Assignment: Homeland Security Policies, Laws, and Authorities

The Required Readings are listed below

 A wide variety of policies, laws, and other authorities (e.g., executive orders, presidential directives, etc.) provide the legal basis, direction, and legitimacy for the national homeland security program. These policies, laws, and authorities have expanded and evolved significantly since they first emerged in response to the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April 1995. Their original focus on domestic terrorism and domestic preparedness morphed almost overnight into a broader focus on homeland security and transnational terrorism following the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. The PATRIOT Act was enacted less than a month after the September 11 terrorist attacks. It was the first, and possibly the most controversial, in a sweeping new package of federal homeland security legislation and executive actions. This package also included the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and a series of Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs). These federal policies, laws, and authorities continue to be amended, or even superseded, by new legislation or executive action, as needed. For example, following widespread criticism of the ineffective federal response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Congress passed the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act in an effort to restore the traditional emphasis on all-hazards preparedness that had fallen into neglect since the advent of the terrorist threat. These federal laws and authorities have, in turn, inspired or influenced the development of homeland security legislation and policies at the state and local levels in keeping with the American system of federalism.

 

 To prepare for this assignment:

• Review Chapter 2 of your course text, Introduction to Homeland Security. Focus on key statutes and authorities such as the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996, the PATRIOT Act of 2001, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, HSPDs, and the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. Consider the historical context for the evolution of homeland security legislation.


• Review the course media, "National Policies, Laws, and Authorities" with Dr. Phillip Schertzing. Focus on his assessment of the underlying inspiration for these policies, laws, and authorities; their relationships; and their implications and/or challenges.


• Select three national policies, laws, and/or authorities related to homeland security.


• Consider the similarities and differences between and among the national policies, laws, and/or authorities you selected in terms of their focus, impact, and significance.


• Think about at least two implications and/or challenges related to how the national policies, laws, and/or authorities you selected have evolved.

The assignment: (2 pages)

• Briefly describe three national policies, laws, and/or authorities for homeland security.


• Compare (similarities and differences) the national policies, laws, and/or authorities you selected in terms of their focus, impact, and significance.


• Explain at least two implications and/or challenges related to how the policies, laws, and/or authorities you selected have evolved. Be specific.

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the Learning Resources for this course.

 Required Readings

Bullock, J. A. , Haddow, G. D.  & Coppola, D. P. (2013). Introduction to homeland security (5th ed.). Waltham, MA: Elsevier Inc.  

Chapter 2, "Historic Overview of the Terrorist Threat"

Roberts, P. S. (2008). Dispersed federalism as a new regional governance for homeland security. Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 38(3), 416–443.

Use the Academic Search Premier database, and search using the article's title.

Eisinger, P. (2006). Imperfect federalism: The intergovernmental partnership for homeland security. Public Administration Review, 66(4), 537–545.

Use the SocINDEX with Full Text database, and search using the article's title.

Clovis, S. H., Jr. (2006). Federalism, homeland security and national preparedness: A case study in the development of public policy. Homeland Security Affairs, II(3). Retrieved fromhttp://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=2.3.4

Required Media

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Current issues in homeland security: National policies, laws, and authorities. Baltimore: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 9 minutes.