Separation of Powers
What can Congress do to check the Supreme Court’s power?
Use its constitutional authority to limit the Court’s jurisdiction and reassert congressional oversight.
Reasons why political polls may be inaccurate.
Correct responses include but are not limited to:
According to Arnold's Logic of Congressional Action, what three factors determine whether citizens notice the consequences of legislation?
Magnitude (significance), timing (when effects occur), and proximity (how directly citizens are affected).
How can unequal patterns of citizen participation distort politicians’ perceptions of public opinion?
Politicians may overestimate support for conservative policies because conservatives are more likely to contact and communicate with elected officials, making their views seem more widespread than they actually are.
How do political narratives help individuals overcome barriers to collective action? (Mayer)
Stories/narratives create shared interests, build a sense of community, and motivate people to work together toward a common goal.
What is the main weakness of “deliverism” as a political strategy?
Assuming that delivering economic benefits automatically earns voters’ political support.
What is the central problem with Trump’s governing philosophy, according to the Feldman article?
It prioritizes personal loyalty and presidential power over democratic institutions, constitutional checks and balances, and effective governance.
What explains differences in political participation among racial and ethnic groups?
Unequal access to political resources, such as education, income, and time, rather than simply race or ethnicity itself.
What did the Supreme Court rule about former President Trump’s immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office?
The president has absolute immunity for official acts within his exclusive constitutional authority and presumptive immunity for other official acts, but no immunity for unofficial acts.
How could expanding executive authority and giving the federal government more discretion help political parties achieve their policy goals?
It could reduce bureaucratic delays and procedural obstacles, allowing the government to implement policies and complete major projects more efficiently while still preserving public input and accountability.
Why were Democrats struggling to get voters to care about the infrastructure law despite securing a major legislative victory?
Because the infrastructure law’s benefits were often long-term, gradual, and difficult for voters to see immediately.
Why is the work of career bureaucrats so vital to the public, even when it goes largely unnoticed?
They provide essential public services, including collecting economic data and forecasting weather, that protect and inform the public but often receive little to no recognition.
What are three informal sources of presidential power that allow the president to influence policy beyond formal constitutional authority?
The power to set agendas, persuade (Neustadt), and use inside bargaining and the bully pulpit.
What are the three categories of incentives that political lobbying organizations, such as the NRA, can offer potential members?
Material, solidary, and purposive
For example, NRA members receive:
According to Rosenberg, why are courts limited in their ability to produce significant social reform?
Because courts lack the independence, resources, and enforcement power necessary to create lasting social change