Final Exam for American Government

Political Ideology

A set of ideas or beliefs concerning the proper function of our economic and political system.

What are PAC’S

Organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation.

Liberalism

A set of beliefs that includes the advocacy of positive government action to improve the welfare of individuals, support for civil rights, and tolerance for change.

Conservatism

A set of beliefs that includes a limited role for the government in helping individuals support for traditional values and lifestyles, and a cautious response to change.

Positive State

The attempt to build formal models of collective decision making processes, often relying on the assumption of self- interested rational action.

Public Opinion

A combination of the views, attitudes, and ideas held by individuals in a community.

Political Socialization

The process by which citizens acquire political beliefs and attitudes.

Margin of error (sample error)

A range of values above and below a sample statistic

• ± 2

Polling

The process of using social science methods to get an accurate sense of the public’s view about an issue

Process of political socialization

Much of what people know about politics they learn through explicit teaching.

What are the agents of Political Socialization

1. The Family

   • The young are the most vulnerable to socialization

   • Influencing political development

   • Psychological attachments are strong

2. The School

   • School is the primary explicit teacher of information about politics and government

   • Social Diversity

   • Student Government

   • Protests

3. Peer Groups

   • Groups of people who interact with one another

What are the three motives for Political Participation

1. Political Efficacy

   • A person’s sense of being able to accomplish something politically.

   • High efficacy = increased participation

2. Sense of Duty

   • A motivating factor, felt by some citizens, to get involved in politics.

   • Good citizens get involved in politics

3. Party Identification

   • Psychological attachment that a citizen may feel toward a particular political party.

Mass Media

Instruments such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the Internet

Why is the media called the “fifth” branch of government

It serves as an additional check on the powers of public officials

Who was the first “Media President”

Franklin Delanore Roosevelt (FDR)

What are the 4 roles of the Media

1. Act as a Vehicle

2. Gatekeeper

3. Spotlight

4. Talent Scout

Fake News

Information meant to mislead the reader

Satirical News

Information meant to entertain

Media Leak

The unsanctioned release of confidential information to news media.

Media Bias

Occurs when journalists or news organizations allow their own opinions to affect the news that they report and the way that they report it.

Party Identification

Psychological attachment that a citizen may feel toward a particular political party.

Political Efficacy

A person’s sense of being able to accomplish something politically.

High efficacy = increased participation

Sense of Duty

A motivating factor, felt by some citizens, to get involved in politics.

Good citizens get involved in politics

What is an ideology?

A set of ideas or beliefs concerning the proper function of our economic and political system.

6th Amendment

Rights to a Fair Trial

7th Amendment

Rights in Civil Cases (more than $20)

9th Amendment

Rights retained by the people

10th Amendment

Powers retained by the states and the people

What is the Establishment Clause?

Provision of the First Amendment barring government support of a religion (separation of church and state)

Is flag burning in protest protected by the Constitution?

Yes, it is protected.

What is the Free Exercise Clause?


Provision of the First Amendment guaranteeing religious freedom

What is "State of Nature"?

A pre-government state in which individuals are bound only be their desires and restraints

What is constitutionalism?

The belief in limiting government power by a written charter.

What is government?


The administrative organization of a state, nation , or locality.

What is politics?

A process of peacefully reconciling social, political,and economic differences.

Why is government necessary? (3 reasons)

1) Law and Order

2) Common Defense

3) General Welfare

What is “State of Nature”

A pre-government state in which individuals are bound only be their desires and restraints.

Know the views of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke

Thomas Hobbes

• We are born with natural rights that we give up for protection.

• Purpose of govt is to keep law and order

• State of nature is ungoverned Social contract

John Locke

• We are born with natural rights that govt must protect.

• Purpose of govt is to protect liberty

• State of nature is governed by law of reason

• Social contract

Federalist 51

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary”• “You must first enable the government to control the governed, and in the next place oblige it to control itself”. Written by James Madison

What is consent of the governed?

Idea that a government’s legitimacy and moral right to use state power is justified and lawful only when contested or agreed to, by the people over which that political power is exercised. (John Locke)

What is a Confederation?

