Political Science Decisions and Policies Essay

You must write TWO comprehensive essays totaling between 5 and 15 pages (not

including references) using Times Roman 12 font, double-spaced. You may allocate

more space to one or the other essay if you like. However, keep in mind that each one

counts equally (i.e., 50% of your grade for this analytic essay assignment). Please be

sure to clearly indicate where your answer to Essay #1 ends and where your answer to

Essay #2 begins.

Because this is an open book assignment, you are allowed to quote from the readings

and your lecture notes. If you quote from the readings, some form of citation is

necessary. (Citations do not need to be formal; just provide enough information to

allow the reader to look up the source material). You should NOT use any outside

sources for this essay. Try to show how much you have learned from this course,

focusing on the key points that were covered in the class material.

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Essay #1 In the early part of this course you were told that the theory of American

government led to a system which may not be very efficient but is excellent at

preventing things we don’t want. As a result, we have a political system that maximizes

input into the decision-making process. But the system is also one that minimizes the

potential for policy change.

Write an essay explaining this state of affairs, focusing on: 1) how interest groups

make their points of view heard through the political process, and the factors that make

them more likely to be successful; 2) the various procedural roadblocks to passing

legislation through the Congress; and 3) how the lack of party discipline makes it more

difficult for Congress to pass legislation than in a parliamentary democracy.

Essay #2 It has often been said that the power of the American presidency mostly

involves the power to persuade rather than to command. Taking into consideration all

that you have learned in this class, write an essay elaborating on: 1) how Congress and

the Supreme Court can constrain presidential power; 2) why the president has more

power with regard to foreign policy than domestic policy; and 3) how presidents have

sometimes been able to use executive orders to accomplish important goals by

command.