POLS 3303 01: AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

This exam has two parts. Part I consists of five Identifications and Part II consists of four Short Essays. Be sure to read the instructions carefully. Because this is a take-home exam and I have permitted you to use ...

This exam has two parts. Part I consists of five Identifications and Part II consists of four Short Essays. Be sure to read the instructions carefully. Because this is a take-home exam and I have permitted you to use additional resources, including your notes and the PowerPoint slides, I expect your answers to be fully formed, highly detailed, and devoid of any spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes. Take a deep breath. Exhale. Good luck! Part I. Identifications. (40 points / 8 points each). You must identify and give the significance of five of the following twelve terms and concepts. In your answers, please clearly define the terms and provide examples of the terms and/or connect them to broader concepts that we have learned in class. Successful answers will incorporate all three components, as applicable. Note: If you choose to answer more than five identifications, you will be graded for the first five identifications that appear in your blue book, regardless of the quality of the remaining answers. No extra credit will be given for answering additional identifications. Part II. Short Essays. (60 points / 15 points each). Using the course readings and lectures, you must answer four of the following eight questions. Despite being “short” essays, remember that your answers should still be crafted like persuasive essays (introduction, thesis, evidence, and conclusion). Be as thorough as possible. 1. Please describe how, and explain why, policymaking does not end when Congress passes a bill and the president signs it into law. How might this process strengthen or weaken the intent of elected policymakers? (Be sure to use relevant examples from the readings and class discussions.) 2. Who are the two Democratic senators who are most likely to vote object to the Biden White House’s policy proposals? Why do these senators have such clout, and what can their actions tell us about how modern Congress operates? 3. The relationship between the executive and legislative branches has been called one of the more mysterious relationships in American politics. How has the balance of power between the two branches shifted over time? What factors have affected these power shifts? Do Congress and the president enjoy the same ability to affect public opinion? Why or why not? 4. Some members of Congress get involved in the lawmaking process early on and others attempt to affect legislation during the final stages of its creation. What are the three different types of policy actors and what are the benefits and drawbacks of each type? 5. Examining roll call votes is one of the easiest ways to examine the preferences of members of Congress. Yet, we know that not all votes are created equal. Why might votes not necessarily be considered a reliable indicator of preferences? (Please use examples from the class discussions and assigned readings.) 6. As you know, the Constitution is silent on the topic of committees in Congress. Why—and how— have they developed? How are committee assignments determined? How has the use and importance of committees in Congress changed over time? 7. What does the case study of asbestos compensation teach us about the state of modern policymaking in the U.S. How does it shed light on the relationship between Congress and the federal courts? 8. Of all the theories that we have discussed this semester (rational choice theory and re-election, “home style,” unorthodox lawmaking, representation, etc.), which, in your opinion, most accurately describes how Congress works in 2022? Why?