Reference no: EM133941363
Assignment:
Civil Liberties
Know the definition of civil liberties, what the incorporation doctrine is, what its constitutional foundation is, and the details of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Ninth Amendments.
Civil Rights
Know the content and historical details concerning the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the details of the Supreme Court's decisions in Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education, what the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses are, the broader constitutional significance of the 14th Amendment, the definition of Black Codes and Jim Crow laws, the history of voting in the US for African-Americans.
Congress
Know that Congress has the power to declare war, the various aspects and causes of the incumbent advantage, what a filibuster is, and the arguments for and against term limits, and the delegate, trustee, and politico models of representation.
The Presidency
Know the details of Arthur Schlesinger's argument concerning the growth of Presidential power in The Imperial Presidency, what a veto is, and the role of the Vice-President, Cabinet, and First Lady.
Possible Essay Questions
1. Explain the incumbent advantage. What is it, what is the evidence that it exists, and what are its various causes? Some people have proposed term limits as a response to the incumbent advantage. What are the arguments for and against term limits in Congress?
2. Explain the role of each of the three major branches of the federal government (Presidency, Congress, Supreme Court) in the civil rights struggle. What did each branch do to advance the cause of civil rights, and how did the actions of one branch support or undercut the actions of the others? How did this interaction illustrate the intention of the framers of the Constitution, or how does it illustrate the constitutional structure of government in the United States?
3. Explain the incorporation doctrine. What is it, and what is its constitutional foundation? When did it come into existence, and how did it change the Constitution and specifically civil liberties? Why is it important, and how is it applied? Use some major examples of the application of the doctrine to illustrate your points.
4. Explain the relationship between the President and Congress. How much influence does the President have over Congress? What sorts of things affect his influence? What is his relation to his party in Congress? How strong or disciplined is the party system in the US in general, and how does that affect the President's power? What constitutional principle governs the relation between the President and Congress?