Discuss the validity of outside influences on congressional decision making. How do outside influences shape legislative decisions?
Where do outside interests stand in the models of representation? What institutional constraints enforce congressional ethics? Include a discussion of social media.
Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Describe the major influences on legislators, including constituents, parties, ideologies, presidents, colleagues, congressional staff, and interest groups.
2. Frame the choices legislators make within models of representation, describing when a legislator might act as a delegate or as a trustee, for instance.
3. Use the By the People article to assess social networking effects.
4. Assess the impact of various congressional scandals (e.g., Abramoff) in the creation of new ethics regulations (e.g., Stock Act of 2012) and present an argument as to whether the constraints effectively balance pressure on congressional decisions.
5. Provide a thoughtful argument and concise summary
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Suppose that a newly elected governor wants to replace every member of the Public Utility Commission (PUC). What power does the governor have to accomplish this goal?
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Al Qaeda leader Anwar Alwaki, who was born in the United States
a. was killed by a US Navy SEAL Team in Pakistan. b. was poisoned by the CIA in Somalia. c. is still at-large on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan . d. was killed in a drone attack in Yemen.