POLS 3150
U.S. Presidency
First Exam Review



Constitutional roles of the Presidency
Considerations of the framers
The Presidential Dilemma
Scholarly models of the presidency

Selection process
Public Presidency

Terms you should know:
automatic delegates
bully pulpit
brokered conventions
caucus
decay curve
faithless electors
federal matching funds
front-loaded
going public
honeymoon effect
King Caucus
McGovern-Fraser Commission
permanent campaign
political availability
prerogative theory
presidential culture
presidential job approval rating
primary
rally events
rhetorical presidency
samson model
satan model
savior model
single executive image
spectacle
spending limits
stewardship theory
Super Tuesday


The exam will have one of the following essay questions. Your best bet is to be prepared to answer each of them. Furthermore, it is not wise to try to anticipate which one I will select because the decision will be a random choice.

We have studied at great length the process by which we select presidents. Based on the readings and class discussion, how well do these processes function?  By what criteria should we base such an evaluation, and what characteristics of the process contribute to its either meeting, or failing to meet, those criteria?

For a variety of reasons we have developed certain expectations of and about the president. Briefly explain what those expectations are, the reasons for why we hold them, and problems they pose for presidents.

One of the important informal resources that presidents are believed to possess in helping them govern is their support among the public. Go over the determinants of this support, the influence it is presumed to have on a president's ability to govern and how presidents may attempt to use that resource to their advantage.