Semester Final Review

AP Government

Semester Final Review

Articles of Confederation:

§  What was it?

§  Why did we have it?

§  How was the government structured?

§  What were its weaknesses?

§  What was Shay’s Rebellion and why did it happen?

Philadelphia Convention:

§  Why was it called?

§  Who was there (not there)?

§  Compromises:

o  Great Compromise

§  New Jersey vs. Virginia Plans (Which plan most shaped the Constitution?)?

o  Three fifths compromise

o  Regulation of trade

o  Enumerated vs. Broad Powers

o  Electing the president

§  How the Constitution was ratified Article VII.

Federalists v. Anti-Federalists:

§  Federalists:

§  Anti federalists:

o  Federalist Papers

§  Writers?

§  Federalist 10 Arguments:

§  Federalist 51 Arguments:

Amending the Constitution:

§  How can the Constitution be amended?

o  “Reasonable time” for ratification?

Important Amendments:

1st:

2nd:

4th:

5th:

6th:

8th:

9th:

10th:

13th:

14th:

15th:

16th:

17th:

20th:

22nd:

24th:

25th:

26th:

27th:

§  Why was the Bill of Rights added shortly after the ratification of the Constitution?

§  What is the difference between a formal and informal amendment? Provide examples of informal amendments.

Checks and Balances – Principles of the Constitution:

§  Changing the Interpretation of the Constitution:

o  Marbury v. Madison (Identify important components of the case)

§  Writ of Mandamus:

§  Judicial Review

Checks and Balances:

Understand these Specific Items regarding Checks and Balances:

Impeachment:

Confirming Appointments:

Power of the Purse:

The Basics: Federalism:

§  Where is the concept of federalism woven into the Constitution? Make sure that you are able to apply or understand these constitutional provisions. (Hint: Be able to apply the Full Faith and Credit, Privileges and Immunities, and Commerce Clause)

§  McCulloch v. Maryland:

§  Gibbons v. Ogden:

Grant Dollars - Federalism:

§  Types of Grants:

o  Categorical:

o  Project:

o  Block Grants:

o  Revenue:

§  Democrats vs. Republicans:

Changing Views of Federalism:

§  Dual Federalism:

§  Marble Cake Federalism (Great Depression):

§  Cooperative Federalism (Great Society):

§  New Federalism (Devolution):

o  Republican Contract with America (General Idea):

o  Congressional attitudes towards grants (What does Congress hope to accomplish when it gives grant money to states?)

The Division of Governmental Powers:

Powers DELEGATED to the National Government / CONCURRENT Powers / RESERVED powers

Interest Groups #1

·  What is an interest group? How does an interest group differ from political parties?

·  What type of interest group is the largest today? What type of interest group was the largest 50 years ago?

·  What is the revolving door? What impact does this have on politics/policy in the United States?

·  What is the Iron Triangle?

·  What is a lobbyist?

o  How has technology changed the methods used by lobbyists?

§  What methods do lobbyists use to lobby Congress?

§  Why do lobbyists target the executive branch for lobbying purposes?

§  How do interest groups lobby the courts?

Interest Groups #2

·  What is the difference between hard money and soft money? Which party previously benefited most from these forms of financing?

·  What is a PAC?

·  What do PACs do?

·  What did the McCain –Fiengold (2002) campaign finance reform change in campaign finance law?

·  How can money big the biggest asset of PACs if they can only contribute $10,000 per cycle?

o  What impact has this reform had on the political process?

·  What is a 527 group?

·  What is bundling?

·  What makes an interest group successful?

Political Parties #3

·  What do political parties do?

o  How do political parties unify the electorate?

o  Parties Organize Government:

§  Congress:

§  President:

·  What is the Pendleton Act and why was it necessary?

·  What is patronage and how does it apply today?

§  What role do political parties play in judicial nominations?

o  Address the following items: Watchdog function – Loyal Opposition – Honeymoon Period -

·  How did the two party system develop in the United States?

·  Why do you think an increasing number of people are becoming independent voters?

o  What is a minor party?

§  Types of Minor Parties:

·  What is a splinter party?

·  What is a single issue party?

·  What is an ideological party?

