Participation in Government Mr. Tuccillo
Final Exam Review –Fall 2016
- Define: Nation, State, Sovereignty, Government, Democracy, Republic, Constitution, Political Party, Plank, Platform, Primary, Convention, delegate, Superdelegate, Due Process, Natural Rights.
Nation: people unified by some common cultural trait
State: political unit with established borders and regulated by a central authority
Sovereignty: the ability to make decisions and pursue policies without interference
Government: the person/group of people responsible for setting the rules and regulating a state
Democracy: a form of government where citizens exercise political power via majority rule
Republic: a form of government where people elect representatives to exercise governmental authority on their behalf
Constitution: a written framework establishing what authority a government has and does not have; in the U.S., used to limit federal power and to protect the rights of the people/minority groups.
Political Party: a group of people unified by common goals who seek to implement those goals by electing one or more of their members into governmental office
Plank: a political party’s stance/goal on a particular issue
Platform: the assembled group of planks of a political party that they would see enacted if elected to office
Primary: elections or caucuses used by political parties to determine who will their nominee for election to office
Due Process: the legal steps that are “owed” to people and must be followed in order before rights can be limited/taken away by government
Natural Rights: John Locke’s concept that people possess the rights to life, liberty, and property by virtue of “nature” (just being alive) and not granted by any secular/human agency
- What are Laws and who/what makes them?
Rules of society that are enforced by the government; they are created by the Legislative branch.
- What is Bicameralism? Name the two specific houses of Congress.
“2 House” legislature; the House of Representatives (apportioned by population, 435 total, 2 year terms) and the Senate (apportioned equally/2 per state, 100 total, serve 6 year terms).
- What is the primary purpose of the Supreme Court?
To interpret laws and the Constitution and to settle disputes between the States.
- What is Judicial Review?
The power of the Supreme Court to declare a law of Congress or an action by the President as unconstitutional.
- What are the SIX freedoms listed in the 1st amendment?What is the protection from Self-Incrmination from the 5th amendment??
1st: Freedoms of Speech/Expression, Press, Assembly, Petition, Exercise of Religion, and Non-Establishment of Religion.
The protection from Self-Incrimination, also known as the “Right to Remain Silent” provides that no person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself or herself. At trial, the prosecution can neither call the defendant as a witness, nor comment on the defendant's failure to testify. If police detain (or arrest) a person, they must advise him or her that he or she has a right to remain silent, and the right to an attorney, among other rights. (This is known as the “Miranda Warning”.)
- Are the protections/freedoms listed in the Bill of Rights absolute?
No; you have limits on each of your rights – in general, whenever your actions harm others, you may be limited.
- What are the steps, in order, for the effective creation of public policy?
Identify the issue, Effects of the issue, Causes of the issue, Consider various policies to address the issue, Select the most effective policy, and Evaluate the policy after its in effect to determine its effectiveness.
- In general, what are the basic beliefs of Conservatives & Liberals?
Liberals: powerful government (see gov’t. as a “good”), accepting of large social change, economic stimulus to the lower economic levels (“Pump-Priming” or Demand-side economics).
Conservatives: restrained government (see gov’t. as a necessary “evil” … but less gov’t. = more freedom), resistant to social change or even desiring a return to earlier times, economic stimulus to the upper economic levels (“Trickle Down Economics or Supply-side economics).
- What are the four theories of the origin of government?
Evolutionary, Force, Divine Right, Social Contract.
- What are the four purposes of government?
To provide for social order, security & defense, public services, and to promote the economy.
- What specific form of government does the United States have?
A Constitutional Republic.
- Describe the system of Federalism.
Federalism = division of power between the national and state governments; Delegated = powers given to federal/national gov’t., Reserved = powers saved for the state governments, Concurrent = powers shared by both federal and state governments.
- What concerns did the Anti-Federalists have with a strong federal government?
They were afraid that a strong national government would abuse its power.
- What is the Electoral College? How many votes are needed to win?
The Electoral College refers to both the general method and the specific group that elects the President (and Vice-Pres.). To win, a majority of the electoral votes must be secured (270 of 538).