POLS 2312 The University of Texas at Arlington Legislative Policy Essay
Signature Assignment 2 (Unit 4): Legislative Policy Paper(3-5 pages)8 % of final grade Due, Friday, September 11, by 11:59 pmPaper must be double spaced, with 12 point font and include section headers for each of the paper sections noted below (Three Representational Roles and Role You Choose, Influence of Legislative Leaders, Rank and Explain Influences of Institutional Factors, and Explain Your Vote)Objective: The objective for this assignment is for students to understand and critically analyze the multiple pressures on policy makers in Texas as they most listen to their leaders, the governor, the voters (social responsibility) and their own conscience (personal responsibility) in deciding how to cast their vote on a controversial issue.Assignment: You have recently been elected as a Republican to the Texas Senate from a competitive district (even number of Democrats, Republicans and Independents) just outside of Dallas. One of the first bills that you must vote on is House Bill 3- a Bill to forbid the creation of sanctuary cities (protecting undocumented immigrants from deportation). Your constituents support the bill as does the Governor your party, but you oppose it on grounds that most undocumented Texans are hardworking people who want to become legal citizens. The Speaker of the House opposes the bill as well.In explaining how you will vote on the bill, be sure to explain the following:What Representational Role you will adopt (trustee, delegate or politico). (Unit 4 Written Lectures, Slide 4-25). Be sure to discuss all three representational roles.How will the Speaker of the House, the Lt. Governor and Governor of Texas influence the fate of the bill? (Unit 4 Written Lectures, Slides 4-9, 4-10, 4-18 & 4-22 )How do you think constituents might try to influence your vote? (Unit 4 Written Lectures, Slide 4-20)Which factors noted above and in your notes (constituents, governor, party leaders and your own opinion) will influence your vote? Rank them in importance. (Unit 4, Written Lectures, Slide 4-20, 4-21)Will you vote for or against the bill? Please explain your answer thoroughly. You should refer back to the representational role here. (Unit 4 Written Lectures, Slide 4-25)The paper should include subject headers (ie. Representational Roles, Influence of Legislative Leaders, etc.)Assessment: Your Assignment will be assessed based on the following rubric.Percent0 %60%80%100%Representational Roles25%No EffortNotes at least one of three roles or lists, but does not explain all three.Discusses all three roles, but does not apply to issue.Thoroughly explains each role as well as why and how they chose to vote.How do different people influence public policy?25%No EffortLimited discussion of how each institutional factor can influence their decision.Lists all people, but limited discussion of how they influence or does not discuss all people.Thoroughly explains how leaders, governor, citizens and personal opinion can influence decision.Rank and Explain Influences of institutional factors.20%No EffortRanks institutional factors, but limited explanation or does not rank all factors.Ranks institutional factors, but does not thoroughly explain ranking of each.Notes ranking of each institutional factor and thoroughly explains why each is ranked.Explain your vote.15%No EffortYes or no vote with no explanation.Yes or no vote with no reference to representational role and/ or institutional factors.Expresses yes or no vote and explains importance of representational role and institutional factors.Grammar/ Structure10%No EffortNumerous grammatical and typographical errors, no headers.Some grammatical and/ or typographical errors and/ or no headers.Well written and well organizedFormat5%No EffortNot double spaced and not long enough.Not double spaced or not long enough.Double spaced and correct length.