Foundations
Name two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
No executive, unanimous vote to amend, no taxes, no military, etc.
What is gerrymandering?
The practice of drawing electoral districts to benefit one party or group
Which amendment grants the Supreme Court the right of selective incorporation?
14
What party more closely associates with people with higher levels of education and lower levels of religion?
Democrat
Name three ways a person can participate in the political system that are NOT voting
Join interest group, join political party, volunteer for causes or campaigns, participate in lobbying, run for office, work for elected officials or government departments, etc.
What case instituted judicial review?
Marbury v. Madison
What is stare decisis?
From which amendments does the right to privacy "emanate" from?
1, 4, 5, 9, 14
What is the primary agent of political socialization?
Family
How is each party's presidential nominee decided?
At the national convention
Which three amendments expanded voting suffrage?
15, 19, 26
What kind of committee does Congress hold after a bill has been passed by both the House and Senate?
What are the three parts of the Lemon Test?
1. law must have a clear secular purpose
2. law may not "excessively entangle" government and religion
3. law many not advance or prohibit a particular religion
What is a "spoiler" in the context of an election?
Usually a third party candidate who siphons votes from one of the major parties.
Name the three points of an "iron triangle" (be specific!)
Interest group, congressional subcommittee, bureaucracy
Name the five types of powers granted to the federal and state governments.
Enumerated, implied, inherent, reserved, concurrent
Name five Departments of the Cabinet
State, Defense, Treasure, Justice, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Interior, Labor, Transportation, Commerce, Education, Treasury, Health & Human Services, Housing & Urban Development, Energy
Explain the difference between Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
Liberties are basic freedoms the government can't infringe upon (BoR/14th Amendment)
Rights are protections from discrimination (14/legislation)
What is the purpose of exit polls?
For media to get a sense of how people are voting before results are tabulated.
What is a "battleground state" and why do presidential candidates spend most of their campaigns in those states?
States that tend to "swing" in Electoral College terms. Candidates spend time in battleground states because of the winner-take-all system.
Name the required SCOTUS case associated with devolution.
US v. Lopez
Name three factors that would contribute to the Supreme Court granting a writ of certiorari
Circuit conflict, importance to nation, election law, areas of interest to justices, egregious errors
What SCOTUS case established race as an acceptable category of consideration for college admissions? What case overturned it?
Bakke v. UC Board of Regents
SFFA v. Harvard
What is the general margin of error for polling?
+/- 3%
Explain the difference between the Buckley v. Valeo decision and the Citizens United v. FEC decision.
Buckley established money = speech BUT upheld limits on contributions from individuals and corporations. Citizens United reaffirmed money=speech and removed limits independent campaign expenditures for corporations and unions.