The topics for the first short paper are below. You may choose to write about any of the topics. This assignment should be approximately 1500 words in length. The topics are designed to be open-ended, so feel free to diverge from them as long as you are making an interesting and effective argument related to the American presidency. Your paper should cite at least one scholarly source (a published book or journal article is preferred, though there are other acceptable types) that is not an assigned class reading. You may cite as many sources as you need, whether assigned or not, but you need at least one outside source. I expect you to make and defend a coherent argument; this paper should not merely be a summary of the ideas of others.
1. Between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, who made more accurate predictions about how the presidency would work? You can consider contemporary or historical Presidents, but be sure to say something about the arguments made by at least one side during the ratification debates. Did the Framers design the office well, or should they have done something differently?