Chapter Review Chapters 1-4

FYI: Study Guide Chapter 1-4

Here's some key elements for the Chapters 1-4 to make sure you know. These are not test questions, but will give you an idea how well you know the material. Use this study guide in addition to your notes from the text and lectures and the web resources for your text. You can copy this guide, or copy/paste into a Word document.

Chapter 1 Citizenship in Our Changing Democracy

·                     Who belongs to the "millennial generation? How are they different?

·                     What are the 3 natural rights?

·                     What is "politics"?

·                     Where did democracy have it's beginnings?

·                     Is politics voluntary or mandatory?

·                     What's a "representative" democracy?

·                     What's "direct" democracy?

·                     Majority rule and protections for _______rights.

·                     Ruling elite vs. pluralism: what do they mean?

·                     Is it important to have citizen participation in a democracy?

·                     What are referendums, initiative petitions and recalls?

·                     What are basic elements of a liberal democracy?

·                     Know the 3 essential aspects of liberal democracies

·                     Is American society growing in diversity? Why is this happening?

·                     What are challenges for governing a society with an aging population?

·                     Do large economic divisions still exist in our society?

·                     Are some states using voting by mail to increase participation in the political process?

·                     Role of the Internet in politics and community organizing

·                     Are there responsibilities that go along with our freedoms?

Chapter 2 The Constitution: The Foundation of Citizen Rights

·                     First permanent British colony was in _________?

·                     What caused American rebellion against Britain?

·                     Early political participation was limited to whom?

·                     Articles of Confederation: weaknesses: name a couple

·                     What were Shay's Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion about?

·                     Elements of the "Great Compromise" at the Continental Congress

·                     "3/5" Compromise: what was this about?

·                     Separation of powers and "checks and balances"

·                     What's federalism?

·                     What did first 3 Articles of Constitution deal with?

·                     What's the "supremacy clause"?

·                     The Bill of Rights: who wanted them?

·                     What were the "Federalist Papers?

·                     2 methods for changing the Constitution? Who makes final decision? Congress or the States?

·                     Importance of Marbury vs. Madison case

·                     Expansion of the franchise occurred through amendments to the Constitution: who benefited?

Chapter 3 Federalism: Citizenship and the Dispersal of Power

·                     Unitary and confederal forms of government vs. federalist

·                     Enumerated powers, concurrent and prohibited powers

·                     Pluses and minuses of federalism

·                     Is federalism static or dynamic over time?

·                     What was significance of the philosophy of nullification?

·                     McCullough v Maryland and Gibbons v Ogden cases' significance

·                     Dual federalism aspects: Dred Scott decision significance

·                     Shifting trend towards strengthening federal role in 1900's

·                     The New Deal and growth of national power

·                     Cooperative federalism: federal/state partnerships up to 1960; marble-cake federalism

·                     Creative federalism in 60s and 70s: Brown v Board of Education decisions; targeting funds to local governments to eradicate poverty; revenue sharing

·                     New Federalism and devolution of power: Regan and beyond; will we return to a patchwork of rights?

·                     Grants-in-Aid and, block grants, categorical grants, program and formula grants

·                     Mandates and unfunded mandates: what are they about?

·                     Forms of cooperation and competition: full faith and credit provisions, compacts and business competition

·                     Innovation by the States: who dominates?

·                     Opportunities for participation enhanced with federalism

Chapter 4 Civil Liberties: Expanding Citizens' Rights

·                     Freedom of Religion: Free Exercise and Establishment Clause

·                     Early provision of rights prior to Constitution

·                     Arguments against having a Bill of Rights

·                     What's the "Lemon Test"?

·                     Accomodationists: who were they (vs. “separationists” among the Founding Fathers)?

·                     Religion in schools: prayer and "intelligent design"

·                     Aid to religious schools: Cleveland voucher case key

·                     Freedom of Speech issues: political speech (clear and present danger test and bad tendency test, campaign speech (is money "speech"?)

·                     Symbolic and commercial speech (what is commercial speech?)

·                     Obscenity issues: the Miller test; who controls what's obscene? States or Federal government?

·                     Defamation (slander and libel, the Sullivan rule) ; and hate speech (prejudicial and hostile)

·                     Freedom of the press: prior restraint (censorship); government role with controlling the media: radio, TV, print

·                     Freedom of Assembly and Association: civil rights era emphasis

·                     Right to Keep and Bear Arms: citizens vs. the militia: DC v Heller case (discussed in class)

·                     Rights of Accused in 14th Amendment: unreasonable search and seizures w/ probable cause; warrantless searches: what are they?

·                     Self incrimination and the Miranda Rights; Right to counsel and a trial-by-jury

·                     Capital punishment & cruel and unusual punishment clause; is death by injection constitutionally prohibited?

·                     Right to privacy: implied right dealing with birth and death issues

·                     Civic engagement in civil liberties cases: many opportunities: ACLU, Jehovah's Witnesses; test cases, amicus curiae and "friend of the court" briefs; protection of advocacy