USMA Library Homepage: Social Sciences: SS202 Paper--Analysis of Actors & Policies

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SS202 Paper Tips

Welcome to the SS202 page of my Social Sciences Research Guide. This page has been created to help you get started with your library research for the Analysis of Actors & Policy Paper. The databases on this page should be helpful tools for researching one of the eight public policies assignments. Two clinics per semester will be held to help you with your research.

Remember that along with advocacy groups pro and con, political parties, and privately funded think tanks, public opinion, and mass media are informal actors. When informal actors take a public stand on an issue, their website postings are primary sources. On the other hand, formal actors such as federal, state, and local government have primary source documents available online, e.g., executive actions may be found on the White House website. Each public policy below has links to help you start your research. If you would like to meet for further assistance, please contact me so we can arrange a time we’re both available.

1. National Interstate and Defense Highway Act (1956)

PL-627 (84th Congress - HR 10660)
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.
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956: Creating The Interstate System
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.

2. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2009)

PL 111-148 (111th Congress - HR 3590)
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.
Overview of Policy, Procedure, and Legislative History of the ACA
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.

3. EO 14074 (2022) -- Policing and Criminal Justice Practices

EO 14074 “Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety” (May 25, 2022)
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.
Biden Signs Policing Order
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.

Primary v. Secondary Sources for AP Actors

Primary v. Secondary Sources for AP Actors

Political Science Databases (American Politics)

Issues & Controversies This link opens in a new window
Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new window
Policy File Index This link opens in a new window

Harvard Kennedy School Think Tank Directory

Political Science Complete This link opens in a new window
Polling the Nations This link opens in a new window
Pew Research Center This link opens in a new window
ProQuest Newspapers This link opens in a new window
NexisUni This link opens in a new window
CQ Press Library This link opens in a new window
Congressional Research Service Reports This link opens in a new window
ProQuest Congressional This link opens in a new window
HeinOnline U.S. Congressional Documents Library This link opens in a new window
U.S. Congressional Serial Set [GPO] This link opens in a new window
U.S. Congressional Serial Set [Readex] This link opens in a new window

4. EO 14008 (2021) -- Climate Change

EO 14008 "Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad" (January 27, 2021)
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."
Biden: "We Can't Wait Any Longer"
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.

5. Bostock v. Clayton County (decided June 15, 2020)

Docket 17-1618 -- Bostick v. Clayton County
Bostock v. Clayton determined that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 not only prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of race, religion, national origin, and sex, it also bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Gay Rights: Should the Government Take More Steps to Protect Gay Rights?
An article from Issues & Controversies provides a detailed history and overview of gay rights, stating that U.S. public opinion has shifted towards support for LGBTQ+ rights in the past 25 years. While the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges legalized gay marriage, the Court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton determined that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 not only prohibits employers from discriminating based on race, religion, national origin, and sex, it also bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. While the Court's ruling in Bostock only applies to employment law, the article states that it is likely to have far-reaching repercussions for legal battles in other areas, including education, health care, and housing.

6. Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (decided July 1, 2021)

Docket 19-1257 -- Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee
The Supreme Court ruled that two Arizona regulations, one requiring out of precinct ballots to be entirely discarded and the other preventing anyone barring anyone but a voter’s family member or caregiver from returning early ballots for another person, are not racially discriminatory according to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Voting Rights: Should Congress Pass a New Voting Rights Act?
An article from Issues & Controversies provides a historic overview of efforts to defend voting rights in the U.S. It reviews the landmark 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder, viewed by liberals as gutting the Voting Rights Act of 1965. With more than 250 bills in 43 states currently pending that would restrict voting access by various methods, liberals have accused conservatives of trying to make it harder for poor people and people of color to cast their ballots, while conservatives defended the proposals as commonsense measures to prevent voter fraud and restore public faith in elections. The recent Supreme Court ruling in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee overturning lower court challenges to two Arizona election laws, seen by many as a blow to voter rights, is discussed.

Federal Government Websites

govinfo
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
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.
U.S. Senate
Provides detailed information about Senators, committees, legislation and records, including recent roll call votes.
U.S. House of Representatives
Provides detailed information about individual Representatives, leadership, committees, and legislative activities.
whitehouse.gov
Provides information on current President's administration and public policies from the perspective of the President.
U. S. Supreme Court
Provides information on the U. S. Supreme Court, including cases, arguments, and other documents.

7. DoD Directive 1442.11 -- Political Activities

DoD Directive 1442.11: “Political Activity Rules for DoD Political Appointees" (issued November 8, 2021)
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.
Expressing Yourself in the Military Environment
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.

8. DoD Directive 5205.16 -- Insider Threats

DoD Directive 5201.16: “The DoD Insider Threat Program” (issued September 30, 2014)
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.
Insider Threats: Background and Organizations Countering Them
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.

SS202 Library Research Clinic Assessment

SS202 Library Research Clinic Assessment

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

SS202 American Politics Paper--Analysis of Actors & Policy