Overlapping Powers of Government

	2.3.6 Practice: Overlapping Powers of Government Practice Assignment
	U.S. Government and Politics (S3855101) Anayeli Cancino
	Points possible: 20 Date: ____________

For this assignment, you will evaluate the powers and relationship of a federal agency and a state agency with similar responsibilities. To do this you will complete the following steps:

1. Research: Explore the websites for FEMA and GOHSEP and examine the roles and responsibilities of each agency.
2. Analyze: Consider the relationship between the federal and state agencies and how the federal role in disaster management could potentially conflict with state efforts.
3. Write: Write an essay that links the relationship between these agencies to the larger relationship between the federal government and the states.

To get the best grade possible, follow the instructions in the assignment closely and answer all of the questions completely. This assignment is worth 20 points.

Use the websites for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) to conduct research and answer the questions. Your research will be critical in completing the analysis and writing portions of this assignment.

This section is worth 6 points.

Research Sources:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

https://www.fema.gov/about-agency

Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP)

http://gohsep.la.gov/ABOUT/OVERVIEW

1. What is the main goal of FEMA? (1 point)

2. Explain how FEMA’s role changed after it became part of the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 and again after the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. (1 point)

3. What is the main goal of GOHSEP? (1 point)

4. In the event of an emergency, what partners does GOHSEP work with to achieve its goals? (1 point)

5. Explain how GOHSEP receives and uses federal grants. (1 point)

6. Recall that the system of cooperative federalism began during the Great Depression and the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s.

Look carefully at the history section on the FEMA website and explain how the history of FEMA relates to the rise of cooperative federalism. (1 point)

In 2005, Louisiana was hit by Hurricane Katrina, a powerful and deadly storm. Both the federal and state governments’ responses were criticized for being too slow and disorganized. Read this excerpt from a federal report made by the White House in 2006 in response to this criticism. When you are done reading, carefully respond to the questions that follow. This section is worth 2 points.

Soon after Katrina made landfall, State and local authorities understood the devastation was serious but, due to the destruction of infrastructure and response capabilities, lacked the ability to communicate with each other and coordinate a response. Federal officials struggled to perform responsibilities generally conducted by State and local authorities, such as the rescue of citizens stranded by the rising floodwaters, provision of law enforcement, and evacuation of the remaining population of New Orleans, all without the benefit of prior planning or a functioning State/local incident command structure to guide their efforts.

The Federal government cannot and should not be the Nation’s first responder. State and local governments are best positioned to address incidents in their jurisdictions and will always play a large role in disaster response. But Americans have the right to expect that the Federal government will effectively respond to a catastrophic incident. When local and State governments are overwhelmed or incapacitated by an event that has reached catastrophic proportions, only the Federal government has the resources and capabilities to respond. The Federal government must therefore plan, train, and equip to meet the requirements for responding to a catastrophic event.

—The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned¹

1. According to the report, why did federal efforts conflict with state efforts to respond to Hurricane Katrina? (1 point)

2. Based on the summary in the report, describe the relationship between the federal and state governments in responding to a disaster. (1 point)

You will now write a three- or four-paragraph essay. In your essay, describe how government responses to disasters relate to the rise of cooperative federalism. Write about the overlapping responsibilities and relationships between FEMA and GOHSEP and how these state and federal agencies could conflict with each other. Finally, explain the plan for government disaster response that emerged because of the lessons learned after Hurricane Katrina. Use the writing rubric to determine how well you’re meeting the criteria for the writing portion of this assignment. The writing portion of this assignment is worth 12 points.