The file gives an idea of the type of questions asked. Some older questions may refer to previous texts used in the course, and may not be used for the current course. 

New exams of course may use new questions -- not the same as those presented here.
 

Has equality in America exceeded that found in Europe, and does it matter whether you consider social, political or economic equality? 

[Janda 1, Freedom, Order or Equality] Contrast the original dilemma with the modern dilemma of American Government. How do Freedom, Order and Equality conflict? 

[Janda 1, Freedom, Order or Equality] Draw and explain a continuum of ideological stances on the scope of government, from totalitarianism to anarchism. Also explain the legitimate range of American political debate on this continuum line. How do Europeans differ in this regard?

[Freedom, Order or Equality] Contrast the original dilemma with the modern dilemma of American Government. Use this to explain the place of American political debate on the developed-world spectrum of ideology. (Draw a chart of ideology from Left to Right, marking in the legitimate American range.)

[Janda: Freedom, Order or Equality; lectures] Compared to Europe, does the United States favor freedom, disorder and inequality?  How can you measure such differences? 

Has equality in America exceeded that found in Europe, and does it matter whether you consider social, political or economic equality? 

[Janda: Federalism; Pluralist Democracy] Contrast the notions of majoritarian and pluralist democracy in American government. 

[Janda: Majoritarianism or Pluralist Democracy] Who controls power in America: factions (Madison); a majority; an elite (Mills); or a balance of interest groups (Dahl)? Discuss fully. [Serow (ed) articles.]

[Janda 2, Pluralist Democracy] Who really governs the US?  Contrast the notions of majoritarian and pluralist democracy in American government. 

[Janda 2, Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy?] Contrast the procedural theory of democracy with the substantive theory of democracy.

Contrast pluralist politics with majoritarian politics. Which of these best describes each branch of the US government? 

The branches collectively are said to operate under the influence of interest groups in the form of "iron triangles," "subgovernments" and "issue networks": sketch, annotate and explain these.

[Janda: Constitution] Is the separation of powers really a confusion of responsibility for shared powers? Explain which powers are separated and which are shared between branches. 

[Janda 3, Constitution] Why was the American Constitution necessary and how was it made possible via the Connecticut Compromise? 

[Janda 3, Constitution; Madison] The Framers warned about the dangers of "faction". How did they try to ward off those dangers by the design -- and the practical compromises -- of the Constitution?

[Constitution] The Framers warned about the dangers of "faction". What did they mean, and has it come about? 

[Janda 4, Federalism] How has American federalism developed from dual federalism to cooperative federalism? 

[Constitution; Pluralist Democracy; Madison] The Framers warned about the dangers of "faction". What did they mean, and has it come about? How did they try to ward off those dangers by the design -- and the practical compromises -- of the Constitution?

[Federalism; Pluralist Democracy] Contrast the notions of majoritarian and pluralist democracy in American government. How did Madison argue for a new federal government, and how has federalism developed?

[Federalism] Discuss the notion of federalism in American government. How did Madison argue for a new federal government? 

Which level dominates the system, and is that what the Framers intended? 

What alternatives to federalism are used abroad?

[Janda: Separation and Federalism]  Is the separation of powers and the
federal/state/local levels of government really a confusion of responsibility for shared
powers?  Explain how this has changed over time. 
 

[Opinion] Explain the influences on political opinion in the US, and consider which of them are most significant. 

What are the difficulties of polling public opinion via a structured random sample? 

What have been recent changes in the influences on public opinion?

What are the influences on American public opinion and how accurately or reliably can these be measured? 

Should opinion polls be banned for a month before an election?

"Public opinion is shifting, uncohesive, informed only for a few topics each year --
and the media are too shallow to assist in crystallizing opinion for an effective
democracy."  Discuss this criticism carefully. 
 

Explain the different historical and modern eras of the mass media, the current functions of the mass media, and their effects on politics.

[Media] How has the rise of the mass media affected political campaigning? 

Which is a worse effect: the need to raise funds to pay for advertising, or the "cheap shots" that arguably result from the brief seconds available on television. 

Is free media space (televised debates, newspaper panels on policy) more valuable to democracy than paid media space? 

Explain the functions of the media and their effects on politics.
 

The branches collectively are said to operate under the influence of interest groups in the form of "iron triangles," "subgovernments" and "issue networks": sketch, annotate and explain these.

[Interest Groups]  What types of interest groups are there? 

Does interest group -- and in election campaigns, PAC -- competition usually balance out or remain imbalanced, and is it healthy or unhealthy for democracy?

In what ways does the pluralist model explain American politics? 

Is there really a balance between competing interest groups?  (You could research the balance of interest groups in Alabama or Washington DC).
 

Is the American voter informed and rational?

What are the main influences on US voting turnout and participation?

