An interesting topic for a research paper in politics could be a pro and con essay about whether the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution should be repealed, which would allow presidents to serve more than two four-year terms in office. In support of the repeal, you could argue that true democracy would allow voters to decide whether they wanted a president to serve 12 consecutive years, and that by limiting terms, the Constitution is infringing on the voters' right to choose. In opposition, you could make the case that eight years in office is sufficient for any one president to complete his agenda, and that four more years would encourage an autocratic and perhaps even dictatorial style of governing. You could also write a persuasive essay that takes only one position on this issue.
No shortage of controversy has surrounded the use of standardized test scores as a requirement for admission to institutions of higher learning. An essay on this subject could ask whether the use of these scores should be abolished as a factor in admission. You could persuasively argue that major universities such as like Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, have made standardized test scores optional for applicants, and that these tests do not provide an accurate measure of a student's potential. You could also make the case that schools should adopt a policy that makes standardized tests optional and places more emphasis on extracurricular activities, community service and diversity of coursework.
Along with stem cell research, cloning has become a divisive topic in public discourse, and a research paper could pose the question of whether the government should fund cloning. This would take the form of a pro and con essay, arguing both sides of the issue and presenting valid points. To support a pro view, you could discuss how scientists believe that cloning will enable them to produce breakthroughs such as repairing damaged nerve tissue by cloning new cells from human embryo clones. A con view would argue that cloning is expensive (the first animal clone took 277 attempts), immoral and could lead to the genetic manipulation of human embryos to create more perfect offspring.
After the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001, Congress passed the USA Patriot Act. Among other provisions, the act gave the government broad powers to search homes and businesses without an owner's permission, electronically monitor and wiretap suspected terrorists without a court order, and detain anyone suspected of terrorism without having to charge him with a crime. Although many provisions of the Patriot Act have been changed, the measure can form the basis of a research paper that discusses the extent to which civil liberties have been curtailed or violated in the quest to root out terrorists. You could also research statistics and detail the number of terrorist arrests and convictions since the act was passed.