GOVT 2302
Dr. Garrison

Take Home Final Exam Essay 

Fall 2009

(Revised 6-23-08)
 (ocsabtx08/sum108)

(75 points)
 

Choose one:


Essay Choice #1:
     Why has Congress been called "the broken branch"? Is Congress on the mend? How well is Congress doing under the new Democratic leadership?  What are the constitutional reforms of Congress suggested in recent books? Critically analyze these reforms. Do you agree with these changes to the Constitution?
References:

Q& A: Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein, "Congress as 'The Broken Branch,'" Washington Post, October 11, 2006, A17
Ralph Brave, "Worst Congress Ever," Newsreview.com, Interview with Norm Ornstein, author of The Broken Branch
Norm Ornstein, "Part-Time Congress," Washington Post, March 7, 2006, A17.
Thomas E. Mann, Molly Reynolds, Peter Hoey, "Is Congress on the Mend?" New York Times, April 28, 2007, A27. EReserves
John Dean, "The Broken Branch: An Unusual Lawsuit Takes Congress to Task For Shoddy and Partisan Lawmaking, In Which A Bill Is Unconstitutionally Being Treated as Law," Findlaw.com, March 10 2006.
Slate, Politico, Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News,

Robert Dahl, "On the Way to the Common Good, Delegates Found Words That Still Apply," New York Times, November 28, 2007.
Larry Sabato, "We Need a New Constitution," Los Angeles Times, October 10, 2007.
Ezra Klein, Review of Sabato, A More Perfect Constitution, Barnes & Noble Review, January 10, 2008.
Phyllis Schlafly, "Bad New Plans to Rewrite the Constitution," Eagle Forum.org, November 21, 2007.
 Larry Sabato: "A More Perfect Constitution" (Walker) (Audio Rebroadcast), The Diane Rehm Show, January 21, 2008.
Larry Sabato author of "A More Perfect Constitution" and Eric Lane and Michael Oreskes authors of "The Genius of America," Book TV C-SPAN2 Video. 

Larry Sabato: It's Time to Reshape the Constitution and Make ... -

Sep 29, 2007 ... It's Time to Reshape the Constitution and Make America a Fairer Country - The Huffington Post.
www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-sabato/its-time-to-reshape-the-_b_66030.html

Sanford Levinson, Bill Moyers Journal, PBS, December 21, 2007.
Sanford Levinson, "Students Weigh In," Our Undemocratic Constitution Blog, January 17, 2008.

Is the Constitution Outdated?
Distinguished guests Larry J. Sabato, Michael Oreskes and Eric Lane help determine whether our Constitution needs updating or greater fidelity to its guiding principles. www.constitutioncenter.org We the People Stories

http://amoreperfectconstitution.com/

http://www.constitutionfacts.com/

http://www.moreperfect.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Essay Choice # 2:  What are the major components and issues involved in the current health care reform debate in Congress? What role do the states like Texas play in health care policy and reform?
Selected references: See links at Health Policy.

 

GUIDELINES FOR ESSAYS:

     Answer the question based on your synthesis of the accompanying articles, your text, and class discussion.  The major ideas of the articles must be in the essay.  Write in your own words and cite sources as you use them.  For essay writing guidelines Professor Charles King's essay "Battling the Six Evil Geniuses of Essay Writing," PS Online, March 1998 available at Library Ereserves is highly recommended.

      Type and bring your completed essay to the exam in class. You will need the Mini-Essay/Scantron booklet and a number 2 pencil for the multiple-choice questions. You will also need space to answer the bonus opportunity.

 

The Bonus Opportunity on the Exam is: State up to five facts you learned for the exam but were not asked in the multiple choice and the facts did not belong in your essay. Facts must be from the new material not the comprehensive portion of the exam. Each fact is worth two points.