Political Science Final Essay
3 page A paper answering all questions asked in the file attached. Almost every term listed should be used and every single question should be answered and only
evidence from the textbook should be used as well as one current event. It should be cited in MLA and have an MLA cited page but it should only have 2 sources on the
page which is the textbook and a current event.
Spring 2017
Pols 101 Final Essay Question: Political Institutions
Submit your paper in a word document under the “submission for final” section in Canvas. Youwill have until 11:59pm on 5/17to submit the final essays.ALL ESSAYS MUST
BE IN Microsoft WORD!!!! DO NOT PASTE YOUR ESSAY IN THE SUBMISSION BOX—DO NOT ATTACH IT IN THE COMMENT BOX—MAKE SURE TO UPLOAD UNDER QUESTION PROMPT!!! ATTACHED
ESSAYS WILL NOT BE GRADED
Please keep in mind late papers may not be graded. So turn your assignment in on time!
MAKE SURE TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS
THIS IS AN ESSAY IT SHOULD HAVE AN INTRODUCTION, A THESIS AND A CONCLUSION. PLEASE CHECK YOUR GRAMMAR/SPELLING. PROOFREAD YOUR PAPER!
RESPONSES WITH THESE TYPES OF ERRORS WILL BE GRADED DOWN.
DO NOT WORK ON THIS EXAM WITH OTHER CLASS MEMBERS. THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT ASSIGNMENT. STUDENTS THAT SUBMIT SIMILAR ESSAYS WILL FAIL. ALL ESSAYS ARE RUN THROUGH
TURNITIN. Avoid over-quoting information from the textbook. Please break up your paragraphs.
YOU SHOULD REFER TO CHAPTER 2, 6, 7, 8 , 9 AND 15 IN YOUR PAPER.
Each response/paper should be at least 2.5-3 pages (single-spaced; 1”margins). Make sure to cite your sources in text (page #’s & author)USE YOUR TEXTBOOK,
DISCUSSIONS, LECTURE NOTES, VIDEOS AND THE CURRENT EVENT FOR YOUR SOURCES. DO NOT USE OUTSIDE SOURCES (except for the Current Event)OR YOU WILL FAIL THE
ASSIGNMENT.Please use proper citations for programs, cases, etc.!
Paper Topic– WHICH BRANCH IS MORE POWERFUL? (The answer to this question is your thesis. Make sure to tell me why the branch you’ve chosen is the most powerful)
This essay will ask you to discuss the idea of checks and balances and discuss the distinction between enumerated and expanded powers. It will also ask you to discuss
whether you feel one branch is more powerful than the other, and for you to support your position using information provided in the textbook, videos and current event.
Please make sure to write “MY THESIS IS” IN THE INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION SO THAT I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ONE.
Please address all of the following questions in the following order in your essay. You should treat each question as a separate paragraph:
1. (This is your introduction)–Explain the philosophy behind the framing of the Constitution (e.g., separation of powers, checks and balances, the idea of a social
contract, etc.). Discuss which branch is the most powerful and why (this is your thesis). You need to refer to the readings (Chapter 2, lecture notes) in this section.
2. Discuss the distinction between the enumerated powers/Constitutional Powers of Congress with that of the President with that of the Supreme Court per the
Constitution (Articles 1, 2 &3). THERE IS A COPY OF THE CONSTITUTION PROVIDED IN D2L.
3. Explain how Congress is able to expand its power. Identify two areas (cite Supreme Court Cases or legislation) where Congress has expanded its enumerated powers.
4. Explain how the Office of the President is able to expand its power. How have institutional changes influenced its power? What role does the bureaucracy play in
allowing the President to expand his/her power? Identify at least two (2) additional powers of president that were not originally granted in 1787. Look at the text,
it tells you why this branch has expanded so much! YOU SHOULD ALSO LOOK AT CHAPTER 15. How does President Nixon (Nixon on Nixon) view presidential power?
5. What are some additional powers of the Supreme Court that were not originally granted in the Constitution? How does the Judiciary Act of 1789 further explain
judicial power? DISCUSS WHERE YOU SEE THE SUPREME COURT EXPANDING POWER OF THE OTHER BRANCHES OR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS—Cite 3 cases that demonstrate the power of the
Supreme Court. How does “legislating from the bench” influence the power of the Supreme Court (see interview with Justice Stevens)? Make sure to include the Bush v.
Gore (2000) decision as discussed in the film Unprecedented.
6. Checks and Balances—How can Congress check the President and visa versa? How can Congress check the Supreme Court? How does the Supreme Court check Congress and
the President? Finally, What role do the media or the people play in checking the elected branches of government?
7. (This should be your conclusion)Based on the evidence provided in your paper, which branch do you believe has the most power? Why? The answer to this question is
your THESIS. Use the information discussed in your essay to support your position. Find one CURRENT that reflects/ supports YOUR POSITION REGARDING WHICH BRANCH HAS
THE MOST POWER and include it in your discussion. Make sure to cite it in your response. You are more than welcome to use news programs such as 60 minutes, etc. just
make sure that the articles/programs are not too partisan. The current event should be based on factual reports NOT OPINIONS or COMMENTARIES from the news source. The
current event must be current (e.g. not from 2005—it should be from 2016-17).
DON’T USE OUTSIDE SOURCES (EXCEPT FOR THE CURRENT EVENT IN THE CONCLUSION)
Some Important Terms to Discuss In Your Essay:
(1) Constitutional powers (Articles I, II, III); social contract, Montesquieu; (2) statutory powers (powers that are derived from legislation, not Constitutionally
granted); Power to impeach, declare war, etc.; (3) checks and balances /separation of powers; (4) expressed/ enumerated powers; (5) Implied Powers (Congress, Necessary
and Proper Clause). McCulloch vs. Maryland (1819);(6) inherent powers (my term, not in the textbook). This power refers to the (President, these are powers not
constitutionally granted they are a result of tradition or practice (For example, the President plays the role of Commander in Chief, however he does not have the
Constitutional power to declare war, yet he can deploy troops and or withdraw troops or the power to persuade, Bully Pulpit, etc.); (7) executive order (a statutory
power);(8) Congressional Oversight “Advice and Consent” (Senate); (9) judicial review (Marbury v. Madison, 1803); judicial policymaking; (10) judicial activism (11)
US v. Curtiss Wright Export Corp (1936);(12) War Powers Resolution (13) executive agreements (not Constitutionally granted); (14) Executive Office of the President;
(15) signing statements; (16) “legislating from the bench”; (17) Judiciary Act of 1789
Or Any Other Information you want to discuss per the reading, lectures discussions. Good Luck!! Remember, all you need is the textbook and your current event.