States have the power, a group of states

Know the Articles of Confederation?

• 1st Constitution

• March 1, 1781

• Confederation

• Protect individual liberties

• One branch of government

• No power to tax

• Unanimous vote for change

What are some elements of the US Constitution?

• March 4th, 1789

• Federal system

• Three branches of government

• Executive, elected by body of electors

• Judiciary, appointed by president.

Federalist 15

The national government does not have the power to enforce law, or to provide sanction.

Written by Alexander Hamilton

What are some of the defiances of the Articles of Confederation?

• Weak central government

• lack of power to tax

• inability to regulate trade

• no executive branch

• difficulty in passing laws

Why is Shay's Rebellion important?

Accelerated calls to reform the Articles which eventually resulted in the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 (1786-1787)

What was the purpose of the Philadelphia Convention?

• May 25th-September 17th, 1787

• Purpose, to amend the AOC

• Rhode Island did not attend

• George Washington named presiding officer

• Secrecy

What took place at the Convention?


• George Washington named presiding officer

• Rhode Island did not attend

How many states needed to ratify the US Constitution?

• 9 out of 13 states

• Last state to sign #13 New Hampshire

What did the Federalist and Anti-federalist believe?

Federalist - Supported ratification, strong central government

Anti-federalists- Did not support ratification, strong state governments, Bill of Rights.

What is ratification?

Formal Approval

What is Federalism?

Federal system - a system of government based upon shared powers.

What does Unity and Diversity Dominance mean?

Individuals are citizens of the nation and of the state.

What is the Electoral College?

A political institution that determines the winner in presidential elections.

How does the Electoral College process work?

• Plurality (highest number) only matters in the state.

• A majority of 538 Electoral College votes are needed to become president (270).

• Delegates determined by number of House members plus two Senators.

How do we determine the number of electors in each state?

Delegates determined by number of House members plus two Senators.

4th Amendment

Search and Arrest Warrants

How many electoral votes does Georgia currently have? How many does California?

• Georgia- 14

• California - 55

How many Electoral College Votes are needed to be president of the United States?

270

What is pluarality?


(Highest number) only matters in the state

1st Amendment

Freedom of the Religion, Speech, and the Press; Rights of Assembly and Petition.

Understand current issues in federalism

• Abortion

• Minimum drinking age

• Gay marriage

• Marijuana legislation

• COVID 19

• Education

3rd Amendment

Housing of Soldiers

8th Amendment

Bails, Fines, and Punishments (no cruel or unusual)

Second Amendment

Right to Bear Arms

5th Amendment

Rights in Criminal Cases (no double jeopardy)

What is an Interest Group?

An association of people who hold common views and who work together to influence government.

• Members

• Funding

• Power

• Influence

What are the key ideas of James Madison’s Federalist Number 10?

• Competition among many groups representing many interests is good

• If there are many groups representing many interests, then no one group can take over

What are the 3 functions of Interest Groups?

1. Create public support for their goals

2. Finance political campaigns through PAC’s

3. Lobby

What is Lobbying?

Attempting to influence policy makers

What is the distinction between an interest group and a political party?

A interest group wants to influence the government. A political party wants to be the government.

Know which groups are more, and least likely to vote.

1. Older people - Age

2. People of higher education- Education

3. Whites vote more- Minority Status

4. People of Higher income- Income

19th Amendment (1920)

Gave women the right to vote

22nd Amendment (1951)

Restricts the president to two terms in office

26th Amendment (1971)

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

Know the three factors that influence how people vote.

1. Third Parties

2. Candidates

3. Issues

What is “voting the pocketbook”?

Votes based on your own economic well being

Understand the three qualities that people look for in a candidate.

1. Experience

2. Leadership

3. Personal Qualities

What are the requirements to be president?

• Natural born citizen

• A resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years

• At least 35 years of age

What is a political party?

An organization that seeks to influence public policy by putting its own members into positions of governmental authority.

What is the two-party system? (Major Party)

Party that has wide support

• Democratic Party

• Republican Party

What is a third party?

Party other than the two major parties

• Green Party

• Reform Party

• Libertarian Party