Discussion Questions

Please quote and give summary of the question. One longer than a paragraph per point.
Unit 1 • Evaluating Dolan v. City of Tigard, as a public administrator, take a position on whether you agree or disagree with the approach that the U.S. Supreme Court developed. Support your position with examples or evidence. • Analyzing Grose v. Sauvegeau, explain with details whether you agree or disagree that Sauvegeau should prevail. • Evaluating Thompson v. Voldah as government takes on more and more functions, explain if it makes sense for the rules to be different for private contractual parties especially when the contract states (as with “duly authorized”). Support your position with examples or evidence. • Analyzing Brunoli, Inc. v. Town of Bradford, identify and then describe the remedies that should be available. Explain which you would recommend to be the best remedy for both parties.
Unit 2 • Analyze Garcetti v. Ceballos, to determine whether or not the Pickering balancing test is applicable to this case and state why or why not. • Many states are facing budget constraints that are shining a light on public employees’ pay and benefits, which have led to debates about state employees’ collective bargaining rights. From a public administrator perspective, speculate to the short-term and long-term effects if limited collective bargaining is adopted. Hint: Look at all the stakeholders involved. • Examine the Federal Tort Claims Acts (FTCA). Discuss whether these laws reduce the risk to citizens or does it serve a compelling state interest. Analyze Dolan v. United States Postal Service. • As a public administrator, discuss which view you find more persuasive – that sovereign immunity should be narrowly or broadly construed. State why with examples or evidence to support your position. Unit 3 • Explain with examples how the Eighth Amendment restricts the government’s authority to make something a crime. • Analyze Papachristou v. City of Jacksonville. As a public administrator, explain whether there should be a higher concern for public safety or for individual rights. Support your position with examples or evidence. • Evaluate United States v. Agurs. Another very important public policy issue is an appreciation for the difference between obtaining a high conviction rate or being perceived as “tough on crime,” and seeking justice. Debate your position on the death penalty regarding whether it is used for justice or for other purposes. Support your position with examples or evidence. • In the text, it states that “the (Supreme) Court has agreed that the death penalty can be constitutionally sustained only if its imposition is consistent with ‘evolving standards of decency’.” With so many juveniles committing heinous crimes, take a position and debate as a public administrator on whether you think the death penalty should be allowed for juveniles? Use the e-Activity case as a reference for discussion Unit 4 • Agency power combines the executive and legislative powers with respect to rule making and the legislative and judicial powers with respect to adjudication. Pick two agencies and compare and contrast the power each agency has in enforcing the regulations they are asked to uphold. Discuss why it is challenging for some agencies to enforce regulations and why it may be easy for other agencies to enforce regulations. • Evaluate Bring v. North Carolina State Bar. Apply the court’s ruling on delegation to another situation of your choice to determine at what point delegation should stop. • After reading the case summary, People v. Howard, if you were an Illinois state legislator, would you support a bill in response to People v. Howard that provides that only conduct specifically prescribed by a state statute may be a predicate offense for official misconduct? Why or why not? • Evaluate Van Itallie v. Franklin Lakes. Based on the facts described in Van Itallie v. Franklin Lakes, take a position and explain what you would have done differently, if anything, if you were the council members. Unit 5 • Read the case summary of Alyeska Pipeline Services Co. v. Wilderness Society. Discuss the court’s analysis that the legislature, not the courts, need to address responsibility for lawyers’ fees? Discuss why there is resistance to liberalizing lawyers’ fees awards? Explain if there is another approach, such as proportionate responsibility or capping fees? • Evaluate Dondi Properties Corp. v. Commercial Savings & Loan Ass’n. Compare and contrast the benefits, in the long run, of following the judges’ rules. From a personal perspective, will you be able to resist the temptation to engage in such tactics when you are involved in litigation? Even when the other side has engaged in them? • The attorney-client privilege is an important part of the client-lawyer relationship. Discuss the extent that the public records or open meeting laws should override the privilege. • In the text, the section of “Insincerity Seemingly Is Rewarded in the Adversarial System” gives a precursor to the trial?) system. Discuss whether the need for lawyers to act zealously to win cases explains why lawyers act in sometimes “immoral” ways.

