Problems of the Day #1: Institutional Choice Due date: Sunday, 3/17, EOD Grade: ___ / 20 (+ 1 extra) points M2.2–3 Federalism POD 1 (Federalism) __ / 3.5 points Which level of government should have primary authority for making decisions about education policy—the federal government or the states? As there is no definitive right answer, please list at least two institutional arguments for each side. POD 2 (Federalism) __ / 3.5 points Which level of government should have primary authority for making decisions about marijuana regulation—the federal government or the states? As there is no definitive right answer, please list at least two institutional arguments for each side. M3.1 Separation of Powers POD 3 (SoP) __ / 3.5 points Which branch of government should have primary authority for making decisions to seize steel mills and other important production facilities in times of war —Congress (together with the President) or the President alone? As there is no definitive right answer, please list at least two institutional arguments for each side. POD 4 (SoP) __ / 3.5 points Should Congress be allowed to delegate power to the Environmental Protection Agency (supervised by the President) to set limits on the discharge of mercury, an important industrial pollutant? Or should Congress be forced to make these highly technical rules itself? Put differently, which branch of government should retain or obtain authority for making decisions about this subfield of environmental policy—Congress (together with the President) or the executive alone? As there is no definitive right answer, please list at least two institutional arguments for each side. M3.2 Individual Rights POD 5 (Indiv. Rights) __ / 3.5 points Which institution should have primary authority for making decisions about the permissibility of the death penalty— (state) legislatures or the (federal) courts? As there is no definitive right answer, please list at least two institutional arguments for each side. POD 6 (Indiv. Rights) __ / 3.5 points Which institution should have primary authority for making decisions about how to allocate funding among different public school districts—(state) legislatures or the (federal) courts? As there is no definitive right answer, please list at least two institutional arguments for each side.
