TERMS TO COME TO TERMS WITH FOR THE MIDTERM- POLSC 1
Politics
Political Science
Empirical Political Science
Normative Political Science
Government
Democracy
Political socialization
Efficacy
Civic engagement
Political engagement
Legitimacy
Public goods
Sovereignty
Monarchy
Oligarchy
Plutocracy
Republic
Totalitarianism
Authoritarianism
Constitutionalism
John Locke
Thomas Hobbes
Jean Rousseau
Social Contract Theory
Natural law
Direct/indirect democracy
Political culture
Liberty
Capitalism
Majoritarianism
Political ideology
Liberalism/conservatism
Socialism
Libertarianism
Continental congresses
Thomas Paine
Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Independence
Types of colonies
Precedence
Natural rights
Civil liberties
Criminal protections
Civil rights
Affirmative Action
bicameralism
confederation
Articles of Confederation
dual sovereignty
supremacy clause
separation of powers
checks and balances
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Great Compromise
3/5 Compromise
electoral college
Marbury v. Madison
judicial review
adversarial legal system
Amendment Process
Impeach Process
Federalist v. Anti-Federalist
Mercy Otis Warren
Bill of Rights
federal system
unitary system
confederal system
concurrent powers
enumerated powers
implied powers
necessary and proper clause
reserved powers
McCulloch v. Maryland
Gibbons v. Ogden
types of federalism
16th/17th Amendments
Due Process
original liberties
First Amendment
clear and present danger test
establishment clause
Lemon Test
Roe v. Wade
exclusionary rule
strict scrutiny test
Dred Scott
Plessy v. Ferguson
Brown v. Board of Education
Civil Rights Act of 1964
STUDY QUESTIONS FOR THE MIDTERM
1. Explain the purpose of government. What are three types of government?
2. Explain the origins of American Democracy.
3. What is ideology? Describe the main differences between liberal and conservative.
4. Explain the three functions of government.
5. What is a public good? Give three examples
6. Explain the main difference between capitalism and democracy.
7. Explain the difference between direct democracy and a republic.
8. Who was John Locke? What did he argue about government?
9. Describe the evolution of our constitutional system.
10. Who was Thomas Paine? What did he write and what was his argument?
11. What were the Articles of Confederation and why did they fail?
12. What are checks and balances? Give an example of how each branch can check the other
branch. How can states check the central government?
13. What are separation of powers? List the requirements to be in each branch, and give an
example of two constitutional powers of each branch.
14. What was the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan and the Great Compromise? Explain
the 3/5ths Compromise.
15. What was the Framers original purpose in creating the electoral college?
16. Explain the two ways we can amendment the U.S. Constitution.
17. Explain step by step how to impeach the president. Who were the only two presidents to
be impeached but not removed?
18. What was the argument states made against ratifying the Constitution?
19. What did the case Marbury v. Madison entail and what precedence did it set?
20. Describe the Federalist/Anti-Federalist debate.
21. Who was Mercy Otis Warren? What is she important to our understanding of early
American political history?
22. What was the argument in favor of a Bill of Rights?
23. Explain the difference between a unitary, a confederal, and a federal system. Give an
example of each today other than the U.S.
24. Describe the five types of power that have evolved in our federal system.
25. What is the difference between the Supremacy Clause and the Necessary and Proper
Clause in the Constitution?
26. What did the case McCulloch v. Maryland entail and what precedence did it set?
27. Discuss and describe the evolution of federalism in the U.S. Include at least three types
of federalism.
28. Explain the difference between a categorical grant and a block grant.
29. What are the seven original liberties? Define the Latin terms.
30. Explain the difference between total and selective incorporation.
31. Explain the three types of speech protected under the First Amendment. When is speech
not protected?
32. What is the difference between the Establishment Clause, the wall of separation, and the
no preference position?
33. What did the case Roe v. Wade entail and what precedence did it set?
34. What are five of your criminal protections in the Bill of Rights?
35. What is the difference between an inquisitorial legal system and an adversarial legal
system?
36. Describe the evolution of civil rights in the U.S. What is meant by equality under the
law?
37. Explain the difference between the strict scrutiny test and the rational base test.
38. What did the case Plessy v. Ferguson entail and what precedence did it set?
39. What did the case Brown v. Board of Education entail and what precedence did it set?
40. What was the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
41. Describe the differences between the first wave, second wave, and third wave feminist
movements.
42. What is Affirmative Action?