America’s Democracy: Your Report Card

The primary goal of your last assignment is to critically analyze the primary features of the American national government. The results of your analysis will indicate what you have learned over the last five weeks. In order to accomplish this task, it is important to critically evaluate the key facets of our American democracy.

You have been preparing for this final assignment each week by constructing a detailed outline of the Final Paper’s main points through the weekly Learning Activities. In addition, you have read the course text and course readings, reviewed videos, and researched additional material for each week’s assignments and for this paper. This week, you will put all of those outlines, readings, reviews, and research together into a one summative paper.

As we wrap up our course, reflect back on what you have learned about the key structures, systems, roles, and processes that embody our national government. Focus on the strengths and weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages, and positive and negative impacts of these aspects of our democracy. Use what you have learned so far to evaluate our national government and recommend ways to enhance what works and repair what is not working well.

Construct a six-page paper based on the detailed outlines that you created over the last four weeks. Scaffold your paper around the following outline:

1. Title page
2. Introduction (half page):
   1. Describe the paper’s overall thesis.
   2. Provide an overview of main points.
3. The Constitution (1-1.5 pages) (Week 1):
   1. Describe one strength and one weakness of the U.S. Constitution.
   2. Recommend one option to maintain the strength and one to correct the weakness.
4. Federalism (1-1.5 pages) (Week 2):
   1. Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of a national policy that must be implemented by one agency of the federal bureaucracy.
   2. Recommend one option to maintain the advantage and one to improve the disadvantage.
5. Branches of Government (1-1.5 pages) (Week 3):
   1. Describe one strength and one weakness of one branch of our government: Executive, Legislative, or Judiciary.
   2. Recommend one option to maintain the strength and one to correct the weakness.
6. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections (1-1.5 pages) (Week 4):
   1. Describe one positive impact and one negative impact of one of the following: political parties, interest groups, or federal elections.
   2. Recommend one option to accentuate the positive impact and one to lessen the negative impact.
7. Conclusion:
   1. Review your main points.
   2. Review your overall thesis.
8. References page

Writing the Final Paper
The Final Paper:

1. Must be at least six double-spaced pages in length (excluding title and reference pages), and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
2. Must include a title page with the following:
   1. Title of paper
   2. Student’s name
   3. Course name and number
   4. Instructor’s name
   5. Date submitted
3. Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
4. Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
5. Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
6. Must use at least eight scholarly resources, including a minimum of two from the Ashford University Library.
7. Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
8. Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

This assignment is due in Week 4.