mocks summary

Question 1

arguments that the president is powerful in domestic affairs

Answer 1

1. legislative powers
2. influence over appointment process
3. public approval and national events
4. power of the EXOP
5. oversight of other branches
6. use of executive powers

Question 2

arguments that the president is not powerful in domestic affairs

Answer 2

1. weakness of the cabinet
2. EXOPs limitations
3. limits to appointment powers
4. public approval and national events
5. the iron triangle
6. checks from congress and the supreme court

Question 3

what are the president’s foreign policy powers

Answer 3

role as commander in chief
- ability to dispatch troops
- can exert pressure without using force

the limits of congress
- can no longer declare war
- can be bypassed in ratifying treaties

role as chief diplomat
- sets the national tone of foreign policy through inaugural address or state of the union address
- able to appoint and control diplomats

Question 4

what are the four theories of presidential power

Answer 4

1. neustadt power to persuade: presidents are weak and can achieve little unless they are skilled in the art of persuasion
2. schlesinger the imperial presidency: presidents are powerful and face few effective checks
3. Wildavski the dual presidency: limited in domestic but few checks in foreign policy
4. Howell power without persuasion: presidential power has grown steadily particularly in the second half of C20

Question 5

arguments that the constitution is effective?

Answer 5

1. checks and balances effectively keep each branch in line
2. federalism is still in place
3. the amendment process stops it becoming a reflection of its time
4. it is adaptable

Question 6

arguments that the constitution is not effective?

Answer 6

1. bipartisanship in the US has failed
2. federalism is no longer in action
3. the constitution is too difficult to amend
4. the constitution is too vague
5. the branches do not effectively check each other with the President and SC being too powerful

Question 7

arguments that separation of powers is effective?

Answer 7

1. there are effective checls on the President
2. there are effective checks on congress
3. there are effective checks on the judiciary
4. a divided government can be healthy

Question 8

arguments that separation of powers is not effective?

Answer 8

1. weak checks on the president
2. weak checks on congress
3. weak checks on the judiciary
4. bipartisanship has deteriorated and a divided government is not good

Question 9

arguments that the US remains federal?

Answer 9

1. the supreme court makes rulings in favour of states over federal government
2. states retain autonomy through variation of electoral practices, healthcare, criminal punishment, taxation, drugs and national crises managements

Question 10

arguments that the US is not federal?

Answer 10

1. federal encroachment on state issues: education, homeland security and defense, illegal immigration, healthcare
2. federal encroachment in national crises
3. the supreme court makes rulings in favour of the federal government

Question 11

arguments that the constitutions amendment process is effective?

Answer 11

1. protects states and upholds federalism
2. prevents ill thought out amendments
3. requires broad support through supermajorities

Question 12

arguments that the constitutions amendment process is not effective?

Answer 12

1. goes against the concet of a majoritarian democracy
2. difficult to amend outdated provisions or to incorporate new ideas
3. enhances the power of the unelected supreme court to make interpretaive amendments

Question 13

arguments that the electoral college does not need reform?

Answer 13

1. preserves the vote of small population states
2. promotes a two horse race
3. there are no viable alternatives
4. ensures candidates have nationwide appeal

Question 14

arguments that the electoral college does need reform?

Answer 14

1. small states are overrepresented, tyrrany of the minority
2. the winner of the popular vote doesn’t necessarily become President - undemocratic

Question 15

use and impact of campaign finance?

Answer 15

1. fundraising is getting more expensive
2. super PACS in the 2020 election
3. where the money goes
4. who is donating

Question 16

history of campaign finance?

Answer 16

• Federal election campaign act 1974, limited direct contributions to candidates
• 1976 buckley v valeo, limits went against first amendment
• 1979 congress weakened introduced soft money
• McCain-Feingold act 2002
• Obama’s role in 2008 election
• 2010 citizens united v FEC
• McCutcheon v FEC 2014

Question 17

arguments that congress is effective in its representative function?

Answer 17

1. minority representation
2. interest groups and lobbying
3. representative models

Question 18

arguments that congress is not effective in its representative function?

Answer 18

1. minority representation
2. incumbency and gerrymandering
3. conflict between party and constituents
4. interest groups and lobbying

Question 19

arguments that congress is effective in its legislative function?

Answer 19

1. the need for supermajorities ensures broad consensus and bipartisanship to pass legislation
2. the low pass rate means only necessary legislation becomes law
3. congress can pass emergency legislation
4. significant laws have been passed historically

Question 20

arguments that congress is not effective in its legislative function?

Answer 20

1. not enough major legislation is passed (2-3%)
2. key individuals dominate the process
3. gridlock is common due to a rise in polarisation

Question 21

arguments that the supreme court is political v judicial

Answer 21

they are obviously more political
- the appointment process
- commenting publicly on politics

are they interfering directly
- checks and balances
- it has a limited ability to enforce its rulings
- creating vs upholding policies

Question 22

race and rights protection in the US

Answer 22

1. executive orders
2. congressional law
3. supreme court rulings
4. statistics show improvement

Question 23

strengths of the judicial appointment process

Answer 23

• they face high levels of scrutiny
• justices may not follow the political outlook expected of them
• it produces competent judges

Question 24

weaknesses of the judicial process

Answer 24

• it is overly politicised
• it doesn’t produce good judges