Social Sciences: SS202 Paper--Analysis of Actors & Policies

Federal Aid Highway Act (FAHA) - approved July 11, 1956, to authorize appropriations for continuing the construction of highways; to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to provide additional revenue from taxes on motor fuel, tires, and trucks and buses; and for other purposes.

On the 40th anniversary of the 1956 Highway Act, the U. S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration published this history of the progress of addressing the transportation infrastructure for the nation. After identifying the need for “superhighways” in the late 1930s under Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, successive highway acts were enacted to help connect the nation for defense and commerce. The article reviews over the important players and hurdles for establishing the Interstate Highway System and Eisenhower's pivotal role in launching the program that would change the face of America.

Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) to provide immediate improvements in health care coverage for all Americans, to preserve and expand coverage, to provide quality health insurance coverage for all Americans, and to provide available coverage choices for all Americans.

This law journal article provides a broad overview of the law as well as a summary of political and legislative history that shaped the Affordable Care Act. Soon after his inauguration, President Obama moved to use both his supermajority in the Senate and bipartisan outreach to pass healthcare for all Americans. What followed was a legislative process that ended up with a bill that both political parties were unhappy with due to political rancor and the unexpected loss of the filibuster-proof Senate. Written in 2011, this article focuses only on the original bill, and does not address subsequent changes and lawsuits.

President Biden's Executive Order on police reform including Improving data collection, revising use-of-force standards, limiting the use of no-knock entries, limiting the militarization of law enforcement, and improving crisis response to include alternatives.

Associated Press article on the President Biden’s May 2022 signing of Executive Order on Policing and Criminal Justice Practices. The AP, a secondary source, provides neutral reporting on the events leading to the decision to issue this Order, its limitations, and the reactions of advocacy groups and other commentators.

President Biden's Executive Order that "combats the climate crisis to implement a Government-wide approach that reduces climate pollution in every sector of the economy; increases resilience to the impacts of climate change; protects public health; conserves our lands, waters, and biodiversity; delivers environmental justice; and spurs well-paying union jobs and economic growth, especially through innovation, commercialization, and deployment of clean energy technologies and infrastructure."

Associated Press article on President Biden’s January 2021 signing of an Executive Order within the first week of taking office to try to start to drive the nation from fossil-fuel to cleaner sources. The article includes statements from the President as well as supporters and opponents.

Dobbs v. Jackson's Women's Health Organization determined that the U.S. Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey.

An article from Issues & Controversies provides a detailed history and overview of abortion and the arguments opposing and supporting its availability. After almost 50 years after the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade (1973) decided that women have a Constitutional right to abortion, with Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the Court overturned its previous decision stating that it had fundamentally erred when it ruled in 1973.

The Supreme Court ruled that Congress did not grant the Environmental Protection Agency in Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act the authority to devise emissions caps based on the generation shifting approach the agency took in the Clean Power Plan.

An article from Issues & Controversies provides a historic overview of efforts by the United States government to protect the environment. Opponents argue that such efforts will be detrimental to the economy and workers' livelihood and argue that the government should play a minimal role.

govinfo provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government. Very useful for acquiring primary sources by researching federal government documents.

Congress.gov is the official website for U.S. federal legislative information, providing timely information for Members of Congress and the public. Additionally, roll call votes are provided for both the House and Senate from 1989 to the present.

Provides detailed information about Senators, committees, legislation and records, including recent roll call votes.

Provides detailed information about individual Representatives, leadership, committees, and legislative activities.

Provides information on current President's administration and public policies from the perspective of the President.

Provides information on the U. S. Supreme Court, including cases, arguments, and other documents.

Presidential appointees requiring Senate confirmation, non-career senior executive service members, and non-permanent appointees in the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service are prohibited from engaging in activities that create the appearance of DoD association or support for any partisan political cause or issue.

Written by the Judge Advocate of the United States Forces Korea, this article provides guidance and an overview of the rights and restrictions of members of the Armed Forces in regards to political speech.

The threat that a DoD insider may do harm to the security of the United States requires the integration and synchronization of programs across the Department. Through an integrated capability to monitor and audit information for insider threat detection and mitigation, the DoD Insider Threat Program will gather, integrate, review, assess, and respond to information derived from CI, security, cybersecurity, civilian and military personnel management, workplace violence, AT risk management, LE, the monitoring of user activity on DoD information networks, and other sources as necessary and appropriate to identify, mitigate, and counter insider threats.

This blog article from the IBM Center for The Business of Government defines and insider threats and government organizations that are addressing this issue, including that of the Department of Defense. Part two of the blog discusses strategies for detecting and preventing these threats.