success and Failures
Unfolding American Diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific Region: An In-Depth Review
Citizens United Decision: An Analysis of Its Implications on U.S. Elections
Racial Profiling and Law Enforcement in the U.S.: A Study on Systemic Bias
Space Exploration Policies of the U.S.: A Comprehensive Overview
Gerrymandering in the United States: Analyzing Its Impacts on Representation
Public Health Policy in the U.S.: Lessons From the Covid-19 Pandemic
Women in U.S. Politics: A Study on Representation and Influence
Privatization in the U.S.: A Critical Analysis of Its Effects on Public Services
U.S. Welfare Policy: An Evaluation of Its Efficacy and Inclusivity
Privacy Rights in the U.S.: Analyzing the Balance Between Security and Liberty
Minimum Wage Policies in the United States: A Comparative Study
U.S. Energy Policy: A Study of Transition towards Renewable Resources
Cybersecurity in the U.S.: Analyzing Government’s Role in Protecting National Infrastructure

American Government and Foreign Policy Essay Topics

Middle East Policies: A Review of U.S. Strategy and Diplomacy
Democratization and American Foreign Policy: A Critical Examination
China-U.S. Relations: A Study of Economic and Security Dilemmas
American Strategy in Containing North Korea’s Nuclear Ambition
Shifts in U.S.-Russia Relations: Post-Cold War Analysis
Climate Change and American Foreign Policy: An In-Depth Study
Human Rights in American Foreign Policy: Case Studies From the 21st Century
Evaluating U.S. Intervention in Afghanistan: A Retrospective Study
Cyber Warfare and U.S. Foreign Policy: Exploring Strategies and Consequences
U.S. and NATO: Analyzing the Changing Dynamics of Transatlantic Alliance
Latin America in U.S. Foreign Policy: A Historical Analysis
American Policy in the Indo-Pacific: Security, Diplomacy, and Economics
U.S. Foreign Aid: Analysis of Trends and Effectiveness
Arms Control and American Foreign Policy: A Review of Key Agreements
U.S.-EU Relations: Trade, Security, and Diplomatic Perspectives
American Policy Towards Israel and Palestine: A Critical Evaluation
The Iran Nuclear Deal and U.S. Foreign Policy: A Comprehensive Study
Global Health and American Foreign Policy: Priorities and Challenges
Climate Diplomacy in U.S. Foreign Policy: A Study of the Paris Agreement

American Government and Media Essay Topics

Media Influence on Presidential Elections: A Case Study
Influence of Media in Shaping Public Policy: An Analysis
The First Amendment: Press Freedom and Its Limits
Media Portrayal of U.S. Foreign Policy: A Critical Examination
Partisan Media and Polarization in American Politics: An Exploratory Study
Fake News and Its Influence on American Political Discourse
Public Broadcasting in America: A Historical Analysis
Digital Media and American Politics: Understanding the Shift
Social Media’s Influence on Political Mobilization: Case Studies From the U.S.
Media Bias in Coverage of Gun Control: A Comparative Study
Media Framing of Immigration Policies in the U.S.: A Discourse Analysis
Network News and Its Influence on Public Perception of the Presidency
The Power of Political Cartoons in Shaping Public Opinion
Censorship and Self-Censorship in American Media: A Comprehensive Study
Media Coverage of the Supreme Court: A Critical Review
Cable News and Polarization in U.S. Politics: A Longitudinal Study
The Role of Satirical News in American Political Discourse
Media and Public Perception of Climate Change Policies in America
Traditional Media vs. Social Media in U.S. Political Campaigns: A Comparative Analysis

American Political Parties and Elections Topics

Campaign Strategies in Modern American Elections: An Analysis
Transformative Elections in American History: Case Studies
Minor Political Parties in U.S. Electoral Politics: A Comparative Study
Influence of Lobbying on Election Outcomes: An Empirical Investigation
How Gerrymandering Shapes American Politics: A Comprehensive Review
American Presidential Primaries: A Historical Examination
The Electoral College: An Evaluation of Its Efficacy in Modern U.S. Politics
American Politics and the Issue of Voter Suppression: A Critical Study
Dynamics of Swing States in U.S. Presidential Elections: An In-Depth Analysis
Candidate Image Crafting in American Elections: A Semiotic Analysis
Polarization and Its Effect on American Elections: An Empirical Investigation
Public Financing in American Elections: A Comparative Study
Third-Party Candidates and Their Influence on U.S. Elections: An Exploratory Study
American Midterm Elections and Their Effect on Presidential Governance: An Analysis
Effects of Negative Campaigning in U.S. Elections: A Quantitative Study
Dynamics of Coalition Building in American Political Parties: A Case Study
Presidential Debates and Their Influence on Election Outcomes: An Empirical Investigation
Changes in Electoral Behavior in the American South: A Longitudinal Study
The Effect of Voter Turnout on Election Results: A Statistical Analysis
The Future of American Elections: Predicting Trends in the Digital Age

Government Research Paper Topics About the Executive Arm

Presidential Decision-Making in Times of Crisis: A Comparative Analysis
Foreign Policy Execution and the American President: A Critical Study
Cabinet Appointments and Policy Outcomes: An Empirical Investigation
Transformations in the Executive Office: A Historical Review
Executive Orders: A Quantitative Analysis of Their Use and Effectiveness
Exercise of Veto Power: A Comparative Study Across Presidential Administrations
War Powers and the U.S. Presidency: A Constitutional Analysis
American Presidency and the Pardon Power: A Legal Examination
Executive Privilege: Its Use and Misuse in American Politics
Presidential Succession and Continuity of Government: A Policy Analysis
Dynamics of Executive-Legislative Relations: An Interdisciplinary Study
The Vice Presidency: Evolution and Influence in Modern American Politics
Presidential Campaigns: Financing and Its Influence on Policy Outcomes
National Emergency Declarations and Presidential Power: A Constitutional Study
The Power of Persuasion: Rhetoric and the American Presidency
The Cabinet’s Influence on Presidential Decision-Making: A Qualitative Study
Presidential Nominations and the Confirmation Process: A Policy Analysis
Environmental Policy-Making in the Executive Branch: A Historical Review
Immigration Policy Execution and Presidential Discretion: A Comparative Analysis
National Security and the Use of Executive Power: A Critical Investigation

Legislative Branch of Government Essay Topics in American Politics

Committee Power in the U.S. Congress: A Quantitative Study
Bicameralism and Its Influence on Legislation: A Comparative Analysis
Parliamentary Procedure and Democratic Governance: A Policy Review
Policy-Making Dynamics in the Senate: A Historical Review
Congressional Oversight and Its Effect on Executive Power: A Qualitative Study
Gridlock in Congress: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
House Rules Committee and Its Influence on Legislation: An Empirical Investigation
Legislative Agendas: Partisanship and Its Effects on Lawmaking
Lobbying and Influence in the Lawmaking Process: A Critical Analysis
Congressional Elections: Campaign Financing and Electoral Outcomes
Redistricting and Its Effect on the Balance of Power in Congress: A Quantitative Analysis
Filibuster and Its Impact on Legislative Efficiency: A Policy Analysis
Political Polarization in the House of Representatives: A Comparative Study
Congressional Ethics and Conduct: A Legal Examination
Minority Representation in the U.S. Congress: A Quantitative Analysis
Leadership Dynamics in Congress: A Historical Review
Term Limits and Legislative Productivity: An Empirical Investigation
Congressional Budgeting Process: A Critical Examination
Lawmaking and the Influence of Interest Groups: A Comparative Analysis
Checks and Balances: The Role of Congress in National Security Policy-Making

