US GOVERNMENT 1 ST SEMESTER EXAM REVIEW

Adv Gov/Ms. Strong Name US GOVERNMENT 1 ST SEMESTER EXAM REVIEW Directions: You will turn this packet in the day of the exam and will receive a quiz grade. Compete this packet using your class notes, handouts, Magruder s American Government textbook and Ms. Strong s website: http://jstrongadvgov.weebly.com I. Foundations of American Democracy 1. What are four characteristics of the state? Population, Territory, Sovereignty, Government 2. Identify six characteristics of government Government is an institution that provides order, security and protection to society Governments usually have some kind of written constitution and laws Government is made up of people who have power and control over people 3. Identify four principles of American democracy Equality of opportunity Respect for the individual Government makes and enforces public policies ex: taxation, crime Government must have power in order to carry out these policies Governments often have 3 kinds of power: legislative, executive, judicial Personal liberty/individual rights Popular sovereignty 4. What is a free market economy based on the laws of supply and demand? Capitalism 5. In what kind of economic system is major industry owned by the government? Socialism 6. What philosopher stated that government exists by the consent of the governed? John Locke 7. What form of government does the United States have on the national (federal) level? Representative democracy 8. The Bill of Rights was originally intended to limit the power of. the federal government 9. Define the implied powers of the Constitution. Those delegated powers of the national government that are deemed necessary and proper to carry out the expressed powers 10. The primary purpose of the legislative branch (Congress) is to make the laws. 11. The goal of the Framers of the US Constitution was to create what type of government? Representative republic 12. The division of the functions within the national government into branches is know as the concept of separation of powers 13. The Three-fifths Compromise relates to the counting of slaves for representation and taxation 14. The primary purpose of the executive branch (President) is to carry out the laws. 15. What are expressed (a.k.a. delegated or formal) powers of the Constitution (definition)? Powers given to Congress that are specifically written into the Constitution like declaring war, passing articles of impeachment, or passing funding bills 16. Which is the following statements about American federalism is true? a. the power of the national government compared to the states has been constant throughout American history b. the period from 1789-1932 can best be described as dual or layer cake federalism c. modern federalism (from New Deal to the present) can best be characterized as cooperative or marble cake federalism d. states have been gaining more power over the past 20 years 17. Identity four examples of powers denied the federal government in the Constitution Cannot grant titles of nobility Cannot suspend Writ of Habeas Corpus Cannot pass bills of attainder Cannot pass Ex Post Facto Laws

2 18. Define a unitary system of government and provide examples of four countries that have a unitary system Central government has authority over all of its political subdivisions. Examples: Great Britain, France, Japan, China 19. Identify two ways that each branch checks the other two President 1) President checks Congress: veto, state of the union, special session 2) President checks Supreme Court: appoints justices, must execute the law (or SC decisions) Congress 1) Congress checks President: veto override, power of the purse, Senate approves appointments and ratifies treaties, impeachment 2) Congress checks Supreme Court: Approves judicial appointments, creates federal courts and jurisdiction, impeachment, create laws that overturn SC decisions Supreme Court 1) Supreme Court checks President: judicial review, presides over impeachment trial 2) Supreme Court checks Congress: judicial review 20. Pair each constitutional amendments with its correct freedoms or liberties 1 st Amendment and the freedom of speech, press, religion assembly and petition 2 nd Amendment and the right to bear arms 4 th Amendment and protection against search and seizures without at warrant 5 th Amendment and protection against self-incrimination, due process, double jeopardy 6 th Amendment and right to a speedy trial, impartial jury, attorney 8 th Amendment and protection against cruel and unusual punishment 21. What constitutional amendment reserves powers to the states? The 10th Amendment 22. The primary purpose of the judicial branch (Supreme) is to interpret the laws. 23. Which of the following are key principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and the power of the national government? (Circle all that apply) a. limited government b. separation of powers c. checks and balances d. direct democracy 24. Which of the following delegated powers is incorrectly matched? a. Borrow money the President b. Regulate interstate commerce - Congress c. Original jurisdiction with cases involving states the U.S. Supreme Court d. Ratify treaties Congress 25. The type of government in which power is shared between the national government and the states is federalism. II. Political Process 26. What is political socialization? The process by which political values are passed on to the next generation 27. Which of the following are core values of the United States political culture? (circle all that apply) a. Freedom of religion c. Economic equality b. Political equality d. Freedom of speech

