Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Part I Politics, Government and Political Culture A Democratic Republic and American Political Culture 1. What is Politics?

2. What is political science? [SLO A C/B]

3. Who governs?

4. For what means?

5. By what means?

6. What is Government? [SLO: B C/B]

7. How does government exercise authority?

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

8. Describe Max Webers three types of legitimate authority.

9. What are the Various Types of Government? [SLO: B C/B]

10. Who Are Some Notable Influences on American Political Thought?

11. Describe the views of Thomas Hobbes.

12. Describe the views of John Locke.

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

13. What is the significance of the Magna Carta?

14. Discuss the significance of inalienable rights.

15. What Do Americans Think About Government?

16. What is the Proper Role of Government? Explain. [SLO: D C/B]

17. Do We Trust Our Government? Explain.

18. What is the possible impact of a declining trust in government?

19. Discuss the Psychology of Freedom versus Order?

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

20. List the types of government in order of power and numbers. [SLO: B]

_________ _________ _________ _________

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

The Political Culture of Texas 1. Describe Texas political culture.

2. Discuss the historical influences on Texas political culture. [SLO: C C/B]

3. Discuss the significance of reconstruction.

4. Describe the demographics of Texas.

5. Describe the geography of Texas.

6. Describe the era of James Ferguson.

7. Discuss the religious diversity of Texas.

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Part II Political Power and the Structure of American Government. The Founding and The Constitution 1. Why is Baron de Montesquieu famous?

2. Why is Sir William Blackstone famous?

3. Why is Adam Smith famous?

4. Discuss the views of John S. Mill.

5. Discuss the views of John C. Calhoun.

6. Discuss the views of Karl Marx.

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

7. Discuss the views of Henry David Thoreau.

8. Who wrote the Federalist Papers and why?

9. Discuss the views Mohandas Gandhi.

10. Discuss the views Hannah Arendt.

11. Discuss the views Ayn Rand.

12. Discuss the views John Rawls.

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

13. Describe Shays Rebellion and its impact on the founding of the nation.

14. Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

15. What are the enumerated or delegated powers of Congress? [SLO A I/P]

16. What is the method of amending the Constitution?

17. What are the differences between the federalists and anti-federalists?

18. What are the Powers Denied to Congress? [SLO A I/P]

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Federalism 1. Describe the case McCulloch v. Maryland (1819).

2. Describe the case Gibbons v. Ogden (1824).

3. Describe the case Adkins v. Childrens Hospital (1923).

4. Describe the case Champion v. Ames (1903).

5. Do we need national standards? Discuss.

6. Describe the case United States v. Lopez (1995).

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

7. Explain the role FDR and the Great Depression has played on federalism? [SLO: G C/B]

8. Describe the different types of governing systems? [SLO: C C/B]

9. What is dual federalism?

10. What is cooperative federalism?

11. What is new federalism?

12. What is preemption?

13. What is a grant-in-aid?

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Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

14. What are the advantages and disadvantages of federalism?

15. Describe the case Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918).

16. Describe the case United States vs. Butler (1936).

17. Describe the case Schecter Poultry Corp. vs. United States (1935).

18. Describe the case Hoke v. U.S. (1913).

19. Describe the case Bailey v. Drexel Furniture Co. (1922).

11

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

20. Describe the case N.L.R.B. v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Company

21. Describe the case Lorillard Tobacco Co. v. Reilly (2001).

12

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

The Texas Constitution 1. Describe the Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas, 1827. [SLO: F C/B]

2. Describe the Constitution of the Republic of Texas, 1836. [SLO: F C/B]

3. Describe the Constitution of 1861 when Texas Joins the Confederacy. [SLO: F C/B]

4. Describe the Constitution of 1866 when Texas Rejoins the Union. [SLO: F C/B]

5. Describe the Constitution of 1869 under Reconstruction. [SLO: F C/B]

6. Describe the Constitution of 1876. [SLO: F C/B]

13

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Local Government in Texas 1. Which level of government should ultimately be in control?

