TERMS TO COME TO TERMS WITH FOR THE MIDTERM
Politics
Political science
Empirical political science
Normative political science
Political socialization
Political ideology
Public policy
Democracy
The Federalist Papers
Checks and balances
Separation of powers
Capitalism
Socialism
Alexic de Tocqueville
Authority
Power
Monarchy
Mobocracy
Anarchy
Plutocracy
Republic
Pluralism
Oligarchy
Iroquois
Egalitarianism
Mayflower Compact
Lassiez faire capitalism
Covenant
Great Squeeze
John Locke
Thomas Hobbes
Social contract theory
Thomas Paine
Common Sense
Natural rights
Articles of Confederation
Shay’s Rebellion
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Great Compromise
3/5ths Compromise
Federalism
Bill of Rights
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Ratification
unitary system
confederal system
federal system
sovereignty
home rule
Dillon’s Rule
dual federalism
McCulloch v. Maryland
Gibbons v. Ogden
necessary and proper clause
doctrine of nullification
cooperative federalism
categorical grants
block grants
devolution
civil liberties
due process clause
Miranda v. Arizona
Schenck v. U.S.
Barron v. Baltimore
Roe v. Wade
establishment clause
free exercise clause
types of protected speech
Lemon Test
strict scrutiny
rational base
clear and present danger test
prior restraint
press shield law
criminal protections
civil rights
political equality
equality of condition
equality of opportunity
Equal Protection Clause
Jim Crow Laws
Plessy v. Ferguson
de jure segregaton
de facto segregation
Brown v. Board of Education
Earl Warren
Affirmative Action
universal suffrage
Cesar Chavez
STUDY QUESTIONS FOR THE MIDTERM
1.
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4.
Explain what is meant by the terms politics and government.
Describe three factors that contribute to a person’s political socialization.
Explain the difference between empirical politics and normative politics.
Summarize some of the basic principles of American democracy and the basic American
political values.
5. Describe the various debates that occurred at the constitutional convention.
6. What were three complaints that the colonists had against the monarch and explain how
these were rectified in the Bill of Rights?
7. What were two major compromises made by the delegates at the Constitutional
Convention?
8. Discuss the Federalist and the Anti-Federalist positions with respect to ratifying the
Constitution.
9. Explain step by step how the constitution can be amended.
10. Explain step by step how a president can be impeached and then removed from office.
11. Explain the Framers purpose in creating the Electoral College.
12. What was the Supremacy Clause?
13. What was the Necessary and Proper Clause?
14. Explain what federalism means. How is it different from a unitary and confederal
system?
15. What were the Articles of Confederation and why did they fail?
16. Describe the five categories of power that have evolved in our Federal System.
17. What did the case McCulloch v. Maryland entail and what precedence did it set?
18. What did the case Gibbons v. Ogden entail and what precedence did it set?
19. Summarize the evolution of federal-state relationships in the U.S. over time.
20. Describe developments in federalism under federalism in recent times.
21. What are civil liberties, natural rights, and human rights?
22. Explain the constitutional basis for our civil liberties.
23. List and describe the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. Explain how the
courts have interpreted and applied these freedoms.
24. What is the difference between pure speech, speech plus, and symbolic speech? When is
speech not protected?
25. What are the seven original liberties? Define the Latin liberties.
26. Summarize how the Constitution and the Bill of Rights protect the rights of accused
persons.
27. What is the Exclusionary Rule?
28. Explain the case Miranda v. Arizona. What precedence did it set?
29. Explain the constitutional basis for our civil rights and for laws prohibiting
discrimination.
30. Discuss the reasons for the civil rights movement and the changes it effected in American
politics and government.
31. Describe the political and economic achievements of women in this country over time.
Identify some obstacles to equality.
32. Explain what affirmative action is and why it has been so controversial in this country.
33. Evaluate the continuing debates, lawsuits, and protests over civil rights in the twenty-first
century.