The midterm exam will cover Units 1-4 and include 50 multiple choice questions. Students must complete the exam by July 12th in a single 3-hour sitting, with no make-ups allowed. To prepare, students should study vocabulary words, review unit PowerPoints, and ensure they understand key concepts from each unit, including political theories, types of governments and electoral systems, and differences between parliamentary and presidential systems.

1. Unit 5: Midterm Review

2. Important NotesMidterm Exam50 questions drawn from Units 1-4You will have 3 hours to take the exam, but you only have 1 chance.You must complete the exam by Tuesday, July 12th.You cannot make-up the exam. General PointsStudy the vocabulary wordsReview the Power Points for each unit.

3. Unit 1What is meant by all things being political?Is it the “master” science as suggested by Aristotle?What is political power?What conditions are determined by who has political power?What subfields are contained within political science?What do each contribute to the study?

4. Unit 1The SCIENCE of Political ScienceWhat is required for scholarship?Reason, Balance, Evidence, and TheoryProcess of studying politics:Development of hypothesis Collection of data (quantified v. qualitative)Empirical evaluationDevelopment of theoriesRetesting and alterations of theory

5. Unit 2What is theory? Who was the father of political theory? What did he argue?What is contractual theory?Who developed this theory?What are natural rights?What obligations do citizens and government have to one another?Where do we see this theory reflected in the American system?Be sure to know what Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau added to this general body of theory.

6. Unit 2Classical Theories: MarxNothing happens by accident, everything has a cause!What is Marx’s basic theory?Focus on InstitutionsConstitutions were fundamental to this process to determine how institutions were supposed to actContemporary TheoriesWhat is positivism and how does it influence the study of political science?BehavioralismRational Choice

7. Unit 2What is ideology? Classical TheoriesLiberalism: SmithGovernment intervention in the economy retards growth and developmentWhich modern ideology reflects Smith’s views?Classicalism: BurkeAgreed with Smith that free markets were bestOpposed liberalism, believing they placed too much faith in human reasonHe argued that humans were irrational and must be held in check by strong social instititutions

8. Unit 2Modern TheoriesModern LiberalismFree markets take away freedomFocus on positive rightsModern ConservatismLimited intervention in the economyStrong social institutions such as religionOther theories?Communism and Post-CommunismFeminism

9. Unit 3What is meant by an effective, weak or failed state?Be sure you know what characteristics define each.Examples of each type of state.What types of government exist?Rule By One: Monarchy/TyrannyRule By Few: Aristocracy/OligarchyRule By Many: Policy/DemocracyWhat is a constitution?What is contained within a constitution?What is the notion of constitutionalism?

10. Unit 3Electoral Systems: Single-Member v. ProportionalWhat are the fundamental differences between these two systems?What are the benefits and drawbacks of each system?What is a FPTP system and how does it influence electoral outcomes?

11. Unit 4Parliamentary v. Presidential: Power StructuresOrganization of Executive BrachArrangement between legislature and executiveRole of partiesChecks and Balances/Separation of PowersDefining CharacteristicsSplit-ticket votingGridlock v. DeadlockAccountability (the Vote of Confidence)Party Voting