Senior Exam Preparation
Political Science Oral Exam Study Guide
These questions are intended to offer opportunity for reflection on major political
issues. They require you to utilize material from coursework, along with your own reading, in order to formulate thoughtful responses. Discuss
each question with sufficient detail to support your generalizations. Be prepared
to answer any of the questions provided below and note that these prompts may serve
as a starting point for deeper conversation on any of these topics.
- Discuss the changing role of the U.S. government in society. Describe the four historical eras of federalism. How have the relations between the federal and state governments changed? What is a change that has taken place that is in line with the vision of the Founding Fathers and one change that they might find to be distressing?
- Examine the evolution of civil rights in American society. How have different movements been related to interest groups? What has been the role of the president, Congress, and the Supreme Court? What ways might an individual take action to shape and influence U.S. governmental policy?
- Consider how federalism and the separation of powers limit the power of the national government. How do the House of Representatives and the Senate check and balance each other’s power? With a veto gate being an institution that serves as a point in the legislative process where the progress of a proposal can be halted, what are examples of veto gates in the United States? Is it better to have a lower or higher number of veto gates and why?
- Compare and contrast the theories of Plato, Locke, Rousseau, Tocqueville, and Marx on
their understandings of individualism, liberty, community, private property, and the
state.
- Most political theories agree that the international system is anarchic, but they
do not agree on its consequences for state behavior. Explain how theories like realism, liberalism,
constructivism, Marxism, and feminism differ, while also discussing why these differences
matter within the international system.
- Discuss feminism and its basic principles as a political theory. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a distinctly feminist political theory? What suggestions does this theory provide for political interaction?
- Consider the contemporary role of sovereign states. Some say the state is losing its
importance, while others argue its significance is simply evolving over time. Referencing
at least one international organization to illustrate your answers to the following,
why do states form international organizations, and why do they work through them?
In addition, discuss how transnational actors change the face of the international
system. In other words, how do transnational corporations and advocacy networks influence
international politics today?
- Democratization has been one of the key U.S. foreign policy underpinnings since the end
of the Cold War. Please evaluate this U.S. strategy with theories of democratization,
particularly regarding the transition from authoritarian regimes to liberal democracies.
- One of the most important developments of the past 200 years has been the rise and spread of nationalism. What is nationalism? How is national identity related to other identities, such as ethnicity or religion? In what ways has nationalism changed international relations? Do you think that nationalism remains as important and powerful as fifty or one hundred years ago?
- Describe Weber’s three forms of political legitimacy and how they tie to a state’s primary
features. Along with defining the term “state” and discussing how political legitimacy
is part of those characteristics, make the distinction between a government and a
regime. How does understanding the differences between these definitions and features
contribute to the study of comparative politics?
- Compare and contrast early European state-building with 20th century experiences of state-building
outside of Europe. Give examples of the influence of Western thought on non-Western
culture, government, economy, and society.
- Discuss the principal features of presidentialism and parliamentarism in contrast to each other and evaluate their likely impact on democratic consolidation. Is a presidential system more democratic than a parliamentary system? Why or why not? Please incorporate any relevant democratic case studies and evidence from class or your readings to support your answer.
Classics in Political Science
The works listed below are independent readings. The following questions will help
guide your reading and provide structure for your senior exam. You should be able
to explain the thesis or primary themes of the following works, as well as the context
of the scholarship.
- Locke makes several interesting claims about the laws of nature, reason, God, property,
and justice. What sorts of things do humans not have liberty to do? What basic role
does God play in this discussion?
- What is the primary role of the community in this Lockean version of the social contract?
By what mechanisms does the community execute this role?
- Locke says that giving up the natural powers to join civil society is necessary and just. What sort of necessity is at work here? How does Locke understand justice in this context?
- What modern examples support Smith’s views on the connection among the division of
labor, the extent of the market, and the availability of cheap transport? Are there modern
examples that contradict Smith’s view?
- Although he is considered the founder of political economy, Adam Smith considered himself
a moral philosopher. How does looking at him in this way – as someone fundamentally
concerned with questions of ethics – change your understanding or appreciation of
his work?
- Explain Adam Smith’s theory of the “invisible hand.”
- How does Machiavelli view human nature? What role does virtue play in Machiavelli’s
views of a state?
- Machiavelli argues that a leader should be both loved and feared. If one attribute
has to be chosen, however, which characteristic does Machiavelli suggest a leader
should prioritize? Why? Do you agree?
- How much of this book is relevant to contemporary politics, especially because monarchies are no longer the primary form of government? Can Machiavelli’s arguments be translated into political interaction today?
- What does Tocqueville say about the concept of equality in America?
- What does he see as the peculiar relationship between individualism and community
in America?
- What observations of Tocqueville about antebellum America strike you as still be pertinent to contemporary America?
Influential Thinkers
Know the works and contributions of five of the authors below. While you may not have read all of the work by these authors, you should know the
significant contributions they have made to the discipline.
- Thucydides
- Hobbes
- Rousseau
- Aristotle
- Plato
- Burke
- Kant
- Mill
Terms and Theories
Explain the differences between the theories and terms listed below. Know which
theory you subscribe to, and in addition, be able to understand and articulate how
a few contemporary examples tie to these theories.
- Realism
- Liberalism
- Constructivism
- Socialism
- Marxism
- Nationalism
- Fascism
- Capitalism
- Anarchy
- Feminism
- Feminism
Professionalization
- Attend a professional conference.
- CV edited by the University Writing Center listing conferences, papers written, coursework, and department participation.