1. Pick any race for governor, senator, or House member that RealClearPolitics currently lists as a tossup. Why is the race competitive? What strategies and tactics are the candidates using? If the outcome is clear by the day after the election, what accounts for the outcome? If not, why is the race so close?
2. Pick a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution concerning elections and political participation. What is the political motivation behind the proposal? What are the arguments for and against it? If you were a member of Congress, would you support it?
Here are some examples -- among many others -- from the 115th Congress:
- H.J. Res. 74 (the right to vote)
- H.J. Res. 113 (campaign finance)
- H.J. Res. 137 (voting in territories)
- H.J. Res. 138 (voting age)
For the first question, you may go to my web pages for sources on elections and public opinion.
For the second question, you may go to my web pages for Congress and the law. You should also go through the Honnold library website to CQ Library and Proquest Congressional.
Please let me know if you come across any broken links.
- Your sources may include specialized references such as The Almanac of American Politics, but do not cite general-purpose encyclopedias such as Encyclopaedia Britannica and Encyclopedia Americana. And especially do not cite Wikipedia.
- Assignments should be typed, double-spaced, and no more than six pages long. Use 12-point type and one-inch margins.
- Cite your sources with endnotes, which should be in standard Turabian format. The author's first name goes first.
- Endnote pages do not count against the page limit.
- Watch your spelling, grammar, diction, and punctuation. Errors will count against you.
- Return assignments to the class Sakai dropbox (in Word format, not pdf) by 11:59 PM, November 9. I reserve the right to dock essays one gradepoint for one day’s lateness and a full grade for two or more days’ lateness.
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