Political Behavior and American Government Essay Topics

Identity Politics and Policy Preferences in American Government
Shifts in American Political Behavior: Historical Analysis
Public Opinion, Ideology, and Policy Change in U.S. Politics
Media Consumption and Its Influence on Political Preferences
Digital Democracy: How the Internet Has Transformed Political Participation
Voting Behavior and Electoral Outcomes: An Empirical Examination
Effects of Civic Education on Political Engagement: A Comparative Study
Partisan Realignment and Its Consequences for American Politics
Dynamics of Political Polarization in Contemporary America
Political Trust and Its Relationship With Government Performance
Cultural Factors and Their Influence on Political Attitudes
Citizen Engagement and Its Relationship With Political Accountability
Exploring the Nexus Between Socioeconomic Status and Political Behavior
Environmental Concerns and Their Influence on Voting Behavior
Political Socialization and Its Impact on Political Affiliation
Understanding Populism in the Context of American Politics
Racial Politics and Its Effect on the American Government
Religious Beliefs and Their Influence on Political Behavior
Public Opinion and Foreign Policy: A Historical Analysis

Political Theory and American Government Essay Topics

Applying Rawlsian Justice to American Policy Making
Hobbes and the Foundation of American Political Structure
Lockean Ideals in the American Declaration of Independence
Exploring the Influence of Machiavellian Theory on U.S. Politics
Marxist Interpretations of American Economic Policies
Application of Communitarianism in U.S. Social Welfare Policies
Classical Republicanism and Its Echoes in American Government
Neo-Conservatism and Its Theoretical Foundations in U.S. Politics
Postmodern Perspectives on American Democracy
Utilitarianism and Its Reflection on American Economic Policies
Feminist Political Theory and Its Relevance in U.S. Politics
Concepts of Liberty in American Political Discourse: A Theoretical Analysis
Civil Disobedience: From Thoreau to Modern American Protests
Pluralism and Interest Group Politics in America
Exploring Libertarianism in the Context of U.S. Government Policies
Populism as a Political Theory: Reflections in American Politics
Deliberative Democracy in Practice: U.S. Town Hall Meetings
Contractualism and the American Constitution: A Theoretical Analysis
Understanding Identity Politics through the Lens of Queer Theory in the U.S.
Anarchist Theories and Their Relevance to American Political Movements

Public Policy and Administration Topics

Understanding Policy Feedback and Its Implications on Program Sustainability
Public Administration Reforms: Comparative Analysis of Best Practices
Fiscal Federalism and Public Policy Making in Decentralized Systems
Emergent Public Policy Challenges in Cybersecurity
Public Administration and Crisis Management: Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic
Public Policy Responses to Technological Disruption
Transparency, Accountability, and Ethics in Public Administration
Policy Diffusion in Intergovernmental Relations: Patterns and Challenges
Incorporating Behavioral Insights Into Public Policy Design
Interrogating the Influence of Lobbying on Public Policy
Urban Planning Policies and Sustainable Development Goals
Gender Mainstreaming Strategies in Public Policy and Administration
Public Administration’s Adaptation to Digital Transformation
Healthcare Policy Reforms: Balancing Efficiency and Equity
Exploring the Nexus of Public Policy and Social Justice
Multiculturalism in Public Policy: Incorporating Diversity in Service Delivery
Trade Policy Negotiations and National Interests: A Diplomatic Tightrope
Fostering Innovation and Creativity through Education Policies
Public Policy Making in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges

Questions About the American Government

American Government System: Why Does It Operate on a Two-Party Structure?
Supreme Court Appointments: How Do They Influence the Balance of Power?
Understanding the Bill of Rights: Which Amendments Have Provoked the Most Controversy?
Federalism in America: How Does It Affect State Policies?
Impeachment Process in the United States: What Are the Criteria and Consequences?
Why Does the United States Employ an Electoral College in Presidential Elections?
American Government and Lobbying: Is There a Need for Stricter Regulations?
Deciphering the Role of Super PACs in American Politics: Are They a Necessity?
How Does Gerrymandering Influence Political Representation in America?
Citizens United Decision: What Are Its Implications on American Democracy?
Understanding the Powers and Limitations of the American Presidency: Is It Truly a Democratic Office?
How Does the American Constitution Protect Individual Rights?
Campaign Finance in American Elections: How Does It Affect Political Outcomes?
Functioning of the American Legislative Branch: What Makes It Efficient?
Why Do Executive Orders Play a Vital Part in the Functioning of the American Government?
Effect of Gridlock in Congress on American Policy Making: Is It Detrimental?
How Does Public Opinion Influence Government Decision-Making in the United States?
Influence of Interest Groups on American Government: Boon or Bane?
Bicameral Legislature in America: What Are Its Rationale and Significance?

State and Local Government Essay Topics in the American System

Decentralization Dynamics: A Study of Power Shifts in State and Local Governments
Strategizing Municipal Finance: Effective Revenue Generation Models
State Sovereignty vs. Federal Guidelines: An Examination of Conflict and Cooperation
Examining the Efficacy of Participatory Budgeting in Local Government
Local Governments and Environmental Sustainability: Policy Design and Implementation
Diversity in Local Government Leadership: A Comprehensive Analysis
Education Policy Formulation at the State Level: A Comparative Study
Municipal Bond Market: Understanding Its Function in Infrastructure Development
Public Health Management at the State Level: Lessons From Pandemic Response
Understanding Land Use Policy: A Perspective From Local Governments
Fiscal Decentralization: Its Effect on State and Local Economic Development
Urban Planning and Local Governments: A Critical Analysis of Current Practices
Evaluating the Effectiveness of State Governments in Disaster Management
State Government Pension Systems: An Analytical Review of Their Sustainability
Public Transportation Policy: A Case Study of State-Level Initiatives
Revenue Sharing Between States and Localities: An Assessment of Current Mechanisms
Local Government and Community Engagement: Strategies for Effective Citizen Participation
Accountability Measures in State Government: An Investigation of Transparency Practices
Public-Private Partnerships in Local Government: A Review of Best Practices
Challenges and Solutions in State-Level Cybersecurity Policy Implementation

The Constitution and Bill of Rights Topics

Interpreting Freedom: First Amendment Controversies in the Digital Age
Second Amendment Debates: Understanding the Constitution and Gun Control
Protection vs. Privacy: The Fourth Amendment in an Era of Technology
The Eighth Amendment: Contemporary Challenges in the Context of Criminal Justice
Dilemmas of Due Process: A Critical Examination of the Fifth Amendment
Origins and Applications: A Deep Dive Into the Tenth Amendment
Historical Analysis of Constitutional Amendments: Understanding Their Significance
Cultural Shifts and Constitutional Interpretation: Exploring the Changing Landscape
Examining the Thirteenth Amendment: The Legacy of Abolition and Modern-Day Implications
Constitutional Equality: The Unratified Equal Rights Amendment
The Nineteenth Amendment and Beyond: Women’s Suffrage and Contemporary Gender Politics
Voting Rights: The Twenty-Sixth Amendment and Current Debates on Age and Citizenship
The Jurisprudence of the Supreme Court: Notable Cases Interpreting the Bill of Rights
Constitutional Debates and Democracy: Analyzing the Balance of Powers
Influence of International Law on Constitutional Interpretation
How the Bill of Rights Influences Modern Social Movements
The Constitution and Indigenous Rights: Historical Context and Present Implications
Reevaluating the Commerce Clause: A Critical Exploration in the Context of Globalization
Constitutional Perspectives on Data Privacy and Protection

