President of the United States and Civil Liberties
Sample
Essay
Questions
1. In our discussion of representation in the United States, we discussed the various
amendments to the U.S. Constitution that increased citizen representation. Name three
amendments to the U.S. Constitution that increased citizen representation in our government,
and explain specifically, how each either expanded our electorate or made the government
more
representatives
of
its
citizens.
- Amendment XV - African American Suffrage - African Americans receive the right to vote. Amendment XIX- Women's Suffrage -Gives women the power to vote - Amendment XXVISuffrage
for
18-Year-OldsVoting
age
moved
to
18
2. Drawing upon your understanding of the essential functions of legislatures, as well as the
basic characteristics of California’s State legislature, as presented in Matthew Jarvis’s chapter
on the California State legislature in California Government in National Perspective, explain the
most important similarities and differences between the U.S. Congress and the California State
legislature.
•
•
•
Both
Both
Both the
have
Assembly
the
and
Senate
the US
are
as
House
the
are led
bicameral.
upper
house.
by a Speaker.
3. Define agenda setting in general terms & demonstrate how congressional leaders set
Congress's agenda as well as how the mass communications media set the public agenda.
4. Do interest groups allow greater representation for citizens or do they inevitably allow small
well organized groups to prosper at the expense of everyone who pays taxes?
- They allow greater representation for particular causes, not for citizens. And yes, they do
often work with politicians to win favors at the expense of taxpayers.
5. Name two sources of interest group power and explain how an interest group lobbyist could
use
those
powers
to
gain
influence
over
government
policymakers?
- Two of the biggest things that can sway a vote is money and power. Professional lobbyists
represent companies and corporations that control a great deal of both. Senators and
representatives always have pet projects that require a great deal of money and constantly
need the power to get the votes needed to initiate and fund these projects. Our people in
Congress are keenly aware they must be constantly vigilant in order to obtain funding and
backing so as to make a good showing for the citizens in their voting districts.
6. Explain how & why presidents “go public”, giving at least one example of a president going
public
in
pursuit
of
enacting
their
policy
agenda.
- Most importantly, presidents have the ability to "go public" in the words of to appeal to the
public for support over the heads of other politicians. The rise of the electronic media, first
radio and then television, has enabled presidents to establish a direct, almost personal
relationship with voters that skilled presidents It is probably advisable for presidents to use this
tactic on a limited number of important issues lest it lose its impact. If used wisely, it can be
decisive.
George
Bush
before
he
invaded
Iraq.
Sample
Short-Answer
Questions/Suggestions
1. Be able to define a congressional committee and explain what they do and why they're
important
in
allowing
Congress
to
complete
its
work.
- is a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty
(rather than the general duties of Congress). Committee membership enables members to
develop specialized knowledge of the matters under their jurisdiction. As "little legislatures,"
committees monitor on-going governmental operations, identify issues suitable for legislative
review, gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action to their parent
body.
2. Memorize the summaries of the important U.S. Supreme Court decisions listed on your
handout.
3. Be sure that you understand what civil liberties are (specifically and generally), how they
differ from civil rights, and be able to discuss policy issues, arising from civil liberties protections
(e.g. eminent domain requirements, Miranda Rights and the Exclusionary Rule).
1.Civil rights are those that are granted by a government for the protection of its citizens in
respect to guaranteeing fairness and checking discrimination. 2.Civil liberties are the basic
rights guaranteed to all citizens in a country without any further speciality. 3.’Civil rights’ means
an individual’s right to get equal treatment in cases of education, housing, employment, and a
lot more. ‘Civil rights’ means ‘free from discrimination or unfair treatment.’ On the other hand,
‘civil liberties’ are broader rights guaranteed in the Constitution. 4.Unlike civil rights, civil
liberties are protective in character. 5.Civil rights pertain to the concept of how an individual is
treated by others. Civil liberties pertain to the actual freedoms that an individual enjoys under a
Constitution
4. Understand and be able to explain the three theories of constitutional interpretation
presented
in
Fiorina
and
Peterson's
chapter
on
the
U.S.
Judiciary.
5.
Be
able
to
define
agenda
setting
in
general
terms.
