Government and Politics Final Exam Guide

What is the Social Contract Theory?

a population of a given people gives up as much power to a government needed to promote the well-being of everyone living there

Define Unitary Government

all governing power resides in a centralized government

What were the 2 main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Congress was powerless to collect taxes and there was no strong central authority

What was the main purpose of the Connecticut Compromise?

it satisfied the needs of both plans by having Congress being composed of 2 houses

What was the purpose of the Three-Fifths Compromise?

to stop southern states from dominating the population in the House of Representatives

What was Montesquieu’s contribution to America’s system of government?

separation of powers

Whose principles of government and political philosophy influenced Thomas Jefferson the most?

John Locke

What was formed out of the Anti-Federalists objections to the Constitution?

the bill of rights

What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?

commentary on why the Constitution needed to be ratified and why it would be the best form of government for the new country

What are the 6 basic principles of the US Constitution?

popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, and federalism

Define federalism.

the dividing up of power to a central government and several regional governments

Why did the Framers include federalism, checks and balances, and separation of powers?

because the people are sovereign in America

What are the Supreme Court cases Obergefell vs Hodges and McCulloch vs Maryland examples of?

the Supreme Court following the supremacy clause

What is gerrymandering and why is it controversial?

re-drawing of boundaries for federal districts; risky because one party can make the field unbalanced

What is the role of the Senate Majority Leader?

they are responsible for the programs of the party in power

Why does the Constitution list all 17 enumerated powers of Congress?

to outline what the Legislative Branch can do

What do the “Necessary and Proper Clause” and the amendment process reveal about government?

the allow for changes in the Constitution according to the needs and wants of the country

What is the House of Representatives’ role if the president is suspected of wrongdoing and violating the Constitutional Oath?

impeachment

What are the 3 main roles of the president?

chief of state, chief diplomat, and commander in chief

What are the 3 main responsibilities of the VP?

serves as head of the senate, casts the tie breaker in Senate, and helps decide the question of the presidential disability

Where do the 2 major political parties make their official selection of their presidential candidate?

the National Convention

Why would the president issue an Executive Order?

because of the failure of Congress to pass certain legislation

Why can the president engage in war and military conflicts when only Congress can officially declare war?

because the president is the head of the armed forces

What is the job of the State Department?

to formulate and carry out foreign policy

What is the difference between the Arizona Legislative Branch and the Federal Legislative Branch?

Arizona has equal representatives in each district regardless of population

What is an initiative?

allows voters to approve or reject proposed laws drafted by the citizens

What is a referendum?

allows voters to approve or reject proposed laws drafted by the State Legislation

Briefly describe the role and duties of the Secretary of State.

first in line to succeed the governor, in charge of issuing business permits, and in charge of voter registration

What are the responsibilities of a city council member?

represent the city approve city legislation, and set all the policies for the city

Why are casinos legal on Native American land in Arizona?

because they are sovereign on their land, so the state cannot interfere

How does a state crime become a federal crime?

if a crime is committed by the same person across several states

How can Presidents directly influence future decisions made by the Supreme Court?

the appointment of Supreme Court Justices

Define Judicial Review?

the power of the courts to determine whether an act of government is constitutional

What do Supreme Court cases usually reflect?

the time period in which they are handed down

What does the “Establishment Clause” of the 1st amendment?

government cannot make laws prohibiting or establishing a religion

What does the “Free Exercise” of the 1st amendment?

people can freely worship any religion they choose

What in essence is the purpose of the 1st amendment’s free speech and press clause?

anybody has the right to free expression and people can discuss public affairs on a wide range

What does is mean to petition the government?

to bring views to the attention of government officials

What can governments do to put limitations on the 1st amendment right to assemble?

enforce reasonable rules covering time, place, and manner of assemblies

What is the purpose of the due process clause in the 5th amendment and the right to an attorney in the 6th amendment?

to ensure fair treatment for those accused of crimes

How did the court cases Mapp vs Ohio, Gideon vs Wainwright, and Miranda vs Arizona affect individual liberties?

they expanded constitutional rights of people accused of crimes

Define Writ of Habeas Corpus.

officer holding a prisoner has to appear in court to prevent unjust arrests and punishments

Define Ex Post Facto Laws.

a law that punishes a person for actions that were not illegal when they were committed

Why was the two-party political system created?

ratification of the US Constitution was the genesis

What are the responsibilities of US citizens? What is not required but encourage?

serving on jury’s, paying taxes, and obeying the law; voting is not required, but encouraged

26th amendment

anybody 18 or older can vote

Which group of voters is least likely to vote?

young people with low education

Who was the lower voter turn out rate? The US or Europe?

The US

What are some of the roles of the media in politics?

it influences public opinion by ignoring certain issues or focusing on certain issues