The course's final exam will address some aspect of political and economic development in Iraq, based on issues that are covered during the semester. The final exam topic from the previous year is provided below.
Sample Final Exam Topic
You have been appointed to a panel of experts who will independently prepare advisory reports to L. Paul Bremer, who is seeking advice on options for the constitutional future of Iraq. You have been asked to answer three questions.
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What are the most important issues that should be considered by constitutional designers, assuming their goal is to build a stable democratic system in Iraq?
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Given these issues, how should Iraq's new constitution deal with the following three institutions:
Please feel free to discuss closely related institutional design issues (e.g. bicameralism) as well.
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Finally, if you could impart one additional piece of advice about the design of the new system, what would it be and why? (e.g. media regulations, status of religious organizations, oil ownership, etc.)
Your response to the first and third questions can be rather brief (15 percent each). Most of your attention (70 percent) should be given to the second question.