Chapter 1 & 2 Test

1. Chapter 1 & 2 Test Review!

2. What is Mr. C. Wright Mills known for?

3. What is Mr. C. Wright Mills known for? A leading proponent of the Elitism theory of government

4. What is the difference between power and authority?

5. What is the difference between power and authority? A lot of people have authority in Washington DC, but power, or the ability to control government policy, is hard to come by, and harder to keep.

6. John Locke is know for what?

7. John Locke is know for what? Among other things, the concept of Constitutionalism – which is a government that is subject to strict limits on its lawful use of power, and hence, on its ability to deprive people of their liberty.

8. Constitutionalism, Democracy and capitalism have what in common?

9. Constitutionalism, Democracy and capitalism have what in common? They are all key components of how America works, and help to establish the American political process.

10. What does Thomas Hobbs think about things?

11. What does Thomas Hobbs think about things? He was a political philosopher that promoted absolutism in the development of the social contract. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued against absolutism and said if the government fails to protect its people, the people can resist.

12. What is the major source of political conflict?

13. What is the major source of political conflict? The scarcity of resources and the value difference between the American people…there is only so much time and money to go around, so it can only go to limited areas.

14. What is public policy?

15. What is public policy? When government decides to follow a course of action designed to produce a particular outcome.

16. What are characteristics or beliefs associated with American political culture.

17. What are characteristics or beliefs associated with American political culture. Liberty, political equality, liberty, political equality, and equality of opportunity.

18. How would pluralists describe the American political system?

19. How would pluralists describe the American political system? Organized interest groups shape the public agenda by representing the interest of America, and the public interest is normally served in the US through a process that involves bargaining and compromise.

20. Public policy comes from whom?

21. Public policy comes from whom? The government…the president, Congress, the Supreme Court or agencies of the Federal Government, like the FDA, the FAA, OSHA… etc.

22. Which document from American history best described a government based on unity and natural rights, including the idea of a social contract?

23. Which document from American history best described a government based on unity and natural rights, including the idea of a social contract? The Declaration of Independence.

24. How is the Constitution better than the Articles of Confederation?

25. How is the Constitution better than the Articles of Confederation? They created a federal system, that separates power between state and central government, it much more easily amended, created the concept of separation of power between the three branches of government, among other things, of course…

26. What was James Madison’s role in the creation of the Constitution?

27. What was James Madison’s role in the creation of the Constitution? A lot. He did provide much of the draft that lead to debate and committee meetings, he pushed some of the goals of the Jeffersonian Democratic – Republicans, he also led the debates supporting the new plan, and wrote essays supporting the idea.

28. What does the Constitution say about voting?

29. What does the Constitution say about voting? Nothing. It’s a reserved power that falls on the states, as a result of the Tenth Amendment.

30. What did Thomas Jefferson borrow from John Locke when he drafted the Declaration of Independence?

31. What did Thomas Jefferson borrow from John Locke when he drafted the Declaration of Independence? The concept of unalienable rights like life, liberty and pursuit of happiness (property) and the idea that legitimate power is derived from the consent of the governed.

32. The concept of federalism is found in which American concept?

33. The concept of federalism is found in which American concept? Almost every one of them…the Great Compromise, how we amend the Constitution, the Electoral College, the relationship between all levels of government.

34. How have most of the Amendments to the Constitution been ratified? State conventions or state legislators?

35. How have most of the Amendments to the Constitution been ratified? State conventions or state legislators? State legislatures of three-fourths of the states, which is certainly easier than calling constitutional conventions in every state.

36. When and why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?

37. When and why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution? Added in compromise, to get the Constitution ratified. Added after ratification was complete, Madison compiled a list, and 10 of them were ratified.

38. What is the Supremacy Clause?

39. What is the Supremacy Clause? The part of the Constitution that says that federal laws take precedence over state and local laws.

40. What was the Connecticut Compromise?

41. What was the Connecticut Compromise? You might know it as the Great Compromise, it set up a bicameral legislature with one house based on proportional representation and one based on equal representation.

42. What power does Congress have over the Supreme Court?

43. What power does Congress have over the Supreme Court? They ratify nominees to the bench that were nominated by the President, they can also impeach members of the courts if they misbehave.

44. What were some of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

45. What were some of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? The government was unable to regulate interstate commerce or foreign trade, it was almost impossible to amend the document, there was no independent court system, there were very few limits imposed on the executive branch of the new government.

46. Can New York set term limits for its members of Congress?

47. Can New York set term limits for its members of Congress? No, of course not. The Constitution does not limit their terms, therefore, the only way to change the terms of congressmen is to change the Constitution.

48. The End! This doesn’t cover the entire test, only the questions that, in the past, have had a rather high number of people getting them wrong. You still should study your notes, textbook, and review book.