- The art or science of controlling an agenda so as to maximize the probability of getting a
favorable
outcome.
6. Understand what civil service protection is (sometimes referred to as Civil Service status).
Understand the two basic principles for government employment enacted in civil service
reform, and be conversant about its purposes, advantages and possible disadvantages.
6. Memorize the definition of bureaucracy that you received in our classroom discussion.
- is a group of specifically non-elected officials within a government or other institution that
implements
the
rules,
laws,
ideas,
and
functions
8.
Know
the
formal
(Constitutional)
and
informal
powers
of
the
Presidency.
Formal
Powers:
powers of appointment, commander-in-chief, foreign affairs, executive clemency, emergency
powers,
veto
informal
Policy
powers:
maker
9. Understand the "Power to Persuade" and “Going Public” theses, regarding how presidents
exercise
their
informal
powers
discussed
in
class.
10. Be able to explain how the U.S. federal bureaucracy is organized (be able to explain the
various units of the bureaucracy presented in our lecture discussion & in your chapter on the
federal bureaucracy). A complex society requires a variety of bureaucratic organizations •
Four
components
of
Federal
Bureaucracy:
–
Cabinet
departments
(
treasury,
Homeland
Security)
–
Independent
executive
agencies
(
EPA)
– Independent regulatory agencies ( Federal Reserve Board) – Government organizations
(USPS,
FDIC,
TVA)
11. With respect to the mass communications media agenda setting, understand. Understand
framing
and
priming.
Priming: Media provide a context for public discussion of an issue, setting the stage for
audience
understanding
Framing: Media provide a focus and environment for reporting a story, influencing how
audiences
will
understand
or
evaluate
it.
13. Be able to name the two chambers of the U.S. Congress and the two chambers of the
California
State
legislature.
-
House
of
Reps
and
Senate
14. Understand how the predicate of the Declaration of Independence (“all men are created
equal and endowed by their creator with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”) is the
foundation of our civil liberties (especially with respect to the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and
Fourteenth
Amendments
to
the
United
States
Constitution).
15.
What
is
the
"Bush
Doctrine"
in
U.S.
foreign
policy?
- The Bush Doctrine refers to a foreign policy principle established by George W. Bush during his
presidential administration. Often referred to pre-emptive in nature, it basically refers to the
right of the United States to proactively strike any nation that we believe is set to attack us.
16. Be able to write out the basic argument of the Declaration of- Independence, as a formal
logical argument (major premise, minor premise, and conclusion) as presented in class.
|Major premise: |[p|When government deliberately seeks to reduce the people | | |ic|under
absolute despotism, the people have a right, | | |] |indeed a duty, to alter or abolish that form
of | | | |government and to create new guards for their future | | | |security. |
|Minor premise: | |The government of Great Britain has deliberately sought | | | |to reduce
the American people under absolute despotism. | |Conclusion: | |Therefore the American
people have a right, indeed a | | | |duty, to abolish their present form of government and to| |
|
|create
new
guards
for
their
future
security.
|
17. Know the three crucial periods in which the federal bureaucracy expanded, and the specific
reasons
for
expansion
of
the
bureaucracy
during
each
time
period.
- For the purposes of this book, the term civil service refers to the civilian employees of the
federal government. Wealthy men dominated the bureaucracy through the 1820s. This
changed with the election of President Andrew Jackson (1828), who opened government jobs
to the common people. - During the 1930s, the size of the federal bureaucracy mushroomed
due to President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal agencies. Although many were short-lived,
others continue to play a role in the lives of Americans: the Social Security Administration (SSA),
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) - The federal bureaucracy deals with more than
social and economic policies. A large number of agencies are responsible for protecting the
American people from both foreign and domestic dangers. The national security bureaucracy
includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
18. Understand the three fundamental goals of the Progressive movement of the early 20th
century
- Expansion of Democracy o Initiative (Voter submitted bills) o Referendum (Vote put directly to
people) o Recall (Vote officials out of office) o Secret Ballot o Direct Primary o Direct Senatorial
Elections - Improve the Efficiency of Government o Professional Administrators (City mayor
government) o Centralize/Stream-line decision making o Eliminate Corruption - Regulate Large
Corporations and Monopolies o True laissez-faire o Trust-busting o Regulation o Socialism Promote Social Justice o Development of professional social workers o Building/Expansion of
settlement houses (not tenements) o Child labor laws o Support for organized labor o
Prohibition
19. Be able to compare and contrast the executive powers of the President of the United States
with those of the Governor of- California (these can be found in Scott Spitzer’s chapter in
California
Government
in
National
Perspective).
