October 3, 2025

Supreme Court & Federalism

· Provide a Biblically based support for your analysis

· Sources must be derived from Read items assigned for the Module: Week in which the Case Study is assigned, peer-reviewed journal articles, and your independent research.

· All citations and format must be in current APA format

· Include 8 – 10 sources, not including your Biblical analysis

· Double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, written in 12-point Times New Roman font.

Paper must be 8-10 pages

Case Study: The Supreme Court, Federalism, and Public Administrators Assignment

Christensen and Wise (2009) state,

[t]he U.S. Supreme Court has come to play an important role in articulating that system of rules. The Supreme Court’s federalism decisions are especially important in understanding what powers public managers [must] achieve policy priorities in the current context of devolved government.

For this Case Study Assignment, you will provide a scholarly paper concerning the effect of recent Supreme Court decisions on public administration and federalism.

Supreme Court & Federalism

Provide a scholarly paper concerning the effect of recent Supreme Court decisions on public administration and federalism.,
Provide a Biblically based support for your analysis.,
Sources must be derived from Read items assigned for the Module: Week in which the Case Study is assigned, peer-reviewed journal articles and your independent research.,
All citations and format must be in current APA format.,
Include 8 – 10 sources not including your Biblical analysis double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins 8–10 pages.

Comprehensive General Analysis

Introduction

The U.S. Supreme Court has increasingly influenced federalism and public administration, shaping how powers are shared between the federal and state governments. As Christensen and Wise (2009) note, Supreme Court decisions define the rules public managers must follow to implement policy effectively within a system of devolved government. Recent rulings impact agency authority, resource allocation, and program implementation, requiring administrators to navigate legal and constitutional frameworks carefully.

From a Biblical perspective, principles of justice, wise leadership, and accountability (Proverbs 11:14; Romans 13:1–4) support responsible governance. Public administrators are called to exercise authority fairly and prudently while respecting the limits of their jurisdiction.

1. Effect of Supreme Court Decisions on Federalism

Defining State vs. Federal Powers: Decisions such as NFIB v. Sebelius (2012) and Arizona v. United States (2012) clarify the boundaries of federal authority and state autonomy, directly influencing policy implementation.
Impact on Public Administration: Agencies must adapt programs to comply with legal interpretations, especially regarding conditional federal funding, state waivers, or preemption of state laws.
Policy Devolution: Court rulings often reinforce or constrain the trend toward devolved governance, affecting how federal agencies delegate responsibilities to states.

Example: NFIB v. Sebelius limited the federal government’s ability to compel states to expand Medicaid, giving public administrators in states discretion to implement or decline participation, while federal oversight remained for those accepting funds.

2. Implications for Public Administrators

Legal Compliance: Administrators must ensure program implementation aligns with constitutional boundaries and recent case law.
Intergovernmental Coordination: Decisions reinforce the need for negotiation between federal and state agencies to implement programs effectively.
Policy Flexibility: Federalism rulings sometimes increase discretion for states, requiring public managers to adapt strategies according to state-specific rules.
Risk Management: Court decisions create potential legal challenges, and administrators must develop compliance mechanisms to mitigate liability.

Biblical integration: Proverbs 11:14 states, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Administrators’ reliance on legal counsel and intergovernmental coordination reflects the importance of seeking wise guidance to execute policies responsibly.

3. Case Studies of Recent Supreme Court Decisions

NFIB v. Sebelius (2012): Limited federal power in mandating Medicaid expansion.
Arizona v. United States (2012): Clarified federal preemption over state immigration laws.
South Dakota v. Wayfair (2018): Expanded states’ authority to collect sales taxes from out-of-state businesses, affecting administrative processes.
Murphy v. NCAA (2018): Allowed states to regulate sports gambling, reinforcing state autonomy in economic regulation.

Analysis: In each case, public administrators had to interpret and implement policies consistent with the Court’s guidance. These decisions emphasize intergovernmental collaboration, legal compliance, and adaptive administration.

4. Challenges for Public Administrators

Balancing Authority: Managers must reconcile state and federal mandates without violating constitutional boundaries.
Resource Allocation: Court decisions can shift responsibility and funding requirements, impacting budgets.
Policy Uncertainty: Changing legal interpretations create uncertainty in program planning and execution.
Accountability: Administrators remain accountable for compliance and effective service delivery, even as boundaries shift.

