Essay

1. Divided gov is a gov in which the many different sects keep a good system of checks and balances on each other keeping any one level of gov from gaining too much power. However, with this system it is significantly harder to get every sect of gov to agree on an issue In order to pass a law than it would be if the gov was not divided .

2. Mayhem's thesis on divided government states that a administration works at its best whenever the presidency,the House and the Senate are controlled by separate political parties. It defines convention wisdom because one would think that if the government was divided over ideas and policies then nothing will get done. Alas that theory is disproven because it has been shown that more legislation gets done whenever there are times of divided government.

3. Discuss and analyze Mayhew's five arguments (claims) that support his thesis on divided government.

"...These authors do not argue that a unified party control always generates large collections of notable legislation. But they can be read to predict that it should generate, over a long period of time when contrasted with divided control, considerably more such legislation." Mayhew states here that the previously quoted authors, Randall B. Ripley and V.O. Key, Jr., were not arguing that a unified government always creates a lot of notable laws, but they are more likely to produce notable legislation compared to divided control.

Mayhew also considers the argument that Congress of the opposite party to the president will often scrutinize the president's performance, but argues that it also adds a "check" to keep the president and bureaucrats in line. He also notes that Woodrow

Wilson would call it an antagon...

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... that if everyone had the same facts about a specific situation that they would all want the same thing. However, Truman states that the differing experiences we all have encourage individuality and also result in differing attitudes to certain subject matters. Truman backs his statement by claiming that even during wartime, when we should be united in our goals, we "... always find pacifists, conscientious objectors, spies, and subversives, who reflect interests opposed of those of 'the nation as a whole.'

4.

The group’s status/prestige within their country.

Are they rich or poor?

Are they young or old?

Are they vegan?

The group’s internal structure.

Are they organizized?

Is their base broad?

Are they vocal?

The government itself.

Will the government allow freedom of speech?

Did they experience a recent scandal?

Will the establishment actively work against them.