In
brief:
- • US is a federation of states that are semi autonomous - • President is the executive head of
the government whereas Governor is the executive head of his state. - • Governor exercises all
those powers that are not retained by the federal government in the constitution.
20.
Know
the
difference
between
foreign
&
domestic
government
policies.
- Foreign affairs are issues that concern international relations and national interests in foreign
countries, while domestic affairs refer to things that are happening in politics and government
in
a
particular
country.
21. Understand what interest groups are. Also know their sources of power and the
consequences of an open interest group system such as in the United States. - Interest groups
are associations or organizations of individuals who share a common interest and assert their
collective strength in the political process to protect — and in some cases, expand — that
interest. It allows for all type of groups to be formed and allow to bribe politicians with votes
and
money
in
exchange
for
laws
that
benefit
the
interest
group
22. Know and understand the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments to the United States- Constitution. - First Amendment [Religion, Speech, Press,
Assembly,
Petition
Fourth
Amendment
[Search
and
Seizure
Fifth Amendment [Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process Sixth
Amendment [Criminal Prosecutions - Jury Trial, Right to Confront & to Counsel Eighth
Amendment [Excess Bail or Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishment Fourteenth Amendment
provides a broad definition of citizenship that overruled the Supreme Court's ruling in Dred
Scott v. Sandford (1857) that had held that black people could not be citizens of the United
States Fifteenth Amendment (Amendment XV) to the United States Constitution prohibits each
government in the United States from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's
"race,
color,
or
previous
condition
of
servitude.
23. Know the types of speech that are not absolutely protected by the First Amendment and
the one type of speech that is virtually always absolutely protected. Slander & libel
*
False
testimony
&
perjury
*
Conspiracy
to
commit
crimes
*
Treason
&
espionage
*
Pornography
* Speech designed to disrupt the rights of others or harm others
24.
2.
3.
Know
1.
the
three
Primary
National
different
elections
Party
General
stages
of
and
elections.
Caucuses
Conventions
Election
25. Understand what a Writ of Habeas Corpus is and why it is important to our civil liberties. which requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court.[1][2] This
ensures that a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention—that is, detention lacking
sufficient
cause
or
evidence.
26. Understand the here tools of direct democracy used in California: ballot initiatives,
referenda
and
recalls.
- is a form of democracy in which people vote on policy initiatives directly. In California we as
citizens are able to put initiatives on that ballet and allow for voters to vote on the issue.
27. Understand the legal doctrine of Stare Decisis: Be able to define it & explain why it is the
foundation of the Common Law legal system in the United States.
- is a legal principle by which judges are obliged to respect the precedent established by prior
decisions. So lower courts and higher courts fall in line with past court cases which makes it
easier
to
rule
on
cases.
28. Know the difference between a Strong Mayor and Council-Manager forms of city
government
- A city manager is usually hired by the council (an elected body) while a strong mayor is directly
elected by the people of that city. The two functions are similar...in theory. Mayors tend to be
much
more
cautious
due
to
political
considerations.
29. Understand the distinction between internationalism and isolationism in foreign policy.
- Internationalistic nations have deep relations and affairs with the outside world, both political
and economic. - Isolationist nations are receded from having political and economic
relations from
the
outside
world.
30. Be sure you know what an officeholders constituency and term in office is (especially what
they are for president, U.S. Senator and member of the U.S. House of Representatives).
|President |Limited to being elected to a total of two 4-year terms | |Vice President |Unlimited
4-year terms | |Senate |Unlimited 6-year terms | |House of Representatives |Unlimited 2-year
terms
|
31. Be sure you understand the basic process of how we elect Presidents (refer to chapters one
and eight of America’s New- Democracy as well as article two of the U.S. Constitution).