The Judicial Branch of Government Essay Topics in American Politics

Deciphering Judicial Independence: Origins, Challenges, and Prospects
Understanding the Supreme Court: Composition, Function, and Influence
Appointment Controversies: Analyzing the Supreme Court Nominations
Federal Courts and Politics: An Examination of Judicial Decision-Making
Checks and Balances: The Judiciary and the Executive Power
Courts as Policy Makers: Exploring Activism Within the Judicial Branch
The Art of Interpretation: Statutory Construction in the Supreme Court
From Marbury to Modernity: The Evolution of Judicial Review
Exploring Sentencing Disparities: An Examination of Federal Courts
Diversity in the Judiciary: Assessing Representation in Federal Courts
Law, Order, and Ethics: A Critical Analysis of Judicial Conduct
Public Perception and Confidence in the Judicial Branch
Case Precedent and Legal Stability: The Doctrine of Stare Decisis
Securing Justice: The Role of Federal Public Defenders
Judicial Power in the Context of Constitutional Crises
Assessing the Effectiveness of Specialized Courts: A Comparative Study
Judicial Restraint and Activism: Ideology in Supreme Court Rulings
The Federal Judiciary and Civil Liberties: Trends and Implications
Administrative Law and Federal Courts: A Study in Regulatory Litigation
International Law in U.S. Courts: Application and Controversy

Abernathy, S. F. (2024). American government stories of a nation . CQ Press.

Babin, M., Burnell, C., Pesznecker, S. M., Rosevear, N., & Wood, J. R. (2020). The word on college reading and writing . Open Oregon Educational Resources.

Callinan, C. J., van der Zee, E., & Wilson, G. (2017). Developing essay writing skills: An evaluation of the modelling behaviour method and the influence of student self-efficacy. Journal of Further and Higher Education , 42 (5), 608–622. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877x.2017.1302564

Crossley, S., & Tian, Y. (2022). Argumentation features and essay quality: Exploring relationships and incidence counts. Journal of Writing Research , 14 (1), 1–34. https://doi.org/10.17239/jowr-2022.14.01.01

Helo, A., & Saikku, M. (2021). An unfamiliar America: Essays in American studies . Routledge.

West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay. Journal of Geography in Higher Education , 43 (4), 609–617. https://doi.org/10.1080/03098265.2019.1655720

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Home — Essay Samples — Government & Politics — American Government — 3 Branches of Government

3 Branches of Government

Categories: American Government

About this sample

Words: 432 |

Published: Jan 30, 2024

Words: 432 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Introduction, a. overview of the three branches of government, b. checks and balances, c. importance of separation of powers, d. interactions between the branches.

The Federalist Papers
U.S. Constitution
Supreme Court decisions

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Writing in Government

How do i write a gov paper .

Expos teaches you about the fundamentals of writing an analytical argument. As you write papers in Gov, you are adapting the elements of argument to a particular audience: readers in the social sciences. These readers have specific expectations about how to present arguments and supporting evidence. Writing successfully in Gov requires you to identify those expectations in assignment prompts and then respond to them by making well-supported and clearly reasoned arguments.

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"Everybody's work has to stand or fall on the basis of the arguments presented and the evidence." - Prof. Eric Nelson

Do the Exercise

In these exercises, you have two goals: to identify the common elements of essay prompts, and to learn strategies for developing arguments that respond effectively to the expectations presented by a given prompt.

Decoding Prompts

Developing a thesis.

What to Do:

Prepare by reading about the elements of paper prompts in the "Tips" tool to the right.
Read the three sample prompts below and select one to work with.
Answer the questions in the text boxes below the sample prompts.
Write a 1-sentence version in your own words of the prompt you have selected. You can do this in the first “Re-write” box below the questions.
Try re-writing the other two prompts in a single sentence.

Please note that these forms are not monitored; no feedback will be sent at this time.

Sample Prompts

1. The traditional definition of democracy is captured by Schumpeter’s statement that democracy is the “institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions in which individuals acquire the power to decide by means of a competitive struggle for the people’s vote.” Is Schumpeter’s “free competition for the free vote” a sufficient conceptual and normative definition of “democracy”? What else, if anything, would you add to this definition?

2. The majority of Gov 97 has focused on state actors, but the Internet is a whole new non-state world that currently has little to no formal governance. Should the Internet be governed democratically? What does it mean to have democratic governance of the Internet? (Will there be elected bodies? Will the Internet be governed by democratic principles?) If you were on a committee to develop Internet governance, what democratic processes (if any) would you recommend? Why?

3. How do new technologies affect democratic politics? We have read a number of accounts of traditional forms of democratic participation and democratic institutions – choose one topic or outcome (e.g. elections, campaign finance, regime change, economic institutions, the welfare state, democratic peace etc.) that we have read about, and think about how new technologies challenge or add to traditional theories about that outcome.

( Taken from Gov 97, Spring 2015)

Understanding Prompts

Design and purpose.

Instructors have two main goals with most prompts: First, they want to test how well you’ve understood assigned material for the course and gauge your progress over the term. Second, they want to encourage you to think about certain questions in a way that may not be directly covered in the course materials themselves. In this way, prompts facilitates guided learning through writing.

In most cases, the instructor will have both of these goals in mind. Depending on the assignment, though, one goal may carry greater emphasis than the other.

Central Question

This is the main question that the instructor wants you to answer. It may be a yes/no question, where you need to agree or disagree with a given statement. Or it may be an open-ended question, where you need to develop your own line of argument. Either way, the central question is the core of the paper, i.e., the question your instructor is asking in order to test your knowledge about material from the course or to encourage you to develop a reasoned opinion based on that material. Your thesis statement should respond directly to this central question.

Example of a central question:

What do you think is Aristotle’s strongest justification for participatory citizenship?

Example of a multi-part central question:

What do you think is Aristotle’s strongest justification for participatory citizenship? Does it translate from ancient democracy to the present; does it apply today?

Supporting Questions

In addition to the central question, prompts typically include additional points to consider as you write your paper, and these points often come in the form of secondary or supporting questions. Supporting questions are meant to prompt your thinking and can help remind you of important debates that may exist within the topic you are writing about.

That being said, prompts made up of more than one question can be harder to decode. For one thing, the first question in the prompt is not always the central question, and it might be possible to interpret more than one of the questions as the central question. This ambiguity might be intentional (to allow students to write a range of essays), or it might be unintentional. For these reasons, it is always helpful to try putting the prompt in your own words. What is the central question being asked? And what is the central question your paper is answering with its thesis? What are the supporting questions being asked? And how will your paper answer those questions in relation to your thesis?

