1. The diversity of state laws and procedure creates situations that may seem unfair to many citizens. Should the federal government have more power to require greater uniformity in policy among the states/ What policies would you like to see equalized?

2. the Founders clearly envisioned a smaller role for the national government than what we currently see. How have society and technology changed to allow and/or require greater national government control?

3. Should issues related to immigration, that have to be negotiated with other countries, be open to state and local regulation? What about the burdens created on the state and local governments (eg, police, education, health services, etc)? Does this financial stake justify state and local regulation?

1. What effect has college had on your political attitudes? Why does it have the effect? Are college faculty effective at indoctrinating students, either consciously or unconsciously? Why or Why not?

2. What is your opinion on same sex marriages? What is the basis for your opinion: legal, social, or religious beliefs, other? Has your opinion changed in any way over the last few years or so? If so, how and why?

3. Does political advertising manipulate public opinion about issues and candidates? Is this any different from advertising a consumer product? If political attitudes are the results of manipulation, does this make a mockery of free elections? If citizens' preferences are not freely chosen, what does this mean for democracy?

4. Describe the difference between liberal and conservative ideologies in American politics. Using one social or demographic group as an example, describe some of the factors that may have shaped the ideological orientation of that particular group.

1. With campaigns using YouTube and facebook, do you think that the internet promotes and helps democracy? What challenges are there in making sure that citizens relying on the internet are informed political participants?

2. The intent of the Communications Decency Act was to prevent children from obtaining obscene or pornographic material from the internet. Would you support broad censorship of the internet to protect children? Do you think you should be protected from such material? Whose responsibility is it to protect children from offensive materials?

3. Why is a free press essential to democracy? If there were no free press, how would you get your information? If you couldn't trust the information, what effect would that have on your political attitudes? Can we maintain a democracy when most Americans pay little attention to political events?

4. In wartime, can media criticism of government action provide aid and comfort to the nation's enemies? Should there be limits on media criticism of the government during time of war, or does criticism actually enhance the nation's strength?

5. To what extent are the media biased? As more news sources have become available, has this led to more or less bias in the media? What is media concentration? Is it a serious problem? Why or why not?

6. How has the internet changed the News Media’s coverage and effect on US Politics? Is it “better” or “worse” for our country? Give specific reasons to defend your position

1. Today many politicians hire private investigators to check out their opponents' credit reports, medical records, high school and college records, etc. Does this sort of scrutiny drive off good potential candidates? What can be done about this or is the complete loss of privacy simply the price of public office?

2. Can democracy be sustained when so few people are involved in the political process? Voter turnouts at local elections sometimes run less than ten per cent, and yet local governments are the ones that affect people closely on a daily basis. Why don't more people vote? What can or should be done, if anything?

3. How influential are religious groups in American politics? Has this changed over time? How important should religion be in politics?

4. Which groups voted for the Democrats and which voted for the Republicans in 2008. Was that a change from the past? Which groups will probably vote for the same party as the past? What does this say about democracy in America?

1. How has your parents party identification affected your choice of party? Is there a strong relationship between their party choices and your own? According to your religious affiliation, ethnicity, gender, residence and social class, what party would you be expected to belong to?

2. In the past, critics have frequently charged that there are very few differences between the two major parties. Is that true today? What do you think the Republicans and Democrats said they stood for in the nineties? Has it changed? How and why?

3. In what ways have American parties become weaker? what are the advantages and disadvantages to a system characterized as having weak political parties?

1. Should a voter support a third party that has no chance of winning or should they vote for the major party they dislike the least? How might one reconcile his or her decision to support a third party candidate in our two party system?

2. Candidates must court interest group money. If you were a candidate which interest groups would you go after? Are there any you would not take money from? What can you promise them in return for money to support you?

3. Studies have shown that partisan tv programs, films, books, etc are consumed mostly by those who already agree with their message, thus the persuasive impact of partisan media is limited. Does the proliferation of partisan fragmented media negatively impact our democracy? Why or Why not?

4. What motivates regular citizens to run for local political office, given that the positions usually offer low pay and many challenges and a loss of privacy? Would you ever run for public office? Why or why

5. Why is the Citizens United case (in the Supreme Court) so important and what does it mean to US politics?

1. Foreign corporations and governments also lobby the U.S. federal government, as do American ethnic and religious groups with direct ties to foreign countries. Should foreign firms, and others with ties to foreign countries or corporations, be allowed to lobby in the U.S. at all levels of government? Why or why not?

2. The tobacco lobby has always been one of the largest and most powerful in D.C. But it seems "big tobacco" is on the defensive. Why do you think the tobacco lobby lost some of its power?

