Part 1

Locate Michigan's constitution and examine the major elements and articles of the constitution.

Review its contents and functions. Search for information about the branches of government and the funding sources for your state government.

Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper that addresses the following:

? How are the main components of government set up by your state's constitution?
? Which branch of your state government seems the most powerful, on paper? What evidence do you use for your choice?
? Does the state constitution contain a Bill of Rights? If so, what appears to be the most important feature?

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Part 2

Assignment 1

Consider this scenario: You are working as an aide for a representative in your state legislature, and he or she has asked you for a summary of information on a particular interest group.

Use the following instructions to prepare your 10- to 15-slide Microsoft PowerPoint or Prezi presentation to the representative:

Identify and provide a description of one interest group.

Discuss its connection or relationship to each of the two major political parties in your state.

Analyze the interest group's relationship with the two major political parties by addressing these questions:

? How does the group influence the state government?
? What techniques does the group use?
? How important is the interest group to your representative?

Summarize the information you found regarding this interest group and provide a recommendation to the representative for responding to the issue with which the interest group is most concerned.

Include speaker notes.

? For Local Campus, deliver a 10- to 15-minute oral presentation accompanied by your slides or multimedia.
? For Online Campus, provide detailed speaker notes in the presentation file or in a separate document.

Use the Elections and Voter Turnout Worksheet to complete your analysis about the election and voter turnout in your state's last gubernatorial election.

Assignment 2

Elections and Voter Turnout Worksheet

Answer each question below in 50 to 75 words.

1. Who were the candidates for governor in your state (or state of choice) during the last election? Identify their political party affiliation. Who won the election?

2. What were the gubernatorial candidates' platforms?

3. What was the state voter turnout in this election?

4. What are three ways to improve voter turnout in the future?

5. What are three ways that citizens can get involved in politics in your state (or state of choice)?

Part 3

Review the Rural, Suburban, and Urban Issues Worksheet completed in Part 2. Note. If you did not complete this worksheet in Part 2, complete it now to help you organize your thoughts.

Select a local government within your state to analyze. You may select either an urban, suburban, or rural government to review.

Prepare a 10- to 12-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation addressing the following:
? Describe which area you chose: urban, suburban, or rural. Briefly describe the area's demographics and characteristics.
? Describe the local form of government and identify the major elected officials of your selected area.
? Identify the major public policy issues, current events, and challenges this government faces and analyze one in depth.
? Discuss how the state government is addressing the issue you selected.
? Provide at least two potential, realistic solutions to the public policy issues, current events, and challenges this government faces.

Include speaker notes to provide more in-depth information.

Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines.

? For Local Campus students, these are 10- to 15-minute oral presentations accompanied by Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.
? For Online and Directed Study students, these are Microsoft PowerPoint presentations with notes.

Part 4

Read the "Hydrofracking" article on this week's Electronic Reserve Readings page.

Link to Hydrofracking

http://icof.infobaselearning.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/articles/energy-and-environment/hydrofracking.aspx?sr=1&articleID=2036

Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper based on the Hydrofracking article. Include the following points in your paper:

? Describe the ways in which different levels of government interrelate. What solution are the different governments trying to achieve?
? Identify the advantages and disadvantages in the ways that the governments involved work together.
? Provide a possible solution to the current way of hydrofracking that would be better by having different levels of government work together. Include ways in which communication between the governments might be improved.
? Identify a way for local and state governments to both stimulate their economies while being respectful of the environment.
? Provide an example of a current issue near your home that involves multiple governments and the ways in which they do or do not work together effectively. Examples could include environmental, educational, or technological issues.