In the following example prompt, notice how the first set of questions (greyed out and in italics) form a multi-part central question about an idea of Aristotle and its relevance to the present day. The subsequent supporting questions provide a number of possible directions in which to elaborate on this question, but none of these supporting questions should be the main focus of an argument responding to this particular prompt.

Example:

What do you think is Aristotle’s strongest justification for participatory citizenship? Does it translate from ancient democracy to the present; does it apply today? How do modern democracies define citizenship? Do modern democratic institutions (representation, voting and elections, political parties) and/or the organized groups of civil society (voluntary associations, demonstrations, social movements) provide arenas for political participation? If so, how and why is participation valued? If not, why not, and how is the division of political labor justified?

Additional Cues

Prompts often provide cues about what should or shouldn't be the focus of a writing assignment. For instance, there may be debates or themes that have been raised in the course, but which are not meant to be the particular focus of the paper at hand. In the following excerpt from a prompt, you can see that Aristotle's definition of "citizen" is crucial, but the goal of the essay is to use the definition to make a further point, rather than getting bogged down in the definition itself.

Example from a Gov prompt:

In the Politics , Aristotle defined a citizen as someone who takes turns in ruling and being ruled, identified who was eligible (and ineligible) for citizenship, gave an account of citizens’ judgment, and set out reasons for popular political participation.

Restrictions

Prompts often include additional requirements that either guide or limit a writing assignment. These restrictions are usually straightforward requirements for the essay's form (how long it should be) or for its content (what question(s) it should answer and which sources or cases it should use).

You must analyze Aristotle’s text
You may pick just one or two government institutions or civil society groups to  illustrate your answer.
You must refer to at least two authors (in addition to Aristotle) in composing your  response.
Prepare by reading about the elements of thesis statements in the "Tips" tool to the right.
Read the sample prompt below.
Answer the questions in the text boxes below the sample prompts.

Sample Prompt & Theses

Making reference to the cases of Rwanda and Yugoslavia, construct an argument that addresses the following questions: When you consider the various theories you've encountered about the emergence of ethnic politics in your readings as well as in lecture, how well (or how poorly) do specific elements of these two cases fit those theories? What is the strongest explanation overall for why ethnic violence broke out in these two cases and eventually assumed the proportions it did? Does the same answer apply to both cases, or do different answers best explain Rwanda and Yugoslavia separately?

The Rwandan and Yugoslav genocides were similar in some ways. In other ways, though, they were different.
Ethnic politics leads to the emergence of ethnic violence.
I argue that ethnic politics is important for understanding violence in Rwanda and Yugoslavia and for explaining the genocides there.
Rwanda and Yugoslavia both experienced similar levels of ethnic politics and ethnic violence during the 1990s and followed similar paths to genocide.
Ethnic politics does not always lead to ethnic violence, but in cases where the state collapses like it did in Rwanda and Yugoslavia, the path from ethnic politics to genocide will be similar.

Taken from Gov 20, Fall 2015

What is an Argument?

In the social sciences, an argument typically make claims about the way the world works. It argues that the world is one way rather than another, and explains why it is that way .

The first part of the bolded statement above is really important. In social science courses, you will rarely be asked to just summarize a set of facts. You will instead be asked to make assertions about how something came to be or how some phenomenon caused another.

This implies a counterfactual , which is a statement about how the world would have been, if something else had happened. For example, you might argue that polarization in American politics is caused by people moving to areas where most people share their political beliefs. This implies that if people didn't move to neighborhoods or cities with like-minded people, there wouldn't be polarization. But they do , so there is .

The first part of the bolded statement above also implies that you will give evidence to show us that your argument is correct.

The latter part of the statement, in turn, implies that you will show us the "why" of the phenomenon you're looking at: how exactly does it work?

Thesis Requirements

A thesis statement will be in response to a specific question, whether that question is explicitly asked in a prompt or is a question you have yourself developed in response to course readings or class discussions. Therefore, your thesis statement should clearly be an answer to a question!

Your answer should not just contain a "what is" statement, but a statement of "how" your argument works. What is the "mechanism" of your argument? If you say that wealth causes democracy, make sure the “how” or “because” is also clearly previewed in your thesis.

This is also your introduction to the reader of what the paper’s really about, and it is your chance to explain how the paper will work. It should prepare them for the direction the paper is going, so they know what kinds of evidence they should expect.

In college-level papers, thesis statements can be more than one sentence long. Being concise is good, but it's ok to have a slightly longer thesis statement if your thesis is somewhat complex, e.g., if there are two or three steps in the "how" part of your paper.

Scope Conditions

Most papers are not about making universal arguments that showcase everything you know, but about making an valid argument within a set of parameters that are either provided by the assignment itself, or that you decide to keep your argument clear and effective.

In writing, be clear: what are the “scope conditions” of your argument? In other words, under what conditions or in which cases is your argument valid?

Example: “In democracies,” i.e., not for every country we’ve looked at, but only for democracies.

Example: “Among late developers” i.e., only in those countries that developed recently.

Make sure your these boundaries are clearly stated in your thesis statement . Do you think it will be intuitive to the reader why you used these scope conditions in particular? If not, you may need to briefly explain why you're using them, either in the thesis statement itself or just before (or after) your thesis statement.

Evaluating Theses

Can readers take your thesis statement and test it like they would a hypothesis? Would they know what to look for in order to evaluate how well your argument is made? If so, it's probably a strong thesis.

A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested . For example, in the statement "wealth leads to democracy," we can imagine testing it by looking for wealthy countries that aren't democratic.

If readers can look at your thesis statement and come up new evidence to refute your claim, it might mean there's room for healthy debate on the topic--and it might mean there's a genuine weakness in your argument--but it also means you probably have a clearly written thesis statement!

A really common thesis-related problem for students is that readers don't know how to evaluate whether the argument is right or wrong . This idea of being able to test arguments against new evidence is what makes political science "scientific."

Additional Tips

Be direct, and own your answer. Don’t say, “The purpose of my paper is to show that economic development causes democracy.” Say, “Economic development causes democracy, because…”

But it is OK to use the first-person voice in political science! (Example: "Wealth is a necessary condition for democracy. I show this by examining all countries with an average GDP above $6,000 per year")

Make it clear where your thesis statement is. You don’t have to put the thesis statement at the end of a short, first paragraph...but this is common, because it keeps you from writing too much/too little introduction, and it’s often where your reader will look first (because it is so common!)

Avoid the word “prove,” which implies definitive proof (which is rarely possible in social sciences)

Avoid overly stylized language in your thesis statement, and keep it as clear, specific, and unambiguous as possible.

It’s ok to argue that sometimes things work one way, and sometimes another. For example, “wealthy countries are usually democratic, but sometimes they aren’t.” However, it’s much stronger to try and make this difference part of your argument---”Wealthy countries are usually democratic because [reason], but oil-rich countries are an exception because [reason].”

Essay: The Role of Government

Imagine for a moment living under a government that possessed unlimited and undefined powers, such as Communist China or Nazi Germany. What rights do you have now that you think you would lose? To whom, or to what, would you turn if you thought the government were treating you unfairly? How many of your own choices in life—what college to attend, what career options to pursue, whether to marry or have children—do you feel you would be free to make?

