1. Would you ever want to be president? Why or why not? Is being the President the hardest job in the world? Why or why not?

2. Is it ever legal for the American government to execute citizens without a trial? Why or why not?

3. Describe the feelings of the founders towards the new chief executive position. In what ways did they want to make the position strong? In what ways did they want to keep the position constrained?

4. What advantages might a plural executive have? What disadvantages might a plural executive have? Why did the founders ultimately choose a single executive?

5. How important is the State of the Union to the President and his agenda? What kinds of things does the President discuss? How has this vaguely described event become a national ceremony of sorts?

6. How strong a power is the veto? Is it a sign of presidential strength or of presidential weakness? If you were the President, how often would you use your veto power? How often would you use a veto threat?

7. How strong a power is the pardon? Is it a vital check on the judiciary or a minor power that president can use solely at their discretion? If you were the President, how often would you use your pardoning power and why?

8. Think about 1992, “the year of the woman.” Why, until this year, have we not seen a female presidential nominee? What factors have led to the President being almost exclusively a white man? How likely do you think the institution is to diversify in the future?

9. Is the length of term for the President long enough? What does the length of term mean practically for their behavior? What can presidents do to avoid being a “lame duck”?

10. Consider the War Powers Act. What are its major components? Is it constitutional, why or why not? Is it a good idea, why or why not?

11. Why is the presidency so hard to study for scholars? What do you think about Barber and the study of presidential personality? Is it a reasonable approach? How much of presidents is their personalities and how much of it circumstance?

12. What powers does the Vice President have? If you were President, how would you use your Vice President? Would you ever want to be Vice President?

13. In what ways can the First Spouse/First Lady help the President? How could the First Spouse/First Lady hurt the President? What role did Michelle Obama play in the Obama White House?

14. Think about the formal powers of the President. Which one is the more powerful? Or is public opinion, especially popular opinion in the public, the greatest power that the President has? Please explain your answer.

15. Think about executive orders and executive agreements. Are these strong powers for the President, why or why not? If you were the President, how often would you use these powers and why?

16. Think about the two main policy-oriented institutions in Washington, Congress and the President. Which of these institutions should take the lead in terms of policy? Which of these is a more democratic institution? Make sure to justify your answer.