GOVT 2306 Exam 1 Review Notes

Important Notes

• This study guide is NOT exhaustive.
• Review topics, readings, notes/slides, and Inquizitive modules.

Logistics

• 50 multiple-choice questions + 5 bonus questions.
• 60 minutes to complete the exam.
• Questions based on eBook readings, Inquizitive modules, and slides.
• Exam Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
• Online exam available for 24 hours (12:01 am to 11:59 pm).
• Compliance with online testing procedures required (Respondus Lockdown browser and Monitor).

FED: Chapter 1 – American Political Culture

• Politics: Conflicts and struggles over leadership, structure, and policies of government.
• Government: Formal institutions through which a land and its people are ruled.

Aristotle’s Classifications of Governments

• Aristocracy: Ruled by few, for the public interest.
• Monarchy: Ruled by one, for the public interest.
• Autocracy: Ruled by one.
• Oligarchy: Ruled by small groups of elites.
• Democracy: Citizens play a role by selecting leaders.

Forms of Government

• Constitutional government: Formal rules and limits.
• Authoritarian government: Fewer limitations placed.
• Totalitarian government: No checks on decisions, eliminates challengers.
• Direct democracy: Citizens vote directly on policies and decisions.
• Representative democracy: Citizens elect leaders who make decisions.
• Unitary: Power held by the national government.
• Confederate: Power held by the state government.
• Federal: Power shared between national and state governments.

FED: Chapter 2 – The Founding and the Constitution

• Events leading to the Declaration of Independence: Tax Acts, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, American Revolution.
• Declaration of Independence: Cited abuses like obstructing the law, maintaining a standing army without consent, and not providing appropriate representation rights; Irreconcilable.

Articles of Confederation

• Federal government setup: Limited central government, Congress with little power.
• Powers of Congress: Declare war, make peace, negotiate treaties, issue currency, borrow money, regulate trade with Native nations.
• Problems under the Articles:
  • No national army, just state militias.
  • Laws enforced by state governments.
  • No power to collect taxes.
• Shay’s Rebellion:
  • Led by Daniel Shays, debt-ridden farmers preventing foreclosures.
  • Demonstrated the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

The Constitutional Convention

• Unicameral legislature: One chamber or house.
• Bicameral legislature: Two chambers or houses.
• Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise): Each state has equal senators, representation in the House linked to population.
• Three-Fifths Compromise: Five enslaved people counted as three persons for representation.
• Federalists: Supported the Constitution, wanted a stronger national government.
• Anti-Federalists: Preferred a decentralized system, fought against ratification.

The Constitution

• Articles IV-VII:
  • Full faith and credit clause (Article IV): States must honor other states' laws.
  • Amendment process (Article V): Proposed by 2/3 of Congress or states, approved by \frac{3}{4}.
  • Supremacy clause (Article VI): Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

Ratification

• Required 9 out of 13 states (Article VII).
• Use of vague language for flexibility.
• Federalist Papers: Defended the Constitution, dispelled fears of a strong national government.

Bill of Rights (First 10 Amendments)

1. Speech, religion, press, assembly.
2. Right to bear arms.
3. No quartering soldiers.
4. No unreasonable searches and seizures.
5. Due process, no self-incrimination.
6. Right to a speedy trial.
7. Jury in civil cases.
8. No cruel or unusual punishment.
9. Rights not listed still exist.
10. Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states.

FED – Chapter 4: Civil Liberties

• Civil liberties: Protection from improper government action.
• Civil rights: Obligations of government power.
• Definition of privacy: The right to be left alone, interpreted by the Supreme Court to include access to birth control and abortions.

Privacy Court Cases

• Griswold v. Connecticut: Birth control legal for married couples.
• Eisenstadt v. Baird: Extended to unmarried people.
• Roe v. Wade: Legalized abortion nationwide.
• Webster v. Reproductive Health Services: Allowed more state restrictions.
• Planned Parenthood v. Casey: Upheld Roe, but allowed limits.
• Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt: Struck down Texas clinic restrictions.
• Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization: Overturned Roe; states can now ban abortion.
• Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine: Ongoing case on abortion medication.

Abortion Restrictions

• Kate Cox case: Texas woman denied abortion even with a fatal fetal condition.
• Common state laws: Waiting periods, mandatory ultrasounds, parental consent.
• Public opinion: Split, states have passed laws to ban or protect abortion.

Recent State Abortion Laws

• Texas (2013): Banned abortions after 20 weeks, required hospital admitting privileges; struck down in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt.
• Texas (2025): Clarifies abortion is allowed to save the mother’s life, protects doctors in emergencies.
• Louisiana (6-week ban), Missouri (8-week ban).
• Considered due to overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Freedom of Speech Principles

• Key democratic principle: Protects open discussion, especially criticism of the government.
• Limitations of the First Amendment:
  • John Stuart Mill and the marketplace of ideas.
  • Time, place, and manner restrictions.
  • Slander and libel: False, damaging statements (spoken/written).
  • Prior restraint: Government stopping speech before it happens (rarely allowed).
  • Imminent lawless action test: Can’t incite violence or illegal acts.
  • Free speech for students: Schools can limit speech somewhat.

Freedom of Speech Court Cases

• Near v. Minnesota: No prior restraint.
• New York Times v. U.S. (“Pentagon Papers” case): Government couldn’t stop “Pentagon Papers.”
• New York Times v. Sullivan: Harder for public figures to win libel suits.
• Nicole Eramo v. Rolling Stone: Magazine lost for publishing false rape story.
• Brandenburg v. Ohio: Speech protected unless it incites immediate violence.
• Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District: Students wore armbands; protected speech.
• Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.: Student’s off-campus Snapchat speech protected.

Bonus Questions

• Every exam includes 5 bonus questions worth 1 point each.

People to Know

• Mayor of Houston: John Whitmire
• Governor of Texas: Greg Abbott
• Lieutenant Governor of Texas: Dan Patrick
• U.S. Senators from Texas: Ted Cruz and John Cornyn