Final Exam Flashcards
Describe: 1) Monarchy § Oligarchy § Democracy § Theocracy
1) Royal family
2) Elite few hold power
3) Citizens consent to be governed
4) Technically rule of god. Rule by religious leader or group of religious officials who interpret god’s will
Totalitarianism, Authoritarianism, or Constitutionalism?
1) government is strong but checked, monopoly of political power by an individual or small group that otherwise allow people to go about their private lives as they wish
2) government is restricted. Power is distributed and limited by a system of laws that the rulers must obey
3) government controls all aspects. Rule by elite that have unlimited power
1) Authoritarianism
2) Constitutionalism
3) Totalitarianism
Exit polls are conducted where and why?
What is the advantage of exit polls?
At polling places to “test the water”
Advantage: Already know these people voted
What is a straw poll?
Convenient sampling, poll of those gathered
Is a straw poll random?
NOPE
What is a poll that poll that conveys info rather than collect public opinion?
Push poll
Describe a scientific/representative poll
Try to poll people who are representative of the population as a whole
List polls in order of trustworthiness..
exit, straw, representative/scientific, push
1) Representative/scientific
2) Exit
3) Straw
4) Push
____ ____= statistical error related to size of population
Sampling error
What number is generally the best sampling size?
1,000
In the analysis method, you have to ensure the ______ of the sample is fair
Representation
Liberal, Libertarian, populist, or conservative?
1) Pro: government actions to promote equality like minimum wage laws and healthcare programs
2) Pro: government actions that promote equality like more speeding on public housing and affirmative action
1) Populist
2) Liberal
Liberal, Libertarian, populist, or conservative?
1) Equality and order
2) Liberty and freedom
3) Equality and liberty
4) Order and freedom
1) Populist
2) Libertarians
3) Liberals
4) Conservatives
Liberal, Libertarian, populist, or conservative?
1) Anti government actions that interfere with the market like affirmative action or ‘socialized medicine’
2) Pro Government actions that impose social order like banning flag-burning
3) Anti government actions that interfere with the market like affirmative action, health care, social programs
1) Libertarians
2) Conservatives
3) Conservatives
Liberal, Libertarian, populist, or conservative?
1) Anti government actions that restrict individual liberties like banning flag burning or sexually explicit movies
2) Anti government action that restrict individual liberties like anti-gay laws
3) Pro government actions that impose social order like banning pornography and same-sex marriage
1) Liberals
2) Libertarians
3) Conservatives
Fundamental values of the American social base includes:
1) Liberalism = what?
2) Democracy = what?
3) Property = what?
4) Constitutionalism = what?
1) Minority opinions have protection from the majority
2) Elections to express consent
3) Can own property outside of government
4) Document supersedes laws and lawmakers
What are the primary influences that shape our individual political values?
Who’s and what’s (experiences)
In the late 18th century, Britain was considered a ________ state governed by a _____ _____ and government
Sovereign
Single parliament
Why did the British government increase laws over the Colonies?
The 7 years war tapped out the British treasury so they faced the Colonies to earn money
What are 3 laws that frustrated the American colonists
Stamp Act
Tea Act
Sugar Act
Who were the 4 key colonial political actors in the American revolution?
1) Elites
2) New England Trade Merchants
3) Southern agriculturalists
4) Radicals
What type of people were in each group?
1) Elites
2) New England Trade Merchants
3) Southern agriculturalists
4) Radicals
1) Royalists employed/privileged by the British Crown govt.
2) Portals for shipping to/from Europe
3) Primary crop producers, slave owners
4) Small business owners/workers, small farmers
How was the national government organized under the Articles of Confederation?
Each individual state had its own power and autonomy
What type of system was established under the Articles of Confederation
A confederacy?
List 3 core reasons that the Articles of Confederation failed and why they caused the articles to fail
1) Weak national government
- -> no one to administer day to day details
2) No power to tax or regulate commerce –> confusing rules and regulations
3) Army consists of state militias –> so states are expected to defend themselves w/o national help
What are the 3 key tensions discussed when creating the constitution?
1) Should representation in congress be based on population or equality?
2) Should slavery be allowed?
3) To what extent should the national gov’t have centralized powers?
What are 2 checks congress has on the president?
1) Veto a veto
2) Impeach president
What is a check the president has on congress?
