This study guide provides an overview of the key topics and structure for an upcoming exam. The exam will have two parts: a 75 point multiple choice section and a 25 point writing section requiring two short essays. Topics covered in the study guide include the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, examples of devolution, definitions of federalism, theories of elitism, comparisons of direct and representative democracy, distinctions between power, authority and legitimacy, debates around equality of opportunity vs equality of results, ways of political socialization, definitions of political efficacy, likely Democratic and Republican voters, important congressional committees, party characteristics, factors influencing voter turnout, definitions of gerrymandering and malapportionment, and indicators of presidential

1. Exam Study Guide Remember August?? September? October? November? December? Last week?

2. Outline Part 1 Multiple Choice, worth 75 points 25 questions Part 2 Writing Prompts worth 25 points 2 short essays, 12.5 points each

3. For the Writing Prompts I want you to pretend like you are really taking the exam. This means you need to do paragraphs, complete sentences and thoroughly explain EVERYTHING you write.

4. This is NOT a marking period test, it is the EXAM

5. It is not enough to know what these terms are. You need to understand these in order to apply them to questions. Take your time, think each question through

6. Articles of Confederation Weaknesses The ARTICLES failed because they were too weak. What were the specific weaknesses?

7. 1) 1 Vote, Regardless of Size 2) Congress powerless to lay and collect taxes 3) Congress powerless to regulate commerce

8. 4) No executive branch to enforce acts of Congress 5) No national judicial system 6) 9/13 majority to pass laws

9. 7) Army was small and dependent on state militias..couldn’t control border disputes 8) Little Money Coined by Congress 9) Amendment only with all the States

10. Devolution The effort to transfer responsibility for many public programs and services from the federal government to the states.

11. What are some examples of devolution? Grants-in-Aide

12. Federalism Dual Federalism National government is supreme in its sphere, states are supreme in theirs Cooperative Federalism Growing areas of cooperation between National and State governments. Think concurrent powers or grants

13. Federal Grants-in-Aide Usually there are a number of strings attached block grants mandates categorical grants project grants

14. 4 Theories of Elitism Marxist Power Elite Bureaucratic Pluralist

15. Direct Democracy v. Representative Democracy What are some criticisms of a direct democracy? Are direct democracies ever successful? Views of the framers

16. Power ability of a person to get another person to act in accordance with the first’s intentions Authority The right to use power

17. Legitimacy Political authority conferred by law or by a state or a national constitution.

18. Can a government have power without having authority? Yes - think dictatorships

19. Be able to analyze the connections between power, authority, and legitimacy

20. Equality of Opportunity vs. Equality of Results Which do Americans favor? Why?

21. Ways of political socialization family media schools civic organizations

22. Culture war What kind of disagreements are considered part of the culture war?

23. American trust in government? Increase? Decrease? No change? Why?

24. Political Efficacy What is this? Know the term. Belief that you can take part in politics or that the government will response to the citizens

25. Know who are likely Democratic Party voters and who are likely Republican Party voters.

26. What are the House committees that are important? Ways and Means House Rules Committee

27. Know the characteristics of different parties Democrats, Libertarian, Republicans, Populists

28. What types of citizens are most likely to vote? Federal restrictions on fundraising for presidential campaigns. 2,000, 5,000, matching funds

29. What is gerrymandering? What is malapportionment? What is the biggest indicator of the likelihood of a president getting reelected? ECONOMY!!

30. Diversity in Congress Impact of Filibusters and Vote of Clotures - number to control

31. What is the point of having congressional oversight?

32. WRITING PROMPTS Grants-In-Aid Categorical Grants Revenue Sharing Block Grants Mandates

33. What are some specific examples of these type of grants and how do they affect policy making within the states?

34. 2. Interest Groups and PACs How do they try to influence politics? What limits them?