Unit 1 Exam Review Sheet
Since the test questions come from previously released exams, there is some repetition of
concepts. Sometimes you will find that a question is asking about what appears to be the same
thing, but is actually offering a different correct answer.
To prepare for the exam, please review the following items:
 Review Chapters 1-4 of the textbook
 The six basic principles of the Constitution
 The seven core beliefs of American political culture
 The procedure for amending the Constitution (both formal and informal)
 Differences between the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation
 The main ideas of the major Federalist papers discussed in class
 The Federalist vs. the Anti-Federalist point of view
 Differences between a unitary, federal, and confederal system of government and examples
of each
 Differences between delegated, implied, concurrent, and reserved powers
 The “necessary and proper” (elastic) clause, commerce clause, free exercise clause,
supremacy clause
 McCulloch v. Maryland, Gibbons v. Ogden, Marbury v. Madison
 Dual (layer cake) federalism and cooperative (marble cake) federalism
 Fiscal federalism: grants-in-aid, categorical grants, revenue sharing, block grants, etc…
 The concept of devolution (pg. 132 in the textbook)
 Examples of federal mandates
 Division of power in a federal system
Unit 2 Exam Review Sheet
Since the test questions come from previously released exams, there is some repetition of
concepts. Sometimes you will find that a question is asking about what appears to be the same
thing, but is actually offering a different correct answer.
To prepare for the exam, please review the following items:
 Review Chapters 1, 2, and 5 of the textbook
 How the media influences public opinion (pg. 154 in italics)
 What did the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 do?
 Factors that affect voter turnout in elections
 Factors that influence (skew) public opinion polls
 What is political socialization?
 What is political efficacy?
 Factors that affect political efficacy
 Overall trends in national elections since the 1950s
 Demographics and how people vote: gender, income level, class, etc…
 Geographic factors and how people vote: “Solid South”, urban vs. rural, etc…
 Identify types of political participation and discuss what advantages each offer
 What characteristics are generally associated with those who ally themselves with the two
major parties?
 Single most important determinant of someone’s political affiliation
 Level of government responsible for voting eligibility
 Constitutional amendments related to voting
Unit 3 Exam Review Sheet
Since the test questions come from previously released exams, there is some repetition of
concepts. Sometimes you will find that a question is asking about what appears to be the same
thing, but is actually offering a different correct answer.
To prepare for the exam, please review the following items:
-Review Chapters 6-9 of the textbook
-Primary elections- differences between open, closed, blanket, run-off
-Primary function of PACs, political parties
-The U.S. Constitution and mention of political parties
-How do parties and interest groups promote democracy?
-Fundamental difference between political parties and interest groups
-Campaign finance laws
-Campaign finance Supreme Court cases (Buckley v. Valeo…etc.)
-Why are interest groups becoming more popular and parties less so?
-Reasons for two party system
-Interest group influences policy matters that are narrow issues, few groups, technical info
-Plurality v. majority election
-PACs influence of legislation and legislators- HOW
-Concept of dealignment/realignment and elections
-Presidential coattails, midterm elections, frontloading
-Role of amicus curiae for interest groups
-Critical elections- when, reasons for shift
-Criticisms of the U.S. election process
-Rise of primary elections as opposed to decline in importance of national conventions
-Republican vs. Democratic Party platforms
-Iron triangles and how they work
Unit 4 Exam Review Sheet
Since the test questions come from previously released exams, there is some repetition of
concepts. Sometimes you will find that a question is asking about what appears to be the same
thing, but is actually offering a different correct answer.
To prepare for the exam, please review the following items:
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Review Chapter 10 in the textbook
Legislative process:
- filibuster: what, why, how
- cloture motion: what, why, how
- basic procedural rules
- role of the Vice-President
- different powers/roles of House and Senate
- pork barreling, logrolling
- steps to bill becoming a law
- leadership structure in the House and Senate
- lawmaking as a slow, deliberate process
- franking privilege
-
Elections (Senate and House):
- Incumbency advantage: what, why
- how important is it to reelection
- how elected: originally vs. today (17th Amendment)
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Redistricting:
-what, why, how
-Level of government responsible for drawing new congressional districts
-“One person, one vote” requirement
-gerrymandering, how it works, and examples
-
Committees:
- how/why you get there
- composition
- functions
- types, most powerful in each house
- House vs. Senate (differences/similarities)
-
Balance of powers with other branches:
- Congressional checks on the presidency
- Congressional oversight over the bureaucracy
- Congress defers to President in foreign policy: why?
Unit 5 Exam Review Sheet
Since the test questions come from previously released exams, there is some repetition of
concepts. Sometimes you will find that a question is asking about what appears to be the same
thing, but is actually offering a different correct answer.
To prepare for the exam, please review the following items:
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Review Chapter 11 in the textbook
Presidential roles
The impeachment process
Checks on the president
Checks the president has on other branches
Electoral college and contingency procedures if there is no electoral college majority
Executive agreement
Executive privilege/U.S. v. Nixon
Factors to consider when choosing a vice president
Presidential vetoes, threats of vetoes, how likely vetoes are to be upheld
How has Presidential power increased?
