Federal
Government 2305--Web

1. Define and explain the significance of the following:

a. politics
b. government (ch. 1)
c. democracy (ch. 1)
d. direct democracy (ch. 1)
e. representative democracy (ch. 1)
f. majority rule (ch. 1)
g. equality (ch. 1 & 2))
h. totalitarianism (ch. 1)
i. political culture (ch. 2)
j. capitalism (ch. 2)
k. social mobility (ch. 2)
l. ideology (ch. 2)
m. conservativism (ch. 2)
n. liberalism (ch. 2)
o. radicalism (ch. 2)
p. extremism (ch. 2)
q. communism (ch. 2)
r. socialism (ch. 2)

2. Discuss the differences between the liberal and conservative philosophies on the role of government in American society and their stands on the major issues of today (refer to the Liberal-Conservative Comparison chart in the Lecture Notes & ch. 2).

3. Discuss the factors (the 10 essentials--see Lecture notes) that make a nation a democracy. 
(ch. 1)

4.  Explain the differences between a direct and a representative democracy and the advantages and disadvantages of each. (ch. 1)

Textbook Readings

Dye, chapters 1 and 2

UNIT 2

THE CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

1. Define and explain the significance of the following:

a. Magna Carta
b. constitution
c. Bill of Rights
d. Great Compromise
e. supremacy clause (L)
f. federalism
g. separation of powers
h. checks and balances
i. judicial review
j. republicanism 
k. amendments
l. due process clause (L)
m. equal protection clause (L)
n. enumerated powers

2. Discuss the pivotal role of the Supreme Court in interpreting the law and resolving conflicts between various branches of government.

3. Describe the various limitations on democracy in colonial and America and at the time of the ratification of the US Constitution in 1789. Make particular note of the voting requirements.

4. Discuss the defects in the Articles of Confederation as a government.

5. Explain these key principles in the American political system: federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, and judicial review.

6. Discuss the major powers and responsibilities of the three branches of government under the Constitution.

7. Explain the amendment process.

Textbook Readings

Dye, chapter 3
(L)-indicates information can be found in lecture notes

UNIT 3

THE FEDERAL SYSTEM

1. Define and explain the significance of the following:

a. federalism
b. enumerated powers (L)
c. implied powers
d. concurrent powers
e. reserved powers
f. McCulloch v. Maryland
g. full faith and credit clause (L)
h. supremacy clause
i. categorical grants
j. block grants
k. necessary and proper clause
l. 10th Amendment

2. Define federalism and discuss the differences between federalism, a confederate system, and a unitary system.

3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of America's federal system.

4. Explain how the adoption of the federal system at the constitutional convention represented a compromise.

5. Discuss the shift in the balance of power between the states and the national government within the American federal system.

6. Compare and contrast the two different types of federal aid programs to state and local governments: categorical grants and block grants.


Textbook Readings

Dye, chapter 4

UNIT 4

PUBLIC OPINION & PARTICIPATION

1. Define and explain the significance of the following:

a. political socialization
b. generational effects
c. gender gap
d. 1st Amendment
e. white primary
f. literacy test
g. poll tax
h. 19th Amendment
i. 26th Amendment
j. "Motor Voter Act"
k. registration
l. civil disobedience

2. Discuss the major influences or agents in the political socialization process.

3. Discuss how and why voting requirements have changed in the United States.

4.  Discuss the five methods to deny black Americans the right to vote.

5.  Compare voter turnout in the United States with turnout in other western democracies. 


Textbook Readings

Dye, chapter 5

UNIT 5

INTEREST GROUPS

1. Define and explain the significance of the following:
a. interest groups
b. lobbying
c. political action committees (PACs)
d. public citizen groups
e. lobbyist
f.  First Amendment (L)

2. Discuss the various strategies and techniques used by interest groups to influence government. (text & lecture notes)

3. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of interest groups in the American political system. (text and lecture notes) 

4. Compare and contrast the 1946 and 1995 Lobbying Acts and their effectiveness in regulating interest groups.  Explain how the 1995 law was an improvement over the 1946 law. (lecture notes)

5.  Discuss the criticisms of PACs and the contribution limits on PACs. (text and lecture notes)

6. Be familiar with the interest groups considered most powerful according to the textbook's authors. 

Textbook Readings

Dye, chapter 9

UNIT 6

POLITICAL PARTIES

1. Define and explain the significance of the following:

a. political party
b. ticket splitter
c. Federalists
d. Jeffersonian Republicans (Democratic-Republicans)
e. Whigs
f. Democratic Party
g. Republican Party
h. Populists
i. Reagan coalition
j. national convention
k. party platform 
l.  realignment