Biblical perspective: Romans 13:1–4 highlights that authorities are established for justice and protection. Administrators must respect the legal hierarchy while promoting equitable and lawful public service.

5. Strategies for Effective Administration in a Federal System

Legal Literacy: Continuous monitoring of Supreme Court decisions ensures administrators remain compliant.
Intergovernmental Collaboration: Strong coordination mechanisms between federal and state agencies mitigate risks from jurisdictional ambiguities.
Adaptive Policy Design: Flexibility in program implementation allows responsiveness to evolving court interpretations.
Stakeholder Engagement: Consulting with legislators, agencies, and communities ensures programs align with legal and ethical standards.

Biblical integration: Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 reminds leaders that collaboration enhances outcomes. Public managers who work cooperatively with multiple jurisdictions can achieve more effective service delivery.

October 3, 2025

NASA Collaborative Transformation

By Academic Wizard Blog

NASA Collaborative Transformation

Case Study: NASA Collaborative Transformation Assignment

During and before the Apollo program years at NASA, it was the primary government organization involved in all space technology decisions. Since the Space Shuttle Program, NASA has been reinvented. It transformed from a closed system with a hierarchy that develops its technologies internally to an open and collaborative network that promotes innovation and collaboration with other public and private organizations. NASA has become more interdependent.

Using the Moon to Mars Mission (Artemis-Orion), describe this new collaborative approach at NASA.

· Provide a Biblically based support for your analysis

· Sources must be derived from Read items assigned for the Module: Week in which the Case Study is assigned, peer-reviewed journal articles, and your independent research.

· All citations and format must be in current APA format

· Include 8 – 10 sources/REFRENCES, not including your Biblical analysis

· Double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, written in 12-point Times New Roman font.

Paper must be 8-10 pages

NASA Collaborative Transformation

· PDF READINGS ARE ATTACHED SEPARATELY

Using the Moon to Mars Mission (Artemis-Orion) describe this new collaborative approach at NASA.,
Provide a Biblically based support for your analysis.,
Sources must be derived from Read items assigned for the Module: Week in which the Case Study is assigned peer-reviewed journal articles and your independent research.,
All citations and format must be in current APA format.,
Include 8 – 10 sources/references not including your Biblical analysis double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins 8–10 pages.

Comprehensive General Analysis

Introduction

NASA’s organizational transformation reflects a shift from a closed, hierarchical model to an open, collaborative network that leverages partnerships with public and private organizations. During the Apollo era, NASA’s decision-making was centralized, with technology developed internally and limited outside collaboration. The Space Shuttle Program and subsequent missions catalyzed a cultural and operational transformation toward interdependence, collaboration, and innovation.

The Artemis-Orion Mission (Moon to Mars) exemplifies this new approach. NASA now engages private aerospace companies, international partners, academic institutions, and other federal agencies to achieve ambitious exploration goals. This collaborative model aligns with Biblical principles of stewardship, cooperation, and shared responsibility (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10; Proverbs 15:22), underscoring the importance of partnerships for achieving complex missions.

1. NASA’s Collaborative Approach: Artemis-Orion

Public-Private Partnerships: NASA collaborates with companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Lockheed Martin for spacecraft development, launch services, and mission operations. This allows rapid innovation, cost-sharing, and leveraging specialized expertise.
International Collaboration: Artemis involves partnerships with ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada), fostering global cooperation in technology, research, and exploration objectives.
Interagency Cooperation: NASA works with other federal agencies, including NOAA for Earth monitoring and DoD for communication infrastructure, demonstrating cross-agency collaboration.
Open Innovation and Knowledge Sharing: NASA promotes collaborative problem-solving, hackathons, and open-source initiatives to accelerate innovation and integrate external research into mission planning.

Key Outcomes:

Accelerated technology development, reduced cost through shared resources, and enhanced mission success through diversified expertise.
A shift from isolated decision-making to an interconnected network enables NASA to pursue the Moon to Mars mission more effectively than a strictly hierarchical system.

October 3, 2025

Congressional Clean Lakes Task Force

By Academic Wizard Blog

Congressional Clean Lakes Task Force

Dr. McGinnis was involved in the Clean Lakes Study at Lake Allatoona, Georgia and facilitated the creation of a collaborative network of federal, state, regional, and local agencies, and organizations to guide the study. This effort was nationally recognized model of intergovernmental management promoted throughout the U.S. by the U.S. EPA. Analyze the collaborative effort as a model of intergovernmental management. Use only peer reviewed sources including articles from journals, textbooks, theses/dissertations. Including 8- 10 sources not including your Biblical analysis.

