Federalism
Democratic Theory
Civil Rights
Campaigning
Public Opinion
100
Describe the legacy and the ruling of the famous court case McCulloch v. Maryland (1819).
Establishes the enumerated and implied powers
100
Define the term "Democracy"
A system of PEACEFULLY selecting policymakers and organizing government that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences.
100
The first 10 amendments are civil liberties are also called________.
Bill of Rights
100
Define Caucus. Which caucus is the first one?
Meeting of state leaders where they select their delegates to the national convention (Iowa 1st)
100
Describe how age influence voter turnout? How does it influence their political leanings.
Younger you are the less likely you are going to vote and tend to vote more liberal. Older you are the more likely you are going to vote and tends to vote more conservative.
200
Which kind of grants gives the local government the broadest flexibility?
Block Grants
200
Name the three contemporary theories of American Democracy.
Pluralist Theory Elite and Class Theory Hyperpluralism
200
What is the difference between de facto and de jure?
-De facto: matter of fact -De Jure: based on the law
200
Why is it important to do well with the early caucuses?
To secure momentum and to gain the good media highlights to strengthen the candidates to other states.
200
How does the level of education influence voter turnout and political leanings?
The less educated you are you are the less likely you are going to vote and tend to vote more conservative. The more educated you are the more likely you are going to vote and tends to vote more liberal.
300
How does the Commerce Claus expand federal power?
Federal government can regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes. This allows Federal Government to establish national policies and regulations between states.
300
Escalating campaign cost, politics for the special interest and wealthy is an example of which theories of democracy?
Elite and class theory
300
What is the difference between civil rights and civil liberties?
Civil liberties have to do with individual protections while civil rights are protections on the basis of group attributes
300
What is Frontloading and how does it influence the nominating process.
Frontloading is the tendency of states to hold primaries early to capitalize on media attention. Candidates will visit and focused most of their effort on these early states to gain traction and momentum New Hampshire is first.
300
Identify 2 electoral requirements that decreases voter turnout
Age, Citizenship, Disfranchisement of certain groups like felons and mentally incompetent people, Residency, Registration, Limited opportunities to vote (Limited voting day and time), need identification, Process of obtaining absentee ballots, etc
400
Compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Give 4 similarities and differences .
Refer to http://faculty.polytechnic.org/gfeldmeth/chart.fed.pdf
400
Policy grid lock is an example of which democratic theory?
Hyperpluralism
400
Explain the court case Gideon v. Wainwright
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states are required under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to provide counsel in criminal cases to represent defendants who are unable to afford to pay their own attorneys
400
Identify two characteristics of a valid, scientific, public opinion poll.
Randomized Samples, Representative Samples, Question Wording (Unbiased and Unambiguous) Large Sample Size (To reduce Margin of Error)
400
Identify two linkage institution other than elections and explain two ways it connects citizens to government.
Political Parties Interest Groups (PAC's) Media
500
Explain Federalist 10 and 51 and how it addresses human nature and both political factions (parties) and American Federalism.
Human Nature is driven by self interest due to different economic realities We should not trust human nature but we should not limit and restrict freedoms. -Factions: There are many different interest and factions and having them compete each other will limit and restrict the domination of one faction. [Pluralism] -Federalism: "If men were angles, there are no need for governments." We divide powers via separations of power, checks and balances and division of powers between national and state governments to limit one branch of gov and both the state and national government from dominating our political discourse.
500
Define Duverger’s Law of Two Party System and how it relates to Down's model of politics?
Duverger’s law: asserts that plurality-rule elections structured within single-member districts tend to favor a two-party system. Down's: asserts that people vote logically and in a two party system, the most moderate and centrist parties will normally be the dominate parties.
500
Explain the following court cases: • Mapp v. Ohio • Miranda v. Arizona
Mapp v. Ohio: he United States Supreme Court decided that evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against "unreasonable searches and seizures," may not be used in state law criminal prosecutions in state courts, as well, as had previously been the law, as in federal criminal law prosecutions in federal courts. Miranda v. Arizona: SCOTUS ruled that both inculpatory and exculpatory statements made in response to interrogation by a defendant in police custody will be admissible at trial only if the prosecution can show that the defendant was informed of the right to consult with an attorney before and during questioning and of the right against self-incrimination before police questioning, and that the defendant not only understood these rights, but voluntarily waived them.
500
What are some problems with the Primary and Caucus system. Name 5 examples.
Disproportionate attention to early ones Prominent politicians do not run. Money plays too big a role. Participation in primaries and caucuses is low and unrepresentative; 20 percent vote in primaries. The system gives too much power to the media.
500
According to Robert Putnam, there is a decline in political engagement in America. Please define what he means by social capital and his reason why social capital is in decline.
Social Capital: refers to the collective value of all "social networks" [who people know] and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other ["norms of reciprocity"]. Reason for Decline: People are spending less time with each other and are "Bowling Alone" due to the advent of individualized recreation in the form of TV.
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