1999 Free Response Questions

1. In the 1990s presidential election campaigns have become more candidate centered and less focused on issues and party labels. This change has been attributed both to how the media cover presidential campaigns and to how candidates use the media. Identify and explain two ways in which the media have contributed to candidate-centered presidential campaigns. Identify and explain two ways in which presidential candidates use of the media has contributed to candidate-centered campaigns. our answer should not include a discussion of presidential primary elections. !. "ational interest groups often target national-level policy-ma#ing institutions to achieve their policy ob$ectives. %elect one of the following national interest groups&

'merican 'ssociation of (etired )ersons *''()+ 'merican ,edical 'ssociation *','+ "ational 'ssociation for the 'dvancement of -olored )eople *"''-)+ "ational 'ssociation of ,anufacturers *"',+

.or the group you selected do each of the following&

a. Identify one ma$or national-level policyma#ing institution that this group targets. b. /escribe one resource or characteristic of the group you have chosen '"/ explain

how it influences the choice of the target you have identified in *a+.
c. /escribe another resource or characteristic of the group you have chosen '"/

explain how it influences the choice of the target you have identified in *a+. 0. Is -ongress effective in exercising legislative oversight of the federal bureaucracy1 %upport your answer by doing 2"3 of the following&

3xplain two specific methods -ongress uses to exercise effective oversight of the federal bureaucracy. OR 4ive two specific explanations for the failure of -ongress to exercise effective oversight of the federal bureaucracy.

5. 6uestion 75 based on a series of pie charts that are not reproducible8.

1999 Free Response Questions Scoring Guidelines

693%TI2" 1 8 total points possible on this :uestion. Two ways MED ! "a#e contri$uted to candidate%centered presidential ca&paigns' 1 point- each identification of a way in which the media have contributed to candidatecentered presidential campaigns *maximum of ! points+ (ote& ,ust be some lin#age to candidate-centered campaigns 1 point- explanation of each way in which the media have contributed to candidatecentered presidential campaigns *maximum of ! points+ The following are some acceptable ways that the MED ! contribute to candidatecentered campaigns&

-overage of bac#ground of candidate Image-centered coverage;personality Tal# shows< T= debates >orserace< reporting polls -andidate sound bites /e-emphasi?ing party .eeding fren?y -overage of convention Investigative reporting; scandals .ocus on candidate gaffes

Two ways presidential )!(D D!TES* use o+ t"e &edia "as contri$uted to candidate% centered ca&paigns' 1 point- each identification of a way in which the candidates use of the media has contributed to candidate-centered campaigns *max of ! points+ (OTE& ,ust be some lin#age to candidate-centered campaigns 1 point- explanation of each way in which the candidates use of the media has contributed to candidate-centered campaigns *max of ! points+ The following are some acceptable ways that )!(D D!TES* use of the media has contributed to candidate-centered campaigns&

"egative commercials;mudslinging

'ttention-getting& public appearances to enhance public attention to individual :ualities@ timing of candidate activities to ma#e free news coverage %ee#ing -ontributions Aea#ing information Image building& positive ads@ hiring consultants@ T= debates that focus of individual appearance; :ualities@ getting on tal# shows -andidate creating choreographed opportunities 9se of internet to disseminate information %ound bites Q,EST O( -

. total points possible on this :uestion. T"e student &ust identi+y t"e national interest group "e/s"e is discussing0 a. 1 points total for a correct identification of a national policyma#ing institution that the selected group would target.

The )resident The Aegislature *give credit for identifying either the >ouse or the %enate+ The Budiciary The Cureaucracy or a specific agency

If student identifies a specific agency< it should be clearly and substantively connected to the interest group< e.g.< ''() focuses on %ocial %ecurity 'dministration< ,edicare portion of >>%< ./' and specific health remedy. ',' might focus on the ./' or the /ept of >>%. "''-) might focus on the /ept. of Bustice -ivil (ights /ivision of the 332-. "', focuses on .T-< /ept of -ommerce< Transportation< and Aabor *2%>'+ (ote& Incorrect answer is a non-national institution or non-policyma#ing institution. $0 1 points total

1 point for identifying a characteristic or resource of the selected group. 'll that is re:uired here is an identification of a relevant characteristic or resource of the group. (ote' -andidate may receive one point here without earning the point in *a+. - points *maximum+ for explaining how the characteristic or resource identified influences the choice of the policyma#ing institution targeted.

(o points are rewarded if a student did not earn the point in *a+ for identifying the targeted institution.

1 point for only a general explanation that provides some lin#age of the characteristic or resource to the choice of target institution - points for a specific or full explanation that describes >2D the characteristic or resource influences the choice of target c0 1 points total

1 point for identifying a second characteristic or resource of the selected group. 'll that is re:uired here is an identification of a relevant characteristic or resource of the group. "ote& -andidate may receive one point here without earning the point in *a+. - points *maximum+ for explaining how the second characteristic or resource identified influences the choice of the policyma#ing institution targeted.

(o points are awarded if a student did not earn the point in *a+ for identifying the targeted institution. 1 point for only a general explanation that provides some lin#age of the characteristic or resource to the choice of the target institution - points for a specific or full explanation that describes >2D the characteristic or resource influences the choice of target Q,EST O( 1 2 total points possible on this :uestion

1 point for ta#ing explicit position& E es< -ongress is effective<F or E"o< -ongress is not effective<F in providing oversight of the bureaucracy.

+ t"e writer ta3es t"e a++ir&ati#e 4)ongress e5ercises e++ecti#e o#ersig"t6'

- points *maximum+ for a complete explanation of first specific method -ongress uses to exercise effective oversight. 'ward 1 point for a statement showing general understanding of method of oversight. 'ward - points for a specific explanation showing >2D;D> the method is effective.

,ethods of effective oversight may include

Cudget control (eauthori?ation; Burisdiction of agencies

%etting guidelines for new agencies >earings< committee investigations )ower to organi?e;reorgani?e agency E%unsetF legislation -ongressional support agencies- 4'2< -C2 Iron triangles as a source of information -asewor# as a source of information Influence over selection of leadership )rogram evaluation

- points *maximum+ for a complete explanation of a second specific method -ongress uses to exercise effective oversight. 9se the guidelines above for the first method in awarding one or two points for the explanation of the method.

+ t"e writer ta3es t"e negati#e 4)ongress +ails to e5ercise e++ecti#e o#ersig"t6'

- points *maximum+ for a complete explanation of the first reason for this failure. 'ward 1 point for a statement showing general understanding of why failure occurs. 'ward - points for a specific explanation of how;why the oversight method is not effective.

(easons for the failure may include

"o electoral payoff; )olitical ramifications 2versight is labor intensive;hard wor# Aac# of technical expertise Aogrolling Aac# of budget control 3nabling legislation is vague Interest groups; )'-s encourage members to overloo# effective administration .ailure to EuseF available powers or ineffective use of them Iron triangles; co?y relationship with agencies Cureaucratic pathologies *for example< -ongress creates opportunities for casewor# through red ta#e@ firing administrators is difficult+ - points *maximum+ for complete explanation of the second reason congressional oversight fails. 9se the guidelines above for the first reason in awarding one or two points for the explanation of the reason.

(otes'

' general discussion of chec#s and balances is not acceptable and does not receive credit.

If the thesis contradicts the discussion or reasons or explanation< score for the answer that gives the student the most points.