Presentation

Choose any federal statute that is currently in the news. You will have to research that statute and at least two court cases pertaining to the statute. Then, prepare a PowerPoint Presentation of 6 to 8 slides addressing the following:
Provide a summary perspective of the statute. From the two cases relevant to the statute you researched, analyze and evaluate each case separately by providing the following (about two paragraphs per case): Facts of the case Issues Rule Identify and discuss the legal ramifications and violations of any legal subjects and/or decisions related to any constitutional principles and/or administrative agency. Make an argument for or against the statute. Discuss and persuade the audience of your position as a public administrator for or against it. Your assignment must:
Include ten (10) PowerPoint slides, with two (2) devoted to each of the topics in items 2–4 above. Slides should abbreviate the information in no more than five or six (5 or 6) bullet points each. In the Notes View of each PowerPoint slide, incorporate the notes you would use when presenting the slides to an audience. Slide titles should be based on the criteria described above (e.g., “Four Major Changes,” “Major Court Cases,” etc.) In addition to the ten (10) content slides required, a title slide and a reference slide are to be included. The title slide is to contain the title of the assignment, your name, the instructor’s name, the course title, and the date. The reference slide should list, in APA format, the sources you consulted in writing the paper.

Public Administrative Environments

Write a seven to eight (7-8) page paper in which you:
Determine one (1) specific leadership theory and two to three (2-3) public leader styles that would be most beneficial for the Director of Public Health and related agencies in addressing the issues. Provide a rationale to support your response. Recommend one (1) specific leadership theory and two (2) public leader styles that would be most beneficial for the School Board in addressing the issues presented. Provide a rationale for your response. Determine the essential manner in which the leadership from the Department of Public Health, the School Board, and the various other government departments impacts the leadership of the City Manager’s and his or her ability to carry out government operations. Recommend two (2) strategies that a public leader could use in order to overcome the weaknesses inherent in his / her leadership style(s). Include at least five (5) academic references (no more than five [5] years old) from material outside the textbook. Note: Appropriate academic resources include academic and governmental Websites, scholarly texts, and peer-reviewed articles. Wikipedia, other wikis, and any other websites ending in anything other than “.gov” do not qualify as academic resources.

PPA 604 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND FINAL PAPER – VIKAS

DUE WED AUG 20 discussion 1: List and discuss the background differences as it relates to planning in Europe and the United States. Choose one of the following nations: Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Scandinavia and Germany. Provide a comprehensive analysis related to key planning issues for the nation of your choosing.
DUE WED AUG 20 discussion 2: How does planning theory differ from the practice of planning? What is the major difference between public planning and private planning? List and discuss three theoretical approaches to the process of planning. Which approach do you feel is most effective for urban planners? Why?
DUE SATURDAY AUGUST 23 Final Paper assignment: The final assignment for this course is a research paper. This paper will reflect comprehensive understanding of key concepts that have been discussed during this course. This assignment will provide you with the opportunity to apply related urban planning concepts in an academic paper. The Research Paper will contribute 25% to the course grade.
Focus of the Research Paper
The Research Paper will be based on the urban planning topic selected in the Research Paper Proposal assignment from Week Two. Based on your selected urban planning topic, analyze the key issues with the use of exhibits and an appendix. You must include (but are not limited to) a discussion of the historical background and contemporary issues related to the paper topic. You must also include an evaluation regarding the plausible political issues that urban planners could potentially encounter and the potential consequences that could result from decision making. Be sure to apply key concepts from this course in your Research Paper.
Writing the Research Paper The Paper: 1.Must be 8 to 10 pages, double-spaced pages in length (not including the title page, appendix, reference page, and exhibits) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. 2.Must include a cover page that includes: ◦Name of paper, ◦Student’s name, ◦Course name and number ◦Instructor’s name ◦Date submitted 3.Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement. 4.Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought. 5.Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion paragraph. 6.Must use at least 10 scholarly sources 7.Must use APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center to document all sources 8.Must include, on the final page, a Reference List that is completed according to APA style

