Midterm Review (POL-1) (Chapter 1-7 and 9)

The agreement that citizens will consent to be governed so long as government protects their natural rights is called ____.

A bill of rights

Explain the difference between a criminal case and a civil case.

A criminal case is dealing with those who are being prosecuted for committing a crime. A civil case is one that deals with disputes between parties.

Explain the difference between a right listed in the Bill of Rights and a common-law right

A right listed in the Bill of Rights is afforded clearer protection than one developed incrementally through court precedents.

Why does age effect whether a citizen will vote?

Age effects whether a citizen will vote as the younger generation tends to not be interested in voting and using their voice. The age effects whether a citizen will actually be invested in the voting process.

What actions by the British government convinced the colonists that they needed to declare their independence?

Americans believed all people (i.e., white males) possessed the rights to life, liberty, and property. The best way to protect these rights was by limiting the power of government and allowing people to govern themselves.

What key tenets of American political thought were influential in the decision to declare independence from Britain?

Americans believed all people (i.e., white males) possessed the rights to life, liberty, and property. The best way to protect these rights was by limiting the power of government and allowing people to govern themselves.

Briefly describe the similarities and differences between the experiences of Native Americans and Native Hawaiians.

Both groups lost their ancestral lands to whites who also attempted to destroy their culture. Both groups also suffer high levels of poverty and unemployment today. Most Native American tribes are allowed to govern themselves, but so far Native Hawaiians are not.

How have changes in technology made polling more difficult?

Changes in technology have made polling more difficult as there has become a surplus more of way to make a poll and counting all those differing way and counting the polls is challenging.

Briefly explain the difference between civil liberties and civil rights

Civil liberties are limitations on the power of government, designed to ensure personal freedoms, whereas, civil right guarantees of equal treatment by government authorities.

What is the difference between civil rights and civil liberties?

Civil rights are, at the most fundamental level, guarantees by the government that it will treat people equally, particularly people belonging to groups that have historically been denied the same rights and opportunities as others. Civil liberties are limitation on government power designed to protect our fundamental freedoms.

Which agents of socializations will have the strongest impact on an individual?

Family and/ or school are the agents of socialization that have the strongest impact on an individual.

What does government do for people?

Government does many things for people. It maintains stability within the nation. It provides important services for all without direct payment. Finally, it provides a structure through which laws can be created and people can make their opinions known.

According to the pluralist theory of government ____.

Government does what the majority of voters want it to do.

If you were going to predict whether your classmates would vote in the next election, what questions would you ask them?

I would ask them their age, education level, interest in politics, income level, and whether they voted in in the last election.

Why do pollsters interview random people throughout the country when trying to project which candidate will win a presidential election?

If a pollster interviews only a certain type of person, the sample will be biased and the poll will be inaccurate.

What is the difference between a representative democracy and a direct democracy?

In a representative democracy, people elect representatives to make political decisions and pass laws for them. In a direct democracy, people make all political decisions and pass laws themselves.

What important power did the national government lack under the Articles of Confederation?

It could not impose taxes

Why did it take so long for an active civil rights movement to begin in the LGBT community?

It took so long for an active civil rights movement to begin in the LGBT community because during the time they were not accepted, and thus it led to the fear of coming out and fighting for something they wanted to happen. They were an invisible group of people who didn't want to come out into the light because of fear, thus delaying them to fight for what they wanted.

How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention resolve their disagreement regarding slavery?

It was agreed that 60 percent of a state's slave population would be counted for purposes of both representation and taxation

British colonists in North America in the late seventeenth century were greatly influenced by the political thoughts of ____.

John Locke

When a person is asked a question about a political issue that he or she has little interest in and has not thought much about, that person's answer will likely reflect ___.

Latent preferences

In which form of government does a small group of elite people hold political power?

Oligarchy

Why might one branch's approval ratings be higher than another's?

One branch's approval ratings may be higher than another's as some branches only have a few people so it is easier for people to target them instead of branches with a lot more people.

Where do your beliefs originate?

Our beliefs originate from our childhood mostly, based on our parents or those taking care of us. Also, based off of the community we grow up in and the schools that we go to and what they teach us.

Supporting the actions of the Democratic Party simply because one identifies oneself as a member of that party is an example of ___.

Partisanship

What political activities can people engage in other than running for office?

People can pay attention to the new in order to be aware of the most important issues of the day. They can contribute money to a campaign or attend a rally in support of a political candidate whose views they favor. They can write letters to members of Congress and to state and local politicians. They can vote.

What kinds of people are most likely to become active in politics or community service?

Political and civic engagement is most common among older people, especially those with higher education and financial resources. Younger people are interested in volunteering to help others, but they tend to dislike politics.

What goods are available to all without direct payment?

