Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy
Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government
Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs
Unit 5: Political Participation
100
This event in 1786 helped convince many leaders of the newly independent nation that the Articles of Confederation was ineffective and needed revision.
Shays' Rebellion
BONUS: What led to this event, and how did it come to an end?
100
These are TWO ways the Presidency & Congress can check the power of the Supreme Court.
POTUS: Appointments - life terms; Enforcement - delay or direct enforcement of court rulings
SENATE: Confirmation - filibusters can be used to block nominations
CONGRESS: pass subsequent laws to reshape application of legislation (ex: US v. Lopez)
BONUS: Why did Hamilton regard the court as the "least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution?"100
This is an example of a Supreme Court ruling that extended civil rights protections to a group other than African Americans.
Lawrence v. Texas (2003)
Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)
Bostock v. Clayton County (2020)
BONUS: Explain the case.
100
These are THREE factors that shape and individual's political socialization and political ideology.
Family, school, geographic location, environment, job, economic situation, lifecycle events
BONUS: Describe a specific scenario of how an individual may develop a particular policy preference
100
The repeal of this law in the 1980s led to a major increase in partisanship in the media
Fairness Doctrine
BONUS: Which federal regulatory commission was in charge of enforcing this rule, and what did it require?
200
These are the TWO Forms of Democracy illustrated by the US House of Representatives & Senators, as originally enacted by the Constitution
House - Participatory (2 year terms, direct election, geographic areas based on population)
Senate - Elite (6 year terms, originally elected by state legislatures, 2 per state)
BONUS: What is the third form of democracy, and what is an example of how it works in the US?
200
These were the main ideas of Federalist #70 and#78.
#70 - Single, "energetic" executive is needed for effective governance
#78 - Independent judiciary with life terms; judicial review
BONUS: What are some problems associated with each of these arguments?
200
These TWO pieces of legislation in 1963 and 1964 were instrumental in securing protection for women's rights in the workplace.
Equal Pay Act (1963)
Civil Rights Act (1964)
BONUS: What other major accomplishment toward securing civil rights was made with the 1964 law?
200
These are FOUR types of public opinion polls.
Benchmark, tracking, entrance, exit.
BONUS: Name one specific problem that may lead to inaccurate polling data
200
These are TWO models of voting behavior, and how they effect voters' decisions
Rational-choice
Prospective
Retrospective
Party-line
BONUS: What factor typically works against incumbent candidates' chances at winning reelection?
300
Federalist 51 offered these THREE solutions to the Anti-Federalists' concerns about the abuse of government power under the Constitution.
- Separation of Powers
- Checks and Balances
- Bicameralism
BONUS: Why was Brutus concerned about a large republic, and what solutions did Publius offer?
300
These are three specific/distinct enumerated powers of the House & Senate.
- Senate: Advice & Consent; ratification of Treaties; Jury in impeachment trials
- House: Initiates impeachment proceedings; originates all revenue bills; tie-break in Electoral College votes
BONUS: How has Congress' power grown over time, what Constitutional clause(s) was this expansion of power based on, and what is an example?
300
These were THREE cases pertaining to due process rights under the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments
Mapp v. Ohio (1961) [4th]
New Jersey v. TLO (1985) [4th]
Rasul v. Bush (2004); Hamdi v. Rumsfeld (2004) and Hamdam v. Rumsfeld (2006) [4th]
Riley v. California (2014) [4th]
Miranda v. Arizona (1966) [5th]
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) [6th]
BONUS: Explain each case.
300
These are THREE issues where Republicans and Democrats have opposing policy stances, and what each party supports.
Role of government: Decrease (R) vs. increase (D) | Economic policy: Supply-side (R: cut taxes & government spending; anti-Union) vs. Keynesian (D: increase taxes & boost government spending; pro-Union) | Privacy rights: Pro-life (R) vs. Pro-choice (D) | Social services: Cut (R) vs. increase (D) | Immigration: Border wall/ICE enforcement (R) vs. pathway to citizenship (D) | Energy: Fossil fuels (R) vs. Renewables/combat climate change (D) | Healthcare: Private (R) vs. public (D)
BONUS: What groups make up the voting base/coalition of each party today?
300
This was the decision in the Citizens United v. FEC (2010) ruling, AND two of its outcomes.
Political spending = speech, and therefore cannot be limited. Massive influx of corporate & foreign cash into campaigns, and rise of dark money.
BONUS: What are THREE outside groups that now play an outsized role in elections as a result of this ruling?
400
This is the principle of dual federalism
States have supremacy within their own sphere, and therefore the ability to regulate commerce within their borders. HOWEVER;
The federal government has supremacy in its sphere, which entitles it to regulate commerce between states
Bonus: Describe an example of how this applies today.
400
These are TWO examples of spending that fall into the Mandatory and Discretionary categories.
Mandatory: Entitlements (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Unemployment benefits)
Discretionary: Military, Housing, Education, Healthcare, Veterans Services, Energy, Environment, Transportation, Development
BONUS: Which of these discretionary categories is the Republican party looking to cut in the federal budget, and why?
400
These were the TWO Supreme Court cases that struck down restrictions on the Second Amendment.
D.C. v. Heller (2008)
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
BONUS: What are TWO specific things that have happened in the aftermath of these rulings?
400
These were FOUR critical elections that caused significant shifts in voting patterns.
1932 - FDR & the New Deal
1968 - Nixon & the New Federalism
1980 - Reagan & Conservatism
2016 - Trump & Conservative resurgence
BONUS: What types of events typically precede these types of historical realignments, and what is an example?
400
These are FOUR impacts of the electoral college on elections.
- Winner-take all = focus on swing states
- overrepresentation of small state
- underrepresentation of large states
- political apathy
- popular vote doesn't = victory
- third parties don't win
BONUS: Name two recent elections in which the popular vote and electoral votes went for different candidates
500
How did Congress work around the ruling in U.S. v. Lopez (1995) to encourage states to prohibit the possession of firearms in school zones?
Congress passed a new law that withholds federal funds from schools that do not adopt zero-tolerance laws for guns in school zones
BONUS: How does this illustrate Congress' exercise of the Commerce Clause & power of the purse?
500
These are FIVE Departments, Agencies, and or Independent Regulatory Commissions within the federal bureaucracy.
Deptartments: Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health & Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing & Urban Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, Veterans Affairs
Agencies: CIA, EPA, FBI, FCC, Federal Reserve, FEMA, FDA, GAO, OSHA, OPM, SEC, USPS
BONUS: Describe the role of each.
500
In the 1960s and 1970s, these were FIVE cases that expanded protection of speech and press.
Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969)
Tinker v. Des Moines (1972)
Miller v. California (1973)
New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
New York Times v. U.S. (1971)
BONUS: Describe the outcome of each case.
500
These are FIVE factors that contribute to the outcome of the 2024 electoral map shown above.
Voting behavior: retrospective/prospective models
Economic factors: high inflation and weak growth leading up to the election
Candidate-centered campaigns: Trump's populist appeal/Harris' late entry into race
Fundraising: Massive support by conservative PACs & Trump's personal wealth
Demographics: rural vs. urban population; minority populations; gerrymandering
Messaging: simple solutions (border wall) vs. complex platform and specific policy solutions
500
These were FIVE Amendments that expanded voting rights
14th 15th 17th 19th 23rd 24th 26th
BONUS: Why were the impacts of some of these amendments limited in terms of increasing voter turnout?