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1. The Constitution And Federalism Political Parties And the Media The Legislative And Executive Branch Judicial Branch And Bureaucracy Landmark Supreme Court Cases 100 100 100 100 100 200 200 200 200 200 300 300 300 300 300 400 400 400 400 400 500 500 500 500 500

2. What is the difference between representative and direct democracy?

3. Direct: citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues Representative: citizens choose officials (reps) who make decisions about public policy.

4. What is the difference between pluralist theory of democracy and the elite theory?

5. Pluralist: Interest groups compete in the political arena. With each promoting its policy preference through organization. Elite: A small number of powerful elite (corporate leaders, military officers, gov leaders) form an upper class, which rules in self interest.

6. What are the origins of US democracy? What influenced our gov?

7. Ancient Greeks and Romans Magna Carta (1215) Parliament English Bill of Rights (2689) Enlightenment Philosophers -John Locke

8. What was the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan and the Great Compromise?

9. Virginia Plan: Bicameral Legislator -lower house elected by people -upper house chosen by lower house -Representation Based on population New Jersey Plan Unicameral legislature -representation chosen by state legislatures -each state receives one vote -Representation in house equal among states Great Compromise: Bicameral legislature Representation in lower house based on population Equal legislation in upper house

10. Name 6 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

11. -Created little more than a “league of friendship” -Congress could not levy taxes -Congress could not regulate interstate trade -No separate executive to enforce acts of Congress -No judicial system -Each state had one vote, regardless of size -9 of the 13 states required to pass legislation -Unanimous consent required to amend the Articles NO CENTRAL POWER

12. Provide 3 roles of political parties

13. Recruit candidates Nominate and support candidates for office Educate the electorate Organize the government

14. Provide 5 factors that influence party identification

15. Ideology Education Income Race Occupation Gender Religion Family tradition Region of the country Martial status

16. What is a two party system AND why do we have a two party system in the United States?

17. Two party system: There may be several political parties but only two major political parties compete for power and dominate elections WHY DO WE HAVE IT IN THE US? Historical roots: British heritage, Federalists v. Anti-Federalist divisions Electoral System: single-member districts mean that only one rep is chosen each election (one winner per office) Election laws (Ie: Winner take all) these laws vary from state to state, make it difficult for minor parties to get on the ballot in many states.

18. What is divided government? Does it stifle political productivity?

19. Since 1968 divided government has characterized American institutions, a condition which one political party controls the presidency and the opposing controls on or both houses of Congress. Some say it produces political gridlock, but most believe that divided gov does as well as unified gov to conduct important investigations and ratify significant treaties.

20. What is the role of 3rd parties? Has their role shifted in recent history?

21. They are instrumental in providing important reforms that have been adopted by major parties. Success rather than failure brings an end to 3rd parties. HOW? In recent elections, 3rd party candidates have taken votes from the major candidates, lessening their ability to win a majority of the vote.

22. Provide 6 reasons for low voter turn out.

23. 1. Expansion of the electorate: increase the number of potential voters (26th) 2. Failures of political parties to mobilize voters 3. No perceived difference between the two major parties 4.Mistrust of gov 5.Lack of political efficacy 6. Mobility of electorate Registration process 7. Apathy 8.Satisfied with the way things are.

24. Provide a brief explanation of the following: Closed primary Open primary Blanket primary Runoff primary

25. Closed: only voters registered in the party may vote Open: Voters may choose the candidates of either party, whether they belong to it or not. Blanket: voters may vote for candidates of wither part, choosing GOP for one office and Democrat for another; used in Alaska and Washington Runoff: When no candidate receives the majority of votes the two face each other in a runoff election

26. Describe the electoral college process and why it remains part of our election process

27. -Voters go to polls and cast their vote -Each state has number of electoral = to seats in Congress -Washington DC gets 3 votes -538 electoral voters in total -Need 270 to win -After the general election, the electoral meet in the respective state capitals in December. -Candidate who gets 270 wins -If no candidate receives majority of votes, the House chooses POTUS among top 3

28. Describe what changes were made a result of the Finance Election Campaign Act Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.

29. Federal Election Campaign Act -Prohibited corporations and labor unions from spending money on campaigns -Created PACS ($5000 on candidates, $15000 on political parties) -Limited individual contributions ($1000) Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 -Banned soft money(money spent by parties, not on a particular candidate) -Raised individual limit ($1000 to $2000) -Limited independent expenditures by labor unions, corporations.

30. What are the qualifications to run for the Senate and the House of Representatives?

31. House of Representatives: Must be 25 yr old Must have lived in your district for 7 years Must live in state you wish to represent Senate: Must be 30 yr old Must have lived in your district for 9 years Must live in state you wish to represent

32. What is the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction?

33. Original: Lower courts have the authority to hear cases for the first time where trials were conducted. Appellate Jurisdiction: courts that hear reviews on appeals of decisions from the lower courts; Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court have appellate jurisdiction.

34. Name five things the President often considers have considered when making a judicial appointment.

35. -Party affiliation -Judicial philosophy -race, gender, religion, region -judicial experience -”litmus test” -acceptability -American Bar Association -Interest Groups -Other Justices

36. Describe the controversy that surrounds the New Deal Era and the Supreme Court

37. The Conservative Court deemed many New Deal laws unconstitutional FDR proposed what opponents termed a “court packing plan” to increase the # of justices (Allowing FDR to appoint those who support the New Deal) -Although Congress denied this plan, two justices began voting in favor of New Deal legislation.

38. What is the purpose and goal of our bureaucracy?

39. A bureaucracy is a systematic way of organizing a complex and large administrative structure. The bureaucracy is in charge of carrying our day to day operations of the organization There are 2.8 million federal employees today. They follow 3 principles: hierarchical authority job specialization Formal rule

40. Describe the impeachment process for the Executive Office.

41. Bringing charges of wrong doing against a gov official. House of Reps has the authority to impeach, once impeachment has been levied the Senate sits in judgment of the charges. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the trial. Conviction requires 2/3rds vote in Senate

42. Compromise that gave more political importance to the southern states.

43. 3/5 Compromise

44. What is the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause?

45. The Establishment Clause: Congress cannot establish any religion as the national religion, nor favor one over another. The Free Exercise Clause: Guarantees the right to practice any religion or no religion at all.

46. Lemon v. Kurtzman

47. The Court struck down a Penn law requiring reading the Bible at the beginning of each day. Lemon Test: To pass all laws must: -have a primarily secular purpose -its effect cannot inhibit religion -it must not create excessive entanglement between gov and religion.

48. Plessy v Ferguson 1896

49. Upheld Jim Crow laws by allowing separate facilities for the different races if those facilities were equal.

50. Roe v. Wade