Instruction
The topic of this essay is prompted by the ongoing coronavirus emergency, and how such situations affect the justifiable exercise of government powers. To do well on it, students will need to have a solid understanding of relevant material from the Lowi textbook, as well as be familiar with recent news about government actions in response to the pandemic. Begin by looking up the word "emergency" in the index to learn about past cases in which presidents issued emergency decrees, and also review the notes from lecture Ch. 6 on the presidency. Then familiarize yourself with recent actions by various state governments (especially California and Washington), the CDC, Federal Reserve, President Trump, and Congress by reading online sources or (exercising caution) browsing through newspapers in Houff Library or other public libraries.
Finally, in your essay, describe the most important coronavirus emergency actions pertaining to public health, economic stabilization, etc., indicating the legal basis for such actions. It would be helpful to cite a few historical examples for comparison. How important are constitutional limitations on government power during national emergencies? How does the federal structure of government in the United States affect the response to this crisis? What is the risk if the extent of the emergency is being exaggerated? How does the American response to the coronavirus emergency compare to other countries, and what lessons are we to draw from this?
Because this is a more complex topic than usual, the expected size is correspondingly bigger: 450-550 words, with a maximum limit of 700 words. It is worth 20 points, rather than 15 points, with up to 10 bonus points, i.e., up to 30 points total. Quality is more important than quantity, however. Any words in excess of 700 will be ignored. Proper spelling, punctuation, and English usage are expected. Students whose previous essays have been corrected should be especially careful before they submit this one.