Gov 310L Exam 1 Application Questions

A small town holds a meeting where every resident votes directly on the budget. What type of democracy is this?

Direct democracy. People decide themselves (the Greeks used it, with limits). Not representative, where elected officials decide.

Voters elect a city council that passes the town's laws. What type of democracy is this?

Indirect (representative) democracy. Power is exercised through elected representatives.

A system has power held by one person, another by a few people, and a third by many. Name Aristotle's three types in that order.

Monarchy (one), aristocracy (few), polity (many).

Everyone in a neighborhood enjoys the cleanup that a few volunteers organized, but most people never helped. What collective action problem is this?

The free rider problem: people benefit from a group effort without contributing. (Tragedy of the commons is a related collective action problem.)

Government builds a road system that no private company would profitably provide. Which function of government is this?

Providing goods that wouldn't exist on the free market (public goods).

A government's power is held by elected representatives and is limited. What form of government is this?

A republic: indirect representation of the popular will, and a limited form of government.

You see a shocking political claim online. Which step from lecture is the best first check?

Check who wrote it and whether there is verifiable evidence; then read multiple sources. A huge, crazy claim would probably have a track record.

Someone says, 'The answer is simple: A causes B.' What does lecture say to do?

Be wary of too-simple explanations. Most answers aren't just A = B, and neither are people's motivations.

A Texan argues that each person should act on their own conscience. Which Texas Creed idea is this?

Individualism (rooted in Texas's Protestant settlers).

A Texan argues that government shouldn't infringe on a person's individual rights. Which Texas Creed idea is this?

Liberty.

A Texan argues that government must be limited by a written document. Which Texas Creed idea is this?

Constitutionalism.

A Texan argues that all people should be treated similarly regardless of income. Which Texas Creed idea is this?

Equality.

How does the Texas Creed differ from Huntington's American Creed?

Texas's history places more emphasis on individualism and liberty.

Two groups clash over taxes, culture and race. Which statement about politics does this show?

Politics is conflictual. Conflict sources include economics, culture, race/gender/ethnic differences and ideology.

A colony was created through a royal grant to an individual or group. What type of colony is it?

A proprietary colony (e.g., MD, NY, NJ, PA, DE, NC, SC, GA).

A colony is governed by religious leaders under religious rule. What is this called?

A theocracy (the Puritans).

A pamphlet convinces colonists to support separation from Britain. Which one?

Common Sense by Thomas Paine.

The Declaration says government gets its powers from the governed and people have rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Which thinker and idea?

John Locke (Second Treatise): social contract, natural rights, consent of the governed.

Under the Articles of Confederation, states imposed trade restrictions on each other and the central government couldn't stop them. Which weakness is this?

The national government couldn't force states to 'play nice' (commercial warfare); it also couldn't tax or regulate commerce.

Farmers rebelling in 1786 exposed the weakness of the national government. What event is this and what did it lead to?

Shays' Rebellion; it was the catalyst for the Constitutional Convention (May 1787).

How many delegates were invited to the Convention, how many arrived, and how many really participated?

74 invited, 55 arrived, about 40 really took part.

A delegate from a large state wants representation in both houses based on population. Which plan?

The Virginia Plan (big states). Lower house elected by the people, upper house by the lower house.

A delegate from a small state insists on one state, one vote. Which plan?

The New Jersey Plan (small states): keeps one-house Congress with new powers.

The compromise gives the House seats by population and the Senate two seats per state. What is it called?

The Great (Connecticut) Compromise: a bicameral legislature.

Southern delegates want enslaved people counted for House representation. What compromise resulted and how were they counted?

The Three-Fifths Compromise: counted as 3/5 for both taxation and representation in the House.

A state has 7 House members. How many electoral votes does it have?

9: one per House member plus one per Senator (2).

What is the minimum number of electoral votes for any state and why?

3: 1 House member + 2 Senators.

To win the presidency in the electoral college, what is required?

A majority of the total electors.

Seven states have ratified the Constitution. Does it take effect?

No. Nine of 13 states had to ratify (the Articles would have required all 13).

