Final exam test review w answers
- 1. Understand the concept of sovereignty. Who has it in a democracy? How is it established in our Constitution? A sovereign nation is one that has enough power to defend itself from attacks. The people, ‘We the people’
- 2. Understand the concept of Federalism. Why do we have it? How is it demonstrated in our Constitution? Division of power that divides the power amongst the federal and state gov; we were scurred of a strong central authority; 10 th amendment
- 3. What are some enumerated powers? To list
- 4. What are the differences between a federal system of government and a confederate system of government? Federal- separation of powers, 2 levels of gov (strong central and weak state gov); Confederate- stronger state gov with weaker Fed that struggled to keep states in order.
- 5. Why did the Anti-Federalists want to add the Bill of Rights? Other than individual rights, what else does it define? Anti-fed were scared of a strong central authority (GB Monarchy); powers left to the states and powers that aren’t listed
- 6. How does the executive branch check the judicial branch? Appoints judges
- 7. What are the roles of citizens in a democracy? to be active and involved; vote
- 8. How do Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly support each other? There are not many restrictions on gatherings and the speech that they are allowed to use. This is ok unless you infringe upon someone else’s rights
- 9. Which branch of government can declare laws unconstitutional? Judicial
- 10. What are Political Action Committees? What do they do? Fundraising arm of a Special Interest Group; they support candidates or bills that support their cause
- 11. How is it different when a president vetoes a bill compared to when a state governor vetoes a bill? Presidential veto gets rid of the whole bill, rarely gets overridden ; Governor uses a line-item veto which allows them to cut out certain sections of a bill.
- 12. What are some enumerated executive powers? Appointment power, call special session of congress, sends troops into battle, grants pardons, makes treaties
- 13. What are the functions of political parties in the United States? Inform people of important issues, bring people together with different views into one, mobilize voters
- 14. What role has minor political parties played in the United States? They have brought new issues to the attention of major political parties.
- 15. What is a totalitarian government? Government that restricts personal and political freedoms;
- 16. What are some examples of the legislative branch’s checks on the executive branch? Approving appointments, override veto’s, impeach the president, approves budget/treaties/war,
- 17. Why do we have political polls? To test the general populations feelings on certain issues or politicians.
- 18. What are some reserved powers? Why do we have them? Belong to the states; schools, taxes, conducting elections, roads; gives the ability to address local problems with local solutions
- 19. Which branch of government typically deals with fiscal policy ($)? Legislative (congress approves President’s budget)
- 20. Which branch of government creates laws? Legislative
- 21. How is representation determined in the Senate? House of Representatives? Equal representation- 2 members per state; Proportional- determined by state population
- 22. What do Conference Committees do? Evaluate bills before being passed onto the floor for debate
- 23. What are some examples of concurrent powers? Powers that are shared between federal and state gov; make laws, roads, taxes
- 24. What establishes local governmental powers? State constitutions and laws
- 25. What do Plessy vs. Ferguson and Brown vs. Board of Education have in common? What were their outcomes? Brown trying to overturn the separate but equal argument that Plessy v Ferguson created. Plessy- allowed segregation with ‘separate but equal’ Brown- overturned separate but equal because the schools weren’t equal. Both cases relied on 14 th amendment (equal protection law)
- 26. What was Miranda vs. Arizona about? What did it establish? His rape conviction was overturned when it was found out that he was not made aware of his 5 th amendment right. We now have to be read our Miranda rights which inform us of our basic rights
- 27. How does the judicial branch determine public policy? Judicial Review
- 28. How is membership determined in a political party? Membership is based on personal preference
- 29. What is significant about Marbury vs. Madison ? Constitution is the supreme law of the land and established judicial review (changing interpretation of the Constitution over time)
- 30. In Roe vs. Wade the decision was based on what? 14 th amendment; legalized abortions