Comprehensive Political Science Test Study Guide (POLI 2010)

Foundations of Politics and Government

  • Core Definitions

    • Power: The ability to make others comply with your will, even against their preference.

    • Authority: The recognized right to exercise power and enforce decisions over the governed.

    • Legitimacy: The widespread, popular acceptance of a government's right to exercise authority.

  • Political Culture vs. Political Ideology

    • Political Culture: A set of widely shared values, beliefs, and norms regarding who should govern, for what ends, and by what means.

    • American Political Culture: Built on a "civic religion" (national mythology, holidays, respect for past leaders/veterans) rather than a shared ethnicity, religion, or monarchy.

    • Core American Values:

      • Liberty: Freedom to think and act as desired without needless government interference.

      • Equality: Equal moral worth, equal treatment under the law, and equal political voice.

      • Individualism: Emphasis on self-reliance and pursuing personal goals.

      • Pluralism: The coexistence of diverse interest groups sharing power in a democracy.

    • Political Ideology: A specific set of principles, ideas, and beliefs about how government and society should actually function in practice. Ideology is what creates political debates and partisan differences.

  • The 2D Ideological Spectrum

    • Conservatives: Want less government involvement in the economy (free market), but more government involvement in social morality/traditional order.

    • Liberals: Want more government involvement in the economy (regulation/welfare), but less government involvement in social morality/individual choice.

    • Libertarians: Want less government involvement in both the economy and social morality.

    • Communitarians (Populists): Want more government involvement in both the economy and social morality.

Historical Inspiration and Road to Revolution

  • Historical Foundations

    • Athenian Democracy: First direct democracy in history. Solon's reforms established universal male suffrage, free speech, and accountability for officials.

    • Aristotle: Believed the state exists for the "common good." Defined a Polity as a government run by the many for the common benefit.

    • Roman Republic: Contributed the idea of a written/unwritten constitution, separation of powers, and a mixed system featuring Consuls (Executive), Senate (Advisory/Administrative), and Assemblies (Legislative).

    • John Locke (Social Contract Theory):

      • Individuals are born free and equal with Natural Rights (Life, Liberty, Property).

      • Governments are created via a Social Contract to protect these rights.

      • If a ruler breaks the contract or violates natural rights, citizens have the right to revolt.

    • English Common Law: Established fundamental principles including the Rule of Law (applies to everyone equally), due process, and trial by jury.

  • The Road to Independence

    • French & Indian War (1755–1763): Left Great Britain with massive war debt, leading them to tax the 13 colonies.

    • Acts That Outraged Colonists:

      • Stamp Act (1765): Direct tax on legal/commercial documents, newspapers, and playing cards.

      • Quartering Act (1765): Required colonists to house and supply British soldiers.

      • Townshend Acts (1767): Authorized Writs of Assistance (general search warrants without probable cause).

    • Breakdown of British Authority:

      • First Continental Congress (1774): Colonial delegates met in Philadelphia to petition the Crown.

      • Lexington & Concord (April 1775): First battles ("shot heard 'round the world").

      • Second Continental Congress & Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776): Formally severed ties, arguing King George III broke the social contract.

Creating the Constitution and Constitutional Principles

  • The Articles of Confederation (1777)

    • Structure: A weak central government with a unicameral legislature and no strong chief executive or national judiciary.

    • Key Flaws: States retained full sovereignty; Congress had no power to directly tax or regulate interstate commerce.

  • The Constitutional Convention (1787)

    • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: Federalists favored a strong national government; Anti-Federalists feared tyranny and demanded stronger state powers and a Bill of Rights.

    • Key Compromises:

      • Connecticut (Great) Compromise: Solved representation by creating a bicameral legislature:

        • House of Representatives: Proportional by population (satisfying the Virginia Plan).

        • Senate: Equal representation (2 per state, satisfying the New Jersey Plan).

      • Executive Compromise: Single President selected by an Electoral College (rather than Congress choosing directly).

      • Three-Fifths Compromise: Counted three out of every five enslaved persons for representation and taxation purposes.

      • Bill of Rights: First 10 Amendments added shortly after ratification to protect individual civil liberties and satisfy Anti-Federalist concerns.

  • Core Constitutional Principles

    • Popular Sovereignty: Ultimate political power resides with the people.

    • Republican Government: Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

    • Separation of Powers: Division of executive, legislative, and judicial responsibilities across distinct branches.

    • Checks and Balances: Overlapping powers that allow each branch to limit the actions of the others.

Breakdown of Constitutional Articles

  • Article I: The Legislative Branch (Congress)

    • House of Representatives:

      • Term Length: 2 Years

      • Minimum Age: 25 Years Old

      • Representation: Proportional to state population (capped at 435 total members)

      • Election: Direct election by the voters

      • Leadership: Speaker of the House

    • Senate:

      • Term Length: 6 Years (staggered 1/3 elected every 2 years)

      • Minimum Age: 30 Years Old

      • Representation: Equal (2 Senators per state)

      • Election (Past vs. Present): Chosen by State Legislatures in the past; direct election today due to the 17th Amendment (1913)

      • Leadership: Vice President (President of the Senate) and President Pro Tempore (3rd in line for Presidency)

  • Article II: The Executive Branch (Presidency)

    • Qualifications: 35 years old, natural-born citizen, 4-year terms (limited to two terms by the 22nd Amendment in 1951).

    • Presidential Powers:

      • Domestic Executive: Executes laws as interpreted; oversees the federal bureaucracy.

      • Foreign Diplomatic: Commander in Chief of the military; negotiates treaties (requires Senate approval).