AP GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
UNIT 1 EXAMINATION STUDY PLAN
MR. WOLGAMOTT
NAME___________________________________DATE_________________HOUR______
CHAPTER 1
KEY TERMS
Authority
Client politics
Direct Democracy
Interest Group Politics
Pluralist View
Pork-Barrel Legislation
Benefit
Cost
Elite
Issue legitimacy
Political Agenda
Power Elite View
Bureaucratic view
Class view
Creedal passion view
Democracy
Entrepreneurial Politics Log-rolling
Majoritarian Politics
Politics
Policy Entrepreneurs
Power
Representative Democracy
TEACHING TOOLS
How the definition of politics changed since the Founding Fathers was began creating
the Constitution? Has American politics improved since this time?
How does politics affect this course? Should government play such a part in society?
Start with the smaller venue of the classroom and then have students expand the
discussion.
Does politics affect your daily life? How? Should citizens concern themselves with such
questions?
Explain the different forms of democracy presented in the text, then discuss why the
Founding Fathers chose the form of democracy they did for the operation of the U. S.
Government.
Debate the decision made by the Founding Fathers that representative democracy is
favorable over direct or participatory government as the governing structure of the
United States.
We have discussed five views of political power; explain each of these views and discuss
what you feel is the dominant view of political power and why.
According to Federalist No. 51: “You must first enable the government to control the
governed, and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” Have contemporary
governments upheld the principles as established by the Founding Fathers?
Discuss whether you feel the government creates the political agenda based on issues
brought forth from the people or what they perceive to be issues of the people.
Explain how policies are evaluated for implementation by the government. What
criteria are used for evaluation? Do you feel this is the best method; why or why not?
CHAPTER 2
KEY TERMS
Amendments
Faction
Checks and Balances
Constitutional Convention
Federalism
Habeas Corpus
New Jersey Plan
Separation of Powers
Virginia Plan
Antifederalists
Bill of Attainder
Coalition
Enumerated Powers
Federalists
Judicial Review
Republic
Shay’s Rebellion
Articles of Confederation
Bill of Rights
Concurrent Powers
Ex Post Facto Law
Great Compromise
Line-Item Veto
Reserved Powers
Unalienable
TEACHING TOOLS
The Founding Fathers thought that “they were creating a government with specific
limited power. The Fathers believed that the government could do only what the
Constitution gave it the power to do, and nowhere in that document was there permission
to infringe on freedom of speech or of the press or to impose cruel and unusual
punishments.” Would our rights, as stated in the Bill of Rights have been protected if
they had not been ratified?
What would happen if your rights were not guaranteed by the Constitution?
Describe factions and why the Founding Fathers feared their establishment within the
government.
Discuss the pros and cons of factionalism; then, discuss the effectiveness or lack thereof
in government.
Describe the separation of powers and checks and balances. How do these two processes
work together and enhance our government?
Power is shared in a lot of our daily lives; think about what would happen if one person,
or one institution, was given the authority to govern freely with no checks and balances.
What do you think would happen?
Describe Thomas Hobbes’ and John Locke’s views about democracy.
How is power divided in this country? Is it fair to say that one has more power than the
other given how the Founding Fathers established our government?
Is the Constitution limiting the government or protecting the people? Defend your
response.
How are our Freedoms protected by the Constitution? Are they currently being protected
as the Founding Fathers intended?
What were the Founding Fathers achieving by writing the Constitution?
CHAPTER 3
KEY TERMS
Categorical Grants
Grants-In-Aid
Clause
Referendum
Conditions of Aid
Initiative
Nullification
Waiver
Federalism
“Necessary and Proper”
Recall
TEACHING TOOLS
Under the federalist system, states have great flexibility in their management of crime,
education, business, and property. What are the advantages of having each state be
responsible for these key policy areas? What are the disadvantages?
What would happen if the Antifederalists had won their argument against the Federalists?
How do they think our Constitution, and American government and society, would be
different?
The Founders established a government that obtained its power directly from the people;
how has their understanding of federalism evolved into today’s government?
Discuss why democracy (federalism) was more appealing to the Founding Fathers than
the monarchy they came from.
Discuss how federalism prevents a tyranny from forming.
Explain sovereignty and then discuss which governing bodies are eligible for sovereignty
in the United States and what makes them eligible.
Which amendment addresses the division of power between the national and state
governments? Explain the importance of this amendment.
Discuss where the United States government, both national and subnational, derives
authority?
Discuss where the national government and state governments derive their authority.
Why is there not more competition amongst the two for final decision-making authority
on more issues?
Should states be able to adapt federal programs to suit their own needs, or should
everyone follow the same standards? How might differing standards trigger questions of
fairness and equity?
Discuss how the Constitution is interpreted in the United States. Why is this method
preferable to allowing the executive and legislative branches decide how national laws
are to be governed?
CHAPTER 4
KEY TERMS
Civic Competence
Class-Consciousness
Progressive
Civic Duty
Orthodox
Civic Society
Political Culture
TEACHING TOOLS
Discuss the qualities that influence American political culture. Include how American
political culture has evolved since the colonists decided to gain independence from Great
Britain.
Describe political ideology; then explain how political ideology is influenced by political
culture.
Describe the key points that make the United States political culture unique as compared
to other advanced industrialized democracies.
Discuss the factors/events that have caused a mistrust of government in America. Why
do you think these factors/events influence our faith in the government to such a degree?
Explain what you think the authors of our text mean by the idea that Americans “believe
in maintaining equality of opportunity in the economy, but not equality of results.”
What factors can you identify that account for why the American government behaves
differently than governments in countries with similar constitutions? Why do you think
this is the case?
What components of our political culture influenced our Constitution and the subsequent
27 amendments?
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