What were the key worries for the antifederalists about the office of executive branch during the ratification debates?

Have presidents always assumed that they are obligated to push a legislative agenda in Congress? What has changed about the presidents role in legislating in U.S. history, and when did the biggest changes occur?
What were the key worries for the antifederalists about the office of executive branch during the ratification debates? Have any of these worries turned out to be correct? Or not? Briefly explain.
What is the Permanent Campaign for presidents? What is it meant to accomplish? And what are some of the major limitations of the permanent campaign? How is this related to Miroffs argument about the Presidential Spectacle?
Describe the workings of the Electoral College. How does it function? What are some criticisms of it? What happens when there isnt a clear winner in the electoral college (both Constitutionally and in practice historically)? Describe at least one alternative plan to the Electoral College, and describe what would be necessary to implement this change
How does the process of judicial nomination and selection work? What barriers exist for presidents regarding their ability to get judges on the bench that reflect their own political and legal thinking?
What relationships have presidents had with organized interest groups? What affects a presidents ability to use groups to gather support, and/or overpower the groups that oppose their goals? Explain.
What are the limits on a presidents ability to remove bureaucrats from office? How were these limits arrived at? Why is this an important power for the president in the first place?

PART 2:
Answer the following prompt in 5 pages or less, using standard fonts, margins and double spacing. Answers should draw heavily from course material (and cite sources!!).

During different points in this class we have considered both the increasing powers available to modern presidents and the many constraints on presidential actions in the contemporary system. That is, we have both considered the contemporary imperial presidency, as well as the relative powerlessness (and inevitable failure) associated with modern presidents. Briefly fill in both of these arguments with reference to course material; then, pick a side. Do you think the contemporary presidency wields excessive power? Or, are they too constrained to successfully accomplish what they are asked and expected to do by voters? Or, some strange combination of the two? Explain your answer (as always with reference to course material).

Last Completed Projects