STUDY GUIDE
For
Final Exam
Democratic Republic
● What is a democratic republic
● Examples of direct democracy
● What concerns did the authors of the Constitution have with direct democracy
● Meaning of universal suffrage
● Constitutional principle to prevent oppressive majority rule
The Constitution
● Federalists vs. Antifederalists
● Who authored Federalist 10 & 51
● Who authored the Declaration of Independence
● Purpose of separation of powers & checks and balances
● Judicial review
● Role of Bill of Rights in ratifying the Constitution
● Name of first constitution of the US
● Process of ratifying the Constitution
● Number and meaning of stars and stripes on US flag
Federalism and Missouri Government
● Definition of federalism
● Dual vs. Cooperative federalism
● What year was the first constitution of Missouri adopted
● Which constitution provides more democracy – US or MO
● 10th Amendment – what is it about
● Who is the chief elections officer in states/Missouri
● State official with responsibilities like US president
● Supremacy clause
Civil Liberties
● Definition
● 1st, 4th,5th, 6th, 8th Amendment
● What do government authorities need to conduct a legal search of someone’s property
● Roe v. Wade – what is it about
Civil Rights
● Definition
● 13th, 14th, 15th, and 19th Amendment
● Brown v. Board of Education
● Civil Rights technique advocated by Rev. Martin Luther King
Public Opinion, Political Socialization, and the Media
● Ideology that prefers private sector to manage the economy
● Ideology that claims capitalism works best with government regulation/oversight
● Which political part are individuals with high incomes likely to support
● Which political party are people in urban areas likely to support
● What is the primary source of revenue for privately owned media companies
Interest Groups and Political Parties
● What electoral system provides a suitable environment for a two-party system
● Political parties vs. interest groups
Campaigns and Elections
● What is a primary election
● How the number of electoral college votes for each state is determined
● Number of electoral college votes needed to become president of the US
● Term that describes the process of allocating House seats among states
Congress
● Delegates vs. trustees
● Who signs bills into laws
● Most powerful leader in the US Senate
● Most powerful leader in the US House of Representatives
● Term describing unlimited debate in the Senate
● Who does most of the legislative work in Congress
The President
● Role or powers of the US president
o Chief executive, head of state, etc.
● Amendment that limits the number of terms an individual can serve as US president
● Part of the Constitution that (Article and Section) that defines qualifications to run for
president of US
● Line of succession to presidency
The Executive Branch
● Pendleton Act
● Privatization
● What are the two categories of federal employees
The Courts
● Sources of American law
● How do federal justices and judges get their job
● Opinions of the court – majority, concurring, dissenting, etc
● Judicial activism, judicial restraint, etc.
Domestic and Economic Policy
● Problems associated with an economic boom
● Problems associated with an economic recession
● Policies used to stabilize or stimulate the economy
● Meaning and example of a progressive tax
● Meaning and example of a mandatory expenditure
● Term that describes when a government spends more than has
Foreign Policy
● Foreign policy philosophies
● Which federal department uses diplomacy as its main tool
● Powers of US president that makes him or her dominant in foreign policy
● Cold War – countries involved, what was it about, where conflicts took place
● US foreign policy in 1800s, 1900s, and 2000s