If contemplating life under such a government seems depressing, that is because it is. Individual liberty and personal happiness cannot coexist with unlimited government. At the same time, there would be little security for our rights without government or under a government that does not possess sufficient power to effectively promote the public good. Striking this delicate balance has been a centuries-long endeavor in Anglo-American history. Initial strides towards limited government came in the Magna Carta (1215), which embodied the principle that the king’s powers were limited and subject to English law. Nearly five hundred years later, the Petition of Right (1689), citing the Magna Carta, reminded the king that it was the law, not a king, that protected the rights of Englishmen. For most of human history it was accepted that the political legitimacy of a king was derived from God, not from man, and that both law and liberty were subject to God’s will. Focusing on the king’s violation of a half-century of accepted British common law and the traditionally respected rights of Englishmen, the Petition of Right supported the conviction that liberty required that government be limited. Furthermore, liberty interests might supersede kingly authority. It also inspired the English Bill of Rights (1689) which contained strict limits to the power of the monarchy and identified certain inalienable political and civil liberties enjoyed by all Englishmen, regardless of royal prerogative.

Together, these three British documents, Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and the English Bill of Rights, contained the basic tenets of limited government that would come to influence the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.

A philosophical shift in thinking about the proper role and source of government itself was also underway in the late 1600s, and was given effective voice in John Locke’s Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690). Locke argued that governmental legitimacy was based on the consent of the governed and on a responsibility to protect natural rights. While the Petition of Right acquiesced to the notion of the divine right of kings and merely reminded the king that previous monarchs had respected traditionally accepted liberties, Locke’s argument was radically different: people not only voluntarily agree to be governed, but possess rights that flow from nature itself, not from kingly decree. Further, the very purpose of government is not to rule but to protect those rights.

“The great and chief end, therefore, of men uniting into commonwealths, and putting themselves under government, is the preservation of their [lives, liberties and property]” (John Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government, 1690).

Locke also argued that when a government no longer had the consent of the people, or did not adhere to its proper role of protecting fundamental liberties, then the people have the right to change or overthrow it. Thomas Jefferson would echo these arguments in the Declaration of Independence (1776), asserting that “the history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations [wrongful seizure of power].” Therefore, according to Jefferson, the king was “unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

In the Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690), John Locke argued that governmental legitimacy was based on the consent of the governed and on a responsibility to protect natural rights.

Once free of Great Britain and wary of living under a government that possessed too much authority, Americans set out to form a new nation. The first attempt came in the Articles of Confederation (1781), which adhered very closely to the principle of limited government; perhaps too closely. The Articles established a “firm league of friendship,” and was little more than a loose association of sovereign nation-states with a weak central government. It could not adequately tax or regulate foreign and interstate commerce. It had neither an executive nor judicial branch to enforce its laws or mediate disputes. Further, any alterations to the Articles that might address these weaknesses had to be unanimously approved by the states, making changes nearly impossible. By 1787, it became obvious to many that the Confederation government was too limited in its scope and authority, and a convention was called in Philadelphia to address its deficiencies.

What emerged from the Constitutional Convention elevated limited government from mere theory to a practical governing philosophy. Through a series of complex structures, innovations, and mechanisms, the U.S. Constitution both empowers and limits government, while providing the framework for each successive generation to regulate that balance.

One feature of the Constitution that both empowers and limits the national government’s reach is the enumeration of powers. Article 1, Section 8 sets out the specific and finite powers that the national government may exercise. Although Article 1, Section 8 only specifically addresses the legislative (or law-making) branch of the national government, its enumeration of powers also provides de facto [in fact] limits on the president (who enforces the law) and on judicial officials (who interpret and apply the law) as well.

What emerged from the Constitutional Convention elevated limited government from mere theory to a practical governing philosophy.

The Constitution’s deliberate separation of powers, enforced through a system of checks and balances, is another feature that serves to limit our government. Liberty is most threatened when any person or group accumulates too much power. The Founders, therefore, divided our national government into three distinct branches and gave to each not only specific powers, roles, and modes of election, but ways to prevent the other two branches from taking or accumulating power for themselves. The president, for example, is commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces. However, it is the legislative branch that can declare war, and raises and maintains the armed forces through funding. Congress may impeach the president if it believes he is abusing authority as his commander in chief. Likewise, the president may refuse attempts by Congress to micro-manage wartime decisions on the basis of his role as commander in chief.

This system serves to limit government by first lodging the various powers of government in different branches, then pitting those branches against one another in a jealous quest to preserve their power.

Perhaps the most definitive limitations on government are found in the Bill of Rights. A firewall protects a computer from outside attempts to harm it, so too does the Bill of Rights guard fundamental rights, natural and civil. In fact, far from most Americans’ popular understanding of the Bill of Rights as a “giver” of rights (ask most Americans where they get their right to free speech and the answer will almost always cite the First Amendment), it is actually the “limiter” of government authority. The First Amendment’s words, for example, that “Congress shall make no law…,” significantly constrain governmental action in the areas of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. In similar fashion, the Fourth Amendment limits the executive branch’s ability to invade one’s home without probable cause and a warrant, and the Eighth Amendment prevents the government from authorizing drawing and quartering as punishment for a crime.

The Bill of Rights does convey some rights. For example, the right to a jury trial. Unlike freedom of conscience, which James Madison understood to be a natural or pre-societal right, a jury trial is not a natural right. A decent and defensible civil society will convey protections ensuring fair trials. Liberty and anarchy are incompatible. Liberty and unlimited government are, too. The Constitution, through its unique approaches to balanced government, was designed to harmonize these positions by protecting rights while promoting competent government.

The Role of Government

The Framers of the U.S. Constitution knew that the new government they crafted must be more powerful and effective than the government under the Articles of Confederation. They studied history and human nature to create a government strong enough to promote the public good, but not so strong that it would become a threat to individual liberties.

25 Essay Topics for American Government Classes

Writing Ideas That Will Make Students Think

Teaching Resources
An Introduction to Teaching
Tips & Strategies
Policies & Discipline
Community Involvement
School Administration
Technology in the Classroom
Teaching Adult Learners
Issues In Education
Becoming A Teacher
Assessments & Tests
Elementary Education
Secondary Education
Special Education
Homeschooling
M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Florida
B.A., History, University of Florida

If you are a teacher searching for essay topics to assign to your U.S. government or civics class or looking for ideas, do not fret. It is easy to integrate debates and discussions into the classroom environment. These topic suggestions provide a wealth of ideas for written assignments such as position papers , compare-and-contrast essays , and argumentative essays . Scan the following 25 question topics and ideas to find just the right one. You'll soon be reading interesting papers from your students after they grapple with these challenging and important issues.

