Presidential qualifications: are they enough?
Homework No. 7 – Presidential qualifications: are they enough?
Give your paper a title
Write the word count
The essay portion must be a minimum of 650 words
Do not include research portion (U.S. and other countries’ requirements) in word count
For this assignment, you must answer this question: Are the constitutional qualifications sufficient for the office of the United States president? There are two positions to choose from here: YES or NO. There are no other choices. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer here. Your score fully depends on how effectively you argue.
Before you pick a side and write your persuasive essay:
FIRST: list the Constitutional requirements for the office of U.S. president
SECOND: list five countries and then list what the requirements are for their heads of state. This will give you an idea of how the United States compares to other countries regarding what a potential leader is expected to bring to the office. Pick countries in which people vote for their leaders. They can be presidents or prime ministers.
Now you’re ready to for the next section of your homework – 650 words minimum here
If you pick ‘YES’ that the qualifications for the U.S. president are sufficient, then you must explain why they are sufficient. You must make a strong and persuasive argument in support of your position on why they should be kept as they are. You must also present the counter-argument. That is, in defending your choice you must address the weaknesses of the existing qualifications. You must thoroughly justify the keeping of the current constitutional requirements. Do not say dumb things like: they should be kept because they’re perfect just the way they are. This will get you a score of zero. Do not even use the word ‘perfect’ in your essay. In detail, you must explain the rationale for why the qualifications for the most powerful human on earth should remain unchanged.
If you pick ‘NO’ that the qualifications are not sufficient, then you must explain why they are not sufficient. You must make a strong and persuasive argument in support of your position on why they should change. And then you need to list the changes that you would make. You may change one or all of the qualifications, but you must argue rationally and persuasively. Do not say dumb things like they should change because they’re ridiculous. This will get you a score of zero. In detail, you must explain the rationale for why the qualifications for the most powerful human on earth should be changed.
