Part A-
1. Compare the different types of committees. What factors determine committee assignments?
2. What is congressional oversight? Why is it important?
3. What services do members of Congress typically provide their constituents?
4. What factors influence the decisions a member of Congress makes.
5. How do the House and Senate differ in regard to their constituencies, length of terms, their members' relationship to locally entrenched interests, and their electoral politics and procedures?
6. Discuss and differentiate the two general types of representation that your textbook discusses. How do these types of representation differ from the trustee and delegate typologies? How are they similar?
Part B-
1. Explain the delegated powers of the executive.
2. What is the difference between a treaty and an executive agreement?
3. Define veto and pocket veto? How are they different?
4. Explain the Executive Office of the President. Which agency is most important? Why?
5. What role does the president play in the legislative process? What tools does the president have at his disposal to aid in these endeavors?
6. What does the text mean when it says that the presidency has become a " permanent campaign" for reelection?
Part C-
1. Discuss the structure of the US court system. What are the various levels to the system? What are the different types of jurisdiction? How do these jurisdictions apply to the different levels?
2. Explain how senatorial courtesy impacts the appointment process of federal judges.
3. Explain the concept of judicial review and the court's basis for this power.
4. Why is it important in a democracy that the judicial branch be separated from the executive and legislative branches? Why is it important that federal judges serve for life or good behavior, not a fixed number of years?
5. With respect to cases making their way to the Supreme Court, what are attorneys' briefs? What is the significance of these briefs? What are briefs called that are filed by interest groups? How might they be significant?
6. What are the criteria for standing in a court case? How might this be different for class action lawsuits?
Part D-
1. Explain the advantages and disadvantages an incumbent has in an election. How can this be limited?
2. What is the purpose of having a Vice President? What Constitutional role does the Vice President serve?
3. Discuss and differentiate the Solicitor General and the Attorney General. How does the solicitor general control the flow of cases through the Supreme Court?