Foundations of American Democracy
What type of democracy is this: “Group-based activism; where multiple groups influence the political sphere and strive for the biggest impact on decision-making?”
Pluralist Democracy
What is a procedural move by a member of the Senate to attempt to halt the passage of a bill, during which the senator can speak for an unlimited time on the Senate floor?
Filibuster
What amendment was argued about and the decision in Engel v. Vitale (1962)?
First Amendment
Decision: the Court ruled that school-sponsored religious activities violated the Establishment clause
What are the most common political ideologies in American politics?
Liberal and Conservative
What is the electoral college?
The people who actually vote for the president. They are preselected by the state and supposed to vote according to the popular vote (with a certain number of voters corresponding to an elector).
What theory is the framework of the Declaration of Independence?
Social Contract Theory
What is the difference between the Great (Connecticut) Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise?
Great (Connecticut) Compromise: created the bicameral Congress
Three-Fifths Compromise: it was an agreement that each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a free man. This helped determined direct taxation on states and representation in the House
What is the difference between civil liberties and civil rights?
Civil liberties: guaranteed freedoms
Civil rights: legal rights that protect individuals from discrimination
What’s the difference between random sampling and quota sampling?
In random sampling, any person has an equal chance of being chosen while quota sampling seeks out a specific demographic more than others.
How is a referendum different from normal voting?
Instead of voting for a candidate who votes on policy, citizens are able to vote for a policy directly.
What is the difference between Expressed Powers, Inherent Powers, and Implied Powers?
Expressed Powers: powers of the federal government clearly stated in the Constitution
Inherent Powers: powers acquired by the federal government because they are a government
Implied Powers: powers of the federal government not directly stated, but implied by the Necessary and Proper clause
How did Federalist No. 78 justify the need for a Judicial Branch?
Describes judicial review, why the branch must be independent, and the need for judges to have life tenure
What is the Miranda Rule and what Amendments are included in it?
A constitutional right decided in Miranda v. Arizona that requires suspects to be informed of their FIfth and Sixth Amendment rights
What is a similarity of tracking and exit polls?
They both seek the most accurate results in their specific timeframes (tracking is over an extended period of time while exit is directly after voting).
Why is Super Tuesday significant?
It is a date when many states have their primary; many candidates may drop out if they perform poorly, and others may move to the lead if they do well.
How did the ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland affect federalism?
Congress has implied powers necessary to implement its enumerated powers. It also established supremacy of the Constitution and federal laws over state laws
How can the President, Congress, and the courts influence how the bureaucracy works?
Bureaucrats are responsive to the president
Congress can control the bureaucracy through legislation, funding, and/or the confirmation of appointments
Courts can rule on lawsuits if an individual or group believes the bureaucracy has violated the law
What is affirmative action? Give an example of this.
Intentional efforts to recruit, hire, train, and promote minority workers
Ex: colleges only accept a certain proportion of each race in order to diversitize the school
Statistically speaking, would a white woman living in upstate New York vote for the same candidate as a white woman living in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina?
Generally, the North is more liberal, and the South is more conservative, so they likely would not vote for the same candidate.
Why is Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) controversial?
It stated that corporations had a right to free speech and allowed many millions of dollars more to be used to influence elections.
What were the two arguments against the Supremacy and Necessary and Proper Clause in Brutus No. 1?
Congress would be able to repeal state laws and it would give the federal government too much power
Give two examples of how the legislative and/or the judicial branch “check” on the President.
-Senate confirmation on president’s appointments
-Congress can impeach a president
-Congress can override a veto with ⅔’s vote in each house
-Supreme Court can rule an executive order as unconstitutional
(etc.)
What was the point of the Letter From Birmingham Jail?
People have the responsibility to break unjust laws, and they should use direct action to achieve their goal; the goals of social movements should not be delayed; civil rights are an essential fight for humanity; nonviolent change needs pressure to work; nonviolence is the answer to achieving lasting change in and creating a better society
Make a case for the political party a young Latino man aligns with (multiple correct answers).
Democrat because he is from a younger generation that tends to be liberal, and he is a minority in America, who often align with the Democrats; Republican because Latinos as a population tend to be more religious than the average American, meaning their more conservative religious views may transfer politically; Third-Party because he has demographics that may make him not feel either major party is a fit.
Name three reasons people may not vote if they can.
Lack of efficacy, voter fatigue/effect of negative campaigns, convoluted structure of elections, as a result of the rational abstention thesis, as a consequence of not voting before.