Option #1) US Congress:
If you choose option #1, follow these steps in creating your post:
Identify one bill passed by both chambers of the US Congress during the last legislative session (you may use one from the current legislative session provided it has passed both chambers and been sent to the president). Using and citing at least on solid academic source, explain what law the bill is intended to establish and whether it was signed into law by the president.
Describe the main arguments for and against the bill or law. You are not taking a position at this point, just explaining the claims made by proponents and opponents of the bill as it was being debated. Use and cite at least one solid academic source in doing so.
Explain whether or not you agree with the bill or law and explain why (or why not). Use and cite at least one solid academic source to make your case. I am not looking for an explanation or justification of your opinion or beliefs about the bill or law, but an evidence-based argument that engages with statistics, research studies, case studies, expert analysis or the like from cited, solid academic sources. You may choose from any of the peer-reviewed journals on JSTOR. Any one of the journals would count as a single source.
***There MUST be quoted citations!** Please
You may choose an academic book (check with me if you are not certain it would count as an academic book). Any one chapter in the book would count as a source. You may use multiple chapters and each chapter would count as a separate source.
You may choose a source of primary data or primary historical information. Any one would count as a single source.
You may choose an academic/university study (often found on .edu websites). Any one of the studies would count as a single source.
You may choose from the following news sources. Any one of these would count as a source.
Approved TV and Radio News Network Websites: ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, CSPAN, BBC, CBC, NPR (note that this list does not include FOX, MSNBC or CNN)
Approved Major Newspaper Websites: Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times, Washington Post, L.A. Times, Christian Science Monitor, The Guardian
Approved Major Newsmagazine Websites: Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, The Economist, National Journal, The Atlantic, Bloomberg Businessweek, Fortune, Business Insider, Forbes, New Yorker, Foreign Affairs, Mother Jones, National Review, New Republic, The Nation, The Weekly Standard, Rolling Stone, The Hill
Approved Wire Services: Associated Press, Reuters
Approved Think Tanks: Center for Public Policy Priorities, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Center for American Progress, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Economic Policy Institute, Institute for Policy Studies, Rockridge Institute, Brookings Institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Constitution Project, Council on Foreign Relations, New America Foundation, Resources for the Future, Henry L. Stimson Center, The RAND Corporation, Urban Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Goldwater Institute, Mackinac Center for Public Policy, CATO Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Center for Immigration Studies, Center for Security Policy, Foreign Policy Research Institute, Heritage Foundation
Approved Factcheckers and Media Bias Watchdogs: Politifact.com, Factcheck.org, Media Bias / Fact Check (MBFC News), TruthOrFiction.com, Lead Stories, Hoax Slayer, Full Fact, Media Matters for America, Media Research Center
Approved Online Sources, Blogs and Vlogs: Constitution Center, Oyez.org, Politico, Google News, Yahoo News, Huffington Post, Drudge Report, Democracy Now!, Vox, Vice, The Conversation, Ballotpedia, OpenSecrets, Project Vote Smart, ThoughtCo, Medium
Approved Polling Sites: Gallup.com, FiveThirtyEight.com, The Texas Politics Project, polls conducted by universities.
Approved Texas Sources: Texas Tribune, Austin American-Statesman, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Dallas Observer, San-Antonio Express-News, Texas Observer, Texas Monthly, D Magazine