2. Define the term "political party" and discuss the major function they perform within the American political system.

3. Describe the historical roots of the present-day Democratic and Republican parties.

4. Compare and contrast today's Republican and Democratic parties on the following points (text & lecture notes):

a. public images of each
b. their political philosophy
c. their stands of the major issues of today
d. groups that support each party
e. geographical areas of support for each party

5. Discuss the four types of third parties-giving examples of each, their role in U.S. history, their contributions, and why they have not had much success. (lecture notes)

6. Describe the proceedings of a national political convention.

7. Discuss the major types of party primaries. 

Textbook Readings

Dye, chapter 7

1.  Define and explain the significance of the following:
     a.  War Powers Resolution
     b.  executive orders
     c.  War Powers Act
     d.  Cabinet
     e.  impeachment
     f.  executive agreements
     g.  executive privilege
     h.  veto
     i.  pocket veto
     j.  line-item veto
     k.  riders (L)
     l.  impoundment

2.  Discuss how the American presidency is both an office of great power and great limits.

3.  Discuss the reasons for the growth of the American presidency.

4.  Describe the various roles of the president of the United States:  chief of state, chief executive, commander-in-chief, chief diplomat, chief legislator, chief of party, and party leader.

5.  Discuss the roles of the following in helping the president: White House staff, the Executive Office of the President, the vice president, and the cabinet.

6.  Outline the formal duties of the vice president in the American political system.

7.  Identify the constitutional grounds and procedures for the impeachment and removal of the president of the United States. 

Textbook Readings
Dye, Ch. 11

Unit 8--Congress

1.  Define and explain the significance of the following:
     a.  pork barrel spending
     b.  oversight 
     c.  Speaker
     d.  whips
     e.  filibuster
     f.  cloture
     g.  standing committees
     h.  seniority system
     i.  gerrymandering
     j.  appropriations/power of the purse
     k. legislative veto
     l.  Rules Committee
     m. conference committee
     n. gridlock
     o. logrolling
     p. rider
     q. advise and consent
     r. apportionment & redistricting
     s. mark-up
     t.  CBO-Congressional Budget Office
     u. GAO- General Accounting Office

2.  Explain the profile of the average member of Congress. 

3.  Discuss the following differences in the House and Senate: terms, size, powers, and prestige.

4.  Discuss the leadership positions in the House and Senate and the duties of each.

5.  Discuss the committee system, reasons for it, and the most important steps a bill must go through to become law.

6.  Discuss the congressional reforms designed to improve Congress. (lecture notes)

7.  Discuss the purpose of the "legislative veto" used by Congress and the impact of the Supreme Court decision holding it unconstitutional. (lecture notes)

8.  Discuss the trustee and delegate theories on the role of a congressperson. 

Textbook Readings
Dye, Ch. 10

1.  Define and explain the significance of the following:
     a.  stare decisis & precedent
     b.  civil cases
     c.  criminal cases
     d.  judicial review
     e.  Marbury v. Madison
     f.  judicial activism
     g.  judicial restraint
     h.   original jurisdiction
     i. appellate jurisdiction
     j.  writ of certiorari
     k.  passive nature of the courts (from Lecture Notes)
     l.  majority opinion  
     m.  dissenting opinion
     n.  concurring opinion
     o. John Marshall
     p. original intent
     q. senatorial courtesy
     r. (have) standing
     s. rule of four
     t. size of US Supreme Court

2.  Compare and contrast the major decisions of the Warren Court with those of the Burger and Rehnquist Courts.

3.  Discuss how the Supreme Court acquired the power of judicial review and the significance of that power.

4.  Discuss the limits and checks on the power of the Supreme Court.

5.  Discuss the structure of the federal court system and jurisdiction of each of the following three main levels: district courts, appellate courts, and U.S. Supreme Court.

6.  Discuss the continuing controversy over the use of capital punishment in the United States and arguments used by both the opponents and supporters of the death penalty. (ch. 14, pp. 531-533)

7.  Discuss the federal judge selection process, the term of office, and why the framers made that choice.  

Textbook Readings:
Dye, Ch. 13

1.  Define and explain the significance of the following:
     a.  bureaucracy
     b.  independent (executive) agencies
     c.  government corporations
     d.  independent regulatory commissions
     e.  spoils system
     f.  political patronage
     g.  Civil Service/merit system
     h.  incremental budgeting
     i.  whistle-blowers
     j.  OMB
     k. deregulation

2.  Discuss the three major functions of the bureaucracy (implementation, regulation, and adjudication).

3.  Discuss the structure of the bureaucracy: the cabinet departments, independent executive agencies, the independent regulatory commissions, and the government corporations.

