HNRS POLS 2302
HONORS AMERICAN GOVERNMENT II
Persuasive Legal Writing/Oral Advocacy and ePortfolio Projects
Professor: Sara Gubala
To hone students’ skills in persuasive legal writing and oral advocacy, the class end-of-the-semester project tests students’ ability to build broad support for their advocacy campaigns among community stakeholders and policymakers.
Students propose new laws in letters they sent to state or federal representatives. They also defend and explain why these legislative changes were important during peer presentations to gain constructive feedback. They complete their project by sharing their work in their ePortfolios in a visual, narrative format that best conveys the importance of their proposed legislation.
STUDENT PROJECTS: Highlights
Federal Expansion of FMLA to include Paid Maternity Leave
By: Reese Rodgers
United States is one of the few developed countries that does not offer paid maternity leave to all employed citizens. Proposed legislation for the federal expansion of FMLA to include Paid Maternity Leave. At this time, the law only provides unpaid, job-protected leave for mothers and fathers for the birth and care of a newborn child.
In my analysis, I included why this is a valuable benefit for employers to provide as well as the OECD chart of the “Best countries for paid maternity leave.” The top 10, starting at number one, are Greece, Slovak Republic, Estonia, Poland, Luxembourg, Chile, Italy, Costa Rica, Norway, and Colombia. United States ranks #33.
ePortfolio Project:
Texas Leash Law
By: Mikaela Bartlett
Many counties and cities within Texas have their own ordinances, yet a statewide leash law would fully protect and promote the safety of dogs, other pets, and people.
In my analysis, I focused on the only three U.S. states with statewide leash laws—Tennessee, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. I included proposed exemptions for: service dogs and off-leash areas.
ePortfolio Project:
Increase Penalty for Driving While Intoxicated
By: Brandon Billot
Proposed legislation to increase the base penalty for first and second offenses from misdemeanors to state jail felonies. Other crimes that can potentially cause injury to others are felonies, why not DWI? To improve data collection of DWI-suspected traffic accidents, also proposed increased funding for post-mortem Blood Alcohol Content testing.
My project concludes that current penalties allow for habitual intoxicated driving, giving serial drunk drivers too much time before facing serious consequences. With Texas “consistently the leading state” for drunk driving traffic facilities, raising the penalty for DWI should restore a sense of security among citizens and pressure offenders to change their behavior of driving under the influence.
ePortfolio Project:
Improve Medicare Coverage for Palliative Care
By: Humza Arfeen
Proposed legislation for Medicare to support the full model of reimbursing healthcare providers who provide palliative care for patients at home. Medicare Part B only covers limited outpatient services.
In my analysis of why legislators should care, I discuss how palliative care provides emotional, social, and spiritual support to patients and their families while they navigate difficult medical situations. This type of care helps manage pain, shortness of breath, nausea, stress, fatigue, or other symptoms caused by a serious illness or its treatment. Such care does not mean a patient is at the end of their life—patients can get better from palliative care.
ePortfolio Project: