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

SS202 American Politics Paper--Analysis of Actors & Policy

The resources on this page will help you to research and write on the Analysis of Actors & Policies Paper topic of your choice.

Primary v. Secondary Sources for AP Actors

Primary v. Secondary Sources for AP Actors

Getting Started - Determining the Issues

Issues & Controversies This link opens in a new window
Provides summaries of issues in current and recent events and all sides of the debaate.

Newspapers

Newspaper Subscriptions
Learn how to activate your subscription to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, and how to access a digital version of the Army Times.

ProQuest Newspapers This link opens in a new window
Full text collection of a wide range of current and historical American newspapers.
PressReader This link opens in a new window
Provides thousands of newspapers every single day, extracting text and images and making articles instantly translatable, searchable, and easy to read on mobile devices. Coverage is typically the most recent 90 days.

Political Science Databases (American Politics)

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.

CQ Press Library This link opens in a new window Browse resources on American government, current affairs, history, politics, public policy, and data analysis for the social sciences. Search across the following included content: 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.
Congress Collection: A Comprehensive guide to the U.S. Congress, including floor votes.
CQ Almanac: Narrative accounts of major legislation from every congressional session, 1945-2020.
CQ Researcher: In-depth reporting on today's issues.
CQ Press Books: Books and reference titles covering American government, politics, history, and public policy.
Encyclopedia of American Government: Explanations regarding the who, how, and why of American democracy.
Politics in America: Profiles and commentary on every member of congress.
Public Affairs Collection: Primary sources, stats summaries, and in-depth reporting on policy and affairs.
Supreme Court Collection: Insight on the decisions and opinions of the Supreme Court.
Voting and Elections Collection: A look at U.S. elections, including returns from 1789-present.
Congressional Research Service Reports This link opens in a new window Publicly accessible government reports present a legislative perspective on topics such as agriculture policy, counterterrorism operations, banking regulation, and veteran's issues.
ProQuest Congressional This link opens in a new window Explore a collection of historic and current U.S. Congressional information and publications on all aspects of legislation from 1789 to the present. Full text is available for many resources beginning in 1990 through present day. Use this resource to browse 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 Browse this database of Congressional documents and reports from 1995 onward. This resource 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 Browse this database of Congressional documents and reports from 1817 through 1994. This resource 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

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.

Think Tanks

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.

Lobbying / Influencer Websites

OpenSecrets
Website tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Compiled by a nonprofit nonpartisan group.
InfluenceWatch
Website that publishes profiles of the various influencers of public policy issues. This is a project of the Capital Research Center which is a nonprofit conservative organization.

Polls Databases

Pew Research Center This link opens in a new window
Pew is a nonpartisan American think tank based in Washington, D.C. Users will find information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends shaping the United States and the world.
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 to the present.

1. Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022)

PL-117-159 (117th Congress - S 2938)
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provides changes to gun safety laws, the mental health system, and school safety programs. The act makes changes to federal firearms laws, including to expand background check requirements, broaden the scope of existing restrictions, and establish new criminal offenses. It also authorizes and supports various programs, grants, and activities to promote access to behavioral and mental health services, enhance school safety and security initiatives, and address gun violence in communities.
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act: Section-by-Section Summary
On June 25, 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA, P.L. 117-159) was signed into law. The BSCA was enacted in the aftermath of mass shootings in Uvalde, TX, and Buffalo, NY. The law includes provisions related to mental health, firearms, education, and Medicaid and Medicare. It also includes appropriations for related programs operated by the Departments of Justice (DOJ), Education (ED), and Health and Human Services (HHS). This report describes each of the provisions in the BSCA, along with the appropriations provided in Division B of the BSCA.

2. Respect for Marriage Act

PL 117-228 (117 th Congress - HR 8404)
The Respect for Marriage Act replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, marriage as between a man and a woman and spouse as a person of the opposite sex with provisions that recognize any marriage between two individuals that is valid under state law. The act also replaces provisions that do not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states with provisions that prohibit the denial of full faith and credit or any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.
Biden Signs Marriage Equality Bill into Law
This article from the database Opposing Viewpoints argues that, though the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act represents an important victory for marriage equality, the legislation has several important limitations. The author notes that President Joe Biden signed the act into law, codifying both same-sex marriage and interracial marriage at the federal level, in December 2022. the author asserts that its shortcomings have not received significant attention.

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.

4. EO 14110 (2023) -- Artificial Intelligence

EO 14110 "Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence" (November 1, 2023)
President Biden's Executive Order that sets new standards for AI policy including safety and security, consumer protection, innovation and competition, privacy, and considerations of bias and civil rights.
The Biden's Administration's Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence
Article from the Center for Strategic & International Studies summarizing the key points of the E.O., Congress's inaction, and the challenges of enforcement.

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.