From the Paper "In his 1964 work, Presidential Power, Richard Neustadt, a former aide of President Harry Truman, examines the power of the President as an individual. Neustadt asserts that the President indeed possesses great power as an individual. For not only does the President have significant formal powers, but the most influential power of a President, asserts Neustadt, is the power of the President to persuade others. Because of this, claims Neustadt, the President must maintain an excellent reputation, both with his political cronies in Washington and with the general public, for the President's power to persuade is reflected in others' perception of him. Throughout the book, Neustadt refers to three main examples to analyze the nature of Presidential power. His first example is President Truman's 1951 dismissal of General MacArthur, Truman's 1952 seizure of the steel mills, and Eisenhower's 1958 dispatching of forces to secure the integration of Little Rock's schools. "
An opinion piece in favor of congressional term limits, pointing to several reasons why the current practice of unlimited terms is dangerous to American democracy.
1,144 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 3 sources, 1999, $ 39.95
From the Paper "In recent years, the status quo in Washington seems to be leaning towards career politicians and ever increasing length of service as a legislator. While many support the idea of career politicians as natural considering the degree of specialization and experience now necessary, other conservatively-minded reformers see the career politician as debasing the federal government and antithetical to the principles of democracy. While there are formidable arguments in favor of career politicians, it is clear that this idea of lifetime service to the government is antithetical to principles of American democracy and the intentions of our forefathers. This dangerous trend must be curtailed by the institution of Congressional term limits. "
This paper examines the fact that although both theorists differ moderately in their approaches and definitions of despotism of the majority, they agree it hinders the liberty and individuality of the citizens and is tyrannical.
1,844 words (approx. 7.4 pages), 2 sources, 1998, $ 59.95
From the Paper "Political theorists have long pondered the formula for a successful governing system. In doing so, despotism and majoritarian rule have arisen as two possible forms of government. John Stuart Mill in On Liberty, and Alexi de Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, both refute the idea of despotic rule, not of a single ruler, but of the majority. The ?tyranny of the majority,?[1] as Mill describes, is worse than straightforward dictatorship and should be avoided. Tocqueville concurs that unlimited power, in the hands of an absolute majority that is able to exercise both physical and moral control, is dangerous to the sovereignty of the individual. "
Abstract This is an argument paper that addresses the causes of the continuing hostilities in Northern Ireland. The discussion focuses on the fact that while religion was the original cause of the fighting between the Catholics and the Protestants, additional social and political factors have continued to promote and aggravate these hostilities.
Abstract This paper presents the similarities between aspects of the presidential election in 1876 between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes, and Democrat Samuel Tilden, and in 2000, between Republican George Bush and Democrat Al Gore.
After discussing the successes and failures of the founding fathers, the author of the paper concludes that they mostly did a good job, but disputes that America now has a pure democracy.
1,360 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 2 sources, 2000, $ 45.95
From the Paper " A perfect democracy would be a democracy where everyone- the poor, the rich, the weak, the strong- get to have a say in what the government does. Wherein the supreme power ultimately rests with the people. However, this is not reality. Instead, representative democracy can be defined in two ways: the responsible model and the popular model. In the popular model, ordinary people have a great deal of freedom and ability to participate actively in government. In this type, elections express the popular will and determine policies. Examples of this model include the House of Representatives, the Virginia Plan, and citizen initiatives. In the responsible model, citizens play a more passive role. Government officials have a great deal of freedom to act on the behalf of the country as a whole. Elections here, grant popular consent and determine leaders. Examples of this model are the Senate, the New Jersey Plan, and the Supreme Court. Although the people of the United States live in a democracy that has both popular and responsible elements, democracy here has always been more denoted by the popular model. "
A look at the different schools of thought that have offered ways to improve the environmental quality of the world, focusing on two particular theories.
1,500 words (approx. 6 pages), 2 sources, 1998, $ 49.95
From the Paper "In recent years the environment has become the focus of an ongoing and seemingly never-ending controversy; a controversy that centers itself on the human exploitation of the natural world. Although the exploitation of nature has been happening for centuries, interest in the well-being of the environment only became important when the Western world, especially Americans, realized that their rate of growth, progress, and development, while affording them a better lifestyle, was at the same time causing an unhealthy and deteriorating environment in which the much needed and used resources were-rapidly disappearing or becoming unusable. "
Abstract A discussion about how the abstractions in the Declaration of Independence have become the foundations of American society and helped to shape the "American Identity."
From the Paper "There are many abstractions in the Declaration of Independence. These abstractions such as: rights, freedom, liberty and happiness have become the foundations of American society and have helped to shape the "American Identity." Power, another abstraction that reoccurs in all the major parts of the Declaration of Independence plays an equally important role in shaping "America identity." One forgets the abstraction of power, because it appears in relation to other institutions: the legislature, the King, the earth, and the military. The abstraction of power sets the tone of the Declaration, and shapes the colonists conception of government and society. Power in the Declaration of Independence flows from distinct bodies within society such as the King, the legislature, the military, and the colonists."
Abstract The essay considers current developments in China and the repercussions they might have on the domestic and international scene. The issues considered span the social, political, and economic landscape along with background information about the years past World War II. The effect of the transition between communism and democracy is also taken into consideration.
