Political
Beginnings
Major
Concepts
Constitution
Federalism
Political
Parties
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200
200
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300
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400
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500
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500
500
What was the first attempt
of a government by the
United States?
ANSWER
Articles of Confederation
#1
What was the main
problem with the Articles
of Confederation?
ANSWER
Weak central government
#2
What was the structure of
the government under the
Articles of Confederation?
ANSWER
Unicameral Congress
No executive or judicial
branch
#3
What is a dictatorship?
ANSWER
A form of government in
which the leader has
absolute power and
authority
#14
What features did state
constitutions and the
Articles of Confederation
have in common?
ANSWER
Popular sovereignty and
limited government
#8
What is popular
sovereignty?
ANSWER
The people hold all
political power and the
government rules with
consent of the governed
#9
What are the four
characteristics of the
state?
ANSWER
Population, Government,
Territory, Sovereignty
#6
What is the difference
between a presidential
government and
parliamentary government
ANSWER
Parliamentary government: form of
government in which the executive
branch is made up the prime
minister elected from the legislative
branch
Presidential government:
government in which the executive
and legislative branches of the
government are separate,
independent, and coequal
#13
What are the five
concepts of democracy?
ANSWER
Worth of the Individual
Equality of all persons
Majority rules, Minority
rights
Compromise
Individual Freedom
#7
Explain the Social
Contract Theory
ANSWER
People entered into a contract w/
the government; they gave up
some of their liberty for the
government to protect their life,
liberty, and property
Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau = Social
Contract Theorists
#4
What was The Federalist?
ANSWER
Series of letters written to
the people of New York
that urged ratification of
the Constitution
#10
What is the purpose of the
Bill of Rights?
ANSWER
To ensure individual rights
#11 &
15
How has the Constitution
been able to last so long?
ANSWER
It is a living document and
has the ability to change
(amendment)
#12
Describe ‘Separation of
Powers’
ANSWER
Separation of the
government’s power into
three different branches:
legislative, executive, and
judicial
#16
What is the Constitutional
basis for implied powers?
ANSWER
Necessary and Proper
Clause
#17
What is federalism?
ANSWER
The division of power
between the nation and
state
#5
Which clause in the
Constitution requires
states to honor each
other’s documents,
licenses, etc?
ANSWER
Full Faith and Credit
Clause
#17
What are exclusive
powers?
ANSWER
Exclusive powers: powers that
can be exercised by the
National government alone
#18
What are concurrent
powers?
ANSWER
Concurrent powers: powers
both the National government
and states possess and
exercise
#18
Explain the Supremacy
Clause
ANSWER
Maintains that the
Constitution is the
Supreme law of the land
#17
Which type of minor party
tends to be long lived?
ANSWER
Ideological
Single issue parties are
short lived
#19
How do people join a
political party?
ANSWER
Personal choice – they
pick their party
#20
What is the best way to
measure public opinion?
ANSWER
Scientific poll
#30
What is the most
significant indicator of a
person’s partisan voting?
ANSWER
Party identification
N/A
What are the five
functions of a political
party?
ANSWER
Nominate Candidates
Inform/Activate Supporters
Bonding Agent
Govern
Watch dog
N/A
Elections and
Money
Congress
Presidency
Judiciary
100
100
100
100
200
200
200
200
300
300
300
300
400
400
400
400
500
500
500
500
Why is money important
to an individual’s
campaign?
ANSWER
Makes them known to
public through television
and other ads
#25
What do candidates
spend most of their
money on?
ANSWER
Television ads
#27
Who can make campaign
contributions?
ANSWER
Individuals, businesses,
unions, and other
organizations
#26
How are campaign
contributions limited?
ANSWER
Foreigners can’t give $;
Limits on amount of
money one is allowed to
contribute
#26
What is the difference
between and open and
closed primary?
ANSWER
Open primary: anyone
can vote
Closed primary: only
declared party members
can vote
#28
How long does a
Senator’s term last?
ANSWER
6 years
#32
Who is presiding officer of
the Senate in the Vice
President’s absence?
ANSWER
President Pro Tempore
#39
What do committees do?
ANSWER
Screen bills; divide the
workload of Congress
#33
How is debate different in
the House and Senate?
ANSWER
Debate in the House is
strictly limited; there are
few limitations on debate
in the Senate
#38
th
17
What did the
Amendment do?
ANSWER
Allowed for popular/direct
election of Senators;
Senators were previously
chosen by State
Legislatures
#36
How is the number of
presidential electors
figured out for each state?
ANSWER
Representatives +
Senators
#42
What are the President’s
options when he receives
a bill?
ANSWER
Sign it
Veto it
Do nothing – allowing it to
become law
Pocket veto
#46
What two duties are
assigned to the Vice
President?
ANSWER
Preside over Senate
Decide presidential
disability
#43
How do diplomats, judges,
Cabinet members, etc get
their jobs?
ANSWER
President appoints and
Senate approves
#47
What is the major flaw of
the electoral college?
ANSWER
The winner of the popular
vote is not guaranteed the
presidency
#44
What type of jurisdiction
does the Supreme Court
have?
ANSWER
Original and Appellate
#51
What federal court has
original jurisdiction in
MOST cases heard in
federal court?
ANSWER
District courts
#49 – sort of
What is a writ of
certiorari?
ANSWER
An order by a higher court
directing a lower court to
send up the record in a
given case for review
#57
What is significant about
Marbury v. Madison
ANSWER
Established Judicial
review
#50
What is due process?
ANSWER
The government must act
fairly and according to
rules; no state can deny
basic rights to its people
#54