Federalism and State Governments in Duration of COVID-19 Pandemic

Question

Instructions

Federalism in a Pandemic

Assignment Description

This week we explored the concept of federalism, how it has evolved over the course of the last couple hundred years, and the opportunities and issues it presents in practice.

One of the topics we covered considered federalism in the context of crises—as it happens, we’re currently in the middle of a crisis! And coincidentally, it turns out our government’s ability to mitigate this crisis is majorly impacted by the federal structure of our political system. I’m speaking, of course, of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many ways federalism has come into play over the course of the pandemic, but here we'll focus our attention on the vaccine rollout.

This is one of those situations where the information we discuss in class is immediately applicable to the stuff happening in the world around you. Therefore, in your first response essay, I’m asking you to take on the role of a political analyst.

First, read the following resources:

 (Note the dates - some developments may have occurred since these articles were written that have the potential to change the way you think about what these authors are saying.)

KKF Report (Oct 2020) (Links to an external site.) : https://www.kff.org/report-section/distributing-a-covid-19-vaccine-across-the-u-s-a-look-at-key-issues-issue-brief/

Washington Post Article (Dec 2020) Download Washington Post Article (Dec 2020): https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/12/31/vaccination-slow-trump-administration-states/

Brookings Article (Jan 2021) Download Brookings Article (Jan 2021) :https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2021/01/25/covid-19-vaccinations-why-are-some-states-and-localities-so-much-more-successful/

Second, listen to this 18-minute podcast:

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/12/1027132680/can-the-government-make-me-get-the-covid-vaccine

Third, drawing upon the information in the above resources as well as from your federalism readings and lectures, construct a 1000-word, analytical essay that addresses the following questions:

Who is responsible for getting vaccines from pharmaceutical companies into the arms of the public?

How have state approaches to determining vaccination eligibility varied?

How has federalism created barriers to efficient vaccine distribution?

Has federalism produced any positive effects on the vaccine rollout?

How does federalism impact the ability of the national government to impose a vaccine mandate?

You should feel free to use these questions (or shortened versions of them) as sub-headers to improve the clarity and organization of your essay if you so desire.

Nuts and Bolts of the Assignment

Submit a response that is approximately 1000 words long (give or take 50 words).

At the top of your paper should be your name, the course name and number, and the title of your paper. Nothing more, nothing less.

Papers must be typed, and should have the following:

Double spacing;

Indented paragraphs;

1-inch margins;

12-point Times New Roman font (this includes periods, spaces, etc.);

Page numbers (bottom center or bottom right).

Not adhering to these conventions will lead to points being deducted.

Please include a list of references (any sources the assignment asks you to use as well as any outside sources you’ve drawn from) at the end of the essay on a separate page. Your citations are not included in your word count. Use APA formatting for your citations. You can find a guide to APA formatting here. (Links to an external site.) 

Grammar, Diction, and Spelling

Prose must be grammatically correct, with proper usage, and some attention to style. If you wish to argue persuasively, you must write in a language that your reader will easily understand. Proofreading and spell checks are expected; a poorly executed and careless paper displays the author’s disrespect for the reader. If you anticipate any problems in this domain, you should feel encouraged to seek the assistance of the Write Site. You can find more information online, at The Write Site. (Links to an external site.) 

Plagiarism

Don’t do it. Just don’t. It is absolutely not worth the risk. All responses will be checked using Turnitin. If you’re not sure what the rules are when it comes to plagiarism, PLEASE make use of the page of info and tutorials I put together for you - Don't Plagiarize! Learn How to Cite!