Description
Select one topic from the following list of three constitutional issues:
- Religious Freedom
- Free Speech
- Privacy Rights
For this assignment, you need to discuss one positive and one negative impact of federalism on the issue you selected. Once you have discussed those impacts, you are expected to evaluate which impact is the most significant on your issue and discuss the reasons behind that evaluation.
For example, if your topic were to be about regulation of commerce, federalism impacts regulation of commerce in a positive way by setting nationwide safety and building standards for highways, railroads, and airfields. Federalism could impact regulation of commerce in a negative way by forcing states to adhere to nationwide speed limits and safety laws that may not take into consideration local conditions and needs.
If you were going to look at equal protection under the law, one could argue that federalism has positively impacted equal protection of the law. The Fourteenth Amendment was critical in reducing racial discrimination because of landmark rulings like Brown v. Board of Education. On the other hand, federalism initially enabled states to treat their citizens differently based on the color of their skin. Supreme Court rulings such as Plessy v. Ferguson allowed the states to segregate blacks and whites as long as the states provided “separate, but equal facilities.”
For this paper, utilize the Constitution, established case law, and scholarly sources to discuss both sides of the argument and then provide a logical argument why one impact is more significant.
Write: Your paper should be organized into the following sections and should:
- Introduce the selected issue and the direction of the paper (1/2 page)
- Discuss one positive impact of federalism on the selected issue. (1 page)
- Discuss one negative impact of federalism on the selected issue. (1 page)
- Evaluate which impact is the most significant and discuss why. (1 page)
- Conclude and summarize the main findings of the paper. (1/2 page)
The paper must be at least four pages in length (not including title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.). You must utilize at least three scholarly sources, one of which may be your course text. Cite your sources within the text of your paper and on the reference page.
Explanation & Answer
Attached.
Outline
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Running head: FEDERALISM AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATES
Federalism and Constitutional Debates
Name
Course
Institution
Professor
Date
1
FEDERALISM AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATES
2
Federalism and Constitutional Debates
Introduction
Freedom of speech gives people an opportunity to express and articulate their opinions
about various issues affecting their lives. Free speech forms a part of the human rights which
different groups of individuals should enjoy in America. Through the freedom, people got an
opportunity to express their ideas especially on how they should be ruled by the leaders. In the
authoritarian type of leadership, people do not have a voice a reason why they could not correct
some of the wrong ideas by the government (Waldron, 2012). When people have a voice in the
society, they have an opportunity of expressing their thoughts and this contributes to more
benefits to the society. Free speech is an important aspect of a democratic government where the
citizens will also participate in making some decisions which will determine the success of the
governing body. Leaders also pick some ideas and opinions from the public making it easy for
them to formulate an inclusive type of leadership.
Positive impact
Freedom of speech is a gift to all the American citizens. Federalism has resulted in the
democracy through the free speech. In a democratic system, freedom of speech has an important
contribution which ensures that citizens have a right to give their opinions and participate in
making the right decisions that would benefit the nation as a whole. Federalism has allowed
people to have the freedom to enjoy this right where they have also participated in making some
long-term decisions on le...