3. James Madison asserted that in a free society the clash among competing interests, each pursuing selfish goals, would result in policies that serve the common good. Is free competition among competing interest actually the best way to promote the common good? Is such a free competition typical in the U.S.?

4. How do interest groups differ from political parties? Should we prefer a political process dominated by parties or one in which interest groups are more important? Why or Why not?

- Congress was designed to be the people's most direct voice in the national government, and the most powerful of the three branches.

- Power in Congress us allocated by political party.

- Most of Congress's important work is done in committees, sub commitees and by staff people.

- Because of the lengthy process by which a bill becomes a law, most bills never become law.

- The president, interest groups and constituents all influence congressional action.

1. Why does the American public have such a low opinion of Congress? Less than one-quarter approve of the way Congress does its job, and less than half say their own member deserves to be reelected. What can Congress do to improve its reputation among the general public? Does it matter if they mostly get reelected?

2. How representative is Congress? Most members of the House and senator are rich, white, males "middle age' or older. What impact does this skewed representation have in terms of liberty, equality, and democracy? can these people really represent women, minorities, and poor people? How? Realistically, could a poor person ever get elected to Congress?

3. Are there stages at which the legislative process is more democratic than it is at others? In your opinion, is the overall process of legislation democratic?

4. Should members of Congress do what a majority of their constituents want even if they personally disagree, or should the people trust the member's judgment?

5. Is the primary goal of most members of Congress good public policy or to be reelected? Is that good or bad for democratic government. What should their goal be? Could you ask everyone you know for money every time you see them? That's what a candidate must do. Would you ever run for public office? Why or why not?

6. Who is your US Congress representative? Who are California’s US Senators? Would you vote for each of them? Explain why or why not.

- Presidential power is rooted in the Constitution.

- The powers exercised by all modern presidents far outstrip what the Constitution provides.

- The modern president is served by numerous office and departs (more than 10,000 people are presidential appointees and staff members.)

- To get things done, presidents rely on a variety of political resources, including elections, political parties, interest groups, the media, and public opinion.

1. Would giving the public direct access to watch presidential press briefings live and successors over the internet increase public awareness, information or participation? Are there other ways the internet could contribute to the democratization of the presidency?

2. Do recent events in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere enhance the need for a more engaged Congress on foreign policy? Or should the presidency as an institution be granted greater political latitude in the war on terror?

3. How much do we need to know about the personal lives of our presidents? Does what goes on in their personal lives affect their ability to govern? Have our most effective presidents also been the most exemplary? Have the most moral been the most effective?

4. Why do you think the American president is called the most powerful leader in the world? If that is true, what special responsibilities does that carry? Should we limit the president's role in world affairs? Why or why not?

5. Presidents have expressed, delegated, and inherent powers. Which do you think most accounts for the powers of the presidency?

6. How is the American president limited or constrained in his powers to act as he pleases? Why must the president resort to the "power of the bully pulpit" to accomplish his goals? What are the formal and informal resources available to the president as he attempts to persuade others to help meet his goals?

1. What are the primary goals of government agencies and how do they prioritize those goals? How is the national agenda determined, when many more agencies and issues desire attention than can have it?

2. Suppose you were aware of some corruption that was occurring in the government agency in which you worked. What would you do? Would you be a whistleblower? What are the possible consequences to you for reporting corruption? Do you believe you are an honest and ethical person? If you didn't report the corruption, would you still consider yourself to be an honest and ethical person?

3. Many people complain about government red tape. Suppose we were to abolish the red tape and just let bureaucrats make their own decisions, using their own judgment. Would you support that change? Why or Why not?

4. As governments downsize, they often contract with private companies to perform what was once considered to be traditional work of government. What are the advantages and disadvantages of privatizing jails, public schools, military plane maintenance, state welfare agencies and state employment agencies?

1. As digital technology evolves, the US federal courts find themselves bombarded by questions of intellectual property rights and copyright law, like peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, and the musicians' right to compensation. Should the courts be more accommodating of innovative technologies? Or should they do more to protect artists and "traditional" businesses?

2. The Supreme Court seems more willing to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional than it is willing to confront the president on the constitutionality of his actions. Why might this be the case? When has the Supreme Court checked presidential power?

3. In what ways are courts, judges and justices shielded from politics and political pressure? In what ways are they vulnerable to political power? What does this say about our justice system?

4. Suppose the federal courts did not have the power of judicial review. Instead all acts of Congress and the president would be considered constitutional. How would this change our system? Would you favor such a change? Be creative but not silly.