Is it likely that your solution will be implemented? Is it going to be a very controversial solution? Is there any controversy? Are there any possible negative impacts of implementing your solution?

DISCUSSION ESSAY

Here are the basic instructions:

Each student must submit a 4-page (double-spaced) paper on the topic of an institutional solution that would make American democracy better. Several institutional solutions will be discussed thoroughly in class before the paper topic is due. Students will be sorted by preference into the most popular institutional solutions among the class before Fall Break.

1. Identify a problem in American government. Consider answering the following questions:

• a. Why is this the problem you think needs to be solved?
• b. How does it affect democracy and why should we care?

2. Identify your solution. Describe your solution in detail and explain why it is the best choice to help with the problem you identified. Consider answering the following questions:

• a. Why is this solution better than others?
• b. If your solution requires lots of choices (like how to redistrict in a new way, or how to reform the Supreme Court, etc) why did you make the choices you did?
• c. What obvious impact will your solution have on the problem? Are there other possible impacts, long term impacts?

3. Identify any limitations regarding your solution. Consider answering the following questions:

• a. Is it likely that your solution will be implemented?
• b. Is it going to be a very controversial solution? Is there any controversy?
• c. Are there any possible negative impacts of implementing your solution?
• d. Why is it still the best choice, even if there are limitations?