Midterm Essays

Answer 2 of the following (25 points each):

1. What is American Political Development? Which theories help us to arrive at a definition? Which theories are less applicable?

2. Can culture provide an adequate explanation of political development? Is there consensus in American political culture?

3. How well does political development occurs in cycles. Assess the following cyclical theories in your answer: Generations, Party Realignment, and Presidential Leadership.

4. Discuss the role played by Religion in American Political Development.

5. Describe Sundquist’s portrayal of Party Realignment. What are its strengths and weaknesses.

6. Assess Skowronek’s theory as a viable explanation of Presidential authority. The author explicitly omits personality and character traits, is this a flaw in his theory?