POLITICS IN THE U.S. DYE & CLARKE TEXT STUDY GUIDE FOR THE FIRST EXAM 1.

What is the only entity that can legitimately use force? Government is an organization extending to the who society that can legitimately use force to carry out its decisions. According to the U.S. Constitution, what are the purposes of our government? To establish Justice and insure Domestic Tranquility Manages conflict and maintains order Provide for the common defense To promote the general welfare To secure the Blessing of Liberty by treating people equally under the law What characterizes the democratic ideal of individual dignity? The democratic ideal of individual dignity- liberties are not granted by governments, they belong to every person born into the world. What are the types of governments that we studied? Totalitarian- A highly centralized regime that possesses some form of strong ideology that seeks to transform and absorb fundamental aspects of state, society, and the economy. Authoritarian- A single individual or ruling group monopolizes all political power, but allows people to otherwise conduct their lives as they want. Know what pluralism is and its characteristics. Pluralism- Government reacts to organized groups competing against one another for policies that benefit one group to the detriment of another. (competition among multiple organized groups) Competition between the groups creates a balance in the system, so that governments policies do not consistently favor the groups representing wealthy interests nor do they favor the lesser financed groups. Individuals can participate in politics by being a member of a group that influences government policy on their behalf. Since people are more effective in organized groups, they can play an influential role in the political process. Know what elitism is and its characteristics. Elitism- political system in which the power is concentrated in the hands of a relatively small group of individuals or institutions. These individuals, relatively _____ in number compared to the total population of our nation, make decisions that affect the welfare of all Americans and use their vast resources to influence the outcome of public policy as well. Since the masses are largely not informed on issues, communication flows from the elites down to the masses, not from the masses up to the elites. What is equality of opportunity and do most Americans support it? Equality of opportunity- Elimination of artificial barriers to success in life and the opportunity for everyone to strive for success. Americans are generally willing to have government act to ensure equality of opportunity

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What factors contribute to income inequality? The decline of the manufacturing economic sector and the increase of communication, information, and service economic sectors. The rise in the number of two wage families; female-headed households making a single wage. Demographic trends, including a larger elderly population. Global competition which restrains wages in unskilled and semiskilled jobs while rewarding people in high technology, high-productivity occupations. What is social mobility? Social mobility- the extent to which people move upward or downward in income and status over a lifetime or generations.

Which government has the primary responsibility for immigration policy? Immigration policy is a responsibility of the national government What is the only way to reduce illegal immigration? The only way to reduce illegal immigration is to control it at the border.

What are the characteristics of the political ideologies? The political ideologies- A consistent and integrated system of ideas, values, and beliefs. (liberal, conservative) What are the characteristics of political correctness? politically correct characterized by repression of attitudes, speech, and writings that are deemed racist, sexist, homophobic (anti-homosexual), or otherwise insensitive politically correct thinking does not tolerate open discussion or debate. Opposition is denounced as insensitive, racist, sexist, or worse, and intimidation is frequent.

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What are the functions of a constitution? Establish government authority Establishes governmental bodies and grants them powers and limits their power. It determines how members are to be chosen. Established the rules by which decisions are made.

15. What were the characteristics of the national government under the Articles of Confederation create and what powers did it give to the national government? National government was thought of as an alliance of independent states, not as a government of the people.

16. What were the issues the Founding Fathers had a consensus on at the Constitutional Convention? Government by representatives of the people rather than directly by the people themselves. Limited Government: They believed in a written constitution to limit the governments power and to limit its powers thru separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism. Nationalism: A strong and independent national (federal) government with power to govern directly, rather than through state governments.

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What were the characteristics of the Virginia Plan? Virginia Plan - Two-house legislature; the lower house being chosen by the people of the states, with representation according to population and an upper house to be chosen by the lower house. Virginia Plan - proposed a parliamentary form of government, in which Congress chose the principal executive officers of the government as well as federal judges.

18.What did the Great Compromise create? Great Compromise- Two-chamber Congress: in the upper chamber, the Senate, each state would have two members; in the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, each state would be represented by population. Members of the House would be directly elected by each states citizens; members of the Senate would be selected by their state legislatures. 19. How did the Founders decide the issue of voter qualifications in the U.S. Constitution? The founders approved a constitution w/o any expressed property qualifications for voting and holding office, except those that the states might themselves impose. At the time, every state had property qualifications for voting and women were not allowed to vote or hold office.

20. In its original form prior to any amendments to the U.S. Constitution, who decided who would be in the Senate? members of the Senate would be selected by their state legislatures. 21. 22. What prohibitions were put on the powers of the states by the U.S. Constitution? Prohibited states from imposing tariffs on goods shipped across state lines. Prohibited states from issuing their own paper money. Prohibited states from making treaties with other countries. What powers did the U.S. Constitution give to Congress? The U.S. Constitution give to Congress- the power to declare war, to raise and support military forces, to create a militia. Although the militias role is chiefly for domestic security, it can be called into national service, either abroad or in the U.S. , by the president. The National Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the Constitution. The National Supremacy Clause of Article VI- makes the Constitution, all federal laws, and treaties the supreme law of the land and if there is a conflict between any of these and a state law, the state law will fail. All national legal authority supersedes state laws. According to the Constitution, how do states influence national politics? 25. Make the president the commander-in-chief of the military Give the president the power to make treaties and appoint ambassador however both powers are limited because they require 2/3rd approval of the senate to take effect. Separation of powers. Constitutional division of powers among the three branches of the national government legislative, executive and judicial.