Which two states approved ratification only narrowly?

Virginia and New York.

A rural farmer opposes the new Constitution because it lacks protection of individual liberties. Which side and what was missing?

Antifederalist (like Patrick Henry): wanted a Bill of Rights and government closer to the people.

A city merchant on the seaboard supports a strong national government and the Constitution. Which side?

Federalist (like Hamilton and Jay).

Congress uses its powers to ban prostitution across state lines even though the Constitution doesn't list that power. Which concept?

Implied powers, using the necessary and proper (elastic) clause.

Which clause is another name for the elastic clause?

The necessary and proper clause.

A proposed amendment gets 2/3 of both houses. What is the usual next step?

Ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures (or, rarely, by conventions in 3/4 of states).

Which amendment was ratified by special state conventions rather than legislatures?

The 21st Amendment (repeal of Prohibition).

Which way of proposing an amendment has never been used?

A national convention called by Congress at the request of state legislatures.

Why are there so few amendments (27)?

Extraordinary majorities are required; balance of power; the aim is deliberative will, not a passing fad. 33 got 2/3 in Congress; 6 weren't ratified.

Which of these was proposed but NOT ratified: Child Labor amendment, 21st Amendment, 13th Amendment?

The Child Labor amendment (1924). Others unratified: ERA, DC, apportionment, titles of nobility, 1861 slavery amendment.

The Supreme Court strikes down a law as unconstitutional, changing how the Constitution works in practice. Which way of changing the Constitution is this?

Judicial interpretation (judicial review, from Marbury v. Madison).

Political parties and conventions developed even though the Constitution doesn't mention them. Which way of changing the Constitution?

Political practice.

Which type of constitution is the United Kingdom's?

Informal (the US has a formal, written one).

Madison asks: should we remove factions by giving everyone the same opinions? What is the answer in Federalist 10?

No. That cure is worse than the disease because it destroys liberty.

According to Federalist 10, why do factions exist?

Unequal distribution of property (e.g., creditors vs. debtors, manufacturers vs. merchants).

According to Federalist 10, how do we control the effects of factions?

Extend the sphere: a large republic with many factions so no one gets enough power.

Which feature divides power into Articles I, II and III?

Separation of powers (legislative, executive, judicial).

A country's central government controls local governments, which exist only at its discretion. Which type of government?

Unitary government (lecture example: France).

In a system, states and the national government both derive authority from the people. Which type?

Federalism.

Which type of government is a loose league of states with a weak center?

Confederation (like the Articles of Confederation).

The Census Bureau counted 90,106 governments in the US. Which type is the most numerous?

Special district governments (38,266).

A state tries a new education policy and other states copy it if it works. Which benefit of federalism?

States as 'laboratories' for policy innovation.

Two states have very different protections for citizens, with no national minimum. Which concern about federalism?

No national standards can create inequities.

States cut regulations to attract business, each undercutting the other. What is this called?

Competitive federalism's bad side: cutthroat competition and a 'race to the bottom.'

States compete to attract business with good policies. Which side of competitive federalism?

The good side of competitive federalism.

Congress coins money. National, state, or concurrent power?

National power (also foreign relations, war, army/navy, post offices, commerce).

A state legislature sets the time, place and manner of elections. National, state, or concurrent power?

State power.

Both Congress and a state legislature levy taxes and borrow money. What kind of power?

Concurrent power (also: charter banks, spend for the general welfare).

A state passes a law punishing something that was legal when done. Which denied power?

Ex post facto laws (and bills of attainder) are denied to government.

Which amendment is the 'reservation clause'?

The 10th Amendment: powers not delegated to the nation or denied to the states are reserved to the states.

A state law conflicts with a valid federal law. Which constitutional clause says federal law wins?

The supremacy clause (judges in every state must obey the U.S. Constitution).

Congress passes a law to address discriminatory state laws using the 14th Amendment. Which power?

Remedial legislation, from Section 5 of the 14th Amendment.

The Court applies parts of the Bill of Rights to the states via the 14th Amendment. Which doctrine?