From the Paper "There is nothing ordinary about China, one of world's leading powers. It has the largest population with about 1.3 billion inhabitants, has the third largest area, behind Russia and Canada, and one with nuclear capability. China is not only a great contemporary power but also has a great potential to be the greatest economic military and political power surpassing even that of the United States. "
Abstract This paper identifies the origins of the conflict in Northern Ireland and looks at the situation up to the present time.
From the Paper "The problems between Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants comes from age-old disputes. This War of Religion is still as much of a problem today as it was centuries ago. There have been many attempts to try and amend this hatred but none so far have succeeded. The troubles in Northern Ireland are political, economic, cultural, and historic, but religious identity is what keeps the hatred alive. This one characteristic is the deciding factor of which side an Ulster resident supports in this 400-year old feud. These feuds are a result of the English invasions that took place many centuries ago (CQ Researcher 803)."
From the Paper "The Midwest is expected to see prices of gasoline reach up to three dollars a gallon this summer. The cause is that more than three quarters of the energy that powers our automobiles, homes and factories; is from fossil fuels (coal, oil, etc.). These resources which some told us would last forever, is suddenly in short, limited supply. Our oil is running out and there is little time left to ponder what we will do about it. Energy is all around us; we just have not found safe and easy ways of capitalizing on it. Finding the nation a reliable and plentiful energy source must be the top priority for the American government."
Abstract This paper details the origins of the Peace Corps and its development. It looks at the key political figures who urged the association to be set up. It talks about the type of work the association does, the requirements volunteers have to meet, training methods and goals and the way the type of volunteers involved in the Peace Corps has changed over time.
From the Paper "It was Wednesday, November 2, 1960. With election day less than a week away, more than one thousand five hundred enthusiastic democrats assembled at a $100.00 a plate dinner at San Francisco's Sheraton Palace Hotel. Speaking to his uproarious supporters, who punctuated his every sentence with screams and cheers, candidate Kennedy called for the establishment of a pool of "talented young men and women willing to serve their country" for three years as an alternative or as a supplement to peacetime selective service, well qualified through rigorous standards? to be ambassadors of peace.? That night in the raging melee of the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the American Peace Corps was born (Sullivan 13-15)."
Abstract This paper looks at the similarities between Shakespeare's "Henry V" and Machiavelli's "The Prince", and the concept of the perfect king. The two plays are discussed, and the concept that either Shakespeare is drawing his inspiration for his dramatization from Machiavelli or that both Machiavelli and Shakespeare have similar ideas of what the ideal ruler would be.
From the Paper "In Henry V, Shakespeare presents Henry as the ultimate ideal of kingship. The only question is where does this idea of a perfect king come from, and after reading Machiavelli's Prince and Henry V one begins to note similarities. Not the least of which is the passage quoted above, a true Machiavellian manoeuvre. In this passage, the governor of Harfleur, the French city under siege by Henry's troops, has refused entrance to the army of Henry. As Machiavelli says, "it is wiser to have a reputation for meanness which brings reproach without hatred, than to be compelled through seeking a reputation for liberality". Therefore, Henry, following this advice of Machiavelli, does exactly that, and frightens the innocent people of Harfleur into opening their city gates through the sheer grotesqueness of his command. We frequently see these similarities between the actions of Henry, at least through Shakespeare's portrayal, and the recommended actions of a good prince, as documented in Machiavelli's The Prince. Therefore, one might draw the conclusion that either Shakespeare is drawing his inspiration for his dramatisation from Machiavelli or that both Machiavelli and Shakespeare have similar ideas of what the ideal ruler would be."
Abstract This paper discusses influencing factors on the decision to send atomic bombs on Japan during WWII. The author argues that atomic bombs used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were essential for America to win WWII.
From the Paper "The peaceful town of Hiroshima, Japan was beginning its day on the morning of August 6, 1945. Many Japanese were going to work or still in bed. The streets were bustling with bicycles. All at once, a flash of light was seen in the air. A deafening roar and fire hotter that the sun's surface. "Little Boy" exploded with the strength of twenty million tons of dynamite. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan were necessary for the Allies to win the Second World War, according to their terms of unconditional surrender of Japan. In order to determine this, one must observe: One, the German Nazi's example to Japan; two, the strife between Japan and the Allies; and three, the arguments given by Secretary of War Harry L. Stimson."
Abstract Paper about religious fundamentalism and the liberal modern world. Compares Christian fundamentalism in the United States, with Islamic fundamentalism. Also discusses radical fundamentalism with the Taliban in Afghanistan.
From the Paper "Fundamentalism is a religious phenomenon that has taken 20th century politics by storm. As defined by Webster's English dictionary fundamentalism has a direct correlation with Protestant Christianity; however, it has in the past, and is currently, impacting many other forms of religion. Since the 1970's many religious movements have emerged into political governments and ideologies all over the world. The dominating religion in Europe is Catholicism; Hinduism is very strong in eastern Asia; Judaism is the ranking religion in Israel and Israeli's political decision; and finally, Islam is the principal religion in the Middle East. Islam is the second largest religion in the world, second only to Christianity which is the main religion in the United States and is actually making a strong comeback in America."
Tags: fundamentalism, islam, globe, religion, belief, traditional