4.  Discuss the origins of the "spoils system," the fight for civil service reform in the 1880s, and more recent efforts to reward merit and penalize incompetence in the civil service.

5.  Discuss the role of "whistle-blowing" as a check on bureaucratic power, and the high price that whistle-blowers often pay for their actions.

6.  Discuss and compare the controls the President and Congress have over the bureaucracy. 

Textbook Readings
Dye, Ch. 12

1.  Define and explain the significance of the following:
     a.  Bill of Rights
     b.  First Amendment rights
     c.  clear & present danger rule
     d.  absolute position
     e.  balancing test
     f.  free exercise clause
     g. establishment clause
     h. due process clause
     i.  exclusionary rule
     j.  Miranda rights/warnings
     k. grand jury & indictment
     l.  shield laws
     m.  gag order
     n.  writ of habeas corpus
     o.  no prior restraint rule
     p.  pornography/obscenity & Miller v. California standards
     q.  symbolic speech
     r.  libel & slander
     s.  commercial speech
     t.  Roe v. Wade
     u.  right to die

2.  Describe the pivotal role of the Supreme Court in interpreting the Bill of Rights and defining the scope of individual freedom.

3.  Discuss freedom of religion and the two clauses: the free exercise and no establishment clauses

4.  Discuss the protections and limits of free speech under the First Amendment.

5.   Describe how the First Amendment, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, both protects and limits freedom of press.

6.  Discuss how the Supreme Court attempts to balance First Amendment rights against competing needs to preserve order and preserve the state.

7.  Describe the development of the "right to privacy" through the Supreme Court decisions and federal legislation and the areas protected.

8.  Discuss the controversial issue of a woman's constitutional right to an abortion, the Roe v. Wade decision, and recent Supreme Court decisions limiting abortion rights. 

9.  Discuss the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms and court decisions.

10.  Discuss the protections of the Fourth Amendment against "unreasonable search and seizures," the importance of the "exclusionary rule," and the "good faith" exception to the rule.

11.  Discuss the protections in the 5th, 6th, and 8th Amendments.

12.  Discuss the pros and cons of the death penalty. 

Textbook Readings
Dye, Ch. 14

1.  Define and explain the significance of the following:
     a.  Hispanics
     b.  American Indian Movement (AIM)
     c.  Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
     d.  13, 14, 15, & 19th Amendments
     e.  Voting Rights Act
     f.  Dred Scott decision
     g.  Jim Crow laws
     h.  "separate but equal"
     i.  Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
     j.  affirmative action 
     k.  American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
     l.  Brown v. Board of Education
     m. de facto and de jure segregation
     n.  Civil Rights Acts of 1964 & 1968
     o.  NAACP
     p.  Martin Luther King
     q.  Cesar Chavez

2.  Discuss the types of discrimination faced by African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans , and women and the effects on each of those groups (from text AND supplemental handouts on "Six Types of Discrimination Against Blacks," "Hispanics," "Asian American," and "Past & Continuing Sex Discrimination of Women"  handouts on "Lecture" web page).

3.  Discuss the discrimination faced by disabled Americans and the resulting laws and court decisions.

4.  Describe the history and political consequences of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

5.  Evaluate the impact of the Voting Rights Act on the participation of African Americans in the political system.

6.  Discuss the continuing debate over affirmative action and the Supreme Court rulings related to affirmative action, especially the Bakke decision.

9.  Discuss how, despite some economic and legal gains made by African Americans in recent years, there is still continuing discrimination and reasons why about one third of all black Americans are below the poverty level.

Textbook Readings
Dye, Ch. 15

1.  Define and explain the significance of the following:
     a.  deterrence
     b.  Marshall Plan
     c.  NATO
     d.  Cold War
     e.  MAD-balance of terror
     f.  containment
     g.  United Nations (UN)
     
2.  Discuss the legacy of the Cold War and the policy of containment.

3.  Discuss how the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War have affected American foreign policy and defense policies.

4.  Discuss the impact of the Vietnam War on American foreign policy (the "Vietnam Syndrome). 

7.  Discuss the impact of the war on terrorism and 9/11. 

Textbook Readings
Dye, Ch. 18

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