US GOVERNMENT RESEARCH PAPER (MULTIPLE TOPIC OPTIONS)

Description 1. Should the Constitution be amended to abolish the Electoral College and provide for the direct election of the President? Discuss the arguments made for and against the Electoral College (including those of the American Founders). Where do you come down in this debate? 2. The process of being nominated as the Presidential candidate for one of the major political parties in the United States is elaborate at best and convoluted at worst. First, describe the basics of this process for both political parties. Then evaluate the process. Do you believe that the current system is the best way of nominating a candidate? If you were going to change the system, what would you suggest? 3. Immigration policy has become a hot button issue in American politics. Debate focuses on who should be admitted to the US, how many, and what do with the millions of immigrants who are here illegally (i.e., without proper documents) some of whom have children who were born here and thus are US citizens. Write a balanced paper in which you summarize the major issues in this debate and review the arguments and evidence on both. 4. Some people argue that "there is a cultural war going on in the United States... for the soul of America." The 'culture war' presumably centers on issues such as abortion, school prayer, and gay rights. Other disagree and argue that most Americans are pretty much middle-of-the-road on most issues with only small differences between Democrats and Republicans. What do you think? How polarized is the American public today on hot-button moral, religious and cultural issues? Write an essay in which you review and evaluate the evidence on American public opinion today. 5. Describe the political arguments for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution presented by the Federalists, as seen in the Federalist Papers. Then discuss the arguments against the ratification of the U.S. Constitution as presented by the Anti-Federalists. Finally, present an argument for ratification or non-ratification of the U.S. Constitution as "originally presented" to the states.