Name:_________________________________________________ Date:___________________________
American Politics Final Exam Review Guide
Directions:​ Please use your notes, handouts, sources, and textbook to complete the following study guide.
Unit 1: Political Socialization and Political Parties
1-Identify, define/describe and provide an example of the 5 concepts of democracy.
5 Concepts of Democracy
Definition/Description
Example
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
2-Define and describe what a democracy is.
3-Define political socialization and provide three examples of it. What are the most likely places that people get their
political socialization from?
Definition:
Examples​:
4-Define and describe what political polarization is.
5-Explain what a political ideology is.
6-Describe the beliefs of liberals.
A.
B.
C.
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7-Describe the beliefs of conservatives.
A.
B.
C.
8-Describe the beliefs of libertarians.
A.
B.
C.
9-Define what suffrage is.
10-Define the 15th, 19th and 26th Amendments and how they increased suffrage.
A.
B.
C.
11-Define what a political party is.
12-What is the purpose of a political party?
13-Define and describe the beliefs of Republicans on abortion, business regulation, guns and healthcare.
A.
B.
C.
D.
14-Republicans are economically ____________________________________ while they are socially
_______________________. (Fill in the blanks with either liberal or conservative).
15-Define and describe the beliefs of Democrats on abortion, business regulation, guns and healthcare..
A.
B.
C.
D.
16-Democrats are economically ____________________________________ while they are socially
_______________________. (Fill in the blanks with either liberal or conservative).
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17-Compare and contrast primary with general elections.
Primary Elections
General Elections
Define
What is their purpose?
18-Define what an incumbent is.
19-Explain what the incumbency advantage is.
20-Explain what the Electoral College is and what it does.
21-How are a state’s number of Electors determined?
22-How many Electors are in the Electoral College? How many Electors does a presidential candidate need to win the
presidency?
A.
B.
23-Explain what campaign finance is.
24-Where do the candidates get most of their campaign funds from?
25-Define, describe and provide examples of interest groups.
Interest Group
Definition
Purpose
2 Examples
3
26-Define media bias.
27-Explain why media bias is a problem.
28-Explain what type of people are most likely to vote and why.
Unit 2: The Constitution
29-Fill in the chart below regarding the ​Declaration of Independence​.
Declaration of Independence
Writer
Purpose
Ideas in it
30-Define, describe and provide an example of the six basic principles of the Constitution.
6 Principles of the Constitution
Description
Example
1-
2-
3-
4-
5-
631-Identify the Father of the Constitution.
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32-Describe the roles of the three branches of government.
A. Legislative:
B. Executive:
C. Judicial:
33-Identify and describe the ways through which the Constitution may be formally changed.
Formal Amendment Process
1-​Proposal by:
2-​Ratification by:
34-Define, describe and provide an example of the Supremacy Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause.
Supremacy Clause
Necessary and Proper Clause (AKA the Elastic
Clause)
Definition or
Description
Example
35-Define what concurrent powers are.
36-Define what expressed powers are.
37-Define what reserved powers are.
38-Define what implied powers are and what Clause is associated with these powers.
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39-Fill in the Venn Diagram below it at least three bullet points of examples under each heading.
Unit 3: Judiciary and Civil Rights
40-Define the following terms and relate them to the selection process for a Supreme Court justice.
Term
Judicial Activism
Judicial Restraint
Definition
How does this belief
influence the
selection process
for Supreme Court
justices?
41-Who appoints the Supreme Court justices and what is the approval process?
A.
B.
42-How does a case progress through the federal judiciary?
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43-At what point are peoples’ rights limited in the US?
44-Identify the significance of each of these Supreme Court cases.
Case
Court Case Description (What was it
all about?)
Significance/Outcome of the Case
Brown v.
Board of
Education
Desegregation:
Tinker v. Des
Moines
Symbolic Speech:
Roe v. Wade
Privacy and abortion:
Miranda v.
Arizona
Miranda​ rule:
45-What is the law, Title IX, all about?
46-What was a major impact of Title IX?
47-Describe the two clauses regarding religion in the 1st Amendment.
Clause
Definition/Description
Free Exercise Clause
Establishment Clause
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48-Explain the difference between a civil and criminal case.
Civil Case
Criminal Case
49-Define probable cause and identify when it can be used in the judicial process.
50-Define “clear and present danger” and how it determines unlawful speech.
51-Explain what prior restraint is.
Unit 4: President and Congress
52-Describe the different roles of the president.
Roles
Description
Commander in Chief
Chief Executive
Chief Diplomat
Chief Legislator
Chief of Party
53-List the formal qualifications necessary to become president.
Category
Qualifications
Age
Term Length
Term Limit
Residency
Citizenship
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54-Fill in the chart below related to the bureaucracy.
Bureaucracy
Definition
2 Examples
55-Explain the purpose of the Cabinet and its role in the Executive Branch.
56-Describe the power of the executive order from the President.
57-Explain what the Commerce Clause is, and provide an example of how it has been expanded over time.
58-Describe what gerrymandering is, and why it is used.
59-List the formal qualifications of the members of the Congress.
House of Representatives
Category
Senate
Age
Term Length
Residency
Total Number
How is the number determined?
60-Describe the census, when it is taken and the effect it has on the House of Representatives.
Census
Description
When is it taken?
Effect on the House
of Representatives
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61-What is a presidential veto?
62-Describe the process of how a bill becomes a law. Be
sure to include the role of the President and veto power.
1. A bill usually starts in ________________________
before each chamber of Congress votes on it.
2. A bill must pass ________________________
before it can go to the President.
3. Each house must pass a bill by
____________________________ vote to override a
Presidential Veto.
63-What happens to most bills that are referred to
committees?
64-Describe the purpose of a filibuster. Explain when it could be used and how cloture can end a filibuster.
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