APU POLS210 WEEK 3 AND WEEK 4 FORUM

WEEK 3

Congress now has some difficult times ahead - and some difficult decisions to make for the American people. After reading Lesson 3, answer the following questions:

Given what you now know about how Congress works and how a bill is passed, what is different about an omnibus bill? What is the strategy behind omnibus bills? Provide an example from American politics. Other countries, notably Canada, use omnibus bills, but since this is an American government class, please stick with legislation from this country, at the federal level.

(Please stay out of the politics and use the PROCESS of implementation as the foundation of your answer, such as reconciliation.)

Post by 11:55 pm (ET) on Friday; include citations or URLs for your work to receive full credit; and, provide substantive replies to the posts of at least 2 of your classmates by 11:55 pm (ET) on Sunday.

Assignment responses should be no less than 300 words and no more than about 500 words, while student replies should be no less than 150 words and no more than about 300 words.









WEEK 4

The Lesson this week addresses the fifth course objective, specifically, how the Presidency operates.

From the readings in Lesson 3, we discussed Congress's quandry regarding the employment of combat forces abroad. During the Vietnam Conflict, President Nixon employed hundreds of thousands of combat forces into Southeast Asia without approval of Congress. Eventually, Congress felt compelled to pass the War Powers Resolution of 1973 (over his veto). As such, the president can still employ troops abroad to defend US interests, but then is required to notify Congress of the employment within 48 hours, and then withdraw them within 60 days - unless Congress formally declares war or authorizes the use of military force. However, subsequent presidents have not all followed this Resolution. This has caused a rift between the president and Congress that still exists today.

For this Forum assignment, please discuss the issue of how American military forces should be employed in conflict abroad. Is it strictly the president's call? What is Congress's role? Are the restrictions in the War Powers Resolution of 1973 realistic? How should this issue be resolved? Please use examples in your post.

Post by 11:55 pm (ET) on Friday; include citations or URLs for your work to receive full credit; and, provide substantive replies to the posts of at least 2 of your classmates by 11:55 pm (ET) on Sunday.

Assignment responses should be no less than 300 words and no more than about 500 words, while student replies should be no less than 150 words and no more than about 300 words.

Rubric