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Separation of power is created by I, II, III of the constitution. Separation of power was created to place internal control on the national governments power. Checks and balances. Constitutional provisions giving each branch of the national government certain checks over the actions of other branches. Check and balance ensures each branch must depend on another branch to achieve its goals.

What do we call the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution? Bill of Rights What was the Bill of Rights originally intended to do? The Bill of Rights was originally intended to limit the national governments power.

In which of the following ways can the U.S. Constitution be amended? The Constitution has changed through formal amendment and informal by judicial interpretation, presidential and congressional action, and general custom and practice. How can the U.S. Constitution be amended formally? Proposing a Constitutional Amendment: 1. By a 2/3rd vote of the House and the Senate. (Most common way). 2. By passage in a national convention called by congress at the request of 2/3rd of the state legislatures. (Never used) Ratification: 1. By passage of 3/4th of the state legislatures. (Most common way) 2. By a vote in conventions called to ratify the amendment in 3/4ths of the states. (Used once to pass the 21st Amendment which repealed the 18th Amendment which created Prohibition). Judicial Review. Judicial Review- the power of the federal courts to declare laws of congress and actions of the president unconstitutional. Through the power of Judicial Review, the federal courts, and especially the Supreme Court, change the Constitution by their interpretations of its language. The power of judicial review is not expressly stated in the Constitution, but was created by the supreme court in Marbury R. Madson. Judicial interpretation gives specific meaning to Constitutional phrases. It allows the federal courts to act as a de facto legislative branch. What is federalism? Federalism is a constitutionally created system of dividing power between the national governments and the state governments.

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33. What is the only legal source of authority for both the national government and the state governments? Constitution is the only legal source of authoring for both the national government and the state governments. Both the national government and the state governments derive their power directly from the people.

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Unitary system. Unitary system- Formal authority rests with the national government, and whatever powers are exercised by state, provinces, or subdivisions are given to those governments by the national government. States are Unitary systems. A state government could abolish local governments or change their boundaries without their consent.

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Confederal system. The national government is created and relies on the sub-national governments for its authority, not the people. 36. What are the major things the Founding Fathers believed federalism would accomplish? The founders believed a federal system would protect liberty, disperse power and encourage policy innovation. To protect liberty power was divided between the national government and the states. The Founders sought to construct a system in which governments and government officials would be constrained by competition with other government and other government officials. Encourage policy innovation: The Founders hoped federalism would encourage policy experimentation and innovation. 37. The Necessary and Proper Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Necessary and Proper Clause: Grants Congress the power to enact all laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out those responsibilities specifically delegated to it. The Necessary and Property Clause allows Congress the power to imply it has powers based on those that are specifically delegated to it. The Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Allows congress to determine whether or not there is preemption of state laws in a particular policy area by federal laws. 39. Which clause of the U.S. Constitution, as amended, delegates power to the state governments or to their people? Reserved power Clause AKA 10th Amendment- provides that The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. 40. The Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The Full Faith and Credit Clause ensures that contracts, property ownership, insurance, civil judgments, marriages and divorces, among other things, made in one state are recognized in all states. What things can occur as a result of the public being ill informed on political issues? Allows public officials considerable flexibility when formulating public policy

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 Allows lobbyists, interest groups, commentators and reporters to how increased influence Allow interest groups and the media the opportunity to influence policy indirectly by shaping popular opinion. 42. The Fifteenth Amendment. The Fifteenth Amendment gave black men the right to vote. It is the first important limitation on state powers over voting. The Voting Rights Act of 1965. Literacy test : examination of a persons ability to read and write as a prerequisite to voter registration. Outlawed by The Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it illegal to interfere with anyones right to vote on the basis of race, outlawed the use of literacy tests, and allowed the attorney general to send federal voter registrars into counties where less than 50% of the voting age population was registered to vote.

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What is political alienation? Political alienation: The belief that politics is irrelevant to ones life and that one cannot personally affect public affairs.

What appears to be the essential link between opinion and policy? The poll is an instrument for measuring public opinion.

46. According to the text in Chapter 4, what are the powers the national government uses to deeply involve itself in areas that were once the exclusive domain of the state and local governments? Through its power to tax and spend for the government welfare the national government is now deeply involves in matter traditionally that were the domain of the state government. 47. According to the text in Chapter 4, what is total preemption? Total preemption- Federal governments assumption of all regulatory powers in a particular field. The Nineteenth Amendment. The Nineteenth Amendment (1920): provides women the right to vote in all elections.

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