AP Gov exam
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Discuss checks and balances and how each branch checks on power and how they are checked.
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What are liberal views vs conservative views?
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Discuss the primary election. What are closed and open primaries?
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primary-election held to choose candidates for office open-primary in which voters may choose in which part to vote close-primary in which voters are limited to already registerd party members
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Why are primary election held?
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to select candidates
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What are the primary functions of PACs?
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donate $ to cadidates that interest group wants to support
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What federal offices are directly voted for by the people?
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senate and house of reps
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What are usual considerations when selecting a V.P. candidate as a running mate?
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balance of appeal to credit
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Why were Supreme Court justices given tenure subject to good behavior?
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if behave dont have to get involved in dirty politics they can serve for the rest of their lives or however long they please
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How many times has the U.S. constitution been amended?
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27 times
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What is the most important source of the supreme courts caseload?
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if its uconstitutional
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What issue was resolved in Mapp v Ohio?
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the polica had recieved a tip that Mapp and her daugther were harboring a wanted fugitive when the forcefully entered her home.found porn at her house and Mapp was detained, court ruled that she wasn't in trouble because the police had eneterd w/o a search warrant.
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What are functions of political parties?
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seeks to elect candidates to public office by suplying them with a label by which they are known to elaborate. nominating candidates, informing/activating supporters, bonding agent function, governing and acting as watchdog
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Why did hte Founders devise a federal system of government?
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fear nat'l gov't was too strong and states' rights were weakening under articles of confederaiton. federalism distributed authority b/w states and nati'l gov't.
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rWhat is the impact of the 10th amendment?
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reinforced position and discussionthat led to organzaiton in constittuion. fed gov't remain limited and small and states would continue to not only have an equal part but also the larger role in lives of residents.
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What did the supreme court determine in McCulloch v Maryland?
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congress had right to esetable a national bankc as implied power of Article 1 section 8. bank was bieng used to further congress' constitutional authoroty to tax and distribute funds.
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Whydid the framers mistrust direct democracy?
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gov't should mediate, no mirorr, popular views and the elected should respresnt majority settlements. citizens dont have time, info, interest to make reasonable choise among competing policy positions.
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What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
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had no money and no power to raise money. no power over the state gov't of citizens. congress couln't make states live up to trade argeements iwth other naitons. had no power to regulate trade among states.
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Why do states prefer block grants to categorical grants?
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prefer block grants because money transferred to the states for broader pruposes.
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What case ruled that wearing black arm bands in school was protected by the 1st amendment as symbolic speech?
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Tinker v Ohio
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What has been the trend in America's trust in government since the Watergate scandal?
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decreased
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What were the major decisions reached by the supreme court during chief justic earl warren's reign?
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brownvs board of ed and miranda v arizona
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Why are many cases appealed to the supreme court never actually ruled on by the court?
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too many that go in. have to got through many qualifications.
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What were the provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Act 2002?
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banned soft money contributions to national political parties from corporations and unions. no nat' pary can accept soft money. money has to be "hard money". limit on individual contributions from 1,000 to 2000. money towards advertisement 60 days before general election or 30 days before primary
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Why is the procedure if a presidential election needed to be decided by the house of representatives?
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presidential candidate received a majority of electoral votes.
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Why the proliferation of interest groups and their activities?
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What political theory is illustrated here: interest groups continually compete in the public arena; as a reult, bargainin and compromise is a necessity?
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pluraist theory
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Who do lobbyists tryto influence and how?
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people who are w/ their ideas.
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Describe the trend in presidential nominating processover the past three decades.
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it has diminsihed, with most delegates now selected by primary elections.
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List the conditions that have led to an increase in interest group activity.
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How do interest groups and political partiesboth proot democracy?
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influcen campaigns. give people a view of the insdie.
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What is political socialization?
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process by which background traist influence on'es political views.
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What is the most important influence on a voters' choice for president?
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the media
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What was the first supreme court case to uphold the supremacy of the federal govt over the state?
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mcculloc v maryland
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How are constitutional amendments ratified?
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2/3 majority vote form congress and 3/4 vote from states
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What did James Madison call interest groups and political parties?
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factions
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What case had the greatest effect on public education?
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brown vs board of education
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How was the 1972 election affected by 18-21vote?
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it didn't
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Where the largest amount of political coverag is devoted during the presidential eleciton?
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media (tv...etc)
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what are some examples of devolution?
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block grants. more gov't rules and regulations.
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Why do litigants file an amicus brief?
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influence justice's views and help shape arguments and conclusions of justices
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What is the political theory called when a voluntary agreement between citizens and gov't occurs?
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social contract theory
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What did Shays Rebellion demonstrate to the new naiton?
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effect on opinion. delegates who might have been reluctatn to attend meeting, were feraful that state tov't were about to collapse from internal dissension.
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Which amendment outlawed poll taxes?
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24th
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List and define the types of Supreme court opinions?
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majority, dissenting and concurring
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Which amendment altered the manner of voting in the electroal college?
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12th
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What was teh name of the scheme that FDR tried in order to add 6 new justices to the Court?
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court packing plan reallalled the judiciary reorganization bill of 1937
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Block grants,revenue sharing, and grants-in-aid are all examples of what type of federalism?
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cooperative federalism
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Who was the first african american to serve on the court?
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thurgood marshall
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Where is the "full faith and credit" clause found in the constitution?
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article 4 scetion 1
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Why was the case of gideon v wainwright significant?
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right to lawyer
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When evidence can be used to show that party dealignment must have occurred?
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What contributions have third parties made?
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swing votes
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What amendment-direct election of Senators?
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17th
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Compare the political ideologies of liberals and conservatives.
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Discuss federalism.
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What groups are most likely/least likely to vote?
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white old college professor
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Who represents a case when the United States is a party in that case?
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solicitor general
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What is the political beliefs of the Framers?
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What are fundamental goals of interest groups and politicalparties. and how each support each others goal but reach own goals?
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interest groups: influence public policy and congress/gov't. change laws. political parties:elect people to office and gain control of gov't. interest grups help by contributing money and media. that way they influence policymakers and share common belifes.
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How has the electoral college worked with a focse on the "winner take all" system. how does it ffect the wya prez candidates run teir campaigns. how does it hinder third-pary candidates. Why has the electoral college system not been abolished?
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tthe candidate who gets the most votes wins all of the state's electoral votes. issues can swing voters and who they choose for vice president is how it affects presidential campgains. it hinders third parties because 3rd party candidates may get alot of popular votes but no electoral votes unless they carry a state. also the difficulty of gaining electoral votes makes it hard to raise money and other campaign funds. it hasn't been abolished becuase of history/tradition and it would also require constitutional amendment.
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Explain ways in which african americans were prohibited from voting prior to the 1950s even thoug the 15th amendment was in effect. What were the alternative methods usd by african americans to get heir voice heard and how was it succesful?
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literacy test, poll taxes, grandfather clause was a law that said anyone whose grandfather could vote could vote then. in order to gain their rights they did protests, rallies, boycotts. all these got their voices heard, and got many people to come and spread their messages.
