PS113_American Political Thought
Midterm Exam Explanation and Review Questions
WHAT TO EXPECT ON EXAM DAY:
 Come to class on time and ready to proceed immediately to the exam. You have 75
minutes for the exam. Use the time allotted wisely.

 Bring at least two blank exam books (blue books/green books) of any shape or size
with you to class on exam day. You can purchase these at the bookstore, or in “The
Store” in the student union.
 Do not put your name on your exam books prior to class. Do not write in them either.
Leave them blank.
 The exam is CLOSED book and notes. The only objects on your desk should be your
writing instruments and your empty exam books. Additional objects on your desk or in
view related to the course material will lead me to believe that an intention to cheat
exists.
 Do not speak to others during the exam. If you any question of any kind, raise your
hand. Conversations between students will be considered cheating.
EXAM STRUCTURE
 The midterm exam will contain three sections.
o Section 1 asks you some basic factual questions (true/false, fill in the blank,
multiple choice).
o Section 2 contains short answer questions.
o Section 3 is short essay.

The questions for all sections of the exam will derive from the following set of review
questions. The questions may not look exactly the same as the review questions, but
their content will not stray from the review questions.
REVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. Describe the ends of government, according to Merriam. Don’t just list them. Describe them
and reveal your understanding of them.
2. Identify and explain 3 injustices that enslaved petitions recounted to the colonial Governor
Gage. Do not just list the injustices. Explain each particular injustice.
3. In the “Declaration of Independence,” Jefferson implies that the King of Britain has violated
the social contract. Explain the logic of the social contract and how Jefferson exposes its
violation.
4. Identify 3-4 aspects of the Articles of Confederation that make it different from the
Constitution.
5. Explain 3 weaknesses that the Federalists associated with the Articles of Confederation. Be
sure to clarify what you mean by weaknesses. What harms or costs do you associate with
them?
6. What are the Federalist Papers?
7. Our Constitution contains compromises. What’s the Connecticut compromise? The 3/5th
Compromise? Explain what these are.
8. Explain how these institutions help protect us from tyranny: majoritarian rule, federalism,
checks, balances, a republican form of government, separation of powers, elections,
impeachment, an extended and populous republic, elite representatives. Don’t just say they
help protect us from tyranny; explain how they work to advance this end.
9. What arguments were made to defend investing considerable power in a unitary executive.
10. The President has the power to make war and Congress has the power to declare war. Why
do scholars argue that the Congress’s power has no effect to check the President’s power to
make war?
11. Describe the President’s diplomacy power.
12. Describe at least 3 of the President’s “legislative powers.”
13. Why did the Founders fear the legislative branch the most?
14. How can the people (us) check government officials when we believe they are not serving
our interests or the public good? Offer at least 3 ways and explain how they work. Offer detail
here.
15. How does Madison define a faction in Federalist 10?
16. Why were the Founders so worried about factions, especially large ones that comprise a
majority of the population in a state or across several states?
17. Carey argues that the Founders were more concerned about government elites tyrannizing
us than they were concerned about majorities in society using government to tyrannize us
Explain the difference.
18. Explain at least three distinct reasons why the AntiFederalists opposed ratification of the
Constitution. Do not just list reasons. Flesh out the problems they saw with the Constitution as
described by the Antifederalists.
19. Identify a few possible ways judges interpret Constitution and how they differ.
20. What is judicial review?
21. The AntiFederalists encouraged readers to promote civic virtue as a way to protect from
tyranny. Explain.
22. Why did the AntiFederalists argue that the Constitution did not offer the people adequate
representation?
23. What does it mean to say that, over time, we have “selectively incorporated” the Bill of
Rights so they now apply to the States, and not just to the Federal government.
24. What does the “free exercise” clause of the 1st Amendment guarantee (within limits)?
25. When the Court considers whether or not it is appropriate to limit political speech, it
applies the “clear and present danger” test and the “fighting words” test. Explain both.
26. What makes “search” “reasonable,” according to the Courts?
27. Identify at least three reasons why civic leaders like Livingston during the Founding period
opposed partisanship. Be as concrete as possible.
28. The Structure of our electoral process helps explain why we have a 2 party system. Explain.
29. What groups tend to identify with the Democratic party today?
30. What groups tend to identify with the Republican party today?
31. What kinds of activities do parties perform during election cycles?
32. Identify 5 policies that the Democratic Party supports today.
33. Identify 5 policies the Republican party supports today?
34. What’s the difference between an implied power and an enumerate power in the
Constitution?
35. Many folks argued that the “necessary and proper clause” gave sweeping or expansive
power to the Federal Government. Explain the argument richly to reveal a firm grasp of the
claim.
36. If you were asked whether or not Congress abused the “necessary and proper clause” what
sorts of tests could you use to explain your response?
36. What is the “nullification” doctrine?
37. What a state “nullifies” federal law what does it presume it has the power to do?
38. Why do Read and Allen argue that the “nullification doctrine” undercuts some of the basic
principles or structures within the Constitution?
39. What reasons do Read and Allen provide to support their argument that we should not
encourage states to nullify federal laws.
40. If a state or state residents object to some federal law or federal action, what, besides
nullification, can they do? Identify at least 3 actions they can take to voice their dissent.
41. What vision of womanhood does Murray reject? What vision does she advance?
42. What explains privileged white women’s lack of reason and judgment, according to
Murray?
43. What vision of womanhood does Sojourner’s Truth reject? What vision does she advance?
44. On what basis does Sojourner’s Truth grant Americans basic rights and liberties? How does
this basis differ from Murray who roots them in cultivated reason and cultivated judgment?
45. Why did some free Black Americans from Baltimore entertain the idea of leaving their US
homeland and moving to Liberia? Be specific and offer a full answer.
46. In what way are the colonization proposals put forth by the American Colonial Society
examples of an implicitly racist “separate but equal” doctrine? Reveal thoughtful understanding
of the argument here.