CONGRESS Response Papers (due at the beginning of class, Feb. 11)

INSTRUCTIONS: Your response paper should be relatively short: 2-3 pages,
double-spaced.  You do not have to fret over rules such as how to report
citations or what font size to use.  No folders, plastic covers, or other
enhancements are necessary.

ADVICE: Make sure you answer the question thoughtfully, in an organized way that
shows detailed familiarity with the readings.  If you summarize too much or
take up too much space with quotations, you are unlikely to have written a
good essay.  The emphasis should be on analysis and illustrating your
level of understanding (or your ability to identify clearly and
comprehensively what you do not understand about the readings).

Answer one of the following questions, drawing heavily on the assigned
readings for the topic:

1. Congress has changed over time to increase its “institutional capacity.”  As
you’ve learned from the readings, the leadership structure has been created and
power has been decentralized.  Evaluate the changes that Congress has made.  To
what extent do the changes help to equalize the influence of regular voters. To
what extent do they increase the influence of special interests?  In particular,
have the changes in congressional organization increased Congress’
responsiveness to the people, or only its efficiency at giving congressional
leaders what they want?

2. Some observers of Congress argue that big-money interest groups do not buy votes
from members of Congress.  They only buy their time, so that those members will
look out for the interest groups, author bills for them, fight for them in
congressional committees, and listen to their arguments.  Does this indirect form
of buying influence corrupt America’s system of representation?  Does it improve
representation, for example by giving us more ways to get access to members of
Congress?  Or is it neither a good nor a bad development?

3. Is pork-barrel spending good or bad for the political system.  Defend your answer.
Do not simply repeat the arguments that you have read.