INSTRUCTIONS • Provide a Biblically based support for your analysis • Sources must be derived from Read items assigned for the Module: Week in which the Case Study is assigned, peer-reviewed journal articles, and your independent research. • All citations and format must be in current APA format • Include 8 – 10 sources, not including your Biblical analysis • Double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, written in 12-point Times New Roman font. • Paper must be 8-10 pages

Analyze the collaborative effort as a model of intergovernmental management.,
Provide a Biblically based support for your analysis.,
Use only peer reviewed sources including articles from journals textbooks theses/dissertations.,
Include 8 – 10 sources not including your Biblical analysis.,
Ensure paper is 8–10 pages APA formatted double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins.

Comprehensive General Analysis

Introduction

The Clean Lakes Study at Lake Allatoona, Georgia, led by Dr. McGinnis, represents one of the most recognized intergovernmental collaborations in environmental management. By bringing together federal, state, regional, and local agencies, as well as community stakeholders, this initiative became a nationally recognized model promoted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Intergovernmental management is increasingly critical for addressing complex environmental challenges, since water quality, pollution, and watershed management cross political and jurisdictional boundaries.

From a Biblical perspective, stewardship of natural resources aligns with the mandate in Genesis 2:15, where humankind is called to “work it and take care of” the Garden. Collaborative governance also reflects the principle of mutual accountability and cooperation, as seen in Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, which stresses that two are better than one, for they lift each other up.

This case study evaluates the Lake Allatoona Clean Lakes Task Force as a model of intergovernmental management, drawing on scholarship about collaborative governance, federalism, and environmental policy.

1. Collaborative Effort as Intergovernmental Management

The Clean Lakes Task Force demonstrates how multi-level governance can function in practice:

Federal Role (EPA): Provided funding, oversight, and recognition, ensuring that best practices could be scaled nationally.
State Agencies: Georgia’s environmental and natural resource agencies coordinated water quality standards, ensuring compliance with federal guidelines.
Regional/Local Entities: Local governments, watershed organizations, and community stakeholders provided contextual knowledge, direct monitoring, and on-the-ground management.
Academia and Experts: Dr. McGinnis and university partners facilitated knowledge transfer, scientific analysis, and neutral leadership for collaboration.

This multi-tier collaboration reflects the principles of network governance, where no single authority dominates but instead partners share resources, expertise, and responsibilities.

Congressional Clean Lakes Task Force

2. Benefits of the Intergovernmental Collaboration

Holistic Problem-Solving: Pollution control and watershed management require cooperation beyond jurisdictional lines. The Clean Lakes Task Force fostered joint action to address nutrient loading, sedimentation, and nonpoint source pollution.
Efficiency: Pooling federal funding with state implementation capacity and local knowledge created efficient use of limited resources.
Legitimacy and Trust: Inclusion of local stakeholders built public trust, which is crucial for long-term compliance and environmental stewardship.
Scalability: The model was replicated nationwide, showing the importance of flexible but coordinated intergovernmental strategies.

3. Challenges of Collaboration

Jurisdictional Conflicts: Differing priorities among federal, state, and local actors often required mediation.
Resource Disparities: Smaller local agencies lacked technical expertise compared to federal and state counterparts.
Coordination Costs: Collaborative governance requires significant time, communication, and negotiation.
Sustainability: Maintaining long-term intergovernmental partnerships often depends on continued funding and leadership commitment.

4. Clean Lakes Task Force as a Model

The Clean Lakes program exemplifies a policy network where shared governance produced sustainable outcomes. Scholars of intergovernmental relations (Agranoff & McGuire, 2001) describe such efforts as “collaborative public management,” emphasizing flexibility, negotiation, and shared leadership.

Key features of this model:

Interagency Coordination: Aligning federal, state, and local priorities under a common environmental goal.
Participatory Governance: Involving local stakeholders to ensure decisions reflect community needs.
Adaptive Management: Using scientific data and continuous monitoring to adjust strategies.
Shared Accountability: Distributing responsibilities across government levels.

