POLS 1101 Final Exam

What is Duverger's Law? What feature of American Politics is explained by Duverger's Law

The simple-majority system favors a two party system. A stable two party system exists in American politics. (Democratic and republican)

Coercive federalism

A form of federalism in which the federal government pressures the states to change their policies by using regulations, mandates, and conditions (often involving threats to withdraw federal funding).

Fire alarm oversight

A method of oversight in which members of Congress respond to complaints about the bureaucracy or problems of implementation only as they arise rather than exercising constant vigilance.

cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate., takes 60 votes

Going public

A strategy whereby a president seeks to influence policy elites and media coverage by appealing directly to the American people.

First written constitution

Articles of Confederation

Cases involving sex and gender equality undergo a case to determine whether discrimination is legal. What is the name of the test?

Intermediate scrutiny test

President's Legislative Powers

Message power, veto power, recommending legislation

In the 2016 presidential election, Trump won three states by less than 1%.

Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin.

8th Amendment

No cruel or unusual punishment

3rd Amendment

No quartering of soldiers

What is difference between an open primary and a closed primary

Open primary anyone can vote. Closed primary have to be registered within the party to be able to vote for candidate.

5th Amendment

The Right to Remain Silent/Double Jeopardy, right to due process

How does the electoral college determine the winner of U.S. presidential elections?

The electoral college is the process in which the citizens vote for representatives. The candidate who wins the majority (+50%) of electoral votes wins the election

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

6th amendment

The right to a Speedy Trial by jury, representation by an attorney for an accused person

When parties decide on their legislative priorities for the year they are engaged in: a. dealignment b. realignment c. agenda setting d. party identification e. coalition building

c. agenda setting

In Georgia we use a system of elections where if no one gets more than 50 percent of the votes, we eliminate everyone but the top two contenders and then vote again. This is an example of what kind of election system? a. plurality with run off b. majority without run off c. plurality without run off d. majority with run off e. proportional representation

d majority with run off

War Powers Resolution

encourages the president to seek congressional approval for large military action

Establishment clause

federal government can not establish a state religion

Primary framework of the Constitution

federalism, seperation of powers, and individual rights

Decleration of Independence

gave freedom from britain

A system of checks and balances

gives each branch some power over the other branches of national government

Necessary and Proper Clause

gives the national government a very broad grant of power to carry out its responsibilities

Regulations

government rules that influence the behavior of individuals and groups

the question of prior restraint of the press, the supreme court

has set a high bar for the government to meet if it wants to restrict the press

When we describe where someone falls on the conservative-moderate-liberal spectrum, we are referring to their:

ideology

Presidents job as the executive branch

implementing the law

right to privacy

is NOT explicitly guaranteed by the constitution

free riding goods

is a collective action problem

One advantage of decentralized power in a federal system is that it:

is a natural check on the power

presidential power

is important but limited by the necessity of working with Congress and of maintaining public approval

Voting based on the trustee model can harm a Congress member's political career because:

it can go against the views of constituents back home.

Elected officials are challenged in maintaining control over the bureaucracy due to:

officials lack of expertise relative to the bureaucrates

As commander-in-chief, the president is

oversee the day to day operations of the military

How can congress undo unilateral action

pass new legislation

When popular support for US military support rises exponentially due to crisis. It is known as the what effect

rally around the flag

a ______ sample is a subsection of population chosen to participate in a survey through selection process in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen

random

America uses which type of democracy

representative

supremecy clause

resolves conflicts between state and federal government, law of the land.

By joining the AARP, you recieve travel and insurance discounts. These discounts are an example of what?

selective incentives

the person responsible for litigating on behalf of the federal government

solicitor general

Which part of the national government was formed under the Articles of Confederation?

special panels of judges to resolve disputes between states

Rights guaranteed by the 6th amendment

speedy public trial right to a lawyer right to an impartial jury right to know accusers

the federalist generally

supported increasing the authority of the national government

Rule of four

supreme court justices must agree to grant a case certiorari in order for the case to be heard

Affirms state soveriegnty

the 10th amendment

Oversight

the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

Bureaucracy

the group of employees who are responsible for implementing government policy

the party in government comprises of

the politicians who have been elected into office under a party label

redistricting

the process of determining the boundaries of the House districts every 10 years

Where do most peoples political ideology and opinions originate from

their parents and families

Political views of judges still matter because

there are often multiple legal justifications for any decision in a case

Which of the following is true about mass opinion surveys

they are a powerful tool for measuring public opinion but should be interpreted carefully

