US Government – Honors
Semester 1 Exam – Review (2015-2016)
Test Format:
- 150 Multiple Choice Questions
- 1 Essay Question (Choice of 9)
Concepts, Main Ideas, Etc.:
- Purpose of the government (via the Preamble)
- Locke, Hobbes, and Rousseau
- Definition of a Federal Government
- Traits of a Parliamentary Government
- Madison’s view on preventing dissention by factions
- The internet and its use, today
- Traits of a democracy
- Definition of a Unitary Government
- The Power Elite View of government
- Power and legitimacy
- Examples of public policies
- Definition of types of government, including confederate
- What does “Form a more perfect Union” mean?
- Organic Document and where it comes from
- Adam Smith and his beliefs
- John Stuart Mill and his beliefs
- Definition of a mixed economy
- How do we ensure minority rights with majority rule?
- What are pluralists?
- What were the concerns of most of the philosophers we studied in class?
- Why have most governments been formed?
- Definition of a state, and its characteristics
- Definition/traits of Sovereign states
- Social Contract Theory
- Types of Democracy
- Foundations of our government (documents)
- Government regulation in an economy
- Inalienable Rights (Define, where do we get them, etc.)
- Define power
- What are factions, according to Madison and his Federalist Papers?
- What, according to the founding fathers, is the Constitution?
- Different views of governing (Pluralist, Capitalist, Elitist, Communist)
- Differences between Hobbes and Locke
- Adam Smith and his beliefs
- The Petition of Right (Main ideas and importance)
- Limited government (Supporting Documents)
- What does “We the People” mean?
- Examples of informal amendments and processes (Traits)
- Traits of the formal amendment process (Examples)
- Executive Agreements (define, traits, etc.)
- Checks and Balances (examples, uses)
- Judicial Review (what is it, where did it come from, etc.)
- Rule of Law (define)
- Supreme Court Cases (major concepts)
- Schenck, Tinker, Ashcroft
- Overriding concept of these cases
- Ex Post Facto (define, examples)
- Preamble of the Constitution (Define, purpose)
- Senatorial Courtesy (Define, example)
- Goals/purpose of amendments
- The Bill of Rights (define, goals, examples)
- Party Practices and informal amendments
- Checks and Balances (examples, etc.)
- Separation of Powers (define, examples)
- Limited Government (Define, examples)
- How has the Constitution survived 200 years?
- Amendments (types, examples, etc.)
- Federalism (Define, traits, criticism)
- Concurrent Powers
- Enabling Act
- Full Faith and Credit Clause
- Dual Federalism (Layer-cake)
- Supreme Court Cases (major concepts)
- Gibbons, Fletcher, McCulloch
- Main idea about Federalism through the court process
- Advantages/disadvantages of Federalism
- The Elastic Clause (Define, examples, etc.)
- Obligations of the Federal to the State
- Local governments (power/function)
- Expressed Powers
- Define and example
- Extradition
- The 10th Amendment (Purpose, examples)
- Grants (Categorical, Block, Revenue Sharing)
- Define, examples
- Privileges and Immunities
- Define, examples
- Our Federal system compared to other countries
- Example of Interstate Compacts
- Differences in powers, between the Federal and State (examples)
- Engle v Vitale
- Political Parties (Purpose/goals)
- Traits of a Single-Issue Party
- Multi-party systems (define/traits)
- Minor Parties (Define, traits, examples)
- Why people join political parties
- How do major parties interact with minor parties?
- Party organizations
- One party systems (where are they found, traits, etc.)
- Functions of parties (Define, examples)
- Signs of a weakened party
- Group support of specific parties
- Delegates versus ‘normal’ party members
- How can parties attract more members?
- Jefferson and his impact on parties
- Primary voters versus traditional voters
- Primaries/caucuses in the US
- Explain, purpose, traits
- Federalism and the political parties
- Evolution of the parties
- Beginnings, influences, changes
- Our system compared to other countries
- Founders’ views of parties
- Plurality and its effect on minor parties
- Traits and evolution of political parties
- Down and his model of party preference
- Democrats and their major issues
- Jackson and his contribution to the party system
- Minor parties and the Electoral System
- Presidents and their parties
- National Chairperson and their role
- Peoples’ roles in their party
- How was the Black vote suppressed?
- Examples
- Why do people not vote (reasons)
- Legal limits to suffrage (Federal and State)
- Types of non-voters
- How can a state limit fraud in voting?
- Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965
- Provisions, effects, etc.
- Voters and types of elections (primary, general, local)
- Negative consequences for strict voting guidelines
- Women and the right to vote
- The American attitude towards the economy
- Our government and the attitudes of others
- Progressive and Orthodox views of government
- “Get out the Vote” activities
- Requirements for voting (registering)
- Gerrymandering
- Mistrust of our government (why, events, etc.)
- The Culture War
- How has the expansion of suffrage been accomplished?
- Personal, political efficacy
- Areas that the FEC covers
- Money and its importance in the election process
- Types of primaries
- Who sets the dates for Congressional elections?
- Importance of the nominating process
- Petitions and their traits
- Why are machines used for voting?
- Two phases in winning an election
- Difference between Presidential and Congressional campaigns
- How is a candidate eligible for federal money?
- First test of Presidential strength
- Current finance rules and its advantages
- Importance of campaigns (primaries and caucuses)
- Goal of the McCain-Feingold Act (2002)
- Differences between Congressional and Presidential campaigns (money)
- Actions taken at national conventions
- Importance of the primary process
- State and Federal Government’s role in administering election laws
- Why people give money to campaigns?
- Accepting money and its consequences
- Expenses on the campaign trail
- Campaign contributions and the issue of Free Speech
- Online voting
- Limits on a 527 Group
- Why join an interest group
- Purpose of SIG’s
- Techniques used
- Flast v Cohen
- Why SIG’s exist
- Compared to parties
- Problems with SIG’s
- Types of SIG’s
- Shortcoming of polls
- How to measure opinion
- Stratified samples
- Reliability
- Stability
- Validity
- Margin of error
ESSAYS ON THE NEXT PAGE!
Essay: (25 Points Each)
Choose one (1) of the following essay prompts and answer them in a formal
essay. Include an introduction, body of evidence (examples), and a conclusive statement.
Use a separate sheet of paper to do this. Be sure to label the question/statement you
writing on.
1. Two broad purposes of American government—insuring domestic tranquility and
securing the blessings of liberty—sometimes come into conflict. Considering this, do you
agree or disagree with Benjamin Franklin's view: "They that can give up essential liberty
to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"? Explain your
reasons.
2. Is democracy more or less efficient as a form of government than dictatorship? Explain
the reasons for your answer.
3. Which of the basic concepts of democracy do you think would be LEAST well served
in a direct democracy? Explain the reasons for your answer.
How is the constitutional principle of federalism reflected in the formal amendment
process?
4. In what ways did the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution anticipate some of the
problems associated with federalism?
5. Has the National Government abused its powers in its relations with the States?
Explain your answer.
6. In what ways does the existence of minor parties also work to strengthen the United
States' two-party system?
7. Summarize the key historical events in the struggle of African Americans to secure
voting rights. Why has this struggle been so long and difficult?
8. Without asking for individual party identification, what three to five questions might
you ask someone to determine his or her voting behavior?
9. Do you think there would be an advantage to changing the date of elections for State
officeholders from the day of national elections? Give reasons for your answer.