Study Guide: Semester Exam
American Government
Proctor, Fall 2015
Name______________________________
Date____________________ Period_____
CHAPTER 1
1. List and explain the four characteristics of the state
2. List and explain the three types of government power
3. List and explain the five concepts of democracy
Vocabulary
1. government
2. legislative power
3. executive power
4. judicial power
5. constitution
6. dictatorship
7. democracy
8. state
9. sovereign
10. autocracy
11. oligarchy
12. federal government
13. division of powers
14. confederation
15. majority rule
CHAPTER 2
List and explain the three basic concepts of government.
Who created the Magna Carta, who signed it, and when?
What was the purpose of the Magna Carta?
When did the English colonial period begin and end along the Atlantic seaboard of North
America?
5. Who proposed the original resolution for independence?
6. What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
7. Who was the primary author of the Declaration?
8. What is meant by limited government? It is limited by whom?
9. Explain the concept of “separation of powers.”
10. Compare the basic structure of the US government under the Articles with that of the
Constitution.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
Magna Carta
due process
Petition of Right
English Bill of Rights
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5. bicameral
6. unicameral
7. popular sovereignty
8. unalienable rights
9. checks and balances
10. Articles of Confederation
11. jurisdiction
CHAPTER 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is the basic purpose of the Constitution?
List each article of the Constitution by number (Roman numeral) and subject.
What Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review?
How many states (fraction) must ratify an amendment in order to add it to the Constitution?
List and explain the five ways in which amendments may be added informally.
Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
veto
unconstitutional
amendment
ratification
Bill of Rights
executive agreement
treaty
electoral college
cabinet
CHAPTER 4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Explain the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Why did the Framers choose federalism?
At what level does most government activity take place?
How does a treaty differ from an interstate compact?
In what ways does the Privileges and Immunities Clause protect citizens’ rights?
Vocabulary
1. federalism
2. division of powers
3. expressed powers
4. implied powers
5. Necessary and Proper Clause
6. inherent powers
7. reserved powers
8. Supremacy Clause
9. interstate compact
10. extradition
11. Privileges and Immunities Clause
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CHAPTER 5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Name the two major political parties in the United States.
According to the textbook, what is the major function of a political party?
Explain the origins of America’s two-party system.
Define the term “modified one-party system.
In general, what roles do minor parties play in American politics?
Explain the difference between a plurality and a majority.
Vocabulary
1. political party (look for two specific definitions within the first paragraph)
2. extremist
3. partisanship
4. plurality
5. bipartisan
6. incumbent
7. spoils system
8. electorate
9. ideological parties
10. single-issue parties
CHAPTER 6
1. Which level of government is primarily responsible for establishing voter qualifications in the
United States?
2. Identify the restrictions that prevented some citizens from voting in the past.
3. What was the primary argument made in favor of lowering the voting age to 18?
4. Why was the 15th Amendment largely ineffective for nearly a century?
5. List legal and illegal means used to keep African Americans from voting.
6. What are some characteristics of a likely voter?
7. How does a closely contested race usually impact voter turnout?
8. Compare and contrast straight-ticket and split-ticket voting.
Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
suffrage
franchise
electorate
disenfranchised
poll tax
literacy test
off-year (midterm)
ballot fatigue
independents
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CHAPTER 7
1.
2.
3.
4.
Which level of government enacts most laws pertaining to elections?
What regulations has the federal government placed on the election process?
When is election day in most states?
List three means of balloting used in the various states.
Vocabulary
1. nomination
2. general election
3. caucus
4. closed primary
5. open primary
6. runoff primary
7. ballot
8. absentee voting
9. coattail effect
10. precinct
11. polling place
12. political action committee (PAC)
13. hard money
14. soft money
(Chapters 8 and 9 were omitted)
CHAPTER 10
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Explain why the Constitution provides for a bicameral Congress.
Explain how House seats are distributed.
What is the length of a term in the House?
What are the qualifications for election to the House?
Compare the size of the Senate to the size of the House.
What are the qualifications for election to the Senate?
Membership in which house is more prestigious and powerful?
Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
term
session
special session
apportioned
gerrymander
incumbent
constituency
bill
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CHAPTER 11
1. Explain the difference between explicit, implied, and inherent powers of Congress.
2. Describe the power-sharing arrangement between Congress and the President on issues of
war and national defense.
3. What does the Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause do and why is it important?
4. Compare strict construction with liberal (loose) construction.
5. Explain the power of impeachment and summarize presidential impeachment cases.
Vocabulary
1. tax
2. deficit financing
3. bankruptcy
4. legal tender
5. copyright
6. patent
7. eminent domain
8. naturalization
9. impeach
10. censure
11. subpoena
CHAPTER 12
1.
2.
3.
4.
Describe how committee chairmen are chosen and their role in the legislative process.
Explain how standing committees function.
Know that a bill must go through a long chain of events before it can become law.
Explain the actions the President may take after both houses have passed a bill.
Vocabulary
1. Speaker of the House
2. President of the Senate
3. President pro tempore
4. seniority rule
5. standing committee
6. joint committee
7. rider
8. quorum
9. filibuster
10. cloture
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CHAPTER 13
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Describe the formal qualifications of the office of the president.
List the top five offices in the line of presidential succession.
Explain the role of the Vice P resident.
Why did the Framers settle on the electoral process for selecting the President?
List the three major flaws of the electoral college system.
Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
commander in chief
presidential succession
balancing the ticket
electoral college
platform
swing voter
battleground (swing) state
CHAPTER 14
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
List the federal government office holders that are appointed by the President.
Contrast and contrast treaties with executive agreements.
Describe the President’s powers as commander in chief.
Summarize the President’s power of veto.
Explain, in depth, the way in which a pocket veto functions.
Explain the President’s judicial powers.
Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
executive order
persona non grata
divided government
pocket veto
line-item veto
pardon
amnesty
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