Answer to Question 1
An ideal response will:
1, Describe the mandate theory of elections as the belief that an electoral victory indicates public support for the winning candidate's public policies.
2, Offer advice to a winning candidate for claiming a mandate and achieving public policy success. Such advice should include a media blitz that repeatedly asserts that the people have spoken, followed by calls for Congress to enact the president's agenda.
Answer to Question 2
An ideal response will:
1, Describe how the president is the leader of his or her party and can build alliances with Congress to pass his or her legislative agenda.
2, Discuss the importance of the president's power of persuasion with Congress and the public in reaching his or her policy goals.
3, Detail the idea of a president going public to gain support from the people in order to influence Congress.
4, Note the ability of the president to wage war without an explicit declaration of war from Congress.