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

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Doug Litts

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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 Provides summaries of issues and controversies in current and recent events, including historical background on the issues and synopses of all sides of the debate.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new window Presents each side of an issue to help develop critical thinking skills. Provides balance and perspective to every controversy using targeted arguments from recognized subject-matter experts and top journalistic sources. WORKS BEST IN CHROME. ALTERNATE URL: https://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/nysl_se_usma?db=OVIC NOTE: If not on the WREN it's necessary to use VPN.
Policy File Index This link opens in a new window Citations and abstracts, most with links to full text, for U.S. public policy research from over 350 think tanks, non-governmental organizations, research institutes, university centers, advocacy groups, and other entities. Provided by the Class of 1946.

Harvard Kennedy School Think Tank Directory Think Tank Search is a custom Google search of over 1200 think tank and research center websites. Think tanks are defined as institutions affiliated with universities, governments, advocacy groups, foundations, non-governmental organizations, and businesses that generate public policy research, analysis, and activity.

Political Science Complete This link opens in a new window Full text of over 480 journals, 330 full-text reference books and monographs, and over 36,000 full text conference papers, as well as indexing and abstracts for more than 800 additional journals

HeinOnline Academic Provides access to more than 3,000 scholarly journals on law and government. In addition, includes coverage of U.S. government publications, federal, state, and overseas case law, and international resources addressing many countries, regions, and international organizations.

Polling the Nations This link opens in a new window A database of polls taken on a variety of subjects all over the world from 1986 onward.
Pew Research Center This link opens in a new window
ProQuest Newspapers This link opens in a new window Full text collection of a wide range of current and historical American newspapers.
NexisUni This link opens in a new window NexisUni is the new name for LexisNexis. It is a provider of legal, regulatory and business information and analytics that help make more informed decisions, increase productivity and serve their clients better. Content is drawn from newspapers, state & federal cases, law reviews and company profiles.
CQ Press Library This link opens in a new window Portal for CQ Press online products. These components are subscribed to: Congress Collection, CQ Almanac, CQ Researcher Plus Archive, Political Handbook of the World, Politics in America, Public Affairs Collection, Voting and Elections collection and CQ Press Supreme Court Collection. In addition, these are searchable in SCOUT: Congress and the Nation and Washington Information Directory.
Congressional Research Service Reports This link opens in a new window CRS reports provide Congress with both anticipatory and on-demand research and analysis to support their legislative, oversight, and representational duties. All reports adhere to the core values of CRS; they are authoritative, objective and nonpartisan. Reports range in length from several pages to more than one-hundred pages and cover the full breadth of topics of interest to Congress.
ProQuest Congressional This link opens in a new window Information produced by or pertaining to the United States Congress from 1789 to the present. Provides full text for many titles, generally from the early 1990's to the present. Includes bills, laws, legislative histories, hearings, committee prints, House and Senate documents and reports, the Congressional Record, Congressional Research Service reports, Code of Federal Regulations, and Federal Register.
U.S. Congressional Serial Set [GPO] This link opens in a new window Database of Congressional documents and reports from 1995 onward. Provides access to primary source material on all aspects of American history, including committee reports related to bills and other matters, presidential communications to Congress, treaty materials, and selected executive department and non-governmental publications.
U.S. Congressional Serial Set [Readex] This link opens in a new window Database of Congressional documents and reports from 1817 through 1994. Provides access to primary source material on all aspects of American history, including committee reports related to bills and other matters, presidential communications to Congress, treaty materials, and selected executive department and non-governmental publications.

Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart Tool to help determine whether media source is a good secondary unbiased source or an informal actor

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. Dobbs v. Jackson's Women's Health Organization (decided June 24, 2022)

Docket 17-1392 -- Dobbs v. Jackson's Women's Health Organization
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.
Should Women in the United States Have Access to Abortion?
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.

6. West Virginia v. EPA (decided June 30, 2022)

Docket 20-1530 -- West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency
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.
Climate Change: Should the U.S. Government Take Aggressive Steps to Combat Climate Change?
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.

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