2. Local GovernmentWhat is it? [SLO: H C/B]

3. Describe the role of the County Judge. [SLO: H C/B]

4. Describe the different types of municipal government. [SLO: H C/B]

5. Discuss the role of Special Districts. [SLO: H C/B]

6. Describe Councils of Government. [SLO: H C/B]

14

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

7. Who is the top executive in an independent school district? What are his/her responsibilities?

8. What are the functions the County Judge?

9. What are the functions of the County Commissioners?

15

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Campaigns and Elections 1. How much did PACs contribute in 2007-2008 to federal candidates? [SLO: K C/B]

2. Who infamously screamed during a rally in the 2004 presidential primary race which cost him the nomination? [SLO C I/P]

3. Describe the case Smith v. Allright (1944).

4. Describe the case Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections and Texas vs. U.S. (1966).

5. Describe the case Texas vs. U.S.

6. Who is George Soros? What role has he played in politics?

7. Discuss the case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

16

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Part III Shaping Our Political Beliefs and Values. . Public Opinion 1. What are attitudes? [SLO: I C/B]

2. Why Measure Public Opinion? [SLO: I C/B]

3. Describe Abraham Maslows hierarchy of needs models human motivation.

4. Discuss Erich Fromms Escape from Freedom (1941).

5. Discuss B.F. Skinners view that free will and self-determination are an illusion.

17

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

6. Discuss the views of Vaclav Havel (Czech poet/playwright) who authored Largo Desolato about a political writer who is afraid of being sent back to prison and an essay on The Power of the Powerless.

7. Discuss Natan Sharanskys views in Case for Democracy.

8. Discuss the American Struggle over Freedom versus Order.

9. Discuss Political Ideology.

10. Describe and discuss the Agents of Political Socialization.

18

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

The Political Influence of the Mass Media 1. What are Mass Media and the News Media? [SLO: J C/B]

2. What are the Functions of the News Media? [SLO: J C/B]

3. Is there media bias in the coverage of government and politics? [SLO: J C/B]

4. Whose career was ruined as a result of memogate?

5. Describe the case New York Times v. Sullivan

6. Describe the case Reno v. ACLU (1997)

19

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

7. Describe the case New York Times vs. U.S. (1971).

8. Describe the case Hustler Magazine vs. Falwell (1988).

9. Describe the case FCC vs. Pacifica Foundation (1978).

10. Describe the case Westmoreland v. CBS (1985).

11. Describe the case New York Times v. Sullivan (1964).

20

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Part IV Political Participation in the United States and Texas Interest Groups in American Politics 1. What are Interest Groups? [SLO: K C/B]

2. What interests are represented? [SLO: K C/B]

3. Why Should an Individual Join an Interest Group? [SLO: K C/B]

4. Who wrote Unsafe at Any Speed (1965)?

21

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Interest Groups and Texas Politics 1. Discuss the reasons for political conflict.

2. Discuss the various interests within the context of Texas politics.

3. Why are some interest groups more prevalent in Texas than other areas of the country?

4. How do business and labor interest conflict?

5. How are business and agricultural groups alike?

4. What advantages or disadvantages are produced by the part-time legislature in Texas for interest groups? [SLO B I/P]

22

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Political Participation and Elections 1. Why do Political Parties form? [SLO: O C/B]

2. What do Political Parties do? [SLO: O C/B]

3. What is a Party Platform? [SLO: O C/B]

4. What is a Political Party? [SLO: O C/B]

5. What are the types of Party Mobilization?

6. What is Mobilization Theory?

23

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

7. Who are the Convention Delegates? [SLO: O C/B]

8. What is a mandate?

9. Do candidates really win mandates?

10. Who are the Candidates? [SLO: M C/B]

11. What Do Contributors Buy? [SLO: K C/B]

12. Why the Two-Party System? [SLO: O C/B]

13. The PartisansWhere are the Parties Strongest?

24

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

14. Why is Voter Turnout So Low in the United States?

15. Who is hurt most by registration requirements?

16. What purposes do elections serve? [SLO: M C/B]

17. How successful are Incumbents?

18. What are the demographics of each major political party?

19. What can explain the heterogeneous nature of the democrats?

20. What can explain the homogeneity of the republicans?

25

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Political Participation and Elections in Texas 1. What are the qualifications to vote in Texas?

2. Which amendments contributed to the increase in suffrage?

3. What is the significance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

4. Describe voter turnout in Texas.

26

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

US and Texas Institutions and Politics Part I: The Legislative Branch Multiple Choice Questions 1. The enumerated powers of Congress are found in Article ______. [SLO A I/P] a. I b. II c. III d. IV

2. The Framers of the U. S. Constitution believed Congress would be the _______________ of the three branches of government. [SLO A I/P] a. weakest b. most eminent c. preeminent d. most egalitarian

3. The architect of the Great Compromise was __________. a. James Madison b. Nathaniel Gore c. Charles Pinckney d. Roger Sherman

5. The total membership in Texas House of Representatives is ______. a. 31 b. 150 c. 181 d. 235

6. The Texas legislature meets once every two years for no more than ________ days. [SLO B I/P] a. 240 b. 140 c. 90 d. 280

27

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Congress 1. How did the Architects of our federal democracy implement their preconceived notion of limited government? Explain.

