MIDTERM

Module 2 – Political Culture & Core Values

  • Political Culture: Shared beliefs about how politics should operate.

  • Core Values:

    • Liberty: freedom from government interference.

    • Equality: all individuals treated the same under law.

    • Individualism: personal responsibility, independence.

    • Self-Government: people are the ultimate source of authority.

  • Politics: Struggles over power & influence in government.

  • The Social Contract: Agreement between people & government; people consent to be governed in exchange for protection of rights.

Module 3 – Constitutionalism & Democracy

  • Constitutionalism: Government limited by law.

  • Democracy: Rule by the people.

  • Pluralism: Politics = competition among groups.

  • Majoritarianism: Majority rules, but can risk minority rights.

  • Limited Government: Powers restricted by Constitution.

  • Republic: People elect representatives to govern.

  • Separation of Powers: Dividing governmental powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

  • Checks & Balances: System ensuring each branch can limit the powers of the others, preventing tyranny.

  • The Great Compromise: Bicameral legislature (House = population, Senate = equal).

  • Three-Fifths Compromise: Slaves counted as 3/53/5 of a person for representation & taxation.

  • Federalist Papers: Advocated ratification of Constitution; key essays by Hamilton, Madison, Jay.

Module 4 – Federalism

  • Federalism: Power shared between national & state governments.

  • Confederacy: States hold power, weak central government.

  • Unitary System: Central government holds power, states are subordinate.

  • Powers of States: Reserved in 10th Amendment.

  • National Leaders Can: Print money, declare war, enforce Constitution.

  • Supremacy Clause: Federal law is supreme (Article VI).

  • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819):

    • Congress can create national bank (implied powers).

    • States cannot tax federal institutions.

  • Necessary & Proper Clause (Elastic Clause): Allows Congress to expand powers.

  • Grants & Denials of Power: Constitution both empowers and limits government.

  • Dual Federalism (1865–1937): State & national govs operate separately.

  • Cooperative/Fiscal Federalism: Federal & state governments share responsibilities, often through funding.

  • California’s Role:

    • Most diverse population.

    • Largest electoral college delegation.

    • Powerful state economy with global impact.

Module 5 – Civil Liberties

  • Bill of Rights: First 10 Amendments to the Constitution, designed to protect individual liberties from government overreach.

  • Civil Liberties: Protections from government interference (negative rights).

  • 14th Amendment Due Process Clause: Prevents states from denying fundamental rights.

  • Selective Incorporation: Judicial doctrine that applies the Bill of Rights to the states on a case-by-case basis through the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.

  • Procedural Due Process: Gov must follow fair procedures (right to trial, lawyer, etc.).

  • Freedom of Expression: First Amendment rights protecting speech, press, assembly, and petition.

    • Establishment Clause: Prohibits the government from establishing a religion.

    • Free Exercise Clause: Protects an individual's right to practice their religion, free from government interference.

  • Prior Restraint: Gov cannot censor press before publication.

  • Right to Privacy: Inferred from multiple amendments; protects personal autonomy.

  • Exclusionary Rule: Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in trial.

    • Key Case: Mapp v. Ohio (1961).

Module 6 – Equal Rights / Civil Rights

  • Equal Rights / Civil Rights: Government’s duty to ensure equal treatment under the law.

  • 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause: Basis for civil rights protections.

  • Levels of Scrutiny:

    • Strict Scrutiny: Race (implies Suspect Classifications).

    • Intermediate Scrutiny: Gender.

    • Reasonable Basis Test: Age.

  • Types of Discrimination:

    • De Jure: By law (segregation laws).

    • De Facto: Social/economic causes.

  • Landmark Cases:

    • Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): “Separate but equal” upheld.

    • Mendez v. Westminster (1947): Challenged school segregation in CA (Latino students).

    • Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Overturned Plessy, ended legal segregation.

  • Civil Rights Acts:

    • 1964: Ended segregation, outlawed discrimination in public places/employment.

    • 1968: Prohibited housing discrimination.

  • Voting Rights Act (1965): Ended literacy tests, enforced minority voting rights.

  • Affirmative Action & Reparations: Programs to address historic inequality.

  • Examples:

    • WWII Japanese Internment (EO 9066, 1942).

    • CA Workplace Protections → extended to LGBTQ+ after 2020 SCOTUS ruling.

Module 7 – Public Opinion & Political Socialization

  • Political Socialization: Process of acquiring political beliefs.

    • Agents:

    • Primary: Family, school.

    • Secondary: Peers, media, leaders, events.

  • Frames of Reference:

    • Group Identity: Race, gender, religion.

    • Party Identification: Loyalty to a political party.

    • Political Ideology: Coherent set of beliefs.

  • Ideologies:

    • Conservative: Limited gov, traditional values.

    • Liberal: Active gov, social programs, equality.

    • Populist: Gov should help economically & uphold traditional morality.

    • Libertarian: Individual liberty, minimal gov.

  • Public Opinion: Collective attitudes on issues/leaders.

  • Political Polling: Measures public opinion.

    • Methodology matters: Random sampling, question wording.

    • Accuracy: Margin of error, representative sample.