Veto laws
What is a check the president has on the judicial?
Nominate judges
What is a check the judicial has on the president?
Can declare things unconstitutional
What is a check congress has on the judicial?
Can create or get rid of courts
A federalist form of government involves what?
A strong national government AND concern about allowing the uneducated to govern the nation
Federalism refers to a relationship involving communication between what?
State and national governments
What amendment says that any power not delegated to the US by the constitution is reserved to the states?
10th
Why have the powers of the national government increased in the constitution compared to the state powers?
Because the founders saw how weak centralized government failed in the Articles
What happened in McCulloch v. Maryland?
He supreme court said that congress has implied powers from this listed in the “Necessary and Proper” clause
McCulloch v. Maryland gave congress the power to establish what?
A national bank
What is “original intent”?
The constitution did not enumerate powers to the states because it was reinforced that non-enumerated powers go to states
______ ______ = a constitutional doctrine that ensures states cannot enact laws that take away the constitutional right of American citizens that are enshrined in the Bill of Rights
Selective Incorporation
What court case used selective incorporation of the 2nd amendment to apply to state action?
McDonald vs. City of Chicago
Why is the house and senate set up the way they are?
1) The ____ ______ had 2 houses and the US still drew many ideas about gov’t from them
2) Focus on the idea of ______ and _______ to avoid too much _____ in one institution
3) The Constitutional Conventional created “_____ _____ ______”
1) British Parliament
2) Checks and balances; power
3) “The Great Compromise”
What are the 5 steps in the basic legislative process?
1) Bill introduced in either house
2) Committees review bill
3) 2 houses approve/disapprove bill
4) Conference committee settlement
5) Executive approval
_____ _____ provide leadership to their caucuses during the basic legislative process
Political Parties
What is a committee in congress?
A group of people appointed for a specific function
What is a subcommittee?
A committee composed of some members of a larger committee and reporting to it
What committee is responsible for expediting the passage of bills?
Rules
What committee dissolves disagreements on a certain bill?
Conference
What is a standing committee?
Types of legislation that are frequently brought up in each session
A joint committee is made up of what?
Both chambers in legislation
What are special and select committees?
Temporary committees meant to address a specific legislation
The electoral college gives power to what?
The states
Describe what happens in the electoral college
Population votes for electors, the electors then convene in their state capitals, electors cast their vote, (for all but 2 states) whoever wins the majority in the state gets all of their electors.
List the 7 primary ENUMERATED powers of the President
1) Approve/veto bills passed by congress
2) Appoint judges
3) Call congress into session
4) Commander in Chief
5) Pardon crimes
6) International treaties
7) Greet embassadors
What are the 4 primary enumerated powers of the Governor of Virginia?
1) Commander and chief of armed forces
2) Conducts business with foreign states
3) Power to fill vacancies
4) Laws faithfully executed
What are the primary delegated powers of President
3 acts
1) War Powers Act
2) National Emergency Act
3) American Antiquities Act
What did the War Powers Act do?
Defines how the president can send troops into battle
What did the National Emergency Act do?
President can invoke emergency powers to go around existing laws
What did the American Antiquities Act do?
Lets the president declare national monuments
What are the 3 primary IMPLIED powers of the president?
1) Executive orders to agencies
2) Sign statements when congress passes statutory laws
3) Executive privilege: can withhold information
SCOTUS judges are appointed by the ______ and confirmed by the ______ for a life term
President
Senate
Do states appoint justices in the same way as the federal government?
NAH
What is judicial review?
What court case established judicial review?
Doctrine in which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary
(Marbury vs. Madison).
What is the power for a court to hear a case for the first time?
Original jurisdiction
What type of cases typically have original jurisdiction (3)
Cases regarding…
- ambassadors
- other public ministers and consults
- those in which a state is a party
What is a form of judicial review that courts use to determine the constitutionality of some laws
Strict Scrutiny
Strict scrutiny was used to review ____ _____
What is an example?
Government action
Example: when the Japanese internment camps were established in WWII
In times of high national security threats due to terrorist activity, are courts more or less likely to apply strict scrutiny tests on the government?
Less likely
What are the levels of the federal courts in order from highest to lowest?