3 28. What factor is probably the most important determinant of an individual's political ideology and party affiliation? The family 29. Read the quote below and decide if the speaker is like a liberal, conservative, libertarian, or totalitarian. I think that the government should stay out of business and let the market do its thing. But I do think the government should make some laws about what citizens are allowed to do, for example, they should make abortion illegal. conservative 30. What demographic groups are most likely to support a Republican presidential candidate? white males, white southerners, evangelical Christians, social conservatives, business people, military 31. The greatest number of American voters identify themselves as. moderate 32. What demographic groups vote most consistently for the Democratic Party in national elections over the last three decades? African Americans, women, labor unions, social liberals, Jews 33. What demographic group is LEAST likely to vote? 18-24 year olds 34. Identify three voter demographic groups that would be considered important swing voters in recent presidential elections Soccer Moms, NASCAR Dads, Hispanics 35. Which of the following are examples of the trend towards candidate-centered campaigns (circle all that apply) a. John McCain hosts Saturday Night Live in Fall, 2008 b. The Washington Post publishes an article comparing Obama and McCain s positions on healthcare reform c. George W. Bush appears on Oprah in order to appeal to women voters d. Barrack Obama is interviewed by David Letterman on Late Night 36. Which of the following is the most common form of political participation? a. Donating money to political candidates c. Attending a protest rally b. Voting in a presidential election d. Contacting public officials 37. The fact that federal election laws allow states and voting precincts to make their own ballots reinforces what constitutional principle? federalism 38. Which of the following are true regarding the terms of elected U.S. officials (circle all that apply) a. The Constitution sets term limits for the presidency but not for members of Congress. b. Presidents' terms are four years, representatives are two, and senators are six. c. Election dates in the United States are left open until the president sets them. d. Terms of office for the president, vice president, and members of Congress are set by the Constitution. 39. Which of the following describes the result in a winner-take-all, single-member district, plurality system? a. The candidate must receive at least 51% of the votes to win. b. The candidate who receives the most votes in the election wins. c. The top two vote-getters compete in a run-off election. d. The losing candidate serves in the president s cabinet. 40. Virginia has 13 electoral votes. In a presidential election, the Democratic candidate receives 48% of Virginia s popular vote, the Republican candidate receives 40%, and an independent candidate gets 12%. How will the electoral votes in Virginia be allocated? a. The Democratic candidate will receive 6 electoral votes, the Republican 5, the independent 2 b. The Democratic candidate will receive all 13 electoral votes c. The votes will not be allocated until there has been a runoff election d. The House of Representatives will decide 41. Identify three purposes of political parties in the United States. To serve as linkage institutions between the people and their government To run campaigns and inform the voters of issues To allow for the peaceful transfer of power

4 42. Which of the following is a member of the Democratic Party coalition? a. military officers b. high-income businessmen c. labor unions d. white males 43. Why do social conservatives make up part of the Republican coalition? Social conservatives like the Republican Party oppose abortion and same sex marriage. 44. Which of the following are major reasons why third parties have a difficult time winning a presidential election? (circle all that apply) a. It is hard for them to get financial support. b. The Electoral College ensures that only winners of the popular vote get electoral votes. c. Third parties are not allowed to air campaign ads on prime time television. d. Often, third parties ideas are more ideologically radical than the mainstream, moderate American. 45. Which of the following is least likely to happen to a third party? a. They displace one of the major parties and themselves become major parties b. They are ultimately abandoned by the public because their politics are perceived as too radical c. Their supporters become frustrated and withdraw from the political process d. They disintegrate when one or both of the major parties adopt the third party s goals 46. What is the job of a lobbyist? to influence government policy on behalf of an interest group 47. Identify three ways interest groups influence government and public policy lobbying Congress organizing protest movements monitoring government programs 48. Which of the following is true regarding interest groups? (circle all that apply) a. They represent many different types of people. c. They can be dangerous if they have too much influence. b. They try to influence government but not citizens. d. They can have an ideological slant. 49. What is the most significant effect of the media on the public? a. It reinforces what people already believe c. Provides citizens with many sources of information b. It change people s minds about who to vote for d. It supports policies of the government 50. Which of the following poses the greatest barrier to voting? a. Voter registration requirement c. The 26 th amendment b. Residency requirements d. Election day held on a Tuesday III. The Presidency 51. Identify four powers that are granted to the President by the Constitution commissioning officers in the armed forces commander in chief addressing Congress on the state of the union granting pardons for federal offenses appoint ambassadors and judges veto 52. The law passed by Congress in 1973 to limit the President ability to commit the U.S. military in an armed conflict without the consent of Congress is the War Powers Resolution. 53. Which of the following procedures results in the removal of the President from office? a. the House and Senate vote for impeachment and the Supreme Court reaches a guilty verdict b. the House votes for articles of impeachment, and the Senate conducts a trial and reaches a guilty verdict c. only the House votes for a bill of impeachment d. a criminal court finds the President guilty of "high crimes and misdemeanors"