PPA 604 week 5 Discussion Questions and assignment –VIKAS

week 1: List and discuss the reasons why environmental planning can be difficult to pursue? How does federal environmental planning influence state and local environmental planning? Discuss some examples in which the U.S. government has taken steps to address environmental planning. Lastly, what are some economic and political implications that can be associated with environmental planning?
week 2: What are the three main reasons why urbanization was limited between 1949 and 1980 in China? What specific tasks did the Chinese government perform regarding urban planning during this period? Has the urbanization movement in China been balanced regionally? Why or why not? What are some challenges that the Chinese government face regarding sustainable development? What options are available to the Chinese government as it relates to urban planning techniques?
week 5 assignment [due Saturday]
Title: Community Assessment Paper
Prepare an assessment of local economic development programs within your community. To address the key issues related to economic planning, you will need to: a. Describe the types of economic development programs that are being conducted in your community. b. Analyze the actors involved in the economic development programs. c. Explain the short-term and long-term goals of the economic development programs. d. Assess the types of issues (i.e., political, economic) faced by the economic development programs.
Your paper must be four- to five- pages in length (not including title and reference pages), and it must be formatted according to APA style and You must cite at least two scholarly or professional sources

D Questions

Please write one paragraph for each point. • From the weekly readings and first e-Activity, recommend a distributive, servant, or other leadership theory that a public leader could apply in order to resolve conflicts and implement change while working with external stakeholders. Conclude if your selected leadership theory holds true if it is applied to the Department of Defense, the United Way, or the Department of Taxation. Provide a rationale and examples to support your response. • From the weekly readings and second e-Activity, conclude the main manner in which public leadership from higher levels of government both positively and negatively impacts public leadership on lower levels of government. Propose two (2) strategies that public leaders in each level of government could use in order to work collaboratively, thus ensuring that decisions do not adversely affect citizens. Provide a rationale for your response. please respond to two (2) of the following three (3) bulleted items. • From the weekly readings and first e-Activity, propose the primary manner in which you would use your leadership in order to integrate new learning concepts, teaching modalities, and tools of measurement for success. Determine two (2) actions that you could take in order to persuade your instructors to improve their modes of teaching delivery, install a new standard of professional performance, and help to construct a new vision for public education. Justify your response. • From the weekly readings and first e-Activity, compare and contrast two to three (2-3) challenges of academic leadership for elementary principals, secondary principles, and college presidents. Provide two to three (2-3) examples of such academic leadership challenges. • From the weekly readings and second e-Activity, determine two (2) critical elements of the educational process that are vital for overall success. Propose two (2) actions that teachers could take to improve the classroom teaching process and thus prepare students for the diverse and dynamic future of public leadership. Provide a rationale for your response. • Imagine that you are a public leader in a state owned university. Read the following articles located in Week 7 of the course shell and be prepared to discuss: o “Transformational, Transactional Leadership Styles and Job Performance of Academic Leaders” o “A Re-New-ed Paradigm in Successful Urban School Leadership: Principal as Community Leader” • Watch the following two (2) videos: “ABCNews – What makes great teachers” (3 min 22 s) and “Bloom’s Taxonomy” (4 min 29 s). Be prepared to discuss. o Video Source: John Sule. (2010, March 2). ABCNews – What makes great teachers [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bIQ4-3XSxU. Video Source: michelleholmes111. (2011, December 3). Bloom’s Taxonomy [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__YdXxwBZ7Q.
• From the weekly readings and e-Activity, suggest three (3) strategies that a public leader could use in order to do the following: persuade other governmental departments to work collaboratively to reduce financial burdens, increase sufficiency in the delivery of public services, and implement a different environment for public leadership. Provide a rationale for your response. • From the weekly readings and e-Activity, propose two (2) actions that a public leader can take in order to balance human capital and social capital without jeopardizing the culture and values any government department and the government as a whole. Justify your response. • Consider the following statement: Human capital is invested in people while social capital is invested in relationships among people, which in turn, makes money for the government. When public leaders fail at both managing their differences and investing in social capital, the government loses money and validity and, as a consequence, legitimacy. Read the following articles located in Week 8 of the course shell, and be prepared to discuss: o “Reliability and Validity of the Leadership Competencies and Engaging Leadership Scale” o “Improving Transparency in the Financial Sector” o “State Budgets, Governors, and Their Influence On ‘Big-Picture Issues’: A Case Study of Delaware Governor Pete du Pont 1977-1985”