Which conditions make vetos more likely

when there is divided government

At the end of reconstruction, which of the following was not used to disenfranchise african-american voters in the South? a. age requirements b. poll taxes c. the white primary d. literacy tests e. the grandfather clause

a. age requirements

How might a candidate's issue positions in the primaries differ from the general election? a. candidates tend to have more ideologically extreme positions during primaries. b. candidates try to keep their views unchanged throughout the election season c. candidates do not express issue positions during primaries, since they are only competing against others of their own parties. d. candidates tend to have more ideological extreme positions during general elections

a. candidates tend to have more ideologically extreme positions during primaries

A vote to select a party's nominee? a. primary election b. nonpartisan election c. run off election d. general election e. special election

a. primary election

when one party controls both the legislature and the presidency, it is called: a. unified government b. party based government c. responsible party government d. conditional party government e. coordinated government

a. unified government

Legislative branch

ability to raise revunue, make laws, regulate interstate commerce, coin money, establish post offices. NOT: send troops into armed conflict

anti federalists

afraid of strong government, apposed the constitution, want the power left to the states,

amicus curiae

a brief submitted by a "friend of the court" by interest groups

What is ideology

a cohesive set of ideas and beliefs used to understand the world

Rights guaranteed by the 5th amendment

"due process" of the law eminent domain grand jury no self-incrimination no double jeopardy

What factor contribute to the transition to our current party system

"seperate but equal" became viewed as racial discrimination

In the floor of the house, when can a bill not be amended

when it is under closed rules

Due Process Clause

14th amendment clause stating that no state may deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law

with a plu/minus 3 sampling error, a survey that calculated 52%, what is the percentage range

49-55 %

In most U.S elections there are two stages. First, each party has a primary. Then the winners of each parties primary run against each other in the general election. Explain how the median voter theorem helps predict the outcome in this type of two stage voting system.

Candidates must think about the median voter in each party primary to win the primary. The winners have to gain the general election median to win the general election. General candidates try to move to the middle.

Gratz v. Bollinger

Case in which Supreme Court held that University of Michigan's undergraduate admission program was not sufficiently "narrowly tailored" to consider race as a factor in admission decisions in order to achieve goal of a diverse student body. Court ruled "underrepresented minority" unconstitutional

Marbury vs. Madison

Case in which the supreme court first asserted th power of Judicial review in finding that the congressional statue expanding the Court's original jurisdiction was unconstitutional it gave the court the ability to rule on whether laws violated the constitution

9th Amendment

Citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution

Commerce Clause

Clause stating that Congress can regulate interstate and international commerce.

polarization

Division into two opposite positions (conservative or liberal)

4th Amendment

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments. ex. levy taxes

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

7th Amendment

Right to a trial by jury in civil cases

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

1 amendment

Rights to Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition

Explain the prisoners dilemma

Shows how two "rational" people might not cooperate even if it appears in their best interest to do so. Each indv. pursuing in its own outcome will end up. How to solve Prisoners' Dilemma? By creating an institution good for the general good (gov.)

Why was there division/dispute at the constitutional convention

There was agreement for a stronger government, but serious division for how much power should be given

Federalism

a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states

What is the median voter theorem?

a majority rule voting system will select the outcome most preferred by the median voter

civil servant

a person who works for a government who are hired based of their qualifications

Unilateral Action

a president changing policy without consulting Congress

Filibuster

a senators attempt to kill a bill by continuing to speak in order to prevent a vote

political speech

a speech focusing on an issue relating to government

What is a latent opinion

an opinion formed on the spot, when it is needed

Congress passed the 13,14,15th amendments primarily to: a. protect state's rights b. guarantee civil rights for the newly free black slaves c. establish the right for women to fully participate in the political process d. manage the economy through the income tax and federal reserve system

b. guarantee civil rights for the newly free black slaves

Which supreme court case validated the type of discrimination established by Jim Crow laws a. brown v. board of education b. plessy v. ferguson c. dred scott v. sanford d. miranda v. arizona e. panthers v. broncos

b. plessy v. fergusson

Which of the following terms describes a situation in which the issues that divide the political parties change in a way that cuts across existing political coalitions? a. polarization b. realignment c. dealignment d. party evolution e. divided government

b. realignment

Why did the Founders believe that the Senate would be more responsive to national interests than the House? a. all states were equally represented b. senators were indirectly elected and served longer terms. c. senators were popularly elected d. the senate had more constitutional authority than the house e. all bills would originate in the senate

b. senators were indirectly elected and served longer terms

when the supreme court makes decisions in civil liberty cases, it frequently weighs the protection of an individuals freedoms against the public good

balancing interests

To be a part of the party in the electorate, one must,

be a citizen who identifies with said party

How are our rights protected

by court cases and trials

The term affirmative action refers to a. efforts to fight discrimination against any group, including whites, based on the law b. efforts to end discrimination based on the actual conditions of people. c. offering racial minorities chances to catch up through legal means to compensate for discrimination d. steps taken by the government to outlaw acts of racism and bigotry, including hate speech

c. offering racial minorities chances to catch up through legal means to compensate for discrimination

