Assignment #2 

Length: 5 to 8 typed, doubled-spaced pages.
Due:  October 28
 

In this assignment, you are to write an essay on an aspect of legislative politics in your state.  Here are some topics you might examine:

Money and Elections.  Who gives and who gets?  How do the campaign finance laws affect fund raising and expenditures?  How does this pattern influence politics and policy making in the legislature?  Is this as it should be?

Power in the Legislature.  Who has power in the legislature?  What is the relationship between members, the legislative parties, the leadership and governor? You might tell this story in terms of the major issues the legislature dealt with, from historical sources or interviews.

The Impact of Legislative Reform.  Take a reform that has been (or might be) adopted in your state.  Examples include campaign finance laws, regulation of interest groups, term limits or legislative professionalism, but you are not limited to this list.  Assess the reform's effects on the politics of your legislature.  Are there clear winners and losers? You might discuss what proponents and opponents argue and discuss the validity of their claims. Is your state better off or not for this reform?

These are only suggestions.  If some aspect of your legislature stands out and you find it interesting, you may certainly focus on that.  Clear your topic with me. Feel free to email me if you have questions.

Remember, the warnings about plagiarism discussed in the first assignment still apply. There is a temptation to borrow sentences and paragraphs from sources that are not properly cited.  The essay is to represent your own research and conclusions, not someone else's ideas you pass off as your own.