McGILL UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ARTS
FINAL EXAMINATION
POLI 325
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF THE UNITED STATES
Examiner: Prof. Harold M. Waller
Associate Examiner: Dr. Jason Ferrell
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009
Time: 9:00 to 12:00
INSTRUCTIONS:
1.
Write your answers in the exam book.
2.
No notes or texts allowed.
3.
Regular dictionaries are not allowed.
4.
Translation dictionaries are allowed.
5.
You may keep the exam paper.
This exam comprises three pages, including this cover page.
Answer three questions in Part I and two questions in Part II. Answer all of Part III. Be
sure to allocate your time properly. Please write the question numbers of all questions
that you answer on the front of your exam book at the top. Students who do so will
receive one point. Think before you write and organize your answers. Refer to the
readings where appropriate and cite empirical evidence to support your assertions. Good
luck!
POLI 325
1
April 23, 2009
Part I (18%, 33 minutes) Answer any three of the questions in this part in one or two
paragraphs each.
1.
How is the current economic crisis affecting relationships in the federal system?
2.
Diversity now serves as the major justification for affirmative action programs.
How does this concept relate to constitutional requirements?
3.
What is it about the wording of the Second Amendment that makes it such a
contentious issue?
4.
How would you advise an incoming president regarding the avoidance of
impeachment proceedings?
5.
Why has the process of nominating and confirming justices for the Supreme Court
become so contentious and bitterly fought during the past several administrations?
6.
What are the political implications of the accelerating decline of the newspaper
business?
Part II (66%, 120 minutes) Answer any two questions in this part.
7.
The period since 9/11 has tested the American political system in numerous ways.
What is your evaluation of the performance of the U.S. system during this period/
8.
There has been a great deal of discussion about bipartisanship since Barack
Obama became president. What does the term mean? Evaluate the prospects for
success for bipartisanship in the near term in terms of what we know about the
parties, elections, the operations of the major institutions, and presidentialcongressional relations.
9.
How does the liberalism espoused by today’s Democratic Party compare to the
prevailing views in the party during the 1960s? How do you explain the changes?
10.
Madison in Federalist 10 argues that factions are inherently dangerous to political
freedom and the stability of government. Discuss this argument in relation to
Lowi’s assertion that the American government is dominated by interest group
liberalism.
POLI 325
2
April 23, 2009
11.
What are the main lessons of the 2008 presidential primary and caucus process?
How do they relate to the existing literature on the subject?
12.
The constitutional text governing the structure of the United States government
has hardly changed since 1787. Are you aware of inadequacies in the structure
that need to be remedied?
Part III (15%, 27 minutes)
13.
Briefly identify and give the significance of the following terms and people.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
Pluralism
Earmarks
Equal Time Rule
Coercive Interrogation
Clarence Thomas
Agenda Setting
Illegal Enemy Combatant
Harry Reid
Commerce Power
Reverse Discrimination