US POLITICS ESSAY PLANS 2023

Evaluate the view that the US Constitution no longer lives up to its principles - P1 = checks and balances effective checks and balances remain and have prevented abuse of power VS weakened, eroded, ineffective, branches can exceed powers and get around them P2 = bipartisanship evident in times of crisis, still examples today VS very rare, increasing partisanship and ideological gap between parties today, (even within parties), constitution requires strong bipartisanship so difficult to past key amendments P3 = federalism enshrined in constitution and evident today in state laws, amendment process etc. VS expanded role and involvement of federal govt and importance of increasingly nationalist policies Evaluate the view that the US Constitution is effective at limiting government - P1 = checks and balances effectively checks and limits government, preventing tyranny and dominance of one branch. FF gave congress significant power to heavily restrain president VS they have eroded and no longer effectively limit government in the way the founding fathers intended. president can exceed powers with executive orders and also use power of veto etc. P2 = bipartisanship in constitution ensures policy based on compromise of different interest and that one party cannot dominate the political agenda VS