1. The seniority system led to some forms of abuse. What problems have resulted from not having a strong seniority system?

2. Explain how members of Congress reconcile the conflicting jobs of representing constituents and making effective public policy. In your answer, be sure to discuss the committee system, Congressional elections and the role of political parties and interest groups in Congress.

3. Describe the general characteristics of the members of Congress and their average daily activities. What are the attractions and benefits of being a member of Congress?

4. Describe how Congress is demographically atypical of the U.S. population. Does this present a problem for legitimate democratic government? Why, or why not.

5. Should the process wherein a bill becomes law be streamlined and made more efficient? Give specific reasons for your response.

6. Comment on the representativeness of Congress. Are the members of Congress truly representative of the American people and the overall needs of the nation? What effect do PACs and interest groups have on the representativeness of Congress?

7. How do casework and pork barrel politics affect the ability of Congress to address the policy needs of the nation?

8. Can democracy be best served through mandatory term limits? Consider your answer in relationship to increasing levels of technological expertise, increasing numbers of federal responsibilities, and the general complexity of foreign policy.

9. Describe the advantages of incumbents in congressional elections. Do you favor reforms to weaken some of these advantages, or are they not so serious? Explain.

10. Explain the advantages held by incumbents in congressional elections. Give examples to illustrate your answer.

11. Explain and evaluate the role of money in congressional elections. Give examples to illustrate your answer.

12. Describe the structure of power and decision making in the Congress and evaluate the impact of that structure on policymaking.

13. Describe the powers of the Speaker of the House, the majority and minority leaders, and the whips. What limits are there to their leadership powers in their respective parties?

14. In a private conversation between you and your state senator, what advice would you offer?

15. List and briefly describe the different types of committees in Congress. What role do the committees play in the congressional process?

16. Explain how the system of committees and subcommittees works in Congress. Give examples to illustrate your answer.

17. In many Western democracies, the power of the professional bureaucracy is substantially greater than that of the legislature, especially with regard to oversight. Is this a good idea? Why or why not?

18. What is a congressional caucus? What role do they play and how much influence do they have. Give examples to illustrate your answer.

19. Explain the legislative process. What happens to most bills? Describe the procedure by which a bill becomes law.

20. What are the advantages and disadvantages of political compromise?

21. How can the president influence congressional action? Do you think the president is too powerful or not powerful enough in dealing with Congress? Explain.

22. How important is party membership to a senator or member of the House in casting a vote? Are votes on some issues more or less likely to follow party lines? What other factors influence how an individual legislator casts a vote?

23. Identify the sources of influence on members of Congress and evaluate their impact on policymaking.

24. Describe the conflicting concepts of members of Congress serving as trustees versus as instructed delegates. Which role does a legislator most frequently play? Which concept most appeals to you? Explain.

25. Discuss whether legislators should respond to their own conscience or be responsible to the interests of their constituencies.

26. Many complain that the reforms of the 1970s, aimed at democratizing Congress as an institution, have had negative effects. Assess those effects and offer your analysis as to whether the negatives outweigh the positives.

27. Would a contemporary constitutional convention suggest a change in the legislative branch of government to a parliamentary system? to a unicameral system? Explain.

28. Evaluate Congress as a democratic institution. How have recent reforms democratized Congress? Evaluate the reforms in terms of representativeness versus effectiveness.

29. In what ways do the operations of Congress contribute to the increased scope of government? Are reforms needed to discourage this phenomenon? Explain your reasoning.

Cathedral Home Page | Irish WebMail | Course Outline | American Government Main Page

GOVT 2305  American Government and Politics
Cathedral High School, El Paso, Texas
Last updated:  June 2004