Temple College
GOVT 2302
Trey White
NAME:_______________________
Fall, 2001
FINAL EXAM
PART I. ESSAY 1. Answer one (1) of the following in a well-organized, well-constructed essay with
a thesis sentence or controlling statement. Write complete sentences and pay attention to spelling,
grammar, and word choice. Do NOT assume that the instructor will “know what you mean.” WRITE
LEGIBLY IN INK!. Use the space below and on the back of this page (if necessary) to write your answer.
16 points.
1.
Discuss the role of Congress in developing policy with respect to both of the following issues:
a. the death penalty
b. affirmative action
Use one of the following summary statements as your thesis statement: [1] “As a popularly-elected
body, Congress generally passes laws that reflect the will of popular majorities against the courts in
battles over these moral issues.” Or [2] “Electoral pressures encourage politically conservative
legislators to take leadership roles in legislating traditional values, while providing incentives for
many liberal legislators to take low profile roles in the debates over proposed legislation.” Identify
and discuss specific acts of Congress to illustrate your points.
2.
Discuss the role of presidents in developing policy with respect to both of the following issues:
a. the death penalty
b. affirmative action
Use one of the following summary statements as your thesis statement: [1] “Presidents have generally
provided only symbolic leadership with respect to these issues and have exercised very limited
decision-making authority in these areas.” Or [2] “Republican presidents have exploited these
moral controversies in an attempt to mobilize their base of political support among conservative
voters, while Democratic presidents have tried to evade these issues in an effort to avoid alienating
moderate voters while simultaneously not abandoning their base of support among liberals.”
Identify and discuss specific presidential actions to illustrate your points.
PART II. ESSAY 2. Answer one (1) of the following in a well-organized, well-constructed essay
with a thesis sentence or controlling statement. Write complete sentences and pay attention to spelling,
grammar, and word choice. Do NOT assume that the instructor will “know what you mean.” WRITE
LEGIBLY IN INK!. Use the space below and on the back of this page (if necessary) to write your answer.
16 points.
1. Discuss the role of public opinion in the debate over the following issues:
a. the death penalty
b. affirmative action
Use one of the following summary statement as your thesis statement: “Public opinion is often
conservative, sometimes moderate, and rarely liberal on issues involving these moral controversies,
but is almost always less intense than the positions argued by lobby groups who favor social
change.” Identify and discuss the results of public opinion polls related to the three issues you select to
illustrate your points.
2. Discuss the role of interest groups in the debate the following issues:
a. the death penalty
b. affirmative action
Use the following summary statement as your thesis statement: “Because single issue groups usually
articulate their arguments as absolute moral imperatives, they tend to polarize the political
debate on these issues.” Identify and discuss specific groups and the positions they take on the three
issues you select to illustrate your points.
PART III. SHORT ANSWER 1. Answer one (1) of the following in a paragraph. Do NOT
answer specific parts as separate items. Integrate your responses into a well-organized, well-constructed
paragraph. Write complete sentences and pay attention to spelling, grammar, and word choice. Do NOT
assume that the instructor will “know what you mean.” WRITE LEGIBLY IN INK!. Use the space below
and on the back of this page (if necessary) to write your answer. 16 points.
1. Explain the exclusionary rule. What USSC decisions are relevant to the exclusionary rule? What
provision(s) of the Constitution is (are) relevant to the exclusionary rule?
2. Explain the significance of the Miranda warnings in the process of a criminal investigation.
PART IV. SHORT ANSWER 2. Answer one (1) of the following in a paragraph. Do NOT
answer specific parts as separate items. Integrate your responses into a well-organized, well-constructed
paragraph. Write complete sentences and pay attention to spelling, grammar, and word choice. Do NOT
assume that the instructor will “know what you mean.” WRITE LEGIBLY IN INK!. Use the space below
and on the back of this page (if necessary) to write your answer. 16 points.
1. Explain why the USSC believed that the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause failed to provide a
constitutional basis for Congress’ positive civil rights agenda in the late 19 th century. Discuss the
constitutional provision that the USSC used to uphold congressional legislation in the mid-20th century.
2. What is the current law with respect to affirmative action in admissions policies of universities? [What
is the significance of the federal court’s decisions in BAKKE V UC, DAVIS and HOPWOOD V TEXAS?]
PART V. SHORT ANSWER 3. Answer one (1) of the following in a paragraph. Do NOT answer
specific parts as separate items. Integrate your responses into a well-organized, well-constructed
paragraph. Write complete sentences and pay attention to spelling, grammar, and word choice. Do NOT
assume that the instructor will “know what you mean.” WRITE LEGIBLY IN INK!. Use the space below
and on the back of this page (if necessary) to write your answer. 16 points.
1.
Explain why the USSC believed that the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause failed to provide a
constitutional basis for Congress’ positive civil rights agenda in the late 19 th century. Discuss the
constitutional provision that the USSC used to uphold congressional legislation in the mid-20th century.
2.
List the major civil rights statutes passed by Congress during the civil rights movement of the mid-20th
century and discuss the major provisions of these acts.
PART VI. IDENTIFICATION. Define and identify the importance of ten (10) of the following
items in a sentence or two for each. 20 points/2 pts. each. Use the back of the page (if necessary) to
continue your answer(s). Your answer should be written to demonstrate your familiarity with and
understanding of each term. These items can be answered in two or three sentences. You should go
beyond simple definitions of the terms or concepts to say why each is.
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exclusionary rule
6th Amendment
5th Amendment
4th Amendment
Emancipation Proclamation
Jim Crowism
equality of opportunity
equality of results
de jure segregation
de facto segregation
affirmative action
reverse discrimination
14th Amendment equal protection clause
14th Amendment due process clause
CIVIL RIGHTS CASES of 1883
PLESSY V FERGUSON
BROWN V BOARD OF EDUCATION
KATZENBACH V MCCLUNG
BAKKE V UC, DAVIS
HOPWOOD V TEXAS