2. Discuss four enumerated powers of Congress. [SLO A I/P]

3. What role do political parties play in the organization and reorganization of Congress and in the selection of Congressional leaders? [SLO A I/P]

4. How and to what extent does Congress impact the selection and removal of federal judges? [SLO A I/P]

5. Discuss how the state bureaucracy limits the powers of the Texas Chief Executive. [SLO F I/P]

6. List similarities and differences between the President and the Texas Governors veto powers. [SLO C I/P]

28

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

7. What is a plural executive and how does it apply to Texas chief executive?

8. Briefly explain the process of redistricting and reapportionment. How does it apply to Congress and to state legislatures? [SLO A I/P]

9. What are some of the forces that impact the Texas budgetary process?

10. How and to what extent does the committee system impact the legislative process?

11. What roles do the fallowing state agencies play in the policymaking process: Texas legislative and Legislative Budget Board?

12. How do the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor impact the budgeting process?

29

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

13. Discuss the steps a bill goes through to become a law?

14. With the exception of the Secretary of State, all of the members of the Texas executive branch are popularly elected. Should they be appointed? Make a case pro or con for each.

15. Would you favor term limits for members of Congress and the state legislatures? Why? Explain. [SLO A I/P]

16. Texas prefers weak executives. List some historical reasons for such preference

17. Has Congress ever impeached a President? Who and why? [SLO A I/P]
30

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

18. Did Congress impeach Nixon? If the answer is, No, explain Why not? [SLO A I/P]

31

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

The Texas Legislature 1. Discuss the role of each house in the impeachment process. Have any Texas governors been impeached? Who and why? [SLO D I/P]

2. Who is more powerful, the presiding officer of the Texas House or the Texas Senate? How?

32

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Part II: The Executive Branch Multiple Choice Questions 1. Terms of office for the President prescribed by the Constitution before it was amended were ____________. [SLO C I/P] a. 2 terms b. no more than 4 years c. unlimited d. 2 full terms

2. _______ years of residence is a Constitutional requirement to run for U. S. President. [SLO C I/P] a. 12 b. 14 c. 8 d. 4

3. If the President dies in office and the Vice Presidency is vacant, the Presidency passes to the ___________. [SLO C I/P] a. President Pro Tempore b. Speaker of the House c. Speaker d. First Lady

4. The governor of Texas term of office is ________ years. [SLO D I/P] a. 2 b. 6 c. 3 d. 4

5. The part of government primarily responsible for implementation of laws is the _______. a. Bureaucracy b. executive branch c. judicial branch d. legislature

33

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

The Presidency 1. Discuss four formal functions of the presidency.

2. Discuss four informal functions of the presidency.

3. Discuss the role of the President as a diplomatic leader. [SLO C I/P]

4. Discuss the role of the President as a legislative leader. [SLO C I/P]

5. How does a law differ from an executive order?

6. Abe Lincoln liberated the slaves by decree. What did the Supreme Court have to say about it?

34

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

The Governor 1. Which Texas governor was impeached and convicted? What were the charges against him? [SLO D I/P]

2. What are the differences between the governor of Texas and the governors of other states? [SLO D I/P]

3. What historical factors contributed to the evolution of a weak Texas executive?

4. Describe the plural executive.

5. Which offices are elective in Texas executive branch and what are their responsibilities?

6. How do elective offices contribute to the fragmentation of institutions in Texas government?

35

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

7. Which office in the Texas executive branch is elective and what are its responsibilities?

8. Discuss the adversarial relationships that often operate between the Texas Governor and the Lieutenant Governor. Explain why. [SLO D I/P]

9. What was the Sharpstown Scandal? How did it impact Gov. Preston Smith and his Lieutenant Gov. Ben Barnes?

10. Compare and contrast strong and weak mayors.

11. Why was Gov. E. J. Davis dislike so much? Discuss his style of governing.

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Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

The Federal Bureaucracy

37

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Part III: Public Policy Multiple Choice Questions 1. Social welfare poly does not include a. education b. preventing home foreclosures c. medical care d. disease prevention

2. Most public policies are implemented through a. movement b. court action c. litigation d. legislation

3. The American economy is driven totally by a. laissez-faire enterprise system b. capitalism c. free markets d. a mix free

4. the Great Depression began in a. 1929 b. 2008 c. 1939 d. 1933

5. The Camp David Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt tool place during the _____presidency. a. Nixon b. Carter c. Clinton d. Reagan

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Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Short Answer Questions 1. How did the federal government assume the responsibility of managing areas of activity once belonging to the states?

