This refers to a the office which carries out investigations and reviews allegations of misconduct concerning the members of the house as well as the staff and then report the matter to the committee on ethics. Members of the congress who violate the ethics are censured, expelled, reprimanded or suspended from duties. One case of congressional ethics violations involved the U.S representative Alan Grayson April 5th 2016. On this date, the office of congressional ethics released a report asking the house committees to resume investigation of Grayson ethics violation’s charges. However, he waved off the allegations claiming that he as innocent and he was likely not to face serious repercussions.
Alan Grayson was charged with cases of improper management of the government funds situated for public projects. He was accused of using a hedge amount of money for personal interest in his business dealings. These acts were viewed to overlap with his roles and duties within the congress. Additionally Grayson was also accused of violating congressional ethics through failure to disclose his finances. This is because all members of the congress are required to disclose all their financial information without disclosing and business deals. The Orlando democrat was also accused of violating the congressional ethics through involving in business deals with the federal government on basis of self-interest. The investigators found out that Grayson had omitted some information while filling the financial disclosure forms. He was also found to have been in agreements with the federal government through some of their subsidiaries. Additionally, Grayson had also put more attention on his campaigns rather than his official duties
The penalties on official who violate the congressional ethics are legal, ethical and valid as these leaders are required to act with utmost and high ethics as also required by the law. They should not act on basis of self-interest but should act on the interest of the public. This kind of charges makes me distrust the leaders and view them as selfish and people who work towards their personal development and interests.
Third party candidates
These refer to the candidate who is not affiliated with the two major U.S political parties- the democrats or the republicans. It also involves candidates running independently. However, currently, the third parties fail during the elections and are in most cases not elected as presidents. This is simply because the political system in the U.S is dominated by two main political parties which alternate in the presidency and have attracted almost all voters acceptance. The voters either vote for the candidates affiliated to the democrat or republican parties and ignore the third party candidate who in turn end up loosing almost all the time due to lack of support from the voters.
The third party candidates also fail to be elected in the presidential seat because the constitution gives authority for the regulation of all the federal elections activities in each state hence easing the third party denial. The federal election campaign has also been an obstacle for the third parties. Their many requirements on and campaign regulation put the third parties in a position where they cannot pay the accounting and legal expenses. They in most cases lack funds for campaigns hence obtaining the leas percent of the presidential votes. The lack of media coverage also affects the candidates. The media attracts recognition from the voters and may hence enable them to fetch more votes.
Federal and state authority
Gun control
Currently, Gun control is a contravasal topic in the United States. Gun violence has been rampant in many states and hence leading to senseless tragedies that have claimed innocent lives. There seems to be no workable solution to curb this issue since there is contradicting perception of the Gun policy. For instance, the latest move by the President to harm teachers with guns is likely not to be long term solution for preventing gun violence and crimes in schools. The main issue with gun policy is that it fails to prevent issuing of unlicenced fire arms. Individuals that support gun rights argue that guns are not the problem and that the root cause for gun violence is mental impairedness. Although different states have established measures to counteract gun related crimes, it has proved difficult to formulate a regulation which overly accepted and that’s effective. To reduce gun violence, the United States government needs to directly control gun distribution.
Immigration
The US has been an attractive magnet for immigrants, and no one can deny their role in the construction and development of the US. However, the rise of President Trump has raised serious questions, and this has changed the American image for the worse. There is need to revisit the policy plans to gain from this considerable resource who have made America great in the real sense. For decades ago, immigration has been a core factor in shaping and transforming the economic, social and political development of America. In the American history, immigrants have played a critical role in major economic transformation, and therefore, the concept and perception of the government about the immigrants need to change and face the real facts. The negativity brought by some immigrants should not overshadow the great achievement installed by their predecessors. The generalization of immigrants is far most inappropriate, and hence the policy of immigration should be revisited and a better judgement enacted.
References
30 of Donald Trump’s wildest quotes. (2016, March 21). Retrieved January 18, 2018, from https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/wild-donald-trump-quotes/
Fleming, A. (n.d.). An Introduction to Political Culture and Gun Control Policy in the United States and Canada. Gun Policy in the United States and Canada : The Impact of Mass Murders and Assassinations on Gun Control. doi:10.5040/9781501300011.ch-001
Levin, R. M. (1996). Congressional Ethics and Constituent Advocacy in an Age of Mistrust. Michigan Law Review, 95(1), 1-110.
Zaldivar, M. (2017, August 30). Real Reasons Why Third Parties Don’t Win Presidential Elections. Retrieved from https://www.theodysseyonline.com/real-reasons-third-parties-dont-win-presidential-elections