War Powers Resolution
Presidential appointments and confirmations
12th, 20th, 22nd, 25th Amendments
President vs. Congress role in foreign and domestic policy, use of the media...etc.
Formal powers of the president
Informal powers of the president (Ex. Use of the media)
Divided government
Formal qualifications for the presidency
Informal qualifications for the presidency
State of the Union Address and its constitutional requirement
Unit 6 Exam Review Sheet
Since the test questions come from previously released exams, there is some repetition of
concepts. Sometimes you will find that a question is asking about what appears to be the same
thing, but is actually offering a different correct answer.
To prepare for the exam, please review the following items:
 Review Chapter 12 of the textbook
 Characteristics of the federal bureaucracy
 What is the difference between the spoils system and the merit system?
 What are the ways in which the Congress oversees/controls the bureaucracy?
 What did the Hatch Act do?
 What are some negatives about the federal bureaucracy?
 What relationship does Congress have with bureaucratic agencies?
 What did the Pendleton Act do?
 Which part of the federal bureaucracy creates the federal budget?
 Characteristics of the White House Office/White House Staff (interchangeable terms)
 The Office of Management and Budget (Roles, responsibilities, etc…)
 Government corporations and examples of them
 Independent regulatory agencies/commissions, their functions, and examples of them
 Independent agencies and examples of them
 Government officials needing Senate confirmation
 Hiring and firing of government bureaucrats
 Presidential, congressional, and judicial checks on the bureaucracy
 Bureaucratic implementation and discretionary authority
 Red tape and examples
 The Departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Justice (inner cabinet) and Homeland Security
 NASA and the EPA
Unit 7 Exam Review Sheet
Since the test questions come from previously released exams, there is some repetition of
concepts. Sometimes you will find that a question is asking about what appears to be the same
thing, but is actually offering a different correct answer.
To prepare for the exam, please review the following items:
- Review Chapter 13 of the textbook
- Why were Supreme Court justices given life-long appointments?
- What are the qualifications of judges in Article III? In what areas does the Supreme Court have
jurisdiction?
- What are the differences between original, concurrent, and appellate jurisdiction? Which
courts deal with each?
- What is the most important source of the Supreme Court’s caseload? How do cases get to the
U.S. Supreme Court?
- What actions can Congress take if the Court declares legislation unconstitutional?
- How are nominees for federal judgeships appointed? - What criteria do Presidents use to
select federal court justices?
- What relationship does the judicial branch have with the executive and legislative branches?
- What are the differences between judicial activism and judicial restraint?
- What is the principle of stare decisis?
- What is a writ of certiorari and the rule of four?
- How are new federal courts created? Who creates them?
- What is a “litmus test”? What are some “litmus test” issues?
- What is Senatorial courtesy and when is it used?
- What is the difference between majority, dissenting, and concurring opinions?
- What are the three levels of the federal court system?
- What are the differences and responsibilities of the three levels of the federal court system?
- What is judicial review? Which case established judicial review?
- What are some checks on the judicial branch?
- What is an amicus curiae brief? How are they used?
- What is the likelihood of an appeal succeeding in federal court?
- How many Supreme Court justices are there? Who can control the number of Supreme Court
justices?
Unit 8 Exam Review Sheet
Since the test questions come from previously released exams, there is some repetition of
concepts. Sometimes you will find that a question is asking about what appears to be the same
thing, but is actually offering a different correct answer.
To prepare for the exam, please review the following items:
 Review Chapters 14 and 15 of the textbook
 Study and know the Supreme Court cases- they will account for a SIGNIFICANT portion of the
exam!
 Constitutional Clauses: Free Exercise, Due Process, Establishment, etc… What is the “wall of
separation” in reference to?
 Review the constitutional amendments pertinent to the notes in class
 What is the writ of habeas corpus? What is an ex post facto law? What is a bill of attainder?
 What is the difference between de jure and de facto segregation?
 What does the 14th amendment say? What does it have to do with incorporation?
 What is the exclusionary rule? What is an example of “symbolic speech”?
 How do most criminal cases end? What rights do criminal defendants have?
 What were the arguments used by the Supreme Court in outlawing segregation?
 Pieces of Legislation: Equal Rights Amendment, Equal Pay Act, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting
Rights Act of 1965, Title IX
 Jim Crow laws and examples
 “Wall of Separation” doctrine
Unit 9 Exam Review Sheet
Since the test questions come from previously released exams, there is some repetition of
concepts. Sometimes you will find that a question is asking about what appears to be the same
thing, but is actually offering a different correct answer.
To prepare for the exam, please review the following items:
 Review Chapters 16, 17, and 18 of the textbook
 Federal entitlements: Definition, examples, reasons for growth in recent decades
 Discretionary, mandatory, and uncontrollable spending and examples
 Fiscal vs. Monetary policy and examples
 The Federal Reserve: Leadership, functions, etc…
 Steps in the federal budget process
 National Security Council: Members, role, etc…
 Tariffs
 Containment
 Examples of foreign policy
 Role of the State and Defense Departments
 Social welfare policy
 Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
 Progressive and regressive taxes and examples
 Federal budget priorities, state budget priorities