May 21, 2025

Federalism in Public Administration

By Academic Wizard Blog

Federalism in Public Administration

Case Study Assignment Instructions

You will complete 6 Case Study Assignments throughout this course. Below you will find a chart with each Case Study Assignment and the Module: Week it is due. You will also find the instructions and description for each assignment.

Instructions

Provide a Biblically based support for your analysis.,
Sources must be derived from Read items assigned for the Module:, Week in which the Case Study is assigned peer-reviewed journal articles and your independent research.,
All citations and format must be in current APA format,
Include 8 – 10 sources not including your Biblical analysis,
Double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, written in 12-point Times New Roman font.
Paper must be 8-10 pages (Note: Case Study: Federal/State/Local Collaboration Networks in Disasters Assignment must be 10-12 pages).

Below is a chart with each Case Study Assignment and the Module: Week it is due. Federalism in Public Administration

Title of Assignment	Module: Week
Case Study: Fiscal Federalism Assignment	Module 2: Week 2
Case Study: The Supreme Court, Federalism, and Public Administrators Assignment	Module 3: Week 3
Case Study: The U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations Assignment	Module 4: Week 4
Case Study: NASA Collaborative Transformation Assignment	Module 5: Week 5
Case Study: Congressional Clean Lakes Task Force Assignment	Module 6: Week 6
Case Study: Federal/State/Local Collaboration Networks in Disasters Assignment	Module 7: Week 7

Case Study: Fiscal Federalism Assignment

Define the fiscal federalism model and provide a ~~scholarly~~ paper concerning the advantages and disadvantages of fiscal federalism to U.S. states and local governments.

Case Study: The Supreme Court, Federalism, and Public Administrators Assignment

Christensen and Wise (2009) state, Federalism in Public Administration

For this Case Study Assignment, you will provide a scholarly paper concerning the effect of recent Supreme Court decisions on public administration and federalism.

Case Study: The U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations Assignment

In 1959, Congress created the U.S. ACIR as a 26-member bipartisan federal commission to give continuing attention to intergovernmental problems (Pub. L. No. 86-380, 73 Stat. 703). On October 1, 1996, its authority to carry out the purposes stated in its Congressionally authorized legislation “sunset.”

Some scholars have called for its re-creation while others have mentioned it served little purpose. For this Case Study Assignment, you will provide a scholarly paper for your support or denial of the re-establishment of the U.S. ACIR.

Case Study: NASA Collaborative Transformation Assignment

During and before the Apollo program years at NASA, it was the primary government organization involved in all space technology decisions. Since the Space Shuttle Program, NASA has been reinvented. It transformed from a closed system with a hierarchy that develops its technologies internally, to an open and collaborative network that promotes innovation and collaboration with other public and private organizations. NASA has become more interdependent.

Using the Moon to Mars Mission (Artemis-Orion), describe this new collaborative approach at NASA.

Case Study: Congressional Clean Lakes Task Force Assignment

Analyze the collaborative effort as a model of intergovernmental management. Use only peer reviewed sources including articles from journals, textbooks, theses/dissertations. Including 8-10 sources not including your Biblical analysis.

Case Study: Federal/State/Local Collaboration Networks in Disasters Assignment

Address each of the following questions related to federal-state-local collaboration during disasters.

Should there be national goals and strong federal direction as during the period of “creative federalism” or greater flexibility for state and local officials to target funds and efforts where they feel there is the greatest need?,
What would happen if the federal role in emergency management was simply reduced to providing financial support?,
How likely is it that state representatives will address the state’s major hazards without federal encouragement?,
What are the advantages of developing local capabilities to reduce hazards?, How likely is it that local officials will address risks to life and property without outside funding and support?,

Tag Archives: Provide a Biblically based support for your analysis.

Supreme Court & Federalism

Comprehensive General Analysis

Introduction

1. Effect of Supreme Court Decisions on Federalism

2. Implications for Public Administrators

3. Case Studies of Recent Supreme Court Decisions

4. Challenges for Public Administrators

5. Strategies for Effective Administration in a Federal System

NASA Collaborative Transformation

Comprehensive General Analysis

Introduction

1. NASA’s Collaborative Approach: Artemis-Orion

Congressional Clean Lakes Task Force

Comprehensive General Analysis

Introduction

1. Collaborative Effort as Intergovernmental Management

2. Benefits of the Intergovernmental Collaboration

3. Challenges of Collaboration

4. Clean Lakes Task Force as a Model

Federalism in Public Administration