Politics paper 3 essay plan points

Question 1

EVTV that the entrenched and codified nature of the US constitution has more advantages than disadvantages (30)

Answer 1

THEME 1: judiciable/rights protection
THEME 2: the amendment process
THEME 3: limited government

Question 2

EVTV that the US is no longer federal today (30)

Answer 2

THEME 1: policy areas (greater state control vs need for nationality applied standards and pervasive nature during national emergencies)
THEME 2: the Supreme Court, protecting federalism (major cases maximise state autonomy vs inconsistencies in rulings)
THEME 3: the growth of power and size of the executive branch

Question 3

EVTV that the US constitution is effective in achieving the principles set out by the founding fathers (30)

Answer 3

THEME 1: federalism (whether it is protected etc)
THEME 2: limited government (powers and roles being clearly defined vs vagueness of constitution and the expansion)
THEME 3: checks and balances (codified nature, being clearly defined vs in practice are they effective in an era of party polarisation)

Question 4

EVTV that the US constitution is democratic (30)

Answer 4

THEME 1: checks and balances (ensures no branch is overly dominate vs are they effective and do they create tyranny of the minority)
THEME 2: the nature of federalism within the US constitution (state autonomy, vs does it lead to inequalities, partisanship many citizens do not have equal access to things)
THEME 3: the amendment process (too difficult vs the difficulty is rooted in bipartisanship)

Question 5

EVTV that the formal constitutional amendment process has more advantages than disadvantages (30)

Answer 5

THEME 1: flexibility (difficult to remove outdated elements, like the electoral college vs protecting key constitutional principles)
THEME 2: democracy (is the process democratic or not)
THEME 3: the Supreme Court (gives the Supreme Court excessive power vs effective check and balance)

Question 6

EVTV that congress is effective in representing the electorate (30)

Answer 6

THEME 1: descriptive representation (minority majority districts etc, improved demographic representation, still proportionally unequal)
THEME 2: political representation (the democrats and republicans are broadchurch parties vs undermined by partisanship and an expectation to vote along party lines)
THEME 3: geographical representation (constituency link, whether the incumbency advantage undermines this)

Question 7

EVTV that the most important factor influencing how congress people vote is public opinion in their constituency (30)

Answer 7

THEME 1: elections (public opinion, take into account or run the risk of being voted out vs finances)
THEME 2: policy (public opinion over major policy initiatives vs partisanship and being determined by the wider politics of the party)
THEME 3: interest groups and lobbyists, political pressure (pressure from constituents ‘all politics is local’ vs the revolving door in politics)

Question 8

EVTV that Congress fulfils it’s legislative function effectively (30)

Answer 8

THEME 1: initiating and passing legislation (system ensures that legislation that passes has bipartisan support vs issues of gridlock and lack of productivity etc)
THEME 2: the refinement process (effective of standing committees, expertise etc vs issues, committees decide what to hear, most bills die in committee and pigeon holing etc)
THEME 3: consent component (frequency of elections, less likely to vote with the party vs party line voting and the issue of the filibuster)

Question 9

EVTV that Congress’s oversight of the president is effective (30)

Answer 9

THEME 1: congressional committees (most active working mechanism vs may be limited in effectiveness during times of united gov)
THEME 2: impeachment and oversight (deterrent vs has never been successfully used and is wielded as a political tool)
THEME 3: appointments (making sure they are effective vs politicised)

Question 10

EVTV that Congress is the ‘broken branch’ (30)

Answer 10

THEME 1: legislative function (patterns of gridlock vs despite conservative amount passing it is long lasting with bipartisan support)
THEME 2: representative function (whether it is or isn’t)
THEME 3: performing oversight (committees being effective vs times of united gov)

Question 11

EVTV that the president is able to dominate in foreign policy (30)

Answer 11

THEME 1: military action (can initiate military action without presidential approval vs constructional powers of congress)
THEME 2: treaties vs executive agreements
THEME 3: international diplomacy

Question 12

EVTV that the President’s informal powers are more significant than their formal powers (30)

Answer 12

THEME 1: legislative process (formal power= approve legislation vs informal power= power of persuasion)
THEME 2: policy/implementing laws (formal= cabinet/executive appointments vs informal= use of executive orders)
THEME 3: foreign policy (formal= role as commander in chief vs informal= executive agreement)

Question 13

EVTV that a president’s popularity is the most important factor in determining their power (30)

Answer 13

THEME 1: how it shapes their relationship with congress (draw on personal mandate vs times of divided gov)
THEME 2: how it shapes their relationship with interest groups (membership of groups rallying behind vs being bankrolled)
THEME 2: how it shapes the relationship with the electorate/the party (mobilise party and rally supporters vs dependent upon the political climate)

Question 14

EVTV that the President’s power is effectively limited by the constitution and the Supreme Court (30)

Answer 14

THEME 1: the checks and balances system (set out by the constitution, separation of powers, independent judiciary vs whether these are actually effective in partisan era)
THEME 2: judicial review
THEME 3: constitutional checks by congress (advice and consent vs being avoided)

Question 15

EVTV that the President’s power is effectively limited by Congress and the Supreme Court (30)

Answer 15

THEME 1: military action ( president acting unilaterally without congress)
THEME 2: judicial reviews etc
THEME 3: separation of powers (SC main arbiter so can ensure that this is maintained)

Question 16

EVTV that the Supreme Court has become a political rather than a judicial institution (30)