1) High Court (supreme court)
2) Appellate court (US circuit of appeals and US court of appeals)
3) Trial courts (District, Bankruptcy, Federal claims, International trade courts)
Process by which a case is selected and heard by SCOTUS
1) _____ to be heard
2) ______ craft pool memos
3) Chief justice creates “____ ___”
4) ____ of _____
5) _____ rights a brief then _____ writes a brief
6) ______ arguments take place
7) Justices deliberate in _____
8) Then they _____ and assignment of opinion writing
1) Petition
2) Clerks
3) Discussion list
4) Rule of 4
5) Petitioner; responder
6) Oral
7) Conference
8) Vote
What are the 4 classic methods of judicial Constitutional interpretations? (THED)
1) Textual
2) Historical
3) Ethical
4) Doctrinal
Describe Textual interpretation
Look at the text in the constitution… words, grammar, punctuation
Describe Historical interpretation
Look back at the intention of those who drafted the document and what history looked like
Describe Ethical interpretation
Living constitution that changes over time according to contemporary social standards
Describe Doctrinal interpretation
Look at previous court decisions
Explain what happened when a student, Frederick, held a banner saying “BONG HITS FOR JESUS” at a school event
He was asked to put it away, he refused to do so. The banner was taken away and he was suspended for 10 days because the banner promoted illegal drugs, which is against school policy. Frederick sued saying his right to free speech was violated.
How did the court rule in Frederick’s case?
The court ruled that the school had the right to do what they did according to the “school speech” doctrine
What is the process that allows people to share their perspectives and experiences with each other about difficult issues we tend to just debate about or avoid?
Dialogue
What is the goal of dialogue?
Understanding and learning
What is deliberation?
Emphasizes the importance of examining options and trade-offs to make better decisions
What are the 6 components of the multiple streams framework?
1) Problem stream
2) Politics Stream
3) Policy Stream
4) Policy Window
5) Policy Entrepreneurs
6) Policy Output
What is a policy entrepreneur?
An expert who highlights indicators of the problem and pushes for specific problems
What are the primary differences between a political party and interest groups?
Political parties have well-rounded stances on all issues of our country today, interest groups are focused on one issue at hand and advocate for change
Political parties are subject to tax under what?
IRC section 527
What beneficial, democracy-related roles do political parties play with voters and with the running of American government? In regards to the electorate (4)
1) Promote citizen participation
2) Foster cooperation between groups with different interests
3) Train individuals on political processes
4) Identify and present candidates for elections
What beneficial, democracy-related roles do political parties play with voters and with the running of American government? In the government
“Grease the wheel” of the US democratic process by creating a majority party
What are 3 reasons it is so difficult for 3rd parties to get a foothold in American government?
1) Lack of media focus
2) Financial barriers
3) Difficulty getting on ballots
What are Singh’s five qualities of American elections?
1) Localism
2) Individualism
3) Incumbency
4) Money
5) Redistricting
What are the 4 reasons people do not vote?
1) Lack of efficacy
2) Voter fatigue
3) Rational abstention
4) Policy isolation
Describe “lack of efficacy” in terms of reasons people don’t vote
Don’t believe they can impact the government
Describe “voter fatigue” in terms of reasons people don’t vote
Tired of campaigns
Describe “rational abstention” in terms of reasons people don’t vote
Don’t have the time/transportation to get to polls
Describe “policy isolation” in terms of reasons people don’t vote
Do not feel like they are an accepted part of political society
How do states vary in the processes of registering to vote?
States have different requirements to vote
- Some states are unrestricted, meaning anyone can vote
- Some states allow felons to vote after completion of all supervised release
- Some on completion of parole
- Some states allow them to vote upon release from prison.
- Some states do not allow felons to vote depending on the crime committed.
What are the 3 different types of voting mediums in states?
1) Paper ballot
2) Electronic ballot
3) Punch cards
Voting for a candidate, delegates, and electors are seen on the ballot in what?
General elections
What is seen on a legislative referendum ballot?
Questions asked by legislators on a certain amendment of law
What is seen on a popular referendum or initiative ballot?
Questions asked by citizens
What is a recall?
When citizens can say they don’t like who they elected and can vote to remove that person during the next election
The question: “Should we amend the constitution in order to allow a property tax exemption for a veteran” would be seen on what type of ballot?
Legislative referendum
The question: “Should CA eliminate right of same-sex couples to marry” would be seen on what type of ballot?
