American Politics Question Set
Format MLA Volume of 2 pages (550 words) Description 1 – This question examines the historical evolution of political parties in American politics. a) At the end of his presidency, George Washington stated that: “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” In many ways, the quote is reminiscent of what James Madison discussed in Federalist 10. But by the time Washington is giving this quote, Madison has become a leader of one of the first major parties in American politics. Provide an argument for how someone could deride parties on one level, while also working to build up the party system in the United States. b) Near the end of “Why Parties? A Second Look,” Aldrich argues that the use of plurality or majority rule led American politicians to political parties, as political c) The relative power of parties ebbed and flowed over the course of American d) Since 1950, political parties have gained in strength. Identify a change in the 2 – This question examines representation in the American political system. a) Define delegate, trustee, and party trustee representation. Draw on an example from Chapter 8 of Showdown at Gucci Gulch to explain why it is so difficult to empirically assess which form of representation is most common by members of Congress. c) Define what is meant by a prisoner’s dilemma. Use the prisoner’s dilemma d) Explain how Mancur Olson’s work changed our understanding of the concept of pluralism. To what extent do the results in Gilens’ “Affluence and Influence: Economic Inequality and Political Power in America” support or not support Olson’s theory? 3 – This question explores how the national government has come to have more power vis-à-vis state governments over time. At multiple points in this question, you are asked to cite constitutional language. Note that you don’t need to quote the exact passage, as long as you can make it clear what part you are referring to (e.g., You can refer to the text “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” as the “Establishment Clause” of the First Amendment.) a) Detail the policy that Section 5(c) of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 attempted to establish. Highlight the constitutional language the Supreme Court used to justify why this law was unconstitutional. b) One way in which the national government came to have more power over time is because of changes to the Constitution (i.e. amendments). Identify the change to the Constitution that you believe has been one of the most consequential in affecting how power is divided between the state and national governments over time, making sure to justify why you think it was one of the most consequential changes. c) Another way in which the national government came to have more power over time is because of changes in how courts interpreted the Constitution. Identify a change in how the Constitution is interpreted that you believe has been one of the most consequential in affecting how power is divided between the state and national governments over time, making sure to justify why you think it was one of the most consequential change. d) Explain how grants-in-aid have been instrumental in devolving power from the national government to state governments. What policy area has been particularly influenced by the increased use of these grants? 4 – This question explores how federalism inhibits or enhances civil rights in the United States. a) Define the concept of Tiebout sorting. How could Tiebout sorting cause people with a minority viewpoint or characteristic to be better politically represented than they otherwise would have been? b) Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v Board of Education that separate but equal was unconstitutional, little desegregation happened in the South in its wake. Identify three specific characteristics of this case that made this decision initially so toothless. Make sure to justify why you highlight the characteristics that you do. c) Conversely, Obergefell v. Hodges quickly led to gay marriage being legal in every state in which it had previously been illegal. Identify two specific differences that caused Obergefell to be successful where Brown was not. d) The section of Riker’s essay “Federalism: Origin, Operation, and Significance” that we read ends with him concluding, “if in the United States one disapproves of racism, one should disapprove of federalism.” Do you agree or disagree with Riker on this point?
Assignment type : Coursework
parties were necessary to win the vast and diverse support required to win elections. Explain why using plurality or majority rule to elect office holders would make broad-based support necessary to win office.
history. “Toward a More Responsible Two Party System” suggests that 1950 is a low point in terms of party power. Identify a change in the political structure that occurred prior to 1950 that contributed to the weakening of parties. Make sure to justify why this change weakened parties.
political structure that occurred after 1950 that contributed to the strengthening of parties. Make sure to justify why this change strengthened parties.
b) In The Logic of Collective Action, Olson identifies a number of features inherent of interests that make them better able to form groups. One of these is coercion – the ability of the interest group to force beneficiaries to act. Identify three other distinct features of interests that make them more likely to be able to form into an interest group, and provide a real-world example of an interest with that feature.
explain why someone may prefer to be coerced to join a group, like a union, even though they would not join the union if given a choice.
