Study Guide for First Exam

The first exam will consist of one long essay chosen from the ones below (worth 35%), multiple-choice/true-false (35% and predominantly from readings), and short identification/ compare and contrasts (30%). The questions are designed to test your understanding of the concepts discussed in class and readings and your ability to integrate concepts/ materials to answer specific questions about the American Presidency. You are responsible for all material contained in all lectures, readings and links in the "Web Calendar" up to the date of the exam. As a junior/senior level class (especially when questions are given in advance), it is expected that students will be able to write a reasoned, cogent, to-the-point response to the essay questions. Preparation of all essays should also assist you with other parts of the exam.

Key terms

While not an exhaustive list, here are some of the key terms:

The five great concepts

Expectations gap

Empirical and normative judgment of presidents by textbook writers

The two constitutional presidencies

development of the presidency

nature of the executive article

the constitutional and supraconstitutional roles of the presidency

the pendulum of power

prerogative powers

the stewardship and literalist approaches to the presidency

presidential "power equation"

1. How can one argue that, for Schlessinger's historians, "greatness" and the use of prerogative powers go hand-in-hand? Be sure to give two examples of great presidents who utilized prerogative powers to demonstrate your knowledge of Schlessinger's criteria, your understanding of the concept of prerogative powers, and your knowledge of presidential history.

2. How does Weaver’s article entitled “Leadership, Locke and The Federalist” bolster our discussion of the theoretical underpinnings of the Constitution and the fundamental concerns which the Founding Fathers had about constructing a document to address the issue of “power”? (To bolster your argument see link on Constitutional page entitled Empowering the President and Franklin and the Constitution.

3. Discuss the major components of the "presidential power equation" and demonstrate how they interrelate to the various approaches to the study of the presidency discussed in class.

4. Identify three areas in which you believe the parliamentary system is superior to the presidential system or vice versa. Be sure to explain why you believe that is the case. Be sure to explore distinctions and arguments made by Rockman in his article “The American Presidency in Comparative Perspective: Systems, Situations and Leaders”.

5. Cronin argues "the people" have unrealistic and contradictory expectations of presidents. Where do we get these unrealistic expectations? Give three examples of contradictory expectations. How do they hamper presidential performance? Do you believe that the nature of modern campaigning and the media raise or lower these contradictory expectations? Why?

6. What were the major debates about the executive article at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and how did these choices impact the development of the presidency? Be sure to discuss the Tulis article, “The Two Constitutional Presidencies” in your answer.