Popular referendum or initiative
Describe a trustee delegate
Makes decisions as an expert about what is in the public interest and representative of public views
Describe an ideologically delegate
Makes decisions based upon party instructions
Describe a Clientelistically/ Instructed Delegate
Makes decisions based upon constituent views even if against ‘expert’ views
What is redistricting?
Changing the boundaries of voting districts in states
What is reapportionment?
Apportioning the constant 435 seats in the US House by using population data from the census
Which, redistricting or reapportionment, is made by congress and which is made by the states
Redistricting = states Reapportionment = congress
Traditional redistricting principles:
1) Compactness
2) ________ = voters live next to people part of the same district
3) Preserving _______ of _____
4) Compliance with ____ _____ _____
5) Respecting ____ ______
2) Contiguousness
3) Communities of interests
4) Relevant federal laws
5) Natural boundaries
What is a majority-minority district?
What does this increase the likelihood of?
Legislative district where a demographic minority has the majority of a district, therefore increasing the likelihood the representative will be a part of that race?
_______ = manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one party or class
Gerrymandering
What is the elite theory of group democracy?
Inequalities in resources (ex. Money) and access lead to some groups having more influence than others
In the iron triangle, issues and laws are based upon the voice of the ______ _______ interest group (elitist theory)
Highest ranking
What is an “iron triangle”?
What are the 3 corners?
A frame to view how government runs and how laws are made. One corner to the triangle is interest groups, another is bureaucracy, and last is Congress
What is the pluralist perspective?
The diversity and freedom of interest groups to do their work prevents a group from capturing all the power
501c(4)s are exclusively about _____ promotion NOT ____ promotion
Issue; NOT candidate
Are 501c(4)s tax exempt?
YOU BETCHA (yes)
Do 501c(4)s have to disclose donors?
NAHHHH MANNNN
Do 527s have to disclose their contributors?
YAS
Are 527s tax exempt
YEP
What is an issue ad?
Something paid for by an interest group to bring awareness to a certain problem
Do issue ads feature any candidates?
NOPE
Ads about candidates can use “______ ______” to make it clear that it is an ad run against a candidate, not about a certain issue
Magic words
Civil liberties or civil rights?
1) protections from too much government intervention
2) an enforceable right, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for inury
1) Liberties
2) Rights
What occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of their membership in a particular group?
Discrimination
Where in the constitution are civil liberties enumerated? (3 places)
1) Article 1 section 9
2) Article 3
4) The Amendents
which amendments
1) limits actions of congress
2) limit actions of the executive
3) limit actions of the judiciary
4) says enumerated rights are not the only rights citizens have
1) 1st amendment
2) 2nd, 3rd, 4th amendments
3) 5th-8th amendments
4) 9th amendment
Libel or Slander?
1) Written
2) Verbal
1) Libel
2) Slander
What are the 4 limits on free speech defined by SCOTUS?
1) Commercial speech
2) Libel & Slander
3) Obscenity
4) Fighting words
Laws restricting how and where tobacco is advertised are okay because it is under what limit on free speech?
Commercial speech
What is: the concept that allows the government to regulate a given matter
What is an example?
Substantial government interest
Example: restricting access to unapproved drugs
What is the most infamous case where right to privacy applied?
Roe v. Wade
What is the 13th amendment about?
Abolish slavery
What is the 14th amendment about?
Those born in the US are citizens, no depriving of life, liberty, and property without due process. No denying equal protection laws to any person
What is the 15th amendment about?
Can’t deny right to vote based upon race, color, ex-slave status
States found laws to go around what amendment at the polls?
15th amendment
What were 4 ways states went around the 15th amendment?
1) White primary
2) Literacy tests
3) Poll tax
4) Grandfather clause
What supreme court case ruled that separate but equal is constitutional?
Plessy vs. Ferguson
What supreme court case ruled that separate was not equal? (Reversing Pessy vs. Ferguson)
Brown vs. Board of Education
What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 do?
Prohibited discrimination in public accommodations, facilities, schools and for federally funded projects
What did the 1965 Voting Rights Act do?
Suspended use of literacy tests and voter disqualification devices for five years
What did the Civil Rights Act of 1968 do?
Prohibited discrimination in SALE or RENTAL of most housing
