°PS103 Syllabus
°PS103 Assignments
°Student Lists - Section 04, 06 (F99)
°Student Essays
°GradeA gradebook (labeled PS103-00 for both sections)
°

PS103 - U.S. Political Systems--Professor Renka                                           December 2-3, 1999                                                                                                                                               

PS103 Examination No. 4–Essay - Fall 1999

 Essay:  Answer one of the following questions (100 points).  This is due on the date of the final examination by or before the exam begins.  If you email an attachment, do so before this exam starts, as I will start grading these essays immediately on that date.   Essay should take about 2 to 2.5 honest pages, typed or word processed.  As always, use appropriate citations to support your argument and conclusions.  When using website citations, be sure to include full information:  author (if any), file name, date accessed, and URL.  For APA style users who insert source information into text within parentheses, use either author or filename for website citations; but in References at the end, include full information.

1.  How has the U.S. Constitution been altered since 1933 to affect the succession from one president to another?  Which of the modern presidents have been specifically affected by one or more of these constitutional provisions?  What additional changes to succession would you now recommend for the nation to adopt?

2.  Text and I have commented upon ‘two presidencies’ to highlight a contrast of presidential power in foreign affairs as opposed to domestic affairs.  Describe the balance of decision-making power between presidency and Congress on foreign policy, explaining which institution has greater power.  Specify why you believe this to be the case.

3.  I claimed the modern presidency is vastly different and more powerful than the presidency defined in the Constitution or the presidency in practice before the year 1933.  What are the differences in power with the modern office?  What has been the effect of the Cold War era (1947-1991) upon the modern presidency’s powers?

PS103 - U.S. Political Systems                                                 Initials: ___________
Professor Russell Renka                                                           November 15-16, 1999

 PS103 Examination No. 3 –Essay - Fall 1999

 Essay Section:  Answer one of the following questions in an essay of approximately 2 ½ to 3 honest pages, typewritten or word-processed.  Due date:  by or before class time next Monday or Tuesday.  Value is 100 points.

Use sources and cite them properly.  Check how the text and reader do citations, or let Kent Library’s handouts demonstrate how it’s done.  The key is to fully cite all sources.  When you cite the text, cite the page or pages of your source material instead of just saying “text” and leaving your reader to wonder where among 600 pages that material might be.  When you use the reader’s sources, cite the specific writer, article and pages; do not attribute something written by Gary Jacobson to the reader’s editors.  If you cite a website, first cite the author (if one is given), then file name (title of the article or piece to which you refer), then the URL, and finally the date you accessed it.  For APA style users, just cite website file name in full or part instead of using the full URL.

Use both the text and Reader as source material.  Some writers simply recite whatever is in text that apparently addresses the question.  Often that misses crucial material in one or more of the readings.  It also customarily means throwing in material of little or no value in answering the specific question.  Think about what’s directly pertinent to the question and what isn’t, and include only the former material.  And do the readings, lest you entirely miss important material.
 
1.  Why is the American political system distinguished by having only two parties with a serious chance to win national offices?  What current features of American public opinion and voting behavior suggest that the two-party system’s hold on Americans has weakened?

2.  Why is American voter turnout so low in comparison to other countries?  Why is turnout lower in the 1990s than it was in the 1960s?  On the latter, what are some defensible means of reversing this trend?