POLS 1333-103
8:00-9:20
200 LA
American Government I
Dr. Steve R. Garrison
Fall 2012
210 O’Donohoe Hall
Study Guide for the First Examination
The examination will consist of 5 short answer and 10 concept identification questions.
The questions and concepts on the examination will be drawn from the lectures, the text, reading assignments, and current event discussions.
Think about the following problems:
1.
Why do we need government?
2.
Why is institutional design challenging?
3.
What does Arrow’s possibility theorem mean?
4.
Why did colonists come to the new world?
5.
What were the problems facing the colonists in the new world?
6.
What factors contributed to the American Revolution?
7.
What was the Continental Congress and what role did it fulfill?
8.
What principles are presented in the Declaration of Independence?
9.
What was the Articles of Confederation and what were its weaknesses?
10.
What was the Constitutional Convention and who attended?
11.
What were the major issues debated at the Constitution Convention?
12.
Which view of the framers motivations do you think is more accurate the Civics book view or Charles Beard’s view?
13.
What is a constitution?
14.
What type of government did the constitution create? What are the powers of each branch?
15.
How does the constitution work?
16.
What is federalism and what are the different types of republics?
17.
How has American federalism evolved over time? Be sure to describe each of the different phases. Why was McCulloch vs. Maryland important?
18.
What are the different types of federal grants?

19.
What is the difference between project and formula based funding?
20.
What are the advantages of federalism? What are the disadvantages of federalism?
In preparing for the examination, pay special attention to important terms mentioned throughout the book. If you do not understand a concept, check the chapter text or look it up in the extensive glossary in the back of the book. Be certain that you understand the concepts I have raised in lecture, e.g., institutional design, Pareto optimality, and so forth.
If you were absent during any of the current event discussions I strongly suggest that you borrow a classmates notes.