POSC 100 CSULB

Question 1

Define Focal Point

Answer 1

a solution that people tend to choose by default in the absence of communication.

Question 2

normative vs positive theory

Answer 2

“Positive theory is a theory that tries to explain how the world works in a value-free way, while a normative theory provides a value-based view about what the world ought to be like or how it should to work. In general, positive theories express what is, while normative theories express what ought to be.”

Question 3

All successful governments share two features:

Answer 3

coercion and collecting revenue (tax)

Question 4

explain why self-interested individuals typically “defect” when playing the prisoner’s dilemma.

Answer 4

Because it has better options and outcomes

Question 5

How do cooperation and coordination differ?

Answer 5

cooperation may use force and coordination may not use force

Question 6

What is a confederation? When writing the Articles of Confederation, why did Americans want a confederation?

Answer 6

Confederation has a weak national government.
Americans wanted a confederation because we wanted to replicate life under home rule

Question 7

Under the Articles of Confederation, normal legislation require the support of ______ and constitutional amendments required the support of ______.

Answer 7

9 of the 13 states to say yes ; unanimity

Question 8

Identify three deficiencies in the Articles of Confederation that led to the call for a Federal Convention.

Answer 8

Confederation congress did not have the power to:
Effectively collect taxes
Defend the US
Regulate commerce

Question 8

The Virginia Plan proposed a ________ system of government where local units such as states and counties implement laws, but rarely make their own.

Answer 8

Unitary

Question 9

What is meant by enumerated powers (Article 1, Section 8)?

Answer 9

the powers granted to the Federal government, and specifically Congress

Question 10

Article III grants Federal judges ________, creates a _________, and gives the remaining decisions over the structure of the judiciary to _______.

Answer 10

have life tenure ; strong separate systems of federal courts (Supreme Court [?]) ; congress

Question 11

Who has the power to propose, veto, and specify the details of legislation in (i) parliamentary systems and (ii) presidential systems?

Answer 11

presidential parliamentary
propose legislative executive
veto executive legislative
policy detail legislative executive

Question 12

How did Gouverneur Morris convince practical men at the Federal Convention to adopt independent election of a president that can succeed himself?

Answer 12

Gouverneur Morris
succeed? —————- not? independent
intrigue and cabal — no incentive

Question 13

Why did Madison oppose the Bill of Rights? Cite two reasons.

Answer 13

because it was unnecessary and undesirable

Question 14

Direct democracy is a system of government where ________ have the opportunity to ________.

Answer 14

both elective representations and citizens ; write and propose legislation

Question 15

Representative democracy is a system of government where ______ have the opportunity to _______.

Answer 15

only elective representatives ; write and propose legislation

Question 16

A political reformer is someone who wants to ______.

Answer 16

change the rules of the government

Question 17

Why were the western states more likely to adopt Progressive reforms?

Answer 17

2 reasons,
1 - realized the constitution were bad and they needle to be revised, wanted to change political institutions,
2 - progressives were protestants, and protestants didn’t like catholics

Question 18

In California, an initiative can be overturned if ______.

Answer 18

Courts declare it unconstitutional, or the voters pass another initiative that overrides it

Question 19

Identify the mechanics of passing an initiative:

Answer 19

Circulation - get 2000 dollars and an idea
Signatures - 150 days to get the signature that you need, if you are changing the constitution you 8% of the vote of california , if it’s only an ordinary piece of legislation only 5% of the vote of California.
Enactment - the ballot (?) you need a simple majority (50% plus one) only those who cast yes or no
Once your initiative has qualified for the ballot, 50% plus one need to approve it in order to become law

Question 20

Is it easier to amend the California or the U.S. Constitution?

Answer 20

It is easier to amend the Constitution

Question 21

The _______ Amendment to our Constitution guarantees equal protection and due process for all citizens.

Answer 21

14th Amendement

Question 22

The Supreme Court, in the Bakke (1978), ruled that quotas and separate admissions standards for minorities ________ (choose one: “were” or “were not”) unconstitutional and that affirmative action _______ (choose one: “could or “could not”) be used.

