Unit 1
1.6 Principles of American Government - The Supreme Court rules the president's executive order unconstitutional. What constitutional principle is demonstrated, and why?
Checks and balances. The Court can rule the President's executive order unconstitutional if it violates any constitutional principle.
2.14 Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable - What influence does the President of the United States have on the appointment of new heads in the bureaucratic agencies?
The President can appoint new agency heads that fit into his policy agenda.
3.2 First Amendment: Freedom of Religion - What is the establishment clause of the First Amendment and what Supreme Court case is specifically tied with it?
The First Amendment's establishment clause prohibits the government from having a national religion. Engle v. Vitale (1962) is tied with the First Amendment's establishment clause as it dealt with a school sponsored prayer.
4.2 Political Socialization - What is the process by which individuals acquire political beliefs and values? Include two influences.
Political socializtion. Two influences could include, family, school, peers, media, social environments, and geography.
5.1 Voting Rights and Models of Voting Behavior - How did the suffrage Amendments broaden voting rights of people? Give examples.
The 15th Amendment prohibited the states from denying anyone the right to vote based on color, the 19th Amendment gave voting rights to women, and the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.
1.8 Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism - What constitutional clause allows Congress to make laws necessary to carry out its powers? Include the Supreme Court case that fits.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). It established the Necessary and Proper Clause along with the Supremacy Clause.
2.4 Roles and Powers of the President - The President holds the power of executive agreements among other powers. What is an executive agreement and how does it differ from a treaty?
An executive agreement is a contract between the president and another leader of a country. It differs from a treaty as it does not require the Senate's two=thirds vote.
3.11 Goverment Responses to Social Movements - Literacy tests, poll taxes, white primaries, and the grandfather clause were outlawed by what act?
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 supported the 15th Amendment by outlawing literacy tests, poll taxes, white primaries, and the grandfather clause.
4.5 Measuring Public Opinion - What do pollsters have to make sure when making a question for polls and surveys and why?
The wording of the question should be objective and should not be emotionally charged as some topics can be distorted based on wording. The framing of the question is also important. Framing a question means posing it in a way that emphasizes a certain perspective.
5.2 Voter Turnout - How is voter turnout impacted by voter ID laws and long lines at polls?
Voter ID laws can impact people that are in lower classes and long lines at polls can also discourage people to less likely vote in the next election.
1.7 Relationship Between the States and the Federal Government - What principle of federalism describes when national and state governments share powers? Name two.
Concurrent powers. The state and federal government both share the power to levy taxes and enforce laws.
2.12 The Bureaucracy - Explain the interactions between Congress and the bureaucracy.
Congress controls funding for the bureaucracy through the Power of the Purse. Bureaucracy enforces policies and choices for the law that Congress passes.
3.7 Selective Incorporation - What is selective incorporation and what is it's relation to the Second Amendment?
Selective incorporation is when the Supreme Court applies the Bill of Rights to the states by the due process clause of the 14th Amendment through it's cases. District of Columbia v. Heller's ruling was applied on federal grounds until McDonald v. Chicago brought the Second Amendment to the states by selective incorporation.
4.3 Changes in Ideology - What are lifecycle effects and how do they affect a person's ideology through their life?
Lifecycle effects includes the variety of physical, social, and psychological changes that people go through as they age. It can shift issues that are important at different ages which can change their ideology at certain points in life.
5.5 Third-Party Politics - Why is the winner-take-all system a significant barrier to third parties?
The winner-take-all system discourages voters from voting for third parties as they feel like they're throwing their vote away. Third parties also rarely win a state's popular vote.
1.9 Federalism in Action - A state legalizes a substance that is illegal under federal law. What type of federalism is this and who has the final say?
Uncooperative Federalism. The federal government has the final say due to the Supremacy Clause.
2.8 The Judical Branch - The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review. Which foundational document mentioned it and what Supreme Court case fully established judicial review?
Federalist No. 78 affirmed that the judicial branch has the power of judicial review and Marbury v. Madison (1803) fully established the Court's judicial review.
3.8 Amendments: Due Process and the Rights of the Accused - What was the Amendment and constitutional clause in the Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)? What was the impact of Gideon v. Wainwright?
The Sixth Amendment's right to counsel clause was the main focus in Gideon v. Wainwright. The impact of the case was the 6th Amendment's right to counsel was incorporated to the states, allowing all defendants to have access to defense attorneys no matter the severity of the crime accused.
4.7 Ideologies in Political Parties - How does a political party's platform help shape their ideology?
Platforms are a list of principles and plans it hopes to enact. Different parties have different platforms and people can read the platforms to see which party aligns with them and their ideologies.
5.6 Interest Groups Influencing Policy Making - Interest Groups use a certain strategy to hire former Congress members to influence legislation. What is this strategy called and why is it effective?
The revolving door. It's effective because it gives interest groups connections and inside knowledge.
1.3 Government Power and Individual Rights - Federalist No. 10 speaks of the "mischiefs of factions." What was the argument James Madison made in Federalist No. 10 and what other document is the opposite of it?
James Madison argued that a large, central republic is best to control factions so that not one dominates. The opposite is Brutus 1, which favored state governments over a large, central republic.
2.2 Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress - What is mandatory spending and how is it different from discretionary spending?
Mandatory spending is payment required by law for certain programs. It is different from discretionary spending as it is the money that is divided up for everything else not required under mandatory spending.
3.13 Affirmative Action - What is the goal of affirmative action and how did the ruling in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) affect race-based admissions for higher education institutions?
Affirmative action is a label placed on institutional efforts to diversity by race, gender, or otherwise. The ruling in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke prohibited taking race into consideration in college admissions as it violated the equal protections clause.
4.9 Ideology and Economic Policy - The government increases spending and cuts taxes to boost demand and reduce unemployment during a recession. Which economic theory best supports this and why?
Keynesian economics because the government is involved in the recession instead of leaving the money side to the people.
5.12 The Media - A news network frames a political issue by writing what is newsworthy to the people. What is this called and how does it influence public opinion?
The news media acts as a gatekeeper by setting their own news agenda by determining what is newsworthy and therefore deciding what information the public will receive. What the media decides to publish directly influences the issues people regard as important.