Public goods

According to the Great Compromise, how would representation in Congress be apportioned?

Representation in the House of Representatives would be based on each state's population and every state would have two senators

Why would House of Representative members be more likely than the president to follow public opinion?

Representatives run for election every two years and must constantly raise campaign money. They abide by public opinion because do not have time to explain their actions or mend fences before each election.

Briefly explain the concept of selective incorporation, and why it became necessary.

Selective incorporation is the process of expanding the application of the Bill of Rights to also include the states. it became necessary in order to guarantee people's civil liberties equally across all states.

What does separation of powers mean?

Separation of powers refers to the process of dividing government into different branches and giving different responsibilities and powers to each branch. In this way, the separate branches must work together to govern the nation. For example, according to the Constitution, Congress has the power to draft legislation. However, the president must sign a piece of proposed legislation before it becomes a law. Thus, the president and Congress must work together to make the nation's laws.

In what ways did Shay's Rebellion reveal the weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

Shay's Rebellion created pressure because the government wasn't strong enough to interfere and stop the rebellion so they needed to create a private army to stop it proving weaknesses in the government.

Explain why someone accused of a crime might negotiate a plea bargain rather than exercising the right to trial by jury

Someone accused of a crime may take a plea bargain because it reflects a clear path forward rather than the uncertainty of a trial.

What were the key provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination in employment based on race, color, national origin, religion, and sex and created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate discrimination and enforce the provisions of the bill. It also prohibited segregation in public accommodations and encouraged integration in education.

What did the Fourteenth Amendment achieve?

The Fourteenth Amendment gave citizenship to African Americans and made all Americans equal before the law regardless of race or color. Over the years it has also been used to require states to guarantee their residents the same protections as those granted by the federal government in the Bill of Rights.

What effect did the National Voter Registration Act have on voter registration?

The effect the National Voter Registration Act had on voter registration is that it increased along with voter turnout.

Which of the following is a good example of a tradeoff?

The government pleases environmental activists by preserving public lands but also pleases ranchers by allowing them to rent a public lands for grazing purposes.

What challenges do college students face with regard to voter registration?

The main challenge is figuring out where students wish to register, at home or at college. Out-of-state students have an even greater challenge because they have moved across state lines.

How does the media use public opinion polls during election season?

The media uses public opinion polls during election season to see how the voters are going to vote.

What problems will candidates experience with frontloading?

The problem that candidates experience with frontloading is that a lot of the time candidates do not have enough time to truly campaign and present themselves to those states, thus hindering their chances in winning.

Explain the difference between the establishment clause and the free exercise clause, and explain how these two clauses work together to guarantee religious freedoms.

The two clauses together protect religious liberty but from opposite directions. The establishment clause prevents governments from having an official religious (thus giving all religions a chance to flourish), while the free exercise clause clearly empowers individuals to practice as they wish.

Why did so many people oppose ratification of the Constitution, and how was their opposition partly overcome?

They were afraid of a king rule again, however, this was overcome by the use of the Federalist papers.

Why were The Federalist Papers written?

To encourage New York to ratify the Constitution

What recommendations would you make to increase voter turnout in the United States?

To increase voter turnout in the United States, I would suggest these options: move to all-mail voting, hold elections on weekends, automatically register voters, and pass federal law that further reduces impediments to voter registration.

Describe two ways in which new technological developments challenge traditional notions of privacy.

Two way in which new technological developments challenge traditional notions of privacy is that they can be listening to us and reporting back our private information to other political organizations.

The elite theory of government maintains that _____.

Wealthy, politically powerful people control government, and government has no interest in meeting the needs of ordinary people.

When are social and economic issues more likely to cause polarization in public opinion?

When the issues balance two controversial concerns, such as a limited budget and personal financial needs, or religious liberty and equality.

Which of the following is not part of a scientific poll design?

a. A leading question

The Supreme Court case known as Kelo v. City of New London was controversial because it __.

a. Allowed greater use of the power of eminent domain

Which of the following best describes attitudes toward Asian immigrants in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?

a. Asian immigrants were welcomed to the United States and swiftly became financially successful

Why to Belgium, Turkey, and Australia have higher voter turnout rates than the United States?

a. Compulsory voting laws

What is the Bill of Rights?

a. First ten amendments to the Constitution that protect individual freedoms

The right to privacy has been controversial for all the following reasons except __.

a. It is not explicitly included in the Constitution or Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution because __.

a. Key states refused to ratify the Constitution unless it was added.