The incorporation doctrine (due process clause).

Which Civil War amendments abolished slavery and gave former male slaves the right to vote?

13th (abolished slavery) and 15th (voting).

Each level of government stays supreme in its own jurisdiction with separate, distinct spheres. Which model?

Dual federalism (state-centered; ended in the 1930s; Dred Scott 1857).

National and state governments share funding, administration, and blame for a program. Which model?

Cooperative ('marble cake') federalism.

Agencies at federal, state and local levels work together in each policy area. Which model?

Picket fence federalism (a modified form of cooperative federalism).

Federal highway money requires states to raise the drinking age to 21. Which model?

Coercive federalism ('you want money? then do this').

Federal funds for Medicaid come with detailed requirements. What type of grant?

Categorical grant (strings attached; Medicaid is the biggest).

A state gets federal money for broad use with few or no strings. What type of grant?

Block grant.

Funding is distributed by a predetermined formula. What type of grant?

Formula grant.

A grant is narrow like a categorical grant but limited to a time period and a specific issue. What type?

Program grant.

Congress requires states to carry out a program but gives no money. What is this?

An unfunded mandate.

Why might national government pay for state programs in a cooperative way?

National problems need national money and minimum standards, spillover effects across states, equalizing resources, and avoiding growth of federal agencies.

How do interstate compacts help federalism?

They minimize policy conflict between states.

Which 1819 Marshall Court case and which doctrine relate to national power over states?

McCulloch v. Maryland (implied powers/national supremacy); nullification and preemption are related ideas.

A bill to raise taxes must start in which chamber?

The House of Representatives (it originates all tax bills).

Which chamber ratifies treaties and confirms presidential appointees?

The Senate.

Which chamber brings impeachment charges and which holds the trial?

House brings charges; Senate holds the trial.

Minimum age and term length for a Representative vs. a Senator?

Representative: 25, two years. Senator: 30, six years (1/3 elected every 2 years).

Size of the House and Senate?

House: 435. Senate: 100.

A state loses a House seat after the census. Who redraws district lines?

The state legislature (reapportionment follows the census every 10 years).

District lines are drawn to split one party's voters across many districts. What technique?

Cracking (a form of gerrymandering).

District lines are drawn to concentrate one party's voters into a few districts. What technique?

Packing (a form of gerrymandering).

House leaders want no floor amendments to a bill. Which committee and what kind of rule?

The Rules Committee (House only) issues a closed rule.

Which committee regulates the time of floor debate and limits amendments?

The Rules Committee (House only, not the Senate).

A restricted rule allows what?

Some amendments on the floor (closed: none; open: amendments allowed).

Who keeps party members together on votes and is elected by party members?

The whips (majority and minority whips), named for the British 'whipper-in' in fox hunting.

Who presides over the Senate, and who fills in when that person is absent?

The Vice President is President of the Senate; the President Pro Tempore presides in the VP's absence.

A senator talks for hours to block a vote. What is this and what ends it?

A filibuster; cloture ends it.

An unrelated rider is attached to a bill. Which chamber allows nongermane amendments?

The Senate (not the House).

Which chamber has more personal staff per member and about how many?

The Senate (about 44 vs. about 17 in the House).

Which chamber emphasizes foreign policy, and which emphasizes tax and revenue policy?

Senate: foreign policy. House: tax and revenue policy.

A legislator votes exactly as district polls say. Which role?

Delegate.

A legislator votes on their own judgment of what's best. Which role?

Trustee.

A legislator blends delegate and trustee styles. Which role?

Politico.

A legislator's staff helps a constituent with a problem with a federal agency. What is this?

Casework.

A federally funded local project is attached to a bill to help a legislator's district. What is it called?

An earmark (pork barrel spending).

Two legislators agree to vote for each other's bills. What is this?

Log rolling.

Why do incumbents usually win?

Advantages over challengers, including pork barrel and earmarks, and log rolling.

Where does the real work of Congress occur?

In committees (hearings, investigations, control of the agenda, guiding legislation).