American Government
Semester Exam Review
Coverstone
Exam Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2003
Exam Location: Pfeffer Hall
Exam Review: Monday, January 13, 2003, 11:00, Debate Building
CAUTION!!! This review packet is based on a rough draft of this year's semester examination and is intended to serve as a guide for your review. It is not a substitute for review of your notes, essays, homework, and tests from this semester.
I. Textual Commitments
The exam will be drawn from the Lowi and Ginsberg text chapters listed on the syllabus, the text of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and excerpts from Federalist #10 and #51. You should begin a regular and systematic review of these texts during the next few weeks. As you review, you should list and define key terms from each section paying particular attention to those terms and concepts that also appear in your class notes.
II. FormatA. Government Structures
1. Multiple Choice Section
Forty questions worth .5 points each. This section is worth 20 points toward your exam grade. The best way to prepare for this section of the test is to study your old tests by covering answers and quizzing yourself.
2. Brief Identification Section
Twenty important terms worth one point each. This section is worth 20 points toward your exam grade. Key terms and concepts related will appear. You will be asked to identify each according to its significance.
B. State of the Law
In this section you will see three hypothetical scenarios similar to those the student presentations will address. You must choose 2 of the five and resolve the controversy according to the current state of the laws. Responses will be long paragraphs drawing on specific legal precedent and experience. Each paragraph will be graded according to its accuracy as well as the substance and detail of its description of the present state of the law, while also acknowledging specific aspects of the law that are ambiguous and require a reasoned assessment to predict a resolution. The total value of this section is 10 points.
C. Concept EssaysYou will be given a list of possible essays that require you to link a basic concept of American Government to one or more of the specific controversies we studied this semester. You must respond to three of these questions. The total value of this section is 15 points.
D. Major Political Analysis EssayYou will be asked to analyze a political controversy by adopting a clear and coherent argument for policy change that accounts thoroughly for the structures of government involved in the suggested change, the societal groups and institutions affected by the change, and the costs and benefits of the necessary public policy. This essay will be selected from a list of three possible topics distributed after the break and is worth 25 points toward your exam grade.
III. Key TermsUse this list to begin your review. Preparation of these terms will prepare you well for section IB of the exam.
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New Jersey Plan Anti-Federalists popular sovereignty constitutionalism representative government judicial review unconstitutional implied powers reserved powers exclusive powers concurrent powers enabling act act of admission grants-in-aid program block grant interstate compact full faith and credit extradition term session special session apportioned reapportionment single-member district at-large gerrymandered continuous body constituents oversight function winner-take-all keynote address platform electorate media executive order treaty executive agreement recognition reprieve pardon commutation amnesty federal budget |
formal amendments Bill of Rights Connecticut Compromise Three-Fifth Compromise Commerce and Slave Compromise Federalists Magna Carta Petition of Right English Bill of Rights charter bicameral unicameral Albany Plan of Union boycott constitution popular sovereignty ratification Articles of Confederation Framers Virginia Plan Necessary and Proper Clause impeach Speaker of the House president of the Senate president pro tempore floor leader whip party caucus committee chairman seniority rule standing committee select committee joint committee conference committee bill joint resolution concurrent resolution resolution rider discharge petition subcommittee Committee of the Whole quorum filibuster |
federalism amendment informal amendments executive agreements division of powers delegated powers expressed powers inherent powers rule of law separation of powers checks and balances strict constructionist liberal constructionist direct tax commerce power legal tender copyright patent chief of party chief citizen presidential succession presidential elector presidential primary cabinet jurisdiction exclusive jurisdiction concurrent jurisdiction plaintiff defendant original jurisdiction appellate jurisdiction writ of certiorari majority opinion concurring opinion dissenting opinion redress veto pocket veto chief of state chief executive chief administrator chief diplomat commander in chief chief legislator
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IV. Concept Essay Topics
Three of the following essay questions will appear in section III of the exam. Each one is worth 5 points.
1. The United States system is structured on a particular form of the principle of federalism. Illustrate and describe that principle by detailing its impact on one of the following:
capital punishment
abortion
school desegregation
2. The founders held differing views on disestablishment. Identify two different views and illustrate how each view would have produced different outcomes in the Mississippi school prayer case.3. Some have argued that the Supreme Court's "hate speech" decisions have protected women while excluding African-Americans from protection against hate-filled expressions. What is the basis of this claim, and how accurate is it?
4. The process by which a bill becomes a law is stacked against public policy reform. Evaluate this statement as it applies to recent efforts to reform federal campaign finance laws.5. The relationship between public opinion and government action is an important one in a democracy. What does the history of gun control legislation reveal about that relationship in America?
V. Major Policy Essay TopicOne from the following list of topics will appear on the semester examination. You must be prepared to identify the structures of government, legal principles, and public interest groups that would support and resist the policy reform you support and to explain the costs and benefits of the solution you advance. This essay should be outlined before the exam and supported with numerous specific arguments and details.
1. You are the chief advisor to the newly elected president. At your first meeting, the president-elect orders you to develop the administration's new policy on abortion. During the campaign, the candidate said he was against abortion, but did not offer specific details of his policy. Now you are charged with crafting a policy that satisfies your most loyal supporters without sacrificing your administration's ability to work effectively with Congress and members of the opposition party. What proposal will you endorse?2. You are the chief advisor to the newly elected president. At your first meeting, the president-elect orders you to develop the administration's new policy on gun control. During the campaign, the candidate said he was against gun violence in schools, but did not offer specific details of his policy. Now you are charged with crafting a policy that satisfies your most loyal supporters without sacrificing your administration's ability to work effectively with Congress and members of the opposition party. What proposal will you endorse?
3. You are the chief advisor to the newly elected president. At your first meeting, the president-elect orders you to develop the administration's new policy on affirmative action. During the campaign, the candidate said he was against quotas, but did not offer specific details of his policy. Now you are charged with crafting a policy that satisfies your most loyal supporters without sacrificing your administration's ability to work effectively with Congress and members of the opposition party. What proposal will you endorse?