Answer all questions, and answer it carefully. Do not forget to write in essay format. Not doing so will result in a lower score (I will take off 5 points for each essay if it is not written in essay format). There are three essay questions. On test day there will be two that I have already chosen,

Question 1

1. Which two groups of people vote most often? Why? Be very specific and detailed when answering why (15 points). What are the obstacles to participating? More specifically, what are the obstacles/deterrents to registering to vote (15 points)? Give two reasonable/logical solutions to increasing voter participation, and explain why you think this will work (5 points).

Answer 1

A. Education & Income
1. Better educated
a. Understand issues better
b. Have higher sense of civic duty
c. Less “cost” in voting (i.e. it is less frustrating for them)
d. Are more interested in politics
e. Realize the importance of politics/policies in their lives

      2. Wealthier
a. Have more time
b. Have a career which encourages them to participate

 B. Age
     1. Older
a. Age is a substitute for education
b. More mature
c. Realize the importance of voting and politics affects them
d. Do not want to lose vital government services 
          e. More established in their career, and therefore less likely to move around








 A. Registration requirements
      1. In most states, most register at least one month before election
      2. Must reregister when you move

 B. Frequency of elections
      1. Americans vote for a lot of things (president, Congress, governors, mayors, etc) so they have “voter fatigue”

 C. Two party system
      1. Some feel that the R’s and D’s do not provide much variety and do not represent them
      2. Having more viable political parties might increase voter turnout (if people care about politics in the first place)

 D. Misc.
      1. Some people feel alienated
           a. They feel that “people like them” cannot make a difference
           b. Think that the government doesn’t care about them or their wishes
      2. Others are apathetic  

      3. Voting is during a weekday
            i. All employers are required by law to give people time off to vote
            ii. Everyone can vote absentee ballot 
           iii. Essentially, these are not “good excuses” for why people do not vote but people use them anyway.

SOLUTIONS
1. Make it a requirement to vote or those who don’t vote get taxed. Majority of voters will hopefully go and get awareness before they vote. This will work because voters will have something to lose if they decide not to vote.

2. National Voting Day. Everyone gets the day off from work if they vote. This will work because they are required to check in with their employer and fill out the proper paper work showing they voted to get the day off.

Question 2

2. Name and explain three important roles that political parties serve in a democracy in the United States (10 points). Give four reasons why the United States has a two-party system (15 points). What roles, if any, do third parties serve in this country (10 points)?

Answer 2

-Provide Voter cues
-Overcome Gridlock (parties help speed up political process)
-Provide a change in power
-Link between people and the govt

Two Party system because:
-Reps and Dems are moderate; Third parties looked at as extreme
-Election Laws favor status quo
-Ability to raise money is with two major parites
-Winner-Take-All System
-Single Member District

Third Parties:
-Encourage civic engagement (push ppl to get active in community)
-Put issues on nat’l political agenda (that Rep and Dem otherwise wouldn’t)
-Protest vote (to show candidates arent good)

Question 3

3. Name all of the types of judicial scrutiny. Describe the two that are the harshest forms. For example, mention under what two circumstances it is constitutional for the government to discriminate against certain groups of people (15 points). Under what circumstance is each type of scrutiny used ? Which court case established each type of scrutiny (15 points)? From where did the concept of the levels of scrutiny come (5 points)? Hint: it has something to do with the Fourteenth Amendment.

Answer 3

There is Ordinary Scrutiny (Rational Basis Test), Intermediate Level Scrutiny and Strict Scrutiny)

Two harshest forms:
Strict: Compelling gov’t interest/ narrowly tailored
Intermediate Level: Important gov’t interest/substantially related

Strict: Discrimination based on Race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, and a fundamental right
(Korematsu vs. US)
Constitutionally acceptable:
Intermediate: Discrimination based on Sex
Constitutionally acceptable:
(Craig vs. Boren)
Ordinary: Discrimination based on Age, income, disability, residence, etc.
(Not created by a Supreme Court case)

This concept of scrutiny came form the due process and equal protection law of the Fourteenth Amendment