305 Questions

By Jeremy Lewis. Last revised 17 Mar '07.

For the time being, these are based on books used previously in daytime courses.
They do, however, give you the flavor of the likely questions in the SPS course for the new book.

Presidency questions

Congress questions

Comparison questions

Identification Questions

PRESIDENCY QUESTIONS

[Edwards 8; video] Discuss the psychological presidency and speculate upon the role of character in Reagan's presidency.

[Edwards 1; Loomis 1] Explain the types of presidential leadership that Edwards and Wayne examine -- and and the drama of representation that Loomis analyzes.

[Edwards 4-5; current affairs and film] Discuss presidential manipulation of -- and coverage by -- the media.

[Edwards 7] What do scholars have to tell us about contemporary presidential decision making?

[Edwards 10, 12, 13 & 14; Loomis 8] To what degree does the actual exercise of presidential power versus domestic and foreignpolicy disconfirm the (Wildavsky) hypothesis that these display "two presidencies", one weak and the other strong?

[Edwards 10; Loomis 8; PBS, Reagan: an American President] Does president Reagan's success in steering congressional policy in his first term disconfirm the (Tulis/Rose) hypothesis that the presidency is essentially "postmodern" or "rhetorical", a weak leader with only the influence that comes of persuasion?

[Edwards 10, 12, 13 & 14; Loomis 8, 12-14] Explain the degree to which each of these has been important in the conduct of the presidency: ability to lobby the congress for legislation; understanding of public policy; and capacity to administer the executive branch. Give examples from presidents since the New Deal.

“Modern presidents since 1960 have lived by the sword of television and died by the sword of television: and Clinton and Reagan are prime examples.” Discuss fully using not only Edwards but also the videos (Presidency and TV; War Room; and Real Life of Ron Reagan.)

[Campbell & Rockman, eds] Come to an overall policy assessment of Clinton’s presidency in the light of his recent predecessors: evaluate his progress in domestic, economic and foreign policy.

CONGRESS QUESTIONS.

[Edwards 1; Loomis 9] Explain the legislative process and rules of the game as shown in Loomis and in Martin's case study.

[Drew; Loomis; Dodd] To what degree does Gingrich's speakership of the US House confirm that the prime ministerial model of legislative leadership cannot be imported to US politics? Does this example show more of a personal or an institutional limitation?

To what degree has the Congress's internal environment and the congressional committee system changed in recent years – and (despite the 1995 turnover of party control in the House) what customs in congressional committees remain the same? Hints: Loomis 2: Congressional Decentralization in Design and Evolution; Dodd 2: Dodd, Revolution in the House: Testing the Limits of Party Govt; Loomis 3 & 5: Changing environment & Congressional Committees; Dodd 7: Smith, Party Control of Committees in the Republican Congress; Dodd 8: Evans, Congressional Tsunami? The Politics of Committee Reform.; Dodd 9: Hall, Institutional Change and Behavioral Choice in House Committees; Drew 0-2: Introduction; Opening Day; Taking Over.

COMPARING THE BRANCHES.

Compare the opening views of the books on the two branches. Explain the types of presidentialleadership that Edwards and Wayne examine -- and the drama of representation that Loomis analyzes. Are president and Congress engaged in the same type of representation? Hints: Edwards 1: Presidential Leadership: An Introduction; Campbell 0: Campbell & Rockman, Introduction; Loomis 1: Drama of Representation; Dodd 1: Ornstein, The US Senate: Toward the C21st.; Dodd 3: Hibbing, What the Public Dislikes About Congress.

What are the stages of the nomination & election process and the environment that shapes what kind of candidate can survive? Does this environment and process have anything to do with ensuring that a clever and disinterested (neutral) elite governs? Hints: Edwards 2: Nomination Process; Edwards 3: Presidential Election; Curtis vol.1: Plato's Republic; Loomis 4: Congressional Elections: Roots of Centrifugal Congress; Dodd 4: Swain, Women and Blacks in Congress 1970-1996; Dodd 6: Erikson, Voters, Candidates and Issues in Congressional Elections.

[Edwards 2] What are the stages of the presidential nomination process and the environment that shapes what kind of candidate can survive? Did Clinton win because he was well adapted to the nomination environment in his party -- or despite being poorly adapted?

[Edwards 3; Loomis 4] Compare the processes of presidential and congressional elections: the advantages of incumbency, length of the process, finance regulation, and so on.

[Edwards 4; Loomis 3] Which has changed more in the last three decades: the president's relationship with the public or Congress's internal environment?

[Edwards 6; Loomis 6; Martin 6] Compare the presidential and congressional offices and staff, illustrating your answer with Martin's example of Sen. Kohl's staff.

To what degree has the individual elected official given way to an elected office – and is this reflected in media treatment of the president or member of congress? Hints: Edwards 6: President's Office; Loomis 6: The Individual Enterprise; Dodd 10: Sinclair, Party Leaders and the New Legislative Process; Dodd 11: Cooper, Partisanship, Bipartisanship, & Crosspartisanship in Congress Since the New Deal; Dodd 12: Hammond, Congressional Caucuses in the 104th Congress.

Which has been a greater frustration to US presidents: the congress or the judiciary? (Edwards 10, 11. Loomis 8, Campbell 5 O'Brien.)

Discuss presidential relationships with the public and the media. What made presidents Nixon & Clinton subject to impeachment? Was it their poor relationship with the media – or were they tragic characters, good men undone by a major flaw? Hints: Edwards 4: President & Public; Campbell 3: Campbell, Demotion? Has Clinton Turned the Bully Pulpit into a Lectern?; Edwards 5: President & Media; Campbell 2: Edwards, Campaigning is Not Governing: Bill Clinton’s Rhetorical Presidency. Video CBS, Watergate

IDENTIFICATION QUESTIONS.

Explain each of these in a paragraph of good prose:

the winnowing phase of presidential nomination
the consolidation phase of presidential nomination
the "money primary" phase
campaign fundraising
Federal election finance laws
primary election
party convention
platform fight
caucus
opinion poll
focus group
Rules Committee
markup session
powers of Speaker
unanimous consent agreement
Joint Conference Committee
Hearings and Reports
How a bill becomes law
the Office of Management and Budget
Executive Office of the Presidency
White House Staff
National Security Council
majority leader
seniority
1994 Contract With America
rise and fall of Rep. Newt Gingrich
Watergate scandal
impeachment
iran contra affair
Commander-in-Chief
power to regulate interstate commerce
qualifications for office
US v Curtiss-Wright Export Corporation
US v Reynolds
US v Nixon I (Pentagon Papers)
US v Nixon II (Watergate Tapes)
Bush v Palm Beach

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