Objective/Topic:
Understand and anaylze the pros and cons of different ways of having an executive branch.
Background
Presidential systems or Parliamentary systems….which is the more stable system?
Professor Juan Linz argued that parliamentary systems were more stable than presidential systems, for a number of reasons that you will learn about.
In this short essay, you will look at some of his arguments, and discuss/analyze which system, in our educated opinion, is more stable. And given all of this, what is the likely future of American democracy.
Just an FYI, both systems are used in democracies worldwide.
Instructions:
Read the chapter in our textbook on the Presidency
Read Juan Linz’ Bad News for AmericaLinks to an external site.
In a 1 page essay (250 words), eiscuss all of the following points in your own words:
Explain, in your own words, why Linz argues that parliamentary democracies are more stable than presidential democracies. Be sure to explain why parliamentary are more stable and presidential less stable.
Reflect on which system is more stable and why.
Important Expectations and Reminders:
Your short essay should be aproximately 250 words (1 double spaced page, 12 pt font)
Include evidence from our textbook and any sources included in the assignment, and include in-text citations for that evidence.
Do not use outside sources. Only use those sources provided in the assignment.
Do not use AI for any other part of the essay. Your words are always best!
Grading
Mastery of content (50-46pts): Shows a mastery of the content, accurately answered all aspects of the question, used multiple pieces of appropriate evidence to support analysis, grammatically clean and spell-checked.
Solid grasp of content (45-41pts): Shows a solid grasp of the content, accurately answered all aspects of the question but there may have been aspects that were not entirely accurate and/or fully explained, used one or two pieces of evidence but could have expanded a bit more, a few grammatical and/or spelling errors.
Beginning understanding of content (40-36pts): Shows a beginning understanding of the content, began to answer questions, but may not have answered all parts of the question; and/or lacked evidence or needed to expand much more on evidence, and/or more than a few grammatical and/or spelling errors. May have relied too much on opinion without adequate use of evidence to support analysis.
Struggled with information (lower than 36pts): Struggled with the information, may not have understood the question or did not answer it accurately, and/or did not use the sources as evidence for analysis, and often there is no analysis, simply opinion.