Answer 22

were not ; could

Question 23

Which of the following explains why the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores?

Answer 23

All of the above

Question 24

Government

Answer 24

Institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled

Question 25

who governs in:
autocracy ; democracy ; oligarchy

Answer 25

autocracy - one person (king)
democracy - citizens or general population
oligarchy - wealthy people, military officers, or landowners

Question 26

Difference between representative democracy and direct democracy?

Answer 26

Representative democracy: system of government that gives citizens an opportunity to elect top government officials
direct democracy: system that permits citizens to vote on laws and policies

Question 27

Citizenship

Answer 27

Informed and active membership in a political community

Question 28

Political Efficacy

Answer 28

The belief that one can influence government and politics

Question 29

Since 1960s, has Americans sense if political efficacy increased, decreased, or remained constant?

Answer 29

Decreased, 25% felt shut out from the government

Question 30

What is the relationship between political efficacy and citizen participation in government?

Answer 30

increased political efficacy = increased participation and vice versa

Question 31

Consequences of declining levels of political efficacy

Answer 31

Leads to apathy, low levels of participation, withdrawal from political life

Question 32

Why was the Declaration of Independence philosophically remarkable?

Answer 32

It was remarkable for its assertion that government couldn’t deprive people of certain “unalienable rights” that include “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”

Question 33

Why was the Declaration of Independence politically remarkable?

Answer 33

despite the differences among the colonists along economic regional, and philosophical Iines, it focused on grievances goals, and principles that might unify various groups

Question 34

A _______ is a system of government in which member states retain almost all of their sovereign authority and delegate limited powers to a weak central body

Answer 34

confederation

Question 35

Why did the British government tell John Adams that they would not negotiate treaties related to revolutionary war disputes w/ the national government?

Answer 35

Since the US under the articles was unable to enforce existing treaties it (the british) would negotiate w/ each of the 13 states separately

Question 36

Identify 2 main shortcomings of the AOC

Answer 36

1. The US had great difficulty conducting its foreign affairs successfully, since their wasn’t national military and competition among the states
2. The power that states retained under the AOC began to alarm well-to-do Americans, in particular, New England Merchants and southern planters, when radical forces gained power in a # of state governments. Colonial elite grew weaker -> radicals gained strength and now controlled States

Question 37

explain how Shay’s rebellion helped convince reluctant Americans of the necessity of a Constitutional Convention.

Answer 37

Shay’s rebellion exposed the weaknesses of the government under the AOC and led many ago call for strengthening the federal government in order to put down future uprisings

Question 38

electoral college

Answer 38

a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president

Question 39

staggered, 6-year terms in the US senate were to designed to make that legislative body _____. By contrast, 2-year terms in the US house were designed to make that legislative body ____.

Answer 39

even more resistant to popular pressure ; directly responsible to the people

Question 40

In the US Constitution the framers employed the _____ and _____ in order to prevent the new government from abusing its power

Answer 40

separation of power ; federation

Question 41

Those who supported the constitution because it contained a strong national government were known as the ______ and those who opposed the new Constitution because they wanted a weaker national government were known as the ______

Answer 41

federalists ; anti-federalists

Question 42

The anti-federalists argued that he powers of the national government should be limited by adding a _______ to the constitution to prevent the new government from abusing its power

Answer 42

Bill of rights

Question 43

Federalism refers to a system of government where the constitution divides the powers and functions and government between a _____ and _____. By contrast, in a unitary system of government the constitution grants almost no power to ______

Answer 43

national government ; lower levels of government ; lower levels of government

Question 44

most of the rules and regulations that Americans face in their daily lives are set by _______ and ______ governments

Answer 44

state ; local

Question 45

The countries that are most likely to adopt federalism includes those with _________, or ________. federalism helps such nations manage social difference by presenting citizens with many opportunities to ________. This is one advantage that a federal system offers compared to a unitary system. 2 other advantages include:
-Because states and even localities have their own ___, ___, and _____ policy extermination and innovation is another possibility as is the tailoring of policy to local preferences
- ______ among states and localities to attract individuals and businesses promises to _______ of government services

