Assignment: Introducton to American Politcs and Government
Your exam consists of writng two separate essays: the first from your choice of the questons in Part 1, and the second from your choice of the questons in Part 2. (Suggested length for each essay: 3-5 pages.
Please clearly indicate the queston number for each of your essays.)
PART 1 (Choose one of the following quesCons)
1. Assuming you were a counselor to a new president, what would you tell them about the nature of presidental power and authority, and what advice would you give them in order to be an effectve U.S. President?
2. What factors influence the decisions that Supreme Court Justces make? Based on your depicton of the judicial decision-making process, do you think the Supreme Court can be an effectve insttuton of democracy and an agent of social change in a Madisonian Democratc system?
3. The politcal news media is an important part of the American democratc process. Is it an effectve and independent watchdog, or a tamed lapdog? Write an essay that answers the queston, in which you describe the competng models of the politcal news media. Which do you think is the most persuasive model of the politcal news media in the U.S.? Explain your answer.
PART 2 (Choose one of the following quesCons)
4. What is public opinion? What factors influence the formaton of public opinion? Based on your understanding of public opinion, would you agree or disagree that it is a meaningful part of a healthy democracy? Is the American democratc system generally responsive to public opinion?
5. Votng and electons are important aspects of American democracy, but not everyone chooses to partcipate by votng. Why are some people more likely to vote than others? Once someone decides to vote, which factors are the most importance influences on their choice of candidate in an electon? Based on your understanding of votng, campaigns, and electons, do you think electons are effectve parts of democratc representaton in America?
6. Considering the issue of income inequality, do you think that the insttutons and processes of American democracy are capable of producing fair and pluralistc results, or is the system biased towards the interests of economic elites?
Essay-
• Create a detailed outline of your essay before writng, including thesis arguments for the entre essay and main points for each secton.
• Be sure that your essay contains a clear introducton and conclusion.
Review AND revise your essay before submiVng it:
• Is your thesis statement clearly wriaen and supported by the body of the essay? Do you fully define and explain the important concepts in the essay? Does your writng clearly communicate your intended points?