Mr. Smith Goes to Washington- Essay (25 points)
Please select one of the essay prompts below to respond in a well-thought, well-developed
essay. Your essay should have an introduction with a thesis statement, body paragraphs that
support your thesis statement, and a conclusion. This is your opportunity to show how well you can
synthesize your knowledge and analysis of government with the observations from the film.
1. Even during debate and filibuster, the Senators had to follow specific procedures and
rules. Why is the government so formal? Why do they strictly enforce all the rules of
procedures? What are some of the specific rules of procedure that Jefferson Smith and
the other Senators had to follow either during the debate or at other times during the
video?
2. Identify three specific aspects of the legislative process found in Mr. Smith Goes to
Washington. Explain how the film develops each of those concepts, using your
knowledge of Congress and the lawmaking process.
3. What does the movie illustrate about the importance of first amendment freedoms,
particularly the press, in the function of our democracy? If there was a re-make of this
movie today, how would advances in technology and communication change the way
the story plays out? In particular, would it be easier or harder for Taylor’s machine to
control information and what the people in Smith’s state think?