Evaluation of the NJ Community Affairs Budgeting and Cumulative Report

As a consultant, you need to develop an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the selected agency’s budgeting and then provide recommendations for improvement. Therefore, you will conduct interviews with agency representatives and research-related academic sources and Websites. The analysis will be read by the VP of Accounts and Client Support as well as by the leaders of the agency for whom you are working.
Write a five to six (5-6) page paper in which you: Analyze the agency’s (or department’s) budget by following these six (6) steps and including the results of the analysis in your paper by: (a) identifying the agency’s budget as executive department or an independent agency; (b) determining which of the appropriation subcommittees has jurisdiction over each agency’s budget request; (c) determining where each agency’s operations fall in the functional classification of the federal budget; (d) determining the budget authority and outlays proposed for the agency; and (e) determining the actual outlays and budget authority for the agency in that year. (Title this section Budget Overview.) Analyze two (2) major political influences on and primary accountability areas required of program administrators after reviewing FY2012 regarding mandatory and discretionary budgets. (Title this section Budgeting Assessment.) Explain which intergovernmental agency, or agencies, contributes to and / or influences the budgetary decisions for the current and future budget over the next five (5) years. (Title this section Analysis of Budgeting Plans and Actual Expenditures.) Analyze the impact of international policy making on the current year’s budgets and possible impact on future budget line items. (Title this section Implications of Foreign Policy.) Recommend two (2) robust ways in which the agency could improve the budget for the next fiscal year. (Title this section Budget Request and Recommendations.) Provide proof of one to two (1-2) interviews by submitting the completed interview form with a list of questions for and responses from each interviewee. (Put this in the Appendix under Interview Forms.) Provide four to five (4-5) relevant and credible outside resources that support the content of this assignment. (Include no more than one (1) non-government Website.)

Evaluation of New Jersey’s Community Affairs Human Resources Management nikttr

Write a five to six (5-6) page paper in which you: 1. Analyze three to four (3-4) of the major components of the agency’s human resource system, processes, and performance evaluation plan for hiring and retaining a diversified workforce. (Title this section Human Resource Processes.) 2. Analyze and describe the implications impacting the agency’s current employment trend, growth, and delivery of its products and services. (Title this section Implications of Human Resource Workforce.) 3. Recommend two to three (2-3) managerial and professional skills and competencies required to improve the agency’s workforce by explaining each recommendation, providing reasons each recommendation would bring about improvement, providing two to three (2-3) ways the agency could implement programs in preparation for those skills not visible within the agency’s workforce as a method of promotion and advancement for current employees. (Title this section Succession Planning for Human Resource Management.) 4. Describe the consultant position you are performing by (a) giving it a title; (b) explaining two to three (2-3) major specifications required of the job and how each will be measured in a performance evaluation; and by (c) explaining two to three (2-3) ways this position will be used within the various departments of the agency and for meeting the specific goals / objectives of the agency. (This job description will be provided to the Agency Director who has requested it. As a resource, you are to use the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, located at http://www.occupationalinfo.org/ and published by the U. S. Department of Labor located at www.usajobs.gov. (Title this section Job Analysis and Design.) 5. Provide proof of one to two (1-2) interviews submitting the completed interview form with a list of questions for and responses from each interviewee. (Put this in the Appendix under Interview Forms.) 6. Provide four to five (4-5) relevant and credible outside resources that support the content of this assignment. (Include no more than one (1) non-government Website.)

