This assignment is designed for you to use your critical thinking skills analyzing and evaluating how different states address common governmental process and policy challenges. Utilize the Governing: Measuring Performance – The State Management Report Card for 2008 report from the Pew Charitable Trusts to conduct your critical analysis of the governing performance of three U.S. states.Open the Governing: Measuring Performance – The State Management Report Card for 2008 report from the Pew Center on the States. Choose three states to compare, in which you identify one state that received an overall A or A-, one state that received a B- or C+, and one state that received a D+ or D. Compare the following performance criteria for each state: money, people, infrastructure, and information. In your comparison, you must analyze what these state leaders do well and not so well in managing the money, people, infrastructure, and information in their states. Next, based on this analysis, create a list of recommended ‘best practices’ (programs, processes and policies) on how states can effectively and efficiently manage their money, people, infrastructure, and information.Use the following general outline as a guide to conduct your comparison:Introduction (half page):Overview:How does the Pew Report evaluate state governance performance?Which three states did you choose to contrast and compare and what was their overall grade?Thesis:Why are you comparing and contrasting and these three states’ governing performance?Contrast and Comparison (one to two Pages):Using examples and details from the report and other scholarly sources compare three states, one high performer (A or A-), one middle performer (B- or C+), and one low performer (D+ or D) using the following four performance criteria:MoneyPeopleInfrastructureInformationRecommendations (one to two pages):Based on your comparative analysis and supporting details and examples from the report and other scholarly sources, recommend ‘best practices’ (processes and policies) that states can pursue to manage their money, people, infrastructure, and information.Explain why and how these best practices will enable states to effectively and efficiently manage these variables (money, people, infrastructure, and information). Use examples and details from the report and other scholarly sources.Conclusion (half page):Review your main points.Review your overall thesis.The paper must be four to six pages in length (not including cover page and reference page) and formatted according to APA style. Cite your resources in text and on the reference page. 

Students will write an essay, 500-750 words in length, on a topic selected from the list below. The purpose of the project is to give students an opportunity to discuss a key political science concept, and to show a basic understanding of academic research and reporting skills. The project consists of producing a 500-750 word essay on one of the provided topics (see below), as well as a works cited page for sources containing information used in the essay. The assignment is to be formatted according to the APA. Students should research this style in order to properly format the assignment; papers not formatted properly will not receive a passing grade. Please save your papers as .doc or .docx Students should use Ariel or Times New Roman 12 point as the paper's font, double space the text, and create one inch margins on all four sides of the page. In addition, the assignment should be formatted according to APA style for papers with no title page and no abstract. Please choose from one of the following topics for your writing assignment:In Chapter 2, "The Constitutional Setting," the authors describe the various state constitutions of Texas, with particular attention to the current state constitution. Complete the following:  Describe the features of the current Texas constitution.Explain the influences that were critical in the structure and powers of the government created in the final document.Identify similarities and differences between the Texas Constitution and the U.S. constitution.Illustrate your points with specific examples from each of the legislative, executive, and judicial articles.In Chapter 2, "The Constitutional Setting," the authors describe the amendment process for the Texas Constitution. Complete the following: Describe the rules for amending the Texas constitution.Discuss the attempts at constitutional reform during the 1970’s.Explain why constitutional reform was attempted and why it ultimately failed.Do you believe it is better to have a detailed constitution that requires frequent amendment as specific situations arise, or a constitution that has broad language providing government with flexibility to handle a diverse set of situations as they arise?In Chapter 11, "Local Government," The authors explain the purposes and structures of local governments within the state of Texas. Complete the following: Identify the structure and role of local governments within the state of Texas.Explain the purpose and function of each type of local government.Some states have consolidated the county and city functions into a single governmental entity.Do you believe Texas would be better served by maintaining its several, distinct, types of local government, or by consolidating them into broader units of government that would handle the various functions within a single governmental entity?Submission Instructions:Complete your assignment using word-processing software such as MS Word, Open Office (download free software at http://www.openoffice.org/), or other per course requirements.Save your file as an .doc file to ensure that it can be opened at any computer.Submit your assignment by selecting the writing assignment link in lesson 1, browsing to, and attaching your saved file from your desktop. Make sure to select SUBMIT. You may view your posting both on this page and under My grades. 

a description of the types of probability and nonprobability sampling. Then describe two strengths and two weaknesses of each type of sampling. Finally, identify two ethical considerations that may factor into selecting a sampling method and explain how you might address these considerations.