Politics Paper 3 Miniature Essay Plans

Evaluate The View That The Entrenched And Codified Nature Of The US Constitution Has More Advantages Than Disadvantages. (30)

1. Is The Fact It Is Difficult To Change AnAdvantage Or Disadvantage?

2. Does It Give Too Much Power To The Judiciary?

3. Does The Constitution Effectively ProtectDemocracy And Abuses Of Power?

Evaluate The View That The US Constitution Is Democratic. (30)

1. The Amendment Process

2. Its Role In Preventing Tyranny

3. Elections In The Constitution

Evaluate The View That The US Constitution Is Effective In Achieving The Principles Set Out By The Founding Fathers. (30)

1. Federalism and Limited Government

2. Checks and Balances

3. Bipartisanship

Evaluate The View That The US Is No Longer Federal Today. (30)

1. Federal Government Encroachment Into Areas Of Policy Controlled By States

2. The Protection Of Federalism In The Constitution

3. The Role Of Federal Grants And Mandates

Evaluate the view that the checks and balances in the US Constitution are effective. (30)

1. Preventing Tyranny

2. Judicial Power

3. Impact On Democracy

Evaluate the view that the constitutional system of checks and balances is an obstacle to effective government. (30)

1. The Lawmaking Process

2. Executive Power

3. Foreign Policy

Evaluate the extent to which the formal constitutional amendment process works effectively. (30)

1. Is it too difficult to change?

2. Does it give the Supreme Court too much power?

3. Does it effectively protect democracy?

Evaluate the view that the vagueness of the US constitution is beneficial. (30)

1. Adaptability Of The Constitution

2. Judicial Power And Democracy

3. Federalism And The Division Of Powers

Evaluate Thew View That Congress Effectively Holds The President To Account. (30)

1. Congress' Powers Of Oversight

2. Domestic Policy

3. Foreign Policy

Evaluate The View That Congress Fulfils Its Legislative Function Effectively. (30)

1. The Legislative Process

2. Congress' Legislative Function Under Divided Government

3. Congress' Legislative Function Under Unified Government

Evaluate The View That Congress Is The Broken Branch. [30]

1. Representation

2. Lawmaking

3. Oversight

Evaluate The View That Congress Is Effective In Representing The Electorate. [30]

1. Congressional Elections

2. Representation Of Interests

3. Descriptive Representation

Evaluate the view that the main factors affecting voting behaviour in Congress is the constituency. (30)

1. Constituency Pressure Vs Caucuses

2. Parties Vs Constituency

3. Interest Groups And Lobbyists Vs Constituency

Evaluate the view that the Senate is more powerful than the House of Representatives. (30)

1. Legislation

2. Oversight

3. Prestige

Evaluate The View That A President’s Popularity Is The Most Important Factor Determining Their Power. (30)

1. Popularity Vs Divided/Unified Government

2. Power of Persuasion Vs Popularity

3. Ability To Act Unilaterally Vs Popularity

Evaluate The View That The President Is Able To Dominate Foreign Policy. (30)

1. Foreign Policy Powers Within The Constitution

2. Foreign Policy Powers Beyond The Constitution

3. The Role Of Public Opinion

Evaluate The View That The President's Informal Powers Are More Significant Than Their Formal Powers. (30)

1. Legislative Powers

2. Foreign Policy Powers

3. Executive Powers

Evaluate The View That The President's Power Is Effectively Limited By The Constitution And The Supreme Court. (30)

1. Judicial Review

2. Separation Of Powers

3. Foreign Policy

Evaluate the view that the President is able to effectively influence Congress. (30)

1. Possibility Of Divided Government

2. Separate Mandates Vs Power To Persuade

3. Public Opinion

Evaluate The View That Civil Liberties And Rights Haven't Been Effectively Protected In The US. (30)

1. The Constitution and Supreme Court

2. Government and Congress

3. Interest Groups

Evaluate The View That Measures To Promote Racial Equality In The US Have Been Effective. (30)

1. Elections And Representation

2. Laws Passed By Congress

3. Affirmative Action

Evaluate The View That The Supreme Court Appointment Process Is Ineffective. (30)

1. Is The Appointment Process Politicised?

2. Does The Appointment Process Ensure That The Most Qualified Justices Are Appointed?

3. The Influence Of Unpredictable and Lifetime Appointments

Evaluate The View That The Supreme Court Has Too Much Power. (30)

1. Judicial Activism

2. Does It Undermine Democracy?

3. Are Justices Influenced By Political Or Judicial Motivations?

Evaluate The View That The Supreme Court Is A Political Rather Than A Judicial Institution. (30)

1. The Appointment Process

2. Judicial Activism

3. Role In The Political System

Evaluate the view that Congress protects civil and constitutional rights more effectively than the Supreme Court. (30)

1. Arbiter Of The Constitution

2. Politicisation

3. Rights Of Minorities

Evaluate The View That Campaign Finance Requires Reform. (30)

1. Does Campaign Finance Undermine Democracy?

2. Could Campaign Finance Reform Improve Transparency And Trust?

3. Does Campaign Finance Lead To Rich And Establishment Candidates Winning?

Evaluate The View That Incumbency Is A Major Advantage For A President Seeking Re-Election. (30)

1. The Importance Of Name Recognition And Campaign Finance

2. The Role Of Primaries

3. Incumbents' Achievements And Use Of Office

Evaluate The View That The Policies Of The Republicans And Democrats Are More Similar Than They Are Different. [30]

1. Foreign Policy

2. Economic Policy And Government Intervention

3. Social Attitudes And Democracy

Evaluate The View That The Presidential Election Process Requires Reform. [30]

1. The Primary Process

2. Is The Electoral College Undemocratic?

3. Does The Electoral College Create Inequality Between The States?

Evaluate The View That Interest Groups Have A Major Impact On US Politics. (30)

1. Campaign Contributions

2. Legal Challenges

3. Legislation

Evaluate the view that the Democrats are more unified as a party than the Republican Party. (30)

1. Economy And Welfare

2. Foreign Policy

3. Social And Moral Issues