5 54. Name three presidential role authorized by the Constitution. To be commander in chief of the armed forces To be chief executive To negotiate treaties with foreign nations 55. Circle the statements below that are true of the President s cabinet a. Washington established the precedent of the first cabinet of advisors b. The job of President is so big that the President needs the advise of experts in the cabinet c. The cabinet is a formal institution specifically mentioned in the Constitution d. The cabinet today consists of fifteen secretaries 56. American foreign policy is directed primarily by the. President 57. The first President to form a cabinet of advisors was. George Washington 58. Among the executive branch's formal checks on the legislative branch is the president's power to a. remove members of Congress c. introduce bills to the floor of Congress b. force Congress to debate bills d. veto bills 59. Identify four key White House Staff positions. Communications Director, Press Secretary, National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff 60. Unlike a treaty, what international relations agreements do not require the Senate s approval? executive agreements 61. As evidenced by their close proximity to the President s Oval Office, in recent years, presidents have come to rely most heavily on the advice of. the White House Staff 62. Circle all of the following that have worked to strengthen the powers of the presidency. a. The need for decisive action during national emergencies b. The demands of the American people for strong leadership c. The constitutional system of checks and balances d. The President's increased visibility due to the development of mass media (especially television) 63. A policy pursued by a nation in its dealings with other nations, designed to achieve national objectives is. foreign policy 64. The most important constitutional war power of the President is to. serve as Commander in Chief of the armed force 65. Which of the following presidential appointments must be confirmed by the Senate? (circle all that apply a. Secretary of State b. Chief of Staff c. Ambassador to Canada d. Supreme Court Justice 66. Provide three examples of the President acting in the role of Chief of State Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on opening day of Major League Baseball season Sponsoring the Easter Egg Hunt at the White House Making a patriotic speech on the Fourth of July 67. The President can do which of the following without seeking the consent of either the House or the Senate? a. Ratify a treaty b. Appoint ambassadors e. Declare war d. Issue an executive order 68. Identify three terms or requirements of the President as specified in Article II of the Constitution The President must be at least 35 years old The President must have lived in the United States for 14 years The President must be a natural born citizen 69. All of the following are examples of checks on presidential power EXCEPT a. the Supreme Court declaring an action of the President unconstitutional b. the U.S. Senate refusing to ratify a treaty c. the President winning re-election to a second term of office

d. the media exposing a scandal in the President s administration 6 70. Identify three important and sometimes controversial informal powers of the President. Executive privilege, Executive agreements, Executive orders 71. Provide four examples of foreign policy issues Trade agreements with other countries Peace treaties War Oil Production Climate change 72. The most important practical check Congress can exercise over the President s foreign and domestic policy decisions is. the power of the purse 73. Identify four benefits or perks of the job of being President? An annual salary of $400,000 A mansion to live in A personal airplane Secret Service protection A nice vacation home at Camp David 74. Identify three formal war powers of Congress Declare war Ratify treaties (Senate) Raise an army and a navy 75. Circle all of the following correct examples of Executive Orders a. President Truman s desegregation of the military b. FDR s internment of Japanese Americans during World War II c. Clinton s Don t Ask Don t Tell policy for gays in the military d. Bush (Sr.) trade agreement with Japan IV. Presidential Trivia 76. What president won election with the campaign slogan Yes We Can? Barack Obama 77. Who was the only bachelor president (also considered by many to be the worst president)? James Buchanan 78. From what college did Thomas Jefferson graduate in 1762? William and Mary 79. Who was the first to adopt Mister President as the official manner of address for the President of the United States? George Washington 80. Name four presidents who were assassinated while in office. (1 point each) Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy 81. What do we call the President s airplane? Air Force One 82. Who was President of the United States at the time of the terrorist attacks on September 11. 2001? George W. Bush 83. Only two Presidents have been formally impeached by Congress. Name them. [1 pt. each] Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton 84. Prior to the presidency, Barrack Obama lived for many years and served as a community organizer in what mid-western city? Chicago 85. What is President Obama s favorite sport? Basketball

7 1 ST SEMESTER EXAM REVIEW SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS ADV GOV/MS. STRONG December 2014 Directions The two short essays below will appear on your 1 st Semester Exam, so you know in advance what they are going to be. To help you prepare, I encourage you to write a brief outline for each question as you study for the exam. Essay #1 (10 points) BE SURE TO ANSWER ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION!!! 1. Since the 1930 s, Presidential power and influence has greatly increased. Some Americans believe that it is necessary in today's world for the President to be very powerful; others argue that the Presidency has become too dominant. a) Explain TWO reasons why the Presidency has become more powerful in the last seventy- five years. b) Do you think that great presidential power is necessary or do you believe that American Presidents have become too powerful? In a paragraph, provide at least THREE reasons supported by specific facts/examples to support your opinion. Essay #2 (15 points) BE SURE TO ANSWER ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION!!! 2. One historian said of the American presidency: Presidential greatness is, to a large extent, determined as a result of a president being in the right place at the right time. a) Explain the meaning of the quote. b) Explain whether you agree with this statement. Why or why not? c) Identify THREE important characteristics of great presidents. d) Based on the characteristics you identified in Part c), who do you think is THE greatest U.S. President? Provide THREE reasons to support your opinion.