Department of Community Affairs New Jersey- Nitkkr

Analyze two to three (2-3) current events from the past two (2) years (using the e-Activity in Week 4*) focusing on the administrative responsibility and ethical implications to the stakeholders, organization, and public regarding the issues in described in the current event. (Title this section Administrative Ethics.) (*Go to The Center for Public Integrity iWatch, located at http://www.iwatchnews.org/icij/about. Scroll to the bottom of the page to “What We Investigate.” Select a topic and review three (3) of the latest news items about it.) Assess the leadership of this agency (in light of leadership models) and of the political context in which the agency operates, highlighting at least three (3) ways internal agency leaders and political leaders have influenced the success and / or failure of the agency. (Title this section Leadership Influences.) Analyze the power the agency has in enforcing the regulations they are asked to uphold (using the e-Activity in Week 5). Discuss two to three (2-3) challenges to enforce the agency’s regulations. (Title this section Legal Decisions.) Analyze three to four (3-4) strategies for the agency’s future plans for administrative ethics, leadership, and legal to improve the agency’s operation and its primary recipients. (Title this section Strategies for Consideration to Administrative Processes.) Recommend two (2) strategies that will provide immediate improvement based on models that influence public policy and the three to four (3-4) strategies presented in criteria four (4) above with a reason each recommendation would bring about improvement. (Title this Recommendations for Improvements to Administrative Processes.) Provide proof of one to two (1-2) interviews by submitting the completed interview form with a list of questions for and responses from each interviewee. (Put this in the Appendix under Interview Forms.) Provide four to five (4-5) relevant and credible outside resources that support the content of this assignment. (Include no more than one (1) non-government Website.)

Analysis of the Division of Housing and Community Resources – Expertsolutions

Write a five (5) page paper in which you: 1. Describe the history of the selected agency and department by explaining its reasons (goals / objectives) for being established. (Title this section History of {Insert name of Agency}) 2. Analyze the organizational design of the selected agency and specific department by describing the design and organizational chart. Assess its effectiveness in making major policy decisions and providing services to its primary recipients. (Title this section Organizational Design.) 3. Include a figure of the current organizational design within the text of the paper. 4. Recommend a redesign of the agency’s structure to serve the needs of the department’s businesses better without jeopardizing the goals / objectives of the agency. Explain your reasoning for changing the design and explain the change’s impact on the agency’s effectiveness in delivering quality services. (Title this section Assessment of Organizational Design.) 5. Include a figure of the new organizational design within the text of the paper. 6. Analyze two to three (2-3) major milestones, factors (internal or external), or actors affecting the agency’s success and its influence on the effectiveness of the agency’s planning, organizational design, decision making, and implementation. Also, analyze two to three (2-3) possible causes (internal or external) that appear to have the effect of impeding the organization’s implementation of its policy and for meeting its goals / objectives. (Title this section Evaluation of Planning and Implementation) 7. Recommend two to three (2-3) strategies (from criteria 4 above) that the agency could implement to improve its effectiveness in the areas of planning, decision making, organization, and / or implementation by explaining each recommendation and providing reasons each recommendation would bring about improvement. (Title this section Recommendations for Planning and Implementation.) 8. Include a Cause and Effect Diagram in the text of the paper. 9. Provide proof of one to two (1-2) interviews by submitting the completed interview forms and a list of questions you asked each interviewee. (Put this in the Appendix under Interview Forms.) 10. Provide four to five (4-5) relevant and credible outside resources that support the content of this assignment. (Include no more than one (1) non-government Website.) (Note: Follow the Guidelines for Interview Assignments at Strayer University provided with Assignment 1.) Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The sections must have appropriate titles. The cover page, reference page, and appendix pages are not included in the required assignment page length. The assignment must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document.