You may bring 1 page of notes
Section 1. Short Questions Answer 5 out of 6 (7 points each)
1. Your mom has decided to run against our new incumbent Representative Kirsten
Gillibrand (D-NY). What should she do to get elected?
2. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) was elected to the House of Representatives in
2006. What is the best strategy for her to get reelected?
3. A familiar pattern in national politics. The House of Representatives
passes a major piece of legislation, only to see it die in the Senate. How
do the decision making processes in each body enable the House to act more
decisively than the Senate (Sinclair)?
4. What are the major congressional characteristics of committees and how
do they affect the legislative process?
5. What are the powers and limits on the powers of Congressional leadership?
6. What are the characteristics of successful according to Greenstein? Why
is George Bush successful?
7. According to Patrick Lanne, how did Barack Obama win the 2008 election?
8. How has the electoral college affected how Bush has governed?
9. What does President Clinton’s experience with his gays in the military
reveal about whether presidents can keep their campaign promises?
10. Why are presidents increasingly “going public”? Give an example.
11. Why does Hamilton believe that the judiciary will always be “the least
dangerous branch”?
12. How are federal Supreme Court justices appointed and how has the process
changed?
13. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the “original intent” approach
to constitutional interpretation by Supreme Court justices?
14. According to Rosenberg, does Roe v. Wade suggest the judicial branch is
“all powerful” and “imperial” or not?
15. How do Cox and Alm explain the rise in economic inequality? What are the
policy and political consequences of their analysis?
16. Why does Krugman believe that economic inequality has increased? What
does he believe are the political consequences of increased economic inequality?
Section II Longer Question – Answer both questions below (15 points).
1. Does our system of selecting and electing presidents make sense? What are the most important characteristics of our presidential primary and Electoral College systems? How do they affect how candidates run and how they govern once in office?
2. According to Jacobsen, why did the Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives in 2006? Please provide specific data to support your analysis.
Section III. Comprehensive Long Essay Question (33%)
Fiorina and Peterson argue that "while many of the original features
of the Constitution remain intact, American politics has evolved to the point
where we have a "New American Democracy". They suggest that elections
play an increasingly important role in our democracy, and that our system
has become more democratic.
Has our political system truly changed so dramatically from the system of
government created by the Constitution and envisioned by the framers? In your
answer, make sure you address the following questions.
1) What are the characteristics of the "New American Democracy"
according to Fiorina and Peterson? (think permanent campaign, elections, public
opinion polls)
2) What were the views of the framers of the Constitution about the relationship
between the people and democracy and how were these principles enshrined in
our government? How and why did the framers attempt to prevent the tyranny
of the majority? Make sure to make specific references to the Federalist Papers
10 and 51. (Did they prefer representative democracy or direct democracy?
“most common and durable source of factions”)
3) How has the selection of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Presidency
changed since the founding? Is it more or less democratic? How does the electoral
connection affect the relative power and actions of each branch of government?
You may refer to you answers in Section II.
4) In thinking about economic inequality and the Bush Administration’s tax
policies, does the "New American Democracy" work better or worse
than the old one? As our system has become more democratic and open to the
masses, have the worst fears of the framers about tyranny of the majority
come true? Why or why not?
Please write out and sign the Skidmore College honor code.
--"I have not witness any wrongdoing, nor have I personally violated any conditions of the Skidmore College honor code while taking this examination.