§  Why is it difficult for minor parties to win elections?

§  What influence can minor parties have in an election?

Political Parties #4

·  How do political parties organize the competition?

o  Direct Primaries:

§  What is a closed primary? Identify two arguments for and against this form of primary.

§  What is an open primary? Identify two arguments for and against this form of primary?

§  What is a blanket primary and why do we no longer have this form of primary?

§  How do the Republican and Democratic primaries and conventions differ?

§  What are the criticisms of the primary system?

o  How have political reforms in the last 100 years reduced political party power in nominating candidates?

o  How have parties maintained or in some cases regained power despite these reforms?

§  What is political party realignment? When and why has it occurred?

·  Discuss the decentralized organization of political parties:

Political Socialization and Voting:

1.  What is political socialization? What is the most significant sources of socialization?

2.  What were the barriers to voting for African Americans in the South prior to the Civil Rights movement?

3.  What legislation/amendments did Congress pass during the Civil Rights movement to remove state barriers to voting for African Americans?

1. 1965 Voting Rights Act:

1. 24th Amendment:

4.  Why has voter turnout declined since the 1960 Election?

5.  What actions have been taken to increase voter turnout out in the last decade?

1. Motor Voter Act:

Voting and Elections:

1.  What is the most significant predictor of voting in the short run? Why?

1. What is Retrospective Issue Voting?

1. What is Prospective Issue Voting?

2.  What is the most significant predictor of voting in the long term? Why?

3.  Consider the sociological factors that influence voting:

1. What type of citizen is most likely to vote?

1. What type of citizen is least likely to vote?

4.  What major events occurred during the 2000 election cycle?

5.  What impact did the 2002 mid-term election have on the American political scene?

6.  Identify the groups of individuals that typically support the Democratic/Republican candidates:

Republicans / Democrats
Examples:
White Males
Higher Income Levels / Examples:
Large cities
Minority voters

Congressional Elections:

1.  What is the difference between Congressional races in the House and Senate?

1. What is Gerrymandering?

1. What is a single member district?

1. What is a safe seat?

1. What is a continuous body?

2.  What is the coattail effect?

3.  What is ballot fatigue, time zone fallout, office group ballot, and party column ballots?

4.  What political trends do we usually see in off-year elections?

5.  What happens in a congressional primary race?

6.  What advantages do incumbents have in congressional elections? Which of these advantages only apply to the House of Representatives?

7.  How do presidential and Congressional races differ?

Presidential Elections:

1.  What is front loading and why is it occurring?

1. What are the advantage/disadvantages of front loading?

2.  Why are Iowa and New Hampshire so important?

3.  What is the goal of the political party convention?

4.  How do the Democratic and Republican party conventions differ?

5.  What is the general election horse race?

6.  What advantages does the incumbent president have in the election cycle?

7.  What events impact public opinion polls in the electoral cycle?

8.  What happens to minor party candidates once the general election begins? Why?

9.  How do presidential and Congressional races differ?

Electoral College:

1.  Why do we have it?

2.  How does it work?

3.  When are elections held in the United States and how do you win the Electoral College?

4.  How did the 12th Amendment change the Electoral College? Why was it necessary (Election of 1800?)?

5.  How does reapportionment impact the Electoral College?

6.  What are the defects of the Electoral College? When has it failed?

7.  What proposals have been offered as alternatives to the Electoral College?

Congress – The Basics:

House / Senate
Qualifications:
# of Members:
Constituency:
Term Length:
Relevant Amendments:
Powers unique to the House:
Difference between membership: / Qualifications:
# of Members:
Constituency:
Term Length:
Relevant Amendments:
Powers unique to the Senate:

What is a bicameral legislature? Why did the framers decide to go with this type of legislature?

Congressional Power/Reapportionment:

What powers are granted to Congress in Article I of the Constitution?

Which of the powers identified above are considered non-legislative powers?

What other power have been given to the Congress that are found in other parts of the Constitution?

What is Congressional Reapportionment and how often does it occur?

Who is involved in the Congressional reapportionment process?

What impact does congressional reapportionment have on the Electoral College?