Answer 45

diverse ethnic, linguistic, or sectional groupings ; express their preferences ; taxing, spending, and policy-making powers ; competition ; maximize the efficiency

Question 46

A key argument for state policy control is that states have been important sources of ______ that have ______ to other states or to the federal government. For instance, smoking bans originated on _____ in 1990 before spreading to commercial flights across states in 1990

Answer 46

policy innovations ; diffused ; San Luis Obispo, CA

Question 47

______ compels state governments to obey costly federal regulations but doesn’t reimburse these costs

Answer 47

unfunded mandates

Question 48

federalism can demobilize citizens because it is difficult individuals to determine _____

Answer 48

which government is responsible for the problem that concerns them, and they may give up

Question 49

In Hernandez v. Texas (1954), the Supreme Court ruled that ______ were entitled to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Answer 49

all other nationality groups (all groups and ethnicities)

Question 50

Civil ________ protect people from government actions and civil _______ protect citizen equality by the government.

Answer 50

liberties ; rights

Question 51

Civil Liberties

Answer 51

Constitutional protection for citizens from government

Question 52

Due process of the law

Answer 52

the right of every individual against arbitrary action by national or state governments

Question 53

Civil Rights

Answer 53

citizens protections secured by government

Question 54

Thirteenth Amendment

Answer 54

abolished slavery

Question 55

Fourteenth Amendment

Answer 55

Guaranteed equal protection and due process

Question 56

Fifteenth Amendment

Answer 56

guaranteed voting rights for African American men

Question 57

With the adoption of the _____, civil rights became part of the Constitution.

Answer 57

14th Amendment

Question 58

The _______ Amendment to our Constitution guarantees equal protection and due process for all citizens.

Answer 58

14th

Question 59

Your textbook argues that _______ fostered the growth of the women’s movement. The movement was further helped along when ___________ helped establish gender discrimination as a highly visible civil rights issue.

Answer 59

Title 7 of the civil rights act ; the Supreme Court

Question 60

The Supreme Court, in the Bakke (1978), ruled that quotas and separate admissions standards for minorities ________ (choose one: “were” or “were not”) unconstitutional and that affirmative action ________ (choose one: “could or “could not”) be used.

Answer 60

were not ; could

Question 61

In Hernandez v. Texas (1954), the Supreme Court ruled that _______ were entitled to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Answer 61

all other nationality groups (all races and ethnicities)

Question 62

Balance Rule

Answer 62

Southern states admitted free states to the Union only if their entry was matched with a slave state

Question 63

Identify the two principle obstacles that Black people (and other historically excluded groups) face in achieving civil rights.

Answer 63

1. Fragmented constitutional system
2. politics of self-interest

Question 64

What institutional rule explains why slavery went unchallenged in the early 1800s?

Answer 64

balance rule

Question 65

Why, as a Democratic presidential candidate, does Truman court Black voters?

Answer 65

Black voters were numerous in northern states and were pivotal voters in states with lots of electors.

Question 66

Why did Black civil rights leader choose Selma and Birmingham as sites for nonviolent marches?

Answer 66

Selma and Birmingham had police chief that were very racist and violent. The police would initiate violence and the protests would be news coverage. People saw peaceful protesters being met with guns, dogs, and hoses. Northerns thought this was unacceptable. It compelled a presidential response.

Question 67

During what historical event did the gay and lesbian movement forge a collective identity? Explain how this event helped foster queer identities.

Answer 67

World War II.
They helped by making young adults move away from their family;
military recruit large number of gays and lesbians;
sex-segregated environment fosters gay identity

Question 68

What institutional rule helped Harvey Milk win political office (and what institutional rule prevented Harvey Milk from winning office)?

Answer 68

district helped win politics office, and city-wide prevented Milk from winning office