FYI: Marriage Update

Divorce Rates Declining for Some Segments

Final Exam Study Guide

Intelligence Officer Allan Pinkerton, President Lincoln, and General John A. McClernand, Antietam, Maryland, October 3, 1862

Photographer: Alexander Gardner 

The following are some key areas to focus on for each chapter. I hope this helps in your overall review of material reviewed this session.

1 Citizenship

• What are examples of your civic life vs. your private life?
• Can you name some newer opportunities for citizen participation that states have provided?
• Have Americans become one class, or do major divides still exist between us? What are some of these differences?
• What's the most common reason given by 18-25 year olds for not voting?

2 Constitution

• What is meant by the principle of "consent of the governed", and what is a good example of how we regularly demonstrate our consent or dissent?
• What were the basic elements of the "Great Compromise" in 1787?
• What are the 3 basic principles embodied in the Constitution that control how each branch relates to each other, and how the national government relates to the states?

3 Federalism

• Why didn't the framers select a unitary model for how the government would function?
• What effect did the 1857 Dred Scott decision (before the Civil War) by the Supreme Court have on federal and state relations?
• Did states or the national government gain power during the bulk of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Administration?

4 Civil Liberties

• Do most of the Bill of Rights apply to actions by the states as well as the national government?
• What are the two (2) basic clauses of the First Amendment pertaining to religion?
• What are the three (3) basic elements of the Miller Test, and what happens when an activity or object does not meet all the criteria in the test?

5 Civil Rights

• The North won the Civil War. But, why did Jim Crow laws take hold in the South, and what form did they take?
• Chief Justice Earl Warren and the unanimous court spoke clearly through their words and vote re: the need to eliminate the post Civil War approach of "separate but equal" in the Brown v Board of Education decision (s). What was the essence of these decisions?
• What were the main implications of the Bakke v Regents of California Supreme Court case?

6 Public Opinion

• What are the "agents of political socialization"?
• What are some differences between men and women in political opinions?
• The word "salience" in political opinion refers to what personal aspect of various issues and topics?

7 Political Participation

• "What's the "rational actor" theory?
• To participate in the political process, what three (3) conditions must be met for you to do so?
• What are some of the factors affecting voter "turnout"?

8 Interest Groups

• The practice of influencing public decisions for largely private purposes is referred to as _______?
• People often do not make a "rational" choice re: being involved with an interest group vs. being "free rider". What is meant by this?
• Does the White house lobby Congress, or vice versa, or do both lobby each other?

9 Parties and Political Campaigns

• What is the process of identifying potential political supporters and designing a customized messages and mobilizing them to come out for an election is called:
• Why do we only have two main parties in the United States?
• Splinter, single issue and ideological parties: examples of each

10 Media

• Characteristic of young persons and the "news"
• Limits placed on television and radio is managed by what agency?
• Two (2) lessons learned by the first presidential debate in 1960 that are still significant today

11 Congress

• Inherent advantages incumbents in Congress have in getting reelected
• How often does reapportionment occur? Why?
• What's the difference between the "delegate", "trustee" and "politico" role of a Congressperson? Can they be performing with all 3 pf these hats?

12 The Presidency

• When do parties select their candidates for the Presidential election?
• What is the significance of the "unit"rule in the Electoral College?
• When can the President exercise the "line item veto" in signing legislation presented to him/her for signing?

13 Bureaucracy

• Key differences between public and private bureaucracies
• What's the main role bureaucrats play in the policy making process?
• What's a "proxy administration?

14 The Courts

• Do judges in our system have some discretion in following precedents in the law?
• What is the principle of "standing" in being heard by a court?
• Basic principles for nominating a Supreme Court justice

15 Public Policy

• Basic stages in policy making and different parties involved
• Characteristics of the uninsured
• National debt vs. the federal deficit: which is greater? How much greater?

16 Foreign and Defense Policy

• Realism, liberalism, idealism and neo-conservatism: how do these apply to foreign policy?
• Key "producers" of foreign policy?
• Why have we maintained cordial relations with China recently, even though we have major issues with this country?
• If you were going to take a "premptive" action agaist someone, what type of initiative would you take in relation to the other person?

Final Exam

Monday December 8 Polsky 462 10AM-12PM

What Does Government Do?

Not many different things, you seemed to say. Or maybe you picked the most important.
Click Pic to Enlarge!
The larger the word, the more times it was chosen

Oral Report Schedule!

Remember: 5 minute max per person!

Monday, November 24

• Victoria and Kyle-Are Nursing Homes Treating the Elderly More Poorly Than In-Home Health Care?
• Mitchell and Herbert-Should Libraries Have a List of Banned Books and Why, November 2
• Anna and Brittanie-Struggles Immigrants Face Coming to America
• Gavin and Meg-Threat That ISIS Poses for the World

Wednesday, November 26-Test #4!

Friday, November 28-Thnaksgiving Break!

Monday, December 1

• Kristony and Alex-Male vs. Female: Who Rules Today?
• Mackenzie and Emily-Why Culture Says Marriage Is A Thing of the Past
• Taylor and E.J.-When Is Capital Punushment is a Good Thing?

Wednesday, December 3

• Tamara, Ayesha and Nikkole-Phyllis Schlafly
• Shannon and April-Youth and Religion
• Tia and Bree Anne-The Media and Political Campaigns
• Kati and Sophie-When Is Capital Punishment a Good Thing?

Friday, December 5

• Kyle and Dennis-Capital Punishment
• Cassie and Zach-Who Will Win the Presidential Election in 2016 and Why?
• Nana, Jordan and Makela-Prejudice (Is this still your current topic? Note below as a post)
• Feras-Dubai and American Governments Compared

Let me know of any necessary changes to above asap. Some presentations may carry over to next class due to time issues. 5 minute max per person. Penalty for going over time limit!

FYI: Felon Disenfranchisement-Mid-Terms

                                                                  Interesting editorial

 Felon Disenfranchisement

FYI: Upcoming 6 Major Decisions in This Supreme Court Term

Upcoming Decisions