Compare and contrast what is a direct democracy versus representative democracy.
React to the following statement: Democratic decision-making should be extended to all areas of life including schools, the workplace, and the government.
Compare and contrast the Virginia and New Jersey plans. Explain how these led to the Great Compromise .
Pick one thing about the U.S. Constitution including its amendments that you think should be changed. What modifications would you make? Explain your reasons for making this change.
What did Thomas Jefferson mean when he said, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants?" Do you think that this statement still applies to today's world?
Compare and contrast mandates and conditions of aid regarding the federal government's relationship with states. For example, how has the Federal Emergency Management Agency delivered support to states and commonwealths that have experienced natural disasters?
Should individual states have more or less power compared to the federal government when implementing laws dealing with topics such as the legalization of marijuana and abortion ?
Outline a program that would get more people to vote in presidential elections or local elections.
What are the dangers of gerrymandering when it comes to voting and presidential elections?
Compare and contrast the major political parties in the United States. What policies are they preparing for upcoming elections?
Why would voters choose to vote for a third party, even though they know that their candidate has virtually no chance of winning?
Describe the major sources of money that are donated to political campaigns. Check out the Federal Election Regulatory Commission's website for information.
Should corporations be treated as individuals regarding being allowed to donate to political campaigns? Look at the 2010 Citizens United v. FEC ruling on the issue. Defend your answer.
Explain the role of social media in connecting interest groups that have grown stronger as the major political parties have grown weaker.
Explain why the media has been called the fourth branch of government. Include your opinion on whether this is an accurate portrayal.
Compare and contrast the campaigns of U.S. Senate and House of Representatives candidates.
Should term limits be instituted for members of Congress? Explain your answer.
Should members of Congress vote their conscience or follow the will of the people who elected them into office? Explain your answer.
Explain how executive orders have been used by presidents throughout the history of the U.S. What is the number of executive orders issued by the current president?
In your opinion, which of the three branches of the federal government has the most power? Defend your answer.
Which of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment do you consider the most important? Explain your answer.
Should a school be required to get a warrant before searching a student's property? Defend your answer.
Why did the Equal Rights Amendment fail? What kind of campaign could be run to see it passed?
Explain how the 14th Amendment has affected civil liberties in the United States from the time of its passage at the end of the Civil War.
Do you think that the federal government has enough, too much or just the right amount of power? Defend your answer.
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The Roles of State and Federal Governments

A discussion of the roles of the state and federal governments, and their concurrent and exclusive powers.

Social Studies, Civics

President James Madison

“[T]he powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State,” Madison.

Painting by Gilbert Stuart from the U.S. Library of Congress

The United States is a constitution -based federal system, meaning power is distributed between a national ( federal ) government and local (state) governments. Although the Supremacy Clause states that the Constitution , federal laws, and treaties are the “supreme law of the land,” according to the Supreme Court, it is clear that the Constitution created a federal government of limited powers. The Supreme Court has noted that “every law enacted by Congress must be based on one or more of its powers enumerated in the Constitution .” These limited powers are set forth as what are termed “enumerated powers” in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution . These enumerated powers include, among other things, the power to levy taxes , regulate commerce, establish a uniform law of naturalization , establish federal courts (subordinate to the Supreme Court), establish and maintain a military, and declare war. In addition, the Necessary and Proper Clause has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to define “implied powers,” those which are necessary to carry out those powers enumerated in the Constitution . In McCulloch v. Maryland , Justice John Marshall set forth the doctrine of implied powers, stating, that a government entrusted with great powers must also be entrusted with the power to execute them. While the Constitution thus grants broad powers to the federal government, they are limited by the 10th Amendment, which states that “[t]he powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution , nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” As James Madison explained, “[t]he powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State.” These reserved powers have generally been referred to as “police powers,” such as those required for public safety, health, and welfare. Finally, certain powers are called concurrent powers, which the states and the federal government both may exercise. These can include, for example, setting up courts, levying taxes , and spending and borrowing money. Typically, these are powers necessary for maintenance of public facilities. As can be appreciated, one of the difficulties in the federal system is determining which entity, if any, has the power to legislate in a particular realm. In general, the problem of conflicting laws between the states and the federal government has given rise to what is called the doctrine of preemption. Under this doctrine, based on the Supremacy Clause, if a state or local law conflicts with a federal law, the state or local law must give way (unless the federal law is itself unconstitutional , in other words, it exceeds the power of the federal government). As Justice Marshall put it in McCulloch v. Maryland , “[s]tates have no power, by taxation or otherwise, to retard, impede, burden, or in any manner control the operations of the Constitutional laws enacted by Congress to carry into execution the powers vested in the Federal Government.” Under this doctrine, the Supreme Court has indicated that the Supremacy Clause may entail preemption of state law either by express provision, by implication, or by a conflict between federal and state law. If there is an express provision in the legislation , or if there is an explicit conflict between the state law at issue and the federal law, the state law provision is immediately invalid. Field preemption occurs when Congress legislates in a way that is comprehensive to an entire field of an issue. Impossibility preemption occurs when it would be impossible for someone to comply with both state and federal laws. Purposes and objectives preemption occurs when the purposes and objectives of the federal law would be thwarted by the state law.

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Related Resources

Essay on Government

Students are often asked to write an essay on Government in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Government

What is government.

Government is a group of people who make decisions and laws for a country. They are responsible for providing services like education, healthcare, and security to the public.

Types of Government

There are different types of governments, such as democracy, monarchy, dictatorship, and communism. In a democracy, people choose their leaders through voting.

Roles of Government

Governments have many roles. They protect citizens, make laws, and manage the economy. They also provide public services like schools and hospitals.

Importance of Government

Government is important because it maintains order, protects citizens, and provides necessary services. Without it, society would be chaotic.

250 Words Essay on Government

Introduction.

The term ‘Government’ fundamentally signifies the governing body of a nation or state that exercises authority, controls, and administers public policy. It is the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states.

The Role of Government

The government plays a crucial role in society by ensuring the smooth functioning of the nation. It is responsible for maintaining law and order, protecting citizens’ rights, and providing public services. The government also shapes the economy by implementing policies that either stimulate or slow down economic growth.

Governments can be categorized into several types based on their structure and the extent of power they exercise. These include democracy, where power is vested in the people; monarchy, where power is held by a single ruler; and autocracy, where a single person holds unlimited power.

Government and Democracy

In democratic governments, citizens have the right to elect their representatives who make decisions on their behalf. This system promotes accountability, transparency, and the protection of individual rights. However, democracy’s success hinges on an informed and active citizenry that can hold the government accountable.

In conclusion, the government is a fundamental institution in any society. It plays a pivotal role in maintaining societal order, ensuring the welfare of its citizens, and driving the nation’s growth and development. The efficiency of a government is largely determined by its structure, the extent of its powers, and the level of citizen participation.

500 Words Essay on Government

Introduction to government.

The government’s primary role is to safeguard the rights and freedoms of its citizens. This involves ensuring the security of the people, maintaining law and order, and providing public goods and services. A government has the responsibility to protect its citizens from internal and external threats, which is why it maintains law enforcement agencies and a military.

The government also plays a crucial role in economic regulation and stabilization. By controlling monetary and fiscal policies, it can influence the country’s economic trajectory, ensuring growth, stability, and equity. Furthermore, the government is responsible for the provision of public goods and services such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social welfare programs.

Forms of Government

In between these extremes, there are numerous variations, such as constitutional monarchies, where a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government, or oligarchies, where power rests with a small number of people.

The Importance of Good Governance

Good governance is integral to the effective functioning of a government. It is characterized by transparency, accountability, efficiency, and adherence to the rule of law. Good governance ensures that the government’s actions benefit the majority of the population and that public resources are used efficiently and ethically.