[Participation] Is it true that American political participation (both voting and joining in) is low, getting lower and reflects a decline of participation in communal life in favor of television watching? 

Does it matter for US voting if the bonds of political party are weakening or strengthening?

What are the main influences on votingparticipation in the US?

Why do so few Americans turn out to vote in each election, and why (if at all) does this matter?  Are other forms of participation more important?

"There are two problems with American elections: low turnout and high finance.  The
result is a democracy run by interest groups, not citizens."  Discuss fully. 
 

Are the parties declining, changing or realigning?

[Parties] What are the functions of political parties, and to what degree are those functions in long term decline? 

Is organizing and leading legislation in government the only role of parties that differs from the roles taken by interest groups?

[Party systems]  Explain the history of the party system since 1787.  Which parties have faced off in each major system, and why did realignments occur? 

What is happening to US political parties in the modern period 1968-1996: a dealignment or a realignment?

Explain the nature of American political parties.  How is the American party system changing and is there a realignment led by the Deep South?
 

In the presidency, are formal constitutional powers (give examples) less important than informal influence?

The presidency has been analyzed as grandly "imperial" (1970s) and merely "rhetorical" (1990s); what enumerated versus implied presidential powers exist -- and what constraints are there on presidential power? 

Is the presidency really a matter of a large staff rather than one person's character -- and if so, how does it operate?  With what powers?  To what degree is the presidency a majoritarian institution?

Compared to the prime ministerial system wherein a leader emerges from the legislature, does the American system of nominating and choosing a president (by media scrutiny during primaries and the general election) actually produce presidents well qualified to run the country?

Contrast pluralist politics with majoritarian politics. Which of these best describes the Congress and the presidency? 

Contrast pluralist politics with majoritarian politics.  Which of these best describes each branch of the US government? 

"Congress is unable to lead because it serves individual districts rather than the public interest -- but the Presidency has too few unshared powers to lead the nation
successfully."  Discuss fully. 
 

Does the bureaucracy grow inevitably, or is it well under control -- and by what processes?

Is the bureaucracy an isolated elite -- or merely the prey of too many interest groups and issue networks?

Does bureaucracy work better in traditional hierarchies, or in smaller, contractual agencies?  What is the rationale for reinventing government? [Janda, lectures]

Explain bureaucratic decisionmaking in light of the rational-comprehensive model versus the incremental (real world, or muddling through) model. 

Explain the different types of bureaucracy in the US government.  Which are closest to presidential authority, and which more remote?

To control the bureaucracy, ironically has the president created another bureaucracy: the Executive Office of the Presidency?

Do government services actually increase freedom as well as increasing order and equality?

"The two most powerful branches of US government are the bureaucracies and the courts -- neither of which is democratically controlled."  Discuss this criticism carefully. 
 

What gives the judiciary its watchdog role -- and not the bureaucracy? [Janda]. 

Why should judges rather than legislatures determine what is constitutional in the US? [Janda]. 

Explain carefully the circumstances, procedure, major questions, and outcome of a recent Supreme Court case [if one is used in the course].

Although the constitution laid out the design of the congress and presidency, it did not do so for the courts, and hence did not intend the courts to be powerful.  [Janda]
 

Explain carefully and in organized fashion, the recent election campaigns and outcomes. 

Is there currently evidence of a longterm realignment to the Republicans in Alabama and at the federal level?

In this Fall's elections, what were the issues, how valuable was the media coverage for an intelligent democracy, and what were the results?

Which has impressed you more during the course, the evidence that formal institutions or informal groups and processes make US policy?

Contrast the dangers of pluralist politics with those of majoritarian politics.  Which of these best describes the Congress and the presidency [Janda; Dahl, Bryce, Hartz, Ladd, De Tocqueville]? 
 
 

short answer questions (samples only, many others have been used)
Explain briefly in a good paragraph each of the following: 

The Framers' notion of "faction"; 

the social contract; 

the state of nature; 

a structured, random sample; 

margin of sampling error; 

ecological fallacy; (illustrate with sketch of chart)

post-debate bounce; 

realignment versus dealignment; 

types of parties;

the effect of presidential TV debates

imperial presidency

incumbency effect in Congressional elections

types of interest groups.

differences between primary and general elections

Marbury v Madison (1803). [sample only: other cases are rotated into the tests]

A recent Supreme Court case (only if we have discussed one in the course.)

stages of the legislative process: how a bill becomes law.

stages of the nomination and election process for presidential candidates.

Madison's contribution to American political theory.

incumbency effect in Congress and the case of the vanishing marginal seats.

concentric circles of bureaucracies: sketch, annotate and explain.

a Communitarian viewpoint. [Janda]

a Libertarian viewpoint. [Janda]

a Liberal viewpoint. [Janda]

a Conservative viewpoint. [Janda]

The Connecticut Compromise in Founding the Constitution. [Janda]