CONSTITUTIONAL CONNECTION PAPER: RATIFICATION AND EARLY REPUBLICAN
ERA ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
Every public policy debate and decision in American politics has roots in the legal and political
thought that shaped, and has been shaped by, the United States Constitution. As you are in the
early stages of a doctoral program in public policy, it is essential for you to develop a knowledge
of the literature relevant to debates in the public policy area on which you intend to focus. For
this reason, it will be valuable for you to know and reflect on the most important literature
regarding the constitutional powers and institutions that govern debate in the public policy area
you intend to research.
This assignment asks you to incorporate assigned readings from this course and readings you
have compiled in your two previous Annotated Bibliography assignments for this course into a
paper that explains how the public policy area you intend to research continues to be influenced
by our nation’s Constitution and/or constitutional culture. You may address questions including,
but not limited to:
1) how a particular public policy reflects/conflicts with the Constitution as written or understood by its framers;2) what insights from our founding generation might be relevant to a public policy issue;3) what errors or oversights on the part of our founding generation might complicate a particular public policy or policy debate today;4) what issues related to constitutional institutions or structure are relevant to public policies in your area ofinterest and how?
- Every paper should begin with an introductory paragraph that clearly and concisely states the purpose and significance of the paper. The introductory paragraph should end with a clear thesis sentence that encapsulates your argument. If you do not know exactly what your thesis sentence is and where it is, neither will your reader.
- The body of your paper should be tightly tied to your thesis sentence, solidly grounded in assigned primary source documents, and supplemented by secondary literature included from your Annotated Bibliography assignments.
- It should explain and evaluate ways in which our nation’s Constitution or constitutional culture continues to remain relevant to current public policy debates.
- The concluding paragraph should sum up your argument and indicate how it is relevant to future public policy research and/or advocacy.
If you plan carefully, this paper can contribute to the Introduction and/or Literature Review
sections of your dissertation and can help ground your study in concrete issues in the history of
American political thought or practice.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Assignment should be 7-8 pages in length, not counting Title Page or Works Cited.
- Assignment should be written in current APA format.
- Assignment should include citations of at least three relevant primary sources, and from at least ten additional secondary sources (books from university or academic presses, or peer-reviewed articles from journals in relevant disciplines).
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
STRICT APA 7 Compliance
NO PLAGARIASM