Conclusion: The Evolving Role of Government

In today’s rapidly changing world, the role of government is evolving. With the advent of technology and globalization, governments are not just confined to traditional roles but are increasingly involved in areas such as digital infrastructure, climate change, and global health crises.

As we move forward, the challenge for governments worldwide will be to adapt to these changes and continue to serve their citizens effectively. Understanding the nature, role, and complexities of government is crucial for us as we navigate the political landscape of the 21st century.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Happy studying!

Government - List of Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

Business ethics in the government.

It’s not easy to narrow down the meaning of ethics and individuals have varying views and opinions concerning this. Ethics is often used to mean the scrutiny of morals, principles and social dilemmas. Recently, scholars have come up with new ways of looking into the subject and have come up with new principles and theories (Carroll et al., 2014). Ethics should not be confused with laws because they are two distinct subjects. When laws are passed, they consider ethical standard […]

Democracy is Government by the People

"Democracy has been through a lot of changes from the 1800’s until this present day. Encyclopaedia Britannica says that a Democracy is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and is exercised by them. Democracies are based on “rule of law.” US history.org states that the Greeks are famous for practicing Direct Democracy, a system in which citizens meet to discuss all policy, and then make decisions by majority rule. Another modern version […]

Political Problem

The rapid development of the modern world in regards to political growth and independence has resulted in political problems and particular political terrorism and state-sponsored violence. Nations together with their governments are faced with security problems caused by the nuclear proliferation leading to misuse of this materials through wars and violence and terrorism. State-sponsored terrorism occurs when government regime forces or oppresses the minority group. Terrorism is the use of intentionally indiscriminate violence as a means to create terror to […]

We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs.

Governmental Monopoly: Balancing Control and Competition in Public Services

In the realm of governance and public administration, the concept of a "governmental monopoly" is one that sparks debate and contemplation. It belongs to the overarching category of public policy and economic regulation, but its uniqueness lies in its implications for the provision of essential services and the balance between state control and market competition. In this essay, we explore the intricacies of governmental monopoly, shedding light on its originality and the complex dynamics it entails. A governmental monopoly refers […]

Sherbert V. Verner: the Landmark Case Shaping Religious Freedom and Government Interests

In the annals of American jurisprudence, the case of Sherbert v. Verner stands as a cornerstone in delineating the delicate balance between religious freedom and governmental interests, etching its mark in the evolution of constitutional rights and protections. The case unfolded in the early 1960s, centering around Adeil Sherbert, a Seventh-day Adventist residing in South Carolina. Sherbert, adhering staunchly to her religious beliefs, refrained from working on Saturdays, observing it as a Sabbath day of rest and worship in accordance […]

Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson

In this essay i will be ecnologing key features about two of our presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. All of their faults and things they went through during their presidency. There big achievements and how they contributed to our nation,if they even did? Hopefully you will learn as much as i did. Thomas jefferson was our 3rd presidents as you probably already knew.His 4 year term was from 1801-1809.He was born in virginia in 1743 and he became vice […]

Government Whistleblowing and Qui Tam: Decoding the Meaning and Impact

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The Metamorphosis of Representation: a Deep Dive into the Quirks of the 17th Amendment and its Impact on the American Government Landscape

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The initiatory stage of research was conducted by accessing academic textbooks online such as Hilaire Barnett’s 'Constitutional and Administrative Law’. Using the contents page, I selected the relevant chapter 'Sources of the Constitution’; this chapter gave me an insight as to what the topic entailed. The textbook was an extremely helpful source as it is designed to explain concepts in an in-depth way to better your understanding, it also covers wider areas around the core topic. I then accessed a […]

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A hallmark of democratic societies, the concept of limited government, asserts that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens. Rooted in enlightenment ideals, limited government champions individual liberties and opposes any potential governmental overreach. While many nations aim to implement this ideal, few execute it perfectly, often walking a fine line between safeguarding rights and ensuring order. Nevertheless, multiple examples from around the world exemplify the principles and applications of limited government. The […]

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Apartheid as a Form of Government and Discrimination against South Africans

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Should the Government be more Open and Unbiased to Avoid Discrimination and Unjust Laws?

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Freedom of speech has been protected in The United States by the First Amendment since 1791. For over 100 years, this right, though symbolically important, has sat dormant. However today, freedom of speech has been in the headlines due to its involvement in controversial topics surrounding the media, political correctness, and “hate speech”. Hateful beliefs and intolerance towards those with different characteristics exist throughout society and results in an environment of hate. Americans now have a hard choice to make […]

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Thomas Jefferson in his presidency showed that he couldn't handle Britain when they stole our men from right in front of our noses. Jefferson thought that reducing the Army, end Naval expansion ,and lowering government cost would be good ideas for the U.S well not really if you ask me. The Louisiana purchase of 1803 is a good decision Jefferson did considering it multiplied the size of the nation. He also sent a exposition to the newly purchased land AKA […]

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Andrew Jackson lived a rough life. He grew up poor in a log cabin in Tennessee. Sadly he also grew up a orphan. Eventually during the war of 1812 Andrew Jackson would defend New Orleans in a stunning victory this would eventually lead to him becoming the seventh United States President. He did many things during his presidency that people would call democratic while others would not. In this essay you will learn all about this famous president and his […]

Andrew Jackson Biography

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Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson: Presidential Analysis

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History is a very important and intriguing subject as it is said to understand where we are going, we must first understand where we came from. In this class we learned about the beginnings of our country and the hardships that the colonist dealt with to make the United States what it is today. We are a land of opportunity, but that opportunity was gained by great sacrifices. The pilgrims faced a harsh journey via boat to come to this […]

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Item 1 - purpose and function of our government - general.

Published on Mon, May 17, 2021 9:00AM PDT | Updated Mon, May 17, 2021 9:10AM PDT

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The United States of America (US) is a federal republic composed of 50 states, a federal district of Washington, D.C., five major and various minor insular areas, as well as over 90,000 local governments, including counties, municipalities, townships, school districts, and special district governments. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 329 million people, the US is the world’s third-largest country by total area and the third most populous.

Our vision and mission

As documented in the US Constitution, the people of the US, through our Government, seek to form a more perfect union by establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

Our strategy

To achieve the mission of the people, our Government raises money, spends money, and exercises its authority. Through these actions, it enables, incentivizes, and forces certain behaviors (e.g. saving for retirement through Social Security and Medicare, attending minimum years of school, getting vaccinated) in an effort to maintain or improve various key metrics related to American life.

Raising and spending money

Our Government raises money through taxes and non-tax sources, including businesses it runs. This money is used to pay government expenditures and to transfer money to individuals and others. At the federal level, when the money raised is not sufficient to cover the money spent (most years), the US Department of the Treasury may borrow money to finance the difference. States may borrow funds for projects but may not borrow to fund annual deficits, except Vermont, where its constitution does not preclude it from doing so.

Exercising authority

Our Government exercises its authority directly by regulating, legislating, and issuing executive orders and court orders. It also grants authority to, and rescinds it from, government agencies and state and local governments.

See more at Government operations below.

Continue exploring

About this report, government structure, explore the 2021 government 10-k, introduction, item 1a. risk factors, item 2. properties, item 3. legal proceedings, item 6. selected financial data, item 7. management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, item 7a. quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk, item 8. financial statements and supplementary data, item 9a. controls and procedures, item 10. executive officers and governance, item 11. executive officer compensation, item 13. certain relationships and related transactions, and director independence, item 15. exhibits, sign up for the newsletter.

