Suppose a fellow freshman at Stetson named Jimmy

First-Year Seminar (FSEM 100.125)—Lobbying: A tool for change

Mid Term Exam                (100 points)

Name:¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬___________________________                             Date:__________________________

1)            (15 points)Your friend Jimmy’s texting and driving bill was filed last month and seems to be stuck in its second committee in the House. The bill was assigned three committees in both the House and Senate. The House has favorably voted on the bill in one of the three committees, and the Senate favorably voted the identical bill through two of the three committees. Jimmy expect that the Senate will move the bill through its final committee without any further issue. Jimmy thinks the chairman of the second committee in the House is opposed to making texting while driving a secondary offence and is holding up the bill. Jimmy does not know what to do, and calls you for advice. What strategy or next step would you encourage Jimmy to take so that his bill can successfully make it through the House and Senate by the end of session?

2)            (5 points) What are term limits? Name two the advantages and two disadvantages of term limits? Discuss how term limits affect the way lobbyists do their jobs?

3)            (10points) In Jack Abramoff’s role as a lobbyist within a system that is, he argues,more corrupt than ever. To what degree do individuals have a responsibility to act ethically within amorally corrupt system?

4)            (5 points) Do you think Abramoff’s success as a lobbyist supports the idea that politicians are corrupt oreasily corruptible? Should we place blame on Abramoff and the politicians or the system in which theyoperate? If the system is fundamentally flawed, is it fair for individual lobbyists or politicians to pay theprice?

5)            (5 points) If he were alive today, how do you think James Madison would reactto the Abramoff scandal?

6)            (5 points) What’s the single-subject rule for bills? Is this rule beneficial or harmful to democracy and the legislative process? Explain.

7)            (5 points) The leadership of both the House and Senate have immense power over the legislative process. Describe three ways the Speaker of the House or Senate President can subtly “kill” a bill.

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8)            (5 points) Why would a non-profit organization that wants to regularly lobby the government need to be a 501(c)(4) instead of 501(c)(3)? How mighta status of 501(c)(4) disadvantage donors to the non-profit?

9)            (5 points) The House and Senate both have Rules Committees. What is the purpose of the Rules Committee?

10)          (5 points) What does the House Ways and Means Committee do?

11)          (10 points) There are four amendments to the U.S. Constitution about who can vote. Describe two of them.

12)          (5 points) According to Madison there are two ways to control a faction. How did Madison suggest controlling factions?

13)          (5 points) Why is a republic preferred to a pure democracy?

14)          (5 points) Would Madison prefer a large republic or small republic? Why?

Short answer: (2 points each)

15)          How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?_____________

16)          How many U.S. Senators are there?__________________

17)          The House of Representatives has how many voting members?___________

18)          How many justices are on the U.S. Supreme Court?_________________

19)          Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?________________

Bonus: Did you study something that I did not include on this midterm? Write your own question and answer it! Sufficient rigor of question and veracity of response can earn you up to ten points.