What is gerrymandering and how has it been used to discriminate against minority voters? Which branch of government took action to prevent gerrymandering from occurring in the future?

Wesberry v. Sanders:

Shaw v. Reno:

What factors influence the outcome of Congressional elections?

Congressional Leadership:

Who are the Leaders in the House of Representatives? How do these members get their positions? Identify the duty of each of these positions.

Who are the leaders in the United States Senate? How do these members get their positions? Identify the duty of each of these positions.

What powers do individual senators have to influence the lawmaking process?

Lawmaking Process –

What are the steps in the lawmaking process? Use the Whiteboard.

Questions regarding the lawmaking process –

Where do bills receive the most consideration?

What is the role of the Rules Committee in the House of Reps (NO RULES COMMITTEE IN SENATE)?

What methods can be used to slow the passage of a bill?

What can members do to overcome the tactics indicated above?

What is the role of the conference committee?

What options does the president have when presented with a bill from Congress?

Identify three advantages that the majority party has over the minority party?

Which committees are unique to the House/Senate?

Define the following terms:

Pork Barrel Legislation:

Rider:

Line – Item Veto:

The Presidency:

The Basics:

What are the Constitutional qualifications to be president of the United States?

What characteristics have many of our presidents had in common?

What are the two Constitutional responsibilities of the Vice President?

How can Vice Presidential candidates balance the electoral ticket?

How has the power of the Vice President evolved over the last 200 years?

Address the following items in your discussion of presidential succession: 25th Amendment, 1947 Presidential Succession Act.

Constitutional Amendments – The President:

12th:

20th:

22nd:

Legislative Power of the President:

What does the Constitution say about the State of the Union address?

Discuss the president’s use of the state of the Union address.

What is an executive order? How has this tool been used by the president?

What is a line-item veto? How did the Supreme Court interpret this newly created presidential power in Clinton v. New York?

How do the Constitutional powers of the president differ from the congress?

How do the constituencies of the president and congress differ?

What factors influence a president’s ability to achieve legislative goals in the Congress?

What lobbying tools are available to the president?

How does divided government tend to impact the relationship between the congress and the president?

Foreign Policy Power of the President:

What Foreign Policy powers does the Constitution give to the President?

What Foreign Policy Powers does the Constitution give to the President?

What informal powers of the president contribute to his advantage over congress in conducting foreign affairs?

What is executive privilege? Discuss the relevance of the United States v. Nixon case.

What impact has the War Powers Resolution had on the balance of war making between the president and congress?

Judicial and Other Powers of the President:

Pardon:

Amnesty:

Commutation:

What limitations are there on the president power to grant pardons, amnesty, or commutation?

Discuss the impeachment process and how it can be used to check the power of the president?

Which two presidents have been impeached?

Who can be impeached?

Who does the president have the power to appoint?

What are the steps in the appointment process?

How does congressional reaction to executive level appointments differ from judicial appointments?

What is a Recess appointment? What are the limitations to this type of appointment?

Judicial Branch:

What does Article III of the Constitution do?

What role did the Judiciary Act play in defining Article III?

What is the relationship between Marbury v. Madison, Article III, and the Judiciary Act?

What is a dual court system?

What are the Constitutional Courts of the Federal judiciary?

Jurisdiction and the Courts:

What is exclusive jurisdiction?

What is concurrent jurisdiction?

What is original jurisdiction?

What is appellate jurisdiction?

What type of jurisdiction do district courts have?

What type of jurisdiction do our circuit court of appeals have?

When does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

How cases reach the Supreme Court?

Discuss the role of the district courts in the federal judiciary.

Discuss the role of the circuit court of appeals in the federal judiciary.

Where do Supreme Court cases originate?

What is the petitioner requesting when they appeal a case to the United States Supreme Court?

How does the Supreme Court decide which cases to hear?

Discuss the use and significance of the following opinions:

Majority Opinion:

Concurring Opinion:

Dissenting Opinion:

Supreme Court Case Combos: Discuss the relationship between the following pairs of cases and Stare Decisis, and judicial activism:

Pair 1: Plessy v. Ferguson ------Brown v. Board of Education

Pair 2: Betts v. Brady ------Gideon v. Wainwright