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AP U.S. Government and Politics: Argument Essay

Question 4 of the AP U.S. Government and Politics free response section will always be the Argument Essay. These questions begin with a brief paragraph about a given topic, such as the balance between federal and state powers. The prompt will then give specific instructions about how you must format your essay, including a list of several required foundational documents that are relevant to the topic at hand. You will need to discuss one of the listed documents as well as another piece of specific evidence from your own knowledge.

Argument Essay Strategies

While the scoring for the first three free-response questions is more straightforward—you earn points (or not) based on fully addressing each part of the prompt—the scoring for the Argument Essay is a little more complex. The following rubric outlines what the AP readers are generally looking for when they grade your Argument Essay; note the various categories and the ways you can earn points.

Sample Question

Formulate a defensible thesis that establishes a chain of reasoning.
Federalist 10
U.S. Constitution
Take your other piece of evidence from a different foundational document from the list above OR from your own study.
Logically explain why your evidence supports your thesis.
Present and reply to an alternative viewpoint using refutation, concession, or rebuttal.

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt

Step 2: plan your response.

You’ll want to create a brief outline before you start writing, just like you would for any other full-length essay. As you saw from the rubric, AP readers are interested in your thesis development, your use of evidence, and your treatment of an alternative view. Everything you write should be toward one or more of those ends.

You will need to state a thesis that specifically addresses the prompt and makes a claim. Avoid rewording the prompt or being too general. A good question to ask yourself is, “Am I actually taking a position on this issue that someone else might argue against?” Also, while the Argument Essay necessitates a longer, more detailed response than the other free-response question types, it does not require a formal introduction; in fact, writing a lengthy introduction can take up valuable time and frustrate the AP reader who is scoring your essay. Assert your thesis as soon as possible, and then move into the rest of your response.

It is important to note that the Argument Essay’s topic and prompt wording will always intentionally allow for multiple positions. Therefore, you should be strategic and choose the position that you can best back up with evidence. You may even advocate for a different position than the one you personally agree with! To that end, no matter how strongly you feel about a topic, always present your evidence and claims in a balanced manner. Throughout your essay, even and especially when responding to an alternative viewpoint, avoid wording that makes it seem like your argument is simply your personal opinion (e.g., “I think” or “I believe,” or any language that is overly emotional).

With all of this in mind, a high-scoring writer might write the following outline:

Thesis: Trustee is the best model (ideals of Constitution)

Madison’s fear: large country + big gov’t = factions (many groups disagree)
Trustee can mediate, come to concl, act in best interests
Needed trustee model to make change
Civil rights and women’s rights movements
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965

Response to alternative view: Anti-Feds would fear large repub (Brutus), but pol system in place would keep trustee honest

Step 3: Action! Write Response & Step 4: Proofread

Sample high-scoring response.

The trustee model of legislative representation is the best reflection of the founders’ intentions in setting up American democracy because it offers the best hope for what the Preamble to the Constitution calls “a more perfect union,” one that will bring together war- ring factions and increase harmony.

As James Madison pointed out in Federalist 10, it is inevitable that a republic will contain many groups which vehemently disagree. The bigger a country grows, the more frequent and violent factional clashes are likely to become. Madison was looking ahead to the U.S. that would burst the bounds of the original colonies and create more factionalism. This vision of an expanding, clashing nation makes the trustee model very appealing. A trustee Congressperson is one who will listen to all sides, make an independent judgment, but then go on to explain it so that opponents may be persuaded to change their minds, thus bringing resolution to conflicts.

A trustee is a representative willing to do the principled thing even if the public thinks otherwise. Many issues in our history have seemed so polarized that they were beyond resolution and could not wait for popular consensus. This was the case with civil rights issues and legislation in the 1960s. Technically, African Americans had the right to vote since the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870. However, this right was violently suppressed through intimidation tactics and a variety of restrictive measures such as poll taxes and literacy tests. It was not until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that substantial voting protections were extended to all black people. The Voting Rights Act outlawed literacy tests and other tactics; under this act, federal officials were sent to the South to ensure that African Americans were allowed to vote free from fear and intimidation, and the election practices of local governments were held under greater scrutiny. Civil rights movement leaders had challenged discriminatory practices for decades, but due to intense polarization in society, there was no public consensus on how to address racism in voting practices or even agreement as to whether to address it at all. Legislators had to go against the opinions of the majority in order to act in a way that advanced American ideals for all citizens, and the public eventually caught up.

Similarly, legislators pushed through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which was supported by people within social movements but not by the general populace. Additionally, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 touched on the goals of not just the civil rights movement but also the women’s rights movement; for example, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibited sex discrimination in public accommodations. Members of these movements had been working for years to get society at large to expand rights and protections to all people. However, if legislators had waited to act until a majority of their constituency approved of these civil rights bills, the bills may never have passed. In this way, the trustee model can be used to uphold the rights of the minority despite majority resistance.

The trustee idea would have been opposed by Brutus and other Anti-Federalists. Brutus 1 warns that a large republic would necessarily be disconnected from its people. Following this logic, a concern with the trustee model would be that the representative would deviate too far from the will of the people and become despotic. But it is important to note that the people have the ultimate voice if they disagree with the trustee’s judgments: the power of the ballot. The legislator’s desire to stay in power is a strong check on him or her, acting as an incentive to listen to constituents.

All in all, the trustee is in the best position to reduce the intense factionalism Madison feared. Even before the advance of mass media, the trustee had many means to learn of the people’s different views and to explain why the legislator was voting a certain way, or advancing this or that philosophy. This give and take of ideas surely helped to get the republic through its rocky early decades, and also helped the country to recover from the volatile growing pains and changes in the mid-twentieth century by finding ways to bring people together and advance equal rights for all.

Sample Response Explanation and Scoring

Thesis (0–1 pt): The writer sets up a clear X because Y sentence to introduce the thesis, which could be paraphrased as, The trustee model brings about harmony. Everything that follows is connected to the founders’ ideal of harmony. The writer would therefore earn 1 point for Thesis.
Support (0–3 pts): There is more than enough evidence to gain the full 3 points for Support, as the writer explains Madison’s argument in Federalist 10 and elaborates upon relevant historical examples of disharmony that those acting as trustees helped to fix through assertive actions. In addition, the references to the Constitution and Brutus 1 (while unnecessary for earning full credit in Support) show a strong command of course material.
Reasoning (0–1 pt): The writer earns the 1 point for Reasoning by clearly explaining how a trustee offers the best hope for Madison’s vision. Specifically, the writer asserts in paragraphs 3 and 4 how trustees could not wait for public opinion in order to act.
Reply to Alternative Viewpoint (0–1 pt): There is a whole paragraph at the end dedicated to rebutting the Anti-Federalists’ objections. In this way, the writer makes it clear that this requirement has been met and earns the final 1 point.

Question-Specific Rubric: 6 points (1 + 3 + 1 + 1)

Learn more about the other free response questions on the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam. Concept Application • Quantitative Analysis • SCOTUS Comparison

AP US Government and Politics Scotus Comparison

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Government Essay Examples

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