THESE ARE THE MAJOR OBJECTIVES
AND TOPICS YOU NEED TO STUDY!
Objective #1: Students will understand the constitutional
underpinnings of the United States.
Issues with the Articles of Confederation
Importance of Shays Rebellion
Debate between Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
Aspects of our Federal System
Significance of the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison
Powers of the federal government: enumerated and implied
Theories of democracy: pluralism, hyperpluralism, elite-class
theory
Objective #2: Students will identify the political beliefs and
behaviors of Americans.
What is our political culture?
Consent of the governed/popular sovereignty
Who typically votes for what political party?
 Ex.— Women typically vote Democrat, while men
typically vote Republican. This is a clear gap in
candidate preferences between the genders.
What is political socialization and what is the most influential
factor?
Aspects of public opinion polling
Definition of political efficacy
Different beliefs between liberals and conservatives
Objective #3: Students will analyze the purpose and
outcomes of political parties, interest groups, and the mass
media.
Why do we have a two-party political system?
Who typically votes for what political party? (Again)
Difference between political parties and interest groups
Role of Political Action Committees
Objective #4: Students will analyze the powers and
responsibilities of the Legislative Branch.
What are the constitutional requirements to run for House and
Senate?
How long are the terms of a Representative and a Senator?
How are members of the Legislative Branch elected?
Definition of divided government
Roles of the different types of committees in Congress
Definition of logrolling, pork barrel legislation, and riders
Understanding of the winner-take-all system
Understanding of a majority vs. a plurality election
Roles of the Legislative Branch (Think: approval power, power
of the purse, etc.)
What can Congress do with its powers? (Think: make laws,
approve treaties, etc.)
Legislative checks on the other two branches of government
Sample Questions!
1. To which characteristic of American government
does the term “federalism” refer?
A. The system of checks and balances within
the national government
B. The power of the Supreme Court to review
the constitutionality of laws
C. The Bill of Rights’ protection of the rights of
the accused
D. The process by which the size of each state’s
delegation to the House is determined
E. The division and sharing of power between
the national and state governments
2. An electoral system based on single-member
districts is usually characterized by
A. Strong, centralized political parties and a
weak executive
B. Higher rates of voter turnout than are
common in other systems
C. Legislative representation of each party in
proportion to the number of votes it receives
D. Domination of the legislature by two
political parties
E. Ideological rather than mass-based parties
3. Which group most frequently benefits from
political action committee (PAC) donations?
A. Charitable organizations
B. Federal judges
C. Political interest groups
D. Research institutes
E. Incumbents running for reelection
4. “Pork barrel” legislation helps the reelection
chances of a member of Congress because such
legislation
A. Gives the member of Congress national
standing and coverage on national television
news
B. Helps earn the member of Congress a
reputation for service to his or her district
C. Attracts campaign contributions from
ideological political action committees
D. Prevents other candidates from claiming that
the member of Congress is too liberal for his
or her district
E. Requires the member of Congress to travel
extensively
Objective #5: Students will analyze the powers and
responsibilities of the Executive Branch.
The role of the Electoral College
How do candidates for election win electors in each state?
Biggest influence for individual voting habits
What are the constitutional powers of the president?
What do presidential candidates think about when choosing a
VP running mate?
What is the job of the federal bureaucracy?
What can the federal bureaucracy do after Congress passes a
law?
What is the major office that deals with budget proposals?
What is the significance of a presidential veto?
What are the checks of the Executive Branch on the other
branches of government?
Objective #6: Students will analyze the powers and
responsibilities of the Judicial Branch.
Who decides the number of Justices on the Supreme Court?
What are the formal qualifications for being a federal judge?
Importance of federal judges serving during good behavior
(Think: Free from some influences of $, campaigns, etc.)
Different types of briefs submitted: lawyer briefs and amicus
curiae briefs
How does the Supreme Court get its cases? What is the most
popular way?
Different types of jurisdiction and what courts have original vs.
appellate
Difference between judicial activism vs. judicial restraint
Importance of the Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison
and McCulloch v. Maryland
What is the rule of four?
Objective #7: Students will identify the public policymaking
process, the different types of public policy, and their
impact on society.
What are the different types of public policy?
How is money involved in public policy?
Who is involved in the Iron Triangle?
What is the impact of federalism on the policies created?
Objective #8: Students will analyze the constitutional
foundation of civil liberties and civil rights and their
historical progress in the three branches of government.
Definition of civil liberties
Definition of civil rights
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965
What is 14th Amendment incorporation?
Definition of a write of habeas corpus, bill of attainder, and ex
post facto laws
Significance of the cases Mapp v. Ohio, Miranda v. Arizona,
Roe v. Wade, Gideon v. Wainright, Tinker v. Des Moines
A basic understanding of the amendments in the Bill of Rights
What Supreme Court case outlaws segregation?
What are the restrictions on freedom of speech?
5. Which of the following would result from the
direct election of presidential candidates?
A. A national primary would be established
B. Party nominating conventions would be
abolished
C. Each vote would count equally in
determining which candidate won the
election
D. The Electoral College would become more
influential in the electoral process
E. Third Party candidates would have less
chance of winning the election
6. Which of the following statements accurately
describes the selection of the caseload for the United
States Supreme Court?
A. The United States Constitution spells out all
of the categories of cases that the Supreme
Court must hear
B. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has
the authority to select the cases that the court
will hear
C. The Solicitor General in the Department of
Justice determines the Supreme Court’s
agenda
D. The Supreme Court is free to choose the
cases it hears with only a few limitations
E. The Attorney General screens cases for
consideration by the Court
7. Fiscal federalism is
A. The pattern of spending, taxing, and
providing grants in the federal system
B. The distinct separation of national
government spending vs. state spending
C. The federal income tax
D. A sharing of local and national resources
practiced in other countries
E. The federal government’s regulation of the
money supply and interest rates
8. All of the following statements reflect positions
the Supreme Court has taken with regard to the right
of free speech EXCEPT:
A. A restriction on the right of free speech
should always be viewed with skepticism
B. There are not acceptable governmental
restrictions on free speech
C. Government has an obligation to try to
ensure citizens the right to be heard
D. The right to free speech is a fundamental
natural right
E. The First Amendment protects free speech
from incursions of both the federal and state
governments