The final ex for this course consists of the following three
-part writing assignment. The first
part consists of several short
-answer questions based on your reading of the assigned chapters
from our American Government textbook in the second half of the semester only. The secondpart consists of several short-answer questions based on the essay “Why is the Constitution NotDemocratic?” by Dennis Hale and Marc Landy. The third part asks you to reflect broadly on whatyou learned this semester. Your finished product (containing your responses to Parts I, II, and IIItogether) should be at least 3
typed, double-spaced pages. Each of these eleven questions will
beweighted equally in determining your grade on this exam.Your responses to these questions should be your own work, written in your own words, andbased on the assigned readings and our discussions about them in class. Do not consult anyoutside sources for this assignment. I want to see reflected in your responses your ownengagement with the material we studied this semester, not what you might be able to findonline.Upload your exam to Canvas in a single Word document no later than Tues., May 10, at 11:59PM.Part IThese five questions are based on chapters 6-9 of the Landy & Milkis textbook and our classdiscussions about them.1. Identify and briefly discuss TWO specific ways in which the federal government regulateseconomic activity or protects economic rights.2
. Among the primary duties of members of Congress is making laws. Discuss the processby which a bill becomes a law. In your discussion, be sure to include the role of each ofthe following in the lawmaking process: (a) the House Rules Committee and (b) theConference Committee.
23.
The Framers of the United States Constitution created a legislative system that is
bicameral. However, it is not just bicameral; the framers also established two houses of
distinctly different character and authority.
a.
Identify and briefly discuss ONE way in which the House of Representatives andthe Senate are different from each other and briefly discuss ONE reason why thisdifference is important.b. Identify and briefly discuss ONE power unique to the House of Representativesand explain why the Framers gave the House this power.c. Identify and briefly discuss ONE power unique to the Senate and explain why theFramers gave the Senate this power.4. The 20th century witnessed a dramatic increase in the power of the presidency. In fact,the modern presidency has been described as the most powerful political office in theworld.a. Identify and briefly discuss TWO specific powers that the Constitution grants tothe president or that the president has assumed since the 20th century.b. Identify and briefly discuss TWO specific ways in which presidential power isrestrained, limited, or checked.5. In 1788, Alexander Hamilton, writing in defense of the proposed Constitution, describedthe judiciary as “the least dangerous” branch of the federal government. Whereas thepresident is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and thus holds, as Hamilton put it,“the sword of the community,” and whereas Congress appropriates money and thus“commands the purse,” the judiciary “has no influence over either the sword or thepurse” and “can take no active resolution whatever.” It has, Hamilton concluded, “neitherforce nor will but merely judgment,” and thus is “beyond comparison the weakest of thethree departments of power.”a. Briefly explain in your own words Hamilton’s main claim here.b. Identify and explain the primary power of the judicial branch within the system ofchecks and balances.c. Was Hamilton correct? Construct ONE argument in support of his claim and ONEargument against it.
3Part II
Answer the following questions in complete sentences, basing your responses on your reading of
the essay “Why is the Constitution Not Democratic?” by Dennis Hale and Marc Landy:
6.
What do the authors mean when they write
that “the United States appears to have a
government that makes it very difficult to accomplish anything”? Identify and briefly
discuss ONE specific feature of the U.S. Constitution that slows down the process of
lawmaking.
7.
The authors point out that the Framers of the Constitution designed a system of
government that “slow[s] down and even prevent[s] actions or policies that might be
considered popular.” By “popular” actions or policies they mean those that express the
will of the people (what they also call “majoritarian”). Identify and briefly discuss ONE
specific way that the Constitution restrains the will of the people or majoritarian rule.
8.
Why did the Framers design a constitution that places so many obstacles in th
e way of
majority rule? Identify and briefly discuss ONE reason.
9.
What do the authors mean by a stable majority as distinct from an ephemeral majority?10. Identify and briefly discuss the specific historical example the authors give in the last partof their essay to illustrate how the long and often difficult process of democraticdeliberation can lead to government action that does accomplish permanent andsubstantial results.Part III11. In reflecting on the course as a whole, what would you say are the two or three thingsthat you learned about American government this semester that have been the mostmeaningful for you? What aspect of American government would you like to learn moreabout?