Article 2 establishes the second of the three branches of government, the Executive. Section 1
establishes the office of the President and the Vice-President, and sets their terms to be four
years. Presidents are elected by the Electoral College, whereby each state has one vote for each
member of Congress. Originally, the President was the person with the most votes and the
Vice-President was the person with the second most, though this is later changed. Certain
minimum requirements are established again, such as a 35-year minimum age. Presidents must
also be a natural-born citizen of the United States. The President is to be paid a salary, which
cannot
change,
up
or
down,
as
long
as
he
in
his
office.
32. What is the primary difference between parliamentary democracies and presidential
democracies
(such
as
the
UnitedStates)?
- A presidential democracy allows the population to choose the executive, but a parliamentary
democracy
allows
the
legislature
to
choose
the
executive.
33. Know the difference between unilateralism and multilateralism in foreign policy, and think
about
the
ramifications
of
each
in
U.S.
foreign
policy.
- Unilateralism is any doctrine or agenda that supports one-sided action. (Has section on
Unilateralism
in
the
United
States)
Multilateralism is a term in international relations that refers to multiple countries working in
concert
(together
as
one)
on
a
given
issue.
34. What are the primary units of the federal bureaucracy? (Be able to list them and explain
how they are connected to one another). • - Federal bureaucracy is divided into fifteen
different executive departments and hundreds of agencies, bureaus, boards, authorities, and
administrations • Bureaucracy also includes independent agencies and government
corporations
like
the
post
office
36. With respect to civil liberties, understand the Constitutional prohibition of Ex Post Facto
laws.
- An ex post facto law is one that is made not to punish an act that wasn't illegal at the time it
was
committed.
38.
Understand
the
difference
between
fiscal
and
monetary
policy.
- Monetary policy is typically implemented by a central bank, while fiscal policy decisions are
set by the national government. However, both monetary and fiscal policy may be used to
influence
the
performance
of
the
economy
in
the
short
run.
39. Understand what California’s plural executive is and how it differs from the national
executive
branch.
- A plural executive is formed when there are several officials that fill the executive
administrative function. Unlike the executive branch were all the power is given only to the
president.
40. Understand how state and local governments arrange their institutions sometimes similar
to the national government, and sometimes different from the national government.
41. Be conversant with the current events that have developed in Syria, Iran and Pakistan, as
well
as
the
recent
elections
in
France
this
semester.
Important
Textbook
Terms
1. Federalism- A division of labor between central government and states 2. Lobbying- A group
of persons engaged in trying to influence legislators or other public officials in favor of a specific
cause 3. Proportional representation voting systems- A party wins seat depending on what
percentage they win. 4. Single-member, simple plurality voting systems (or “Winner-takes- All”
electoral systems)- Person with the most votes wins. 5. Political Action Committee (PACs)- is
any organization in the United States that campaigns for or against a candidate, ballot
initiatives or legislation. 6. Soft Money - Political donations made in such a way as to avoid
federal regulations or limits, as by donating to a party organization rather than to a particular
candidate or campaign. 7. Separation of Powers- Separation between, the executive, judicial,
and legislative branch. 8. Prior Restraint Doctrine- is censorship imposed, usually by a
government, on expression before the expression actually takes place. An alternative is to allow
the expression to take place and to take appropriate action afterward, if the expression is found
to violate the law, regulations, or other rules. 9. Stare Decisis- is a legal principle by which
judges are obliged to respect the precedent established by prior decisions. 10. Civil Service
Protection
(same
as
reform
or
status)11. Establishment Clause ( of the First Amendment) Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion 12. Due Process Clause (of the 5th & 14th Amendments)- An
established course for judicial proceedings or other governmental activities designed to
safeguard the legal rights of the individual. 13. Equal Protection Clause (of the 14th
Amendment)- no state shall ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of
the laws. 14. Commerce Clause- To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the
several States, 15. Judicial Review- is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions
are subject to review (and possible invalidation) by the judiciary. 16. Bureaucracy- is a group of
specifically non-elected officials within a government or other institution that implements the
rules, laws, ideas, and functions 17. Executive Orders- Orders given by the president.
18. Executive Privilege- President able to withhold information from congress