What characterizes those most likely to vote in the next election?

a. Over forty-five years old

____ political content is given by a media source that lets the reader or viewer know upfront there is a political bias or position.

a. Overt

In which type of election are you most likely to see coattail effects?

a. Presidential

Which of the following provisions is not part of the First Amendment?

a. The right to keep and bear arms

What unusual step did Oregon take to increase voter registration?

a. The state automatically registers all citizens over eighteen to vote

The 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march was an important milestone in the civil rights movement because it ___.

a. Vividly illustrated the continued resistance to black civil rights in the Deep South

Explain the difference between the collective rights and individual's rights views of the Second Amendment. Which of these views did the Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller reflect?

at least some gun control laws did violate the Second Amendment and individual's right to keep and bear arms, at least in some circumstances- in particular, "for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home".

AIM was ___.

b. A radical group of Native American activists who occupied the settlement of Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation

Presidential approval ratings ____ over a president's term of office.

b. Decline

Which of the following is a reason to make voter registration more difficult?

b. Decrease election fraud

How are most attitudes formed?

b. In childhood, based on early on childhood experiences

Which of the following citizens is most likely to run for office?

b. Jeffrey Lyons, a 40-year-old lawyer and father of one

A major difference between most European countries and the United States today is __.

b. Laws in Europe more strictly regulate how government officials can use tracking technology

What argument did Alexander Hamilton use to convince people that it was not dangerous to place power in the hands of one man?

b. One man could respond to crises more quickly than a group of men like Congress c. It was easier to control the actions of one man than the actions of a group d. Both B and C

The Supreme Court decision ruling that "separate but equal" was constitutional and allowed racial segregation to take place was ___.

b. Plessy v. Ferguson

How do polls affect presidential elections?

b. Polls tell voters the issues that candidates support

At the world's first women's rights convention in 1848, the most contentious issue proved to be __.

b. Suffrage for women

The equal protection clause became part of the Constitution as a result of ____.

b. The fourteenth amendment

Why are social policies controversial?

b. They require government to balance the rights and liberties of different groups

How many state must ratify an amendment before it becomes law?

b. Three-fourths

The doctrine that people who do jobs that require the same level of skill, training, or education are thus entitled to equal pay is known as ___.

c. Comparable worth

A state might hold a primary instead of a caucus because a primary is ___.

c. Faster and has higher turnouts

The Third Amendment can be thought of as ___.

c. Forming part of a broader conception of privacy in the home that is also protected by the Second and Fourth Amendments

Where and when do Electoral College electors vote?

c. In their state capitol, in December

A poll states that Hillary Clinton will receive 43 percent of the vote. There is an 8 percent margin of error. What do you think of the poll?

c. It is a non-representative poll and the margin of error is too high

Which of the following makes it easy for a citizen to register to vote?

c. National voter registration act

An example of a right explicitly protected by the Constitution as drafted at the Constitutional Convention is the __.

c. Right to a writ of habeas corpus

The Bradley effect occurs when people ___.

c. Say they will vote for a candidate but then against him or her

A group of African American students believes a college admissions test that is used by a public university discriminates against them. What legal standard would the courts use in deciding their case?

c. Strict scrutiny

How did NAWSA differ from the NWP?

c. The NWP favored more confrontational tactics like protests and picketing while NAWSA circulated petitions and lobbied politicians

Which of the following rights is not explicitly protected by some state constitutions?

c. The right to polygamous marriage

Which of the following rights is not protected by the Sixth Amendment?

c. The right to remain silent

Mexican American farm workers in California organized ___ to demand higher pay from their employers.

c. The united farm worker union

Which of the following rules has the Supreme Court said is an undue burden on the right to have an abortion?

c. Women must notify their spouses before having an abortion

Which of the following types of discrimination would be subject to the rational basis test?

d. A law that treats 10-year-olds differently from 28-year-olds

The Fourteenth Amendment was critically important for civil liberties because it __.

d. Allowed the states to continue to enact black codes.

The Trail of Tears is the name given to the forced removal of this tribe from Georgia to Oklahoma.

d. Cherokee

The Fourth Amendment's requirement for a warrant __.

d. Does not apply when there is a serious risk that evidence will be destroyed before a warrant can be issued.

Which factor affects congressional approval ratings the most?

d. Domestic events

The Supreme Court has decided that the death penalty __.

d. May not be applied to those who were under 18 when they committed a crime

The double jeopardy rule in the Bill of Rights forbids which of the following?

d. None of these options a. Prosecuting someone in a state court for a criminal act he or she had been acquitted of in federal court b. Prosecuting someone in federal court for a criminal act he or she had been acquitted of in a state court c. Suing someone for damages for an act the person was found not guilty of

Which institution has the highest average public approval ratings?

d. The Supreme Court

Which body of government is least susceptible to public opinion polls?

d. U.S. Supreme Court

If you wanted to prove the United States is suffering from low voter turnout, a calculation based on which population would yield the lowest voter turnout rate?

d. Voters who voted in the last election

Which of the following is not an agent of political socialization?

d. a U.S. senator