“Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens…Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” – Exodus 18:21, 25 (ESV)
“And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.” – Numbers 16:2–3 (ESV)
“And Saul said, ‘Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today’…Then the people said to Saul, ‘Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it!…for he has worked with God this day.’ So the people ransomed Jonathan.” – I Samuel 14: 38–45 (ESV)
“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: ‘How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah’…I said, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.’” – Psalm 82:1–7 (ESV)
U.S. Representatives are tasked with exercising the legislative powers of Congress vested in it by “We the People.” That relationship between the people and their representatives is central to the possibility of good government. The power of Congress is great. It includes the powers to tax, spend, and borrow; to regulate the commerce with foreign nations and among the states; to raise and regulate armies and the navy; to declare war; and to establish courts inferior to the Supreme Court. The legislative powers are meant to provide for “a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” The accomplishment of the ends of government, to which the people are committed, require good representatives who are “able” to exercise the powers well and are faithful to their task.
INSTRUCTIONS
Relying principally on course materials, write a 3–5-page paper answering the question, “What is a good Representative?” Your focus is the U.S. House of Representatives. Include an introduction, body, and conclusion along with a title page and bibliography page. (Note that the page requirement does not include the title page, reference page, or any appendices).
Place your answer in a public policy context, noting the importance of the question, and concisely state an answer in your introduction to form a clear thesis. Explain, clarify, elaborate, support, and generally develop your answer with facts, reasoning, and material drawn principally from the course. Display your knowledge of the purpose of government and Congress, the representative’s role, administrative oversight, and biblical and philosophical standards. Conclude by reviewing the main point of the essay and personal relevance.
Sample Solution
