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Big Government debate desk
Is the Administrative State Needed Because Congress Cannot Write Every Detail? Agencies fill in details, and the Constitution gives lawmaking to Congress; the line is drawn by the nondelegation doctrine and by the major questions rule. Is Bigger Government the Best Way to Help Poor Americans Move Up? Aid relieves hardship, but programs with steep benefit cliffs can trap people; growth, work and marriage lift most families out of poverty. Do Federal Civil Servants Need Ironclad Protection From Being Fired? Merit protection ended the spoils system, but rules that make removal of poor performers nearly impossible leave voters unable to direct the executive branch. Should Congress Hand New Fields Like AI to Expert Agencies to Regulate? A new technology needs rules, and who writes them matters: Congress should set the principles and leave agencies the details, not the reverse. Is Cutting Federal Agencies Reckless and Dangerous to the Public? Reorganizing and trimming agencies is a normal act of self-government; the GAO has flagged duplicative programs for decades, and Congress can do it carefully. Is the Federal Government Too Small to Meet Today's Challenges? Federal spending is among the largest in history; the issue is focus and results, and a government that tries to do everything does little well. Should Independent Agencies Be Shielded From Presidential Control? Article II vests the executive power in the President; Humphrey's Executor of 1935 carved out an exception that critics say created a fourth branch. Do Government Programs Do More for the Needy Than Private Charity? Government has scale; private charity has knowledge and accountability; a free society needs both, and churches reach where programs cannot. Do Government Regulations Cost the Economy Nothing While Protecting Us? Rules protect people and also carry compliance costs that fall hardest on small firms; counting them is the first step toward good regulation. Should a Universal Basic Income Replace Work-Based Welfare Programs? A basic income would cost trillions and weaken the link between work and reward; conservatives who like the idea want it to replace programs. Are Work Requirements for Welfare Benefits Cruel to the Poor? The 1996 reform paired work requirements with support and employment rose; work is a path out of poverty, and exemptions protect those who cannot work.