State of the union analysis
Article II, Section 3, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution requires the President to periodically “give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The State of the Union Address is an annual message delivered by the President to a joint session of the United States Congress at the beginning of each calendar year in office.
In this address, the President outlines her/his vision for the country, the goals s/he hopes to achieve during her/his first term of office, the major programs and initiatives s/he intends to enact, and any significant changes s/he plans to make in the administration of the federal government.
Your assignment is to examine President Barak Obama’s 2010 State of the Union address. You must answer the following questions:
- How does the President describe the state of the U.S. economy?
- What are the priorities of the Obama Administration outlined in the President’s address?
- Were these priorities to be implemented through new programs, new regulations, new agencies, restructuring existing agencies, or other means?
- How much will the President’s initiatives cost? How will they be funded? What are the goals of the initiatives?
- Is your assessment of the President’s plans for administering the federal government positive or negative? Explain your position.
- Select one (1) of the administrative priorities outlined in President Obama’s 2010 State of the Union address and answer the following questions:
- What is the issue selected? Why is this issue a priority for the Administration? Be specific as to Obama’s reasons.
- What federal cabinet department or agency has primary administrative responsibility for carrying out this priority? Will these administrative responsibilities require new laws or regulations?
- Provide a brief history of this department or agency including the public law(s) or Act that created it, its primary mission, an organization chart, and a profile of the Cabinet Secretary in 2010.
Between 5-7 pages.
