Constitutional Foundations Final Exam Review Guide
Chapter 1:
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What is a state & theories of the origin of the state – evolutionary, force, divine right, social contract
Purposes of Government
Forms of government – democracy, autocracy, oligarchy, dictatorship
Distribution of power – unitary, federal, confederate
Relationships between legislative & executive branches
Foundations
Chapter 2:
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Basic concepts of government
Magna Carta – what is was and why it was important
Types of colonies
Britain’s colonial policies that led to the American Revolution
Albany Plan of Union
Articles of Confederation & problems (weaknesses), Declaration of Independence (key parts), Virginia Plan, New
Jersey Plan, Connecticut Compromise, other compromises
Federalists & Anti-federalists; positions of each
Chapter 3:
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Constitution – Basic structure, the three branches and their purposes (Articles), popular sovereignty, limited
government, separation of powers, checks and balances – know how each branch can check/balance a different
branch, judicial review, Marbury v. Madison, federalism – federal/shared/state powers
Amendment process
Bill of Rights (general knowledge – you do not have to know the specific amendments by number)
Other Amendments – 12th, Civil War amendments, 22nd, 25th, 26th
Other ways that can affect the meaning of the Constitution
Chapter 4.1/4.3:
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Federalism, delegated powers, expressed powers, implied powers, inherent powers, reserved powers, exclusive
powers, concurrent powers – you should know examples of the different types of powers
Supremacy clause, Necessary & Proper Clause (Elastic Clause), Full Faith & Credit Clause, Privileges and
Immunities Clause – know examples
Interstate relations, interstate compacts, extradition
Chapter 10:
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Structure – bicameral
For Representatives and Senators - qualifications, terms of office
Reapportionment, redistricting, gerrymandering
House & Senate: Structure of leadership
Voting philosophies – trustee, partisan, politico, delegate
Chapter 12.1/12.3/12.4
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Congressional organization of House & Senate; leadership positions
Private bill, public bills, simple/joint/concurrent resolutions, pigeonholing, discharge petition, hearing, filibuster,
cloture, veto, pocket veto
How a bill becomes law
Chapter13:
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Presidential roles
Qualifications, Presidential Succession Act of 1947, 25th Amendment
Vice-Presidency
Electoral College – how it works and reform proposals
Presidential nominations – primaries/caucuses/national conventions
Chapter 18.1/18.3:
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Dual court system; types of federal courts & jurisdictions – exclusive, concurrent (with states), original, appellate
Plaintiff/defendant
Judicial activism/judicial restraint
Court officers
Supreme Court – number of justices/how appointed, judicial review, jurisdiction, majority/concurring/dissenting
opinions
How a case reaches the Supreme Court
Essay Preparation: Be prepared to discuss the three branches of government – structure, responsibilities/powers,
checks and balances
Suggestions:
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Flash cards for vocabulary and topics (example: you can make up a flash card that states “Purposes of
government” on one side, and lists the purposes on the other side)
Review your textbook, handouts, homework outlines
Write questions and answers for yourself on the above topics; quiz yourself after you think you know the
correct answer – if you are wrong, or can’t remember the answer, find out the correct answer and review the
topic again
Re-read the text for areas that are unclear
After you have studied, review your chapter tests/quizzes and quiz yourself again, paying attention to the
questions that you had missed
Online self-tests may also be helpful