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During the semester, I shall post course material and students will comment on it. Students are also free to comment on any aspect of American politics, either current or historical. There are only two major limitations: no coarse language, and no derogatory comments about people at the Claremont Colleges. This blog is on the open Internet, so post nothing that you would not want a potential employer to see. Syllabus: http://gov20h.blogspot.com/2023/08/draft-introduction-to-american-politics.html

Monday, November 16, 2020

Final Assignment, Fall 2020

Answer one question from Part A and one from part B.  Each of your two answers should take about three pages.  The whole assignment should be no more than six pages total.

Your answers should draw upon class readings, discussions, and items that I have posted on the course blog.  Where appropriate, you may also use outside sources.

There is no single right answer to any of these questions.  The point of this exercise is to show that you have thought carefully about course content.

Part A:  Evaluate one of the following essays in light of class discussions and materials.  Does the author miss anything important?  Do you agree or disagree?

1.    https://www.thecrimson.com/column/the-stranger/article/2020/11/11/blatt-conversation-with-tocqueville/

2.      https://citywatchla.com/index.php/cw/los-angeles/20609-black-lives-matter-and-the-declaration-of-independence 

3.    https://www.city-journal.org/democracy-trump-tocqueville 

Part B

1.    Why did Biden win?  In your answer, take account of course readings, including Coming Apart.

2.    Identify a contemporary problem that the Framers could not have anticipated.  Is the constitutional system adequate to meet it?  Consider The Federalist, the Constitution, and Wurman.

3.   Alinsky wrote: “Alexander Hamilton, in The Federalist Papers, put it this way: `What is a power, but the ability or faculty of doing a thing? What is the ability to do a thing, but the power of employing the means necessary to its execution?’… To know power and not fear it is essential to its constructive use and control.” Compare and contrast how Alinsky and Publius discussed power.


  • Assignments should be typed, double-spaced, and no more than six pages long in total. 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, December 2. 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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