A voting system in which the candidate with the most votes wins is called: a. proportional voting b. majority voting c. plurality voting d. democratic e. republican

c. plurality voting

In America _____ run candidates for office, while _____ do not have an official position on the ballot. a. interest groups: political parties b. social movements: interest groups c. political parties: interest groups d. interest groups: caucuses c. political parties: caucuses

c. political parties: interest groups

in modern america politics, most candidates are nominated to elected office through a. petitions b. caucuses c. primary elections d. party conventions

c. primary elections

When Bob goes to vote, he often thinks about questions like "Has my current member of Congress done a good job?" and "Does my current member of Congress handle issues I care about properly?" This is an example of what kind of evaluation? a. personal b. prospective c. retrospective d. campaign e. registration

c. retrospective

Jaime votes for democrat for president but a republican for senate. This is an example of a a. coattail b. political parties c. split ticket d. butterfly ballot e. straight ticket

c. split ticket

Duverger's law explains which phenomenon in American politics. a. super PAC b. the rally around the flag effect c. the dominance of the two party system d. the party realignments of the 1860s and 1960s e. the emergence of judicial review in the federal court system.

c. the dominance of the two party systems.

Court ranking

circuit, special, supreme

Group interests confict with individuals interest is known as

collective action problem

which ideology (conservative or liberal) supports lower taxes, a free marker, and a more limited government

conservative

While____involve limits on the government action, ______ involve protection from discrimination by the government or individual a. civil rights: civil liberties b. civil rights: affirmative action policies c. affirmative action policies: civil liberties d. civil liberties: civil rights e. civil liberties: due process rights

d. civil liberties: civil rights

How are presidential primaries different from presidential caucuses? a. only northern state use primaries b. caucuses involve voting on a specific day, whereas primaries take place over the course of a week. c. caucuses are secret while primaries are open to the public. d. primaries involve voting by ballot, whereas caucuses take place in a local setting e. in caucuses anyone can participate, wherease in primaries only registered party supporters may do so.

d. primaries involve voting by ballot, whereas caucuses take place in a local setting

A multiple-member district system that allows each political party to participate in governance according to its percentage of the vote is a a. majority system b. plurality system c. minority system d. proportional representation system

d. proportional representation system

Which test said that political speech was protected except where it aimed to cause imminent "lawless action"?

direct incitement test

What does it mean to be a "representative" democracy a. people vote directly on important bills b. there are multiple parties who compete for votes. c. some of the time people who get the most votes do not win. d. each vote represents the will of one, and only one, person e. citizens have an indirect say on policy by voting in elections

e. citizens have an indirect say on policy by voting in elections.

individuals donating money directly to federal campaigns is known as ______, whereas money given to an outside group, which cannot be spent in coordination with a federal campaign is known as _____ a. soft money, hard money b. direct investments: indirect investments c. pork barrel spending: earmarks d. cash money : new money e. hard money : soft money

e. hard money: soft money

How has the political landscape of the South changed in the last 50 years? a. There has no been much partisan change in the south. b. the south has gone from being a toss up to being solidly democratic c. the south has gone from being a toss up to being solidly republican d. the south has gone from being solidly republican to solidly democratic e. the south has gone form being doludly democratic to solidly republican

e. the south has gone from being doludly democratic to solidly republican

Dual Federalism

each has distinct areas of authority with little overlap

james madison, the problem of tyranny was

large factions might capture and ignore the minority

Which ideology (conservative or liberal) supports stronger government programs and more marke regulations

liberal

When an interest group contacts a public official and tries to influence public policy, it is engaged in

lobbying

Correct order of billd

member introduces the bill, conference committee version is approved, one chamber takes floor action

a faction is a group of ______ that seek to control government to ________

minority or majority interests: pursue their own interests

One of the most important public good is

national defense

James Madison believed that government is necessary because

people act in their own self interest and could not be trusted

Markup

process in which bills are rewritten and amended in a committee

Executive order

proclamations made by the president that change government policy without congressional approval

Synder v. Phelps

protected the Westboro Baptist Church's protests of fallen American soldiers. Freedom of speech.

An interest group is best defined as an organization that

tries to influence public policy for a group of people with common interest

How much of the senate is needed for approval of President

two-thirds

Proper order of succession of the president

vice president, speaker of the house

Bill of rights

was not approved at the constitutional convention

public opinion is best defined as

what the public thinks about government and politics