2. Does the welfare system help or hinder its recipients? Explain.

3. Federal spending appears to be out of control. List the factors contributing to the problem.

4. The Framers of the Constitution wanted to preserve the equality and sovereignty of the states. Has the states sovereignty been eroded? How and to what extent?

5. Were Franklin Roosevelts New Deal programs intended to transform America? Is Barak Obama attempting to complete that transformation? Explain.

6. List the characteristics of a socialist (unitary) government and those of federal government.
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Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

7. Discuss the national debts versus national budgetary deficits.

8. How does social policy differ from economic policy?

9. What is the role of the Environmental Protection Agency? Does the agency hurt or hinder the economy and the job market? Explain.

10. Discuss Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency.

11. Trace the roots of federal intervention into the area of civil rights.

12. What are means-based and non means-based programs? How do they differ and how do they work?

40

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

13. What are voucher plans and charter schools? How do they help or hinder public education?

14. Why is federal funding of public schools controversial in Texas?

15. Discuss the difference between Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

16. What kind of Welfare reforms were implemented during the Clinton Administration?

17. What are the seven steps of the policy process? Give examples and explain why each step is important.

18. What are the three areas of concern for social policy? How has the federal government addressed them?

41

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

19. Who has the primary responsibility for the education of children? Why and how has the federal government become involved in it? How does it erode local control?

20. How do laissez faire and business cycles relate to each other? Explain the concepts.

21. Compare and contrast deficits and debts.

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Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Part IV: The Judicial Branch, Civil Liberties, and Civil Rights Multiple Choice Questions 1. The terms of service for Supreme Court justices is ________ term. a. an 8 year b. a 16 year c. a life d. a 10 year

2. __________________ established the power of judicial review. [SLO E I/P] a. McCulloch v MD b. Marbury v Madison c. Gibbons v Ogden d. Yates v Yates

3. Except for the Supreme Court, the federal courts were created under a. Habeas Corpus writs b. Article III c. the Judiciary Act of 1789 d. Article IV

4. The jurisdiction of federal courts is dictated by the a. President b. Constitution c. common law d. Congress

5. The ___________ provided the window for the selective incorporation of the Bill of Rights into the 14th Amendment. a. equal protection clause b. Due process clause c. Civil Rights Act d. a and b

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Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

The Federal and State Courts 1. Discuss the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Marbury versus Madison, 1803. Focus on the role Chief Justice John Marshall played in the decision.

2. Explain the process utilized in the selection of judges to the federal bench.

3. Explain the Supreme Courts original and appellate jurisdiction. How is each modified?

4. What are the factors affecting a judges judicial temperament. [SLO E I/P]

5. Discuss the role interest groups play in the appointment of federal judges. Give examples.

6. Define and describe the structure of the Texas court system?

44

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

7. What factors contribute to the election of judges in Texas?

8. What advantages and disadvantages are there to electing judges?

9. How are municipal courts different that other courts in Texas?

45

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

The Bill of Rights and Civil Liberties 1. Early in history, the Bill of Rights did not protect the citizens against the states, why? Refer to Barron v Baltimore, 1833. [SLO I I/P]

2. How were the protections of the Bill of Rights extended to the states? [SLO I I/P]

3. Explain the selective incorporation of the Bill of Rights doctrine.

4. What symbolic speech? How did the Supreme Court apply in Tinker v Des Moines, 1968?

5. What impact did Miranda v Arizona, 1966 have in the administration of criminal justice?

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Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

6. What is prior restraint, and how did the High Court apply in the New York Times v US, 1971? [SLO I I/P]

7. Discuss the provisions of the 4th Amendment. [SLO I I/P]

8. Why was the Bill or Rights added to the U. S. Constitution? How and why was it made applicable to the states? [SLO I I/P]

9. Describe the case Near v. Minnesota (1931).

47

Your name: ___________________________ Todays date: __________________________

Civil Rights Policy 1. Discuss the due Process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment. Give examples. [SLO I I/P]

2. What were causes of the Civil War of the 1860s?

3. List the Civil War Amendments. Explain the purpose for each of them.

4. Discuss some of the implications of the Civil Rights Movement? [SLO I I/P]

5. Discuss the significance of the High Courts ruling in Plessy v Ferguson, 1896.

6. Discuss the significance of Brown v Board of Education, 1954.

48