Answer 16

THEME 1: the appointments process (appointed by president, partisan bias etc vs life tenure and other independent features)
THEME 2: ideology on rulings, judicial activism vs restraint
THEME 3: constitutional limits and restraints on the power of the Supreme Court (checks and balances, however are they limited by partisanship)

Question 17

EVTV that measures to promote racial equality in the US have been effective (30)

Answer 17

THEME 1: affirmative action (successful, vs being destabilised and banned)
THEME 2: minority majority districts (improving representation vs hugely contested and in 2020 redistricting have been reduced)
THEME 3: civil rights legislation

Question 18

EVTV that the Supreme Court appointment process is ineffective (30)

Answer 18

THEME 1: nomination process (political choice vs a judicial choice)
THEME 2: hearings
THEME 3: designed to ensure judicial independence and neutrality (judicial restraint vs judicial activism)

Question 19

EVTV that civil liberties and rights haven’t been effectively protected in the US (30)

Answer 19

THEME 1: the Supreme Court (inconsistencies)
THEME 2 interest groups (access points, minority interests vs elitism)
THEME 3: congress - legislation vs clash between individual and collective rights (focus on individual in the US)

Question 20

EVTV that the checks and balances on the Supreme Court are effective (30)

Answer 20

THEME 1: checks by congress (politicised or not)
THEME 2: checks by the executive (the appointment process)
THEME 3: separation of powers

Question 21

EVTV that the Supreme Court is an imperial institution)

Answer 21

THEME 1: constitutional limits and restraints from the constitution on the Supreme Court whether they are limited by increasing partisanship
THEME 2: self restraint by the judges (judicial activism vs judicial restraint)
THEME 3: public reaction and profile (tends to only become involved in issues of public reaction)

Question 22

EVTV that the Supreme Court is more powerful than Congress and the Presidency (30)

Answer 22

THEME 1: rights protection (judicial review vs the mandate of the people)
THEME 2: reactive vs proactive
THEME 3: appointment tenure

Question 23

EVTV that incumbency is a major advantage for a president seeking reelection (30)

Answer 23

THEME 1: the media (their ability to command the media due to incumbency vs polarised and extensive scrutiny and bad press)
THEME 2: ideologies (previously could rely on voters, vs less swing voters- voting ideologically based)
THEME 3: political bias (undermined 2024 both presidents have incumbency bias)

Question 24

EVTV that campaign finance needs reform (30)

Answer 24

THEME 1: buying influence (donors etc)
THEME 2: transparency (dark money vs 1st amendment rights)
THEME 3: loopholes for SuperPACs and PACs

Question 25

EVTV that the presidential election process requires reform (30)

Answer 25

THEME 1: the impact of the electoral college (winners bonus vs widespread support) THEME 2: representation (undermined by r electoral colleges, incumbency etc vs fulfilled in primary phases) THEME 3: the centrality of money in the process (elitism vs pluralism)

Question 26

EVTV that interest groups have a major impact on US politics (30)

Answer 26

THEME 1: election outcomes (money vs aligning with ideology and not all interest groups will have an impact) THEME 2: shaping policy (revolving door vs partisan party line voting etc) THEME 3: the Supreme Court and introducing cases (no guarantee of outcome vs furthering their cause)

Question 27

EVTV that interest groups are too powerful in the US political system (30)

Answer 27

THEME 1: money politics THEME 2: the revolving door THEME 3: the number of access points

Question 28

EVTV that the policies of the republicans and the democrats are more similar than they are different (30)

Answer 28

THEME 1: the economy (agree on regulating the economy, reducing inflation and stimulating it vs major difference on taxation policy) THEME 2: foreign policy (bipartisan cooperation on china policy and NATO vs Russia-Ukraine war) THEME 3: immigration (both agree system is broken vs methods of improving)

Question 29

EVTV that the USA remains a full democracy (30)

Answer 29

THEME 1: electoral integrity (federalism etc vs integrity being dependent on those involved in the process, which is in decline) THEME 2: the surge in money politics and the state of US campaign finance THEME 3: the state and decline in US political institutions and their protection of freedom of speech (whether it is based upon partisan issues or not)

Question 30

EVTV that incumbents have an unfair advantage in congressional elections (30)

Answer 30

THEME 1: finances THEME 2: power of seniority and experience (however if the electorate do not view this as a success this can be a disadvantage) THEME 3: gerrymandering and safe seats

Question 31

EVTV that the senate has a more important role to play in US politics (30)

Answer 31

THEME 1: individual members THEME 2: powers THEME 3: election cycles and their significance

Question 32

EVTV that there is an imperial presidency (30)

Answer 32

THEME 1: extent to which foreign policy makes them imperial (acting unilaterally vs whether this power is regulated by check and balances- short term influence vs long term) THEME 2: their power and use of executive orders and domestic policy (use of direct action and executive order can manipulate the executive branch to fulfil their legislative goals vs limited by SCOTUS checks and balances THEME 3: their ability to achieve their legislative agenda (expanded federal gov vs dependent upon divided and united gov)

Question 33

EVTV that the Supreme Court has had a significant impact on public policy in recent decades (30)

Answer 33

THEME 1: judicial activism vs judicial restraint THEME 2: rights protection THEME 3: state and federal policy

Question 34

EVTV that the democrats are more united as a party than the republicans (30)

Answer 34

THEME 1: policies (intaparty divisions) THEME 2: voting behaviour THEME 3: party factions

Question 35

EVTV that lobbyists and interest groups undermine US democracy (30)

Answer 35

THEME 1: money politics and the state of US campaign finance THEME 2: the revolving door- disproportionate influence THEME 3: elitism vs pluralism