Question 1: How important is presidential leadership in compelling Congress to act? Conventional wisdom is that President Obama’s investment in the health care debate helped push the vote on the Affordable Care Act over the top. Does the evidence that the authors provide about congressional behavior support the conventional wisdom?
Question 2: What are the characteristics of an effective president? Using these same characteristics, identify the best presidents in U.S. history. Conversely, identify the worst presidents in U.S. history. Who would make an effective president today? Explain
Question 3: One way presidents have expanded their power is through employing a strategy of “going public.” Describe what this strategy entails and what its limitations are. In your answer, be sure to provide specific examples of how particular presidents have used this strategy.
Question 4: Although they are often unpopular with the public and there are many complaints that government is too large, bureaucracies perform important functions for government. Describe the main functions of bureaucracy and provide some examples of each. How has the size of the federal government changed over the last 50 years?
Question 5: The process of confirming federal court appointments has recently become very contentious. Describe the steps to becoming a federal judge and the considerations involved in who is nominated. Why has this process become so controversial in recent years? Provide some examples of this conflict in the confirmation process.