Government 1st Semester Final Review Guide

Tuesday, Dec 19 1:00 pm 2:30 pm in the COMMONS

Note: The 1st semester final exam is worth 10% of your overall semester
grade.

This test will be very similar to what you may receive next year in some your
college courses. You will have 40 multiple choice and matching questions but
the majority of the test will be essay questions (0.5 pts each=20 pts total). You will
have 2 essay questions to complete (25 pts each=50 pts total): one in OUTLINE
form, one as an essay. The essay and outline will need to be organized and
specific. They should communicate a semesters worth of learning and
understanding. Do not limit yourself to the information contained exclusively in
the chapter in which the topic was originally addressed. (think PAPER rather
than essay)

Potential Essay Question Topics:

On the political history and ideology of the writing of the Constitution of the
United States of America.
On the system of checks and balances and how it works in US
Government
On the concept of democracy and how it exists within the political structure
of the United States of America.
On the concept of federalism and how it exists within the political structure
of the United States of America.

Key Concepts to try and incorporate in your essays : (matching or support

for your essays)
Purpose of government
Federalism: what it is and specific examples
Strengths and weakness of the Articles of Confederation
6 Principles of the Constitution (see pg. xvi-xvii)
Checks and Balances of USA government and impact on Gridlock
Constitutions Articles and the generals of what they do
Bill of Rights and what they are
How to amend the Constitution
How does a case reach the Supreme Court
Marbury v. Madison
Matal v Tam (2017)
What are the qualifications to be a member of Congress, Supreme Court
Justice? How do they get the positions? Why is this all important?
How does a Bill become a Law (and/or dies)
Differences between the House and the Senate
Differences between Democrats and Republicans
Impeachment Process
Key Terms and People: (multiple choice and good support for your essays)
Dont memorize these! Understand and be able to link them to the topic areas on the front.
Memorizing these without making a link to the big picture of the structure of US government is
a waste of your time.

Sovereignty Chief Justice Resolution

Thomas Hobbes Appellate Jurisdiction Law
John Locke Concurrent Jurisdiction Rider
Oligarchy Original Jurisdiction Christmas Tree Bill
Monarchy Opinion Pocket Veto
Autocracy Petitioner Lobbying
Democracy Respondent PACs
Anarchy Stare Decisis Pork-barrel Spending
Republic Writ of Certiorari Logrolling
Magna Carta Brief Junkets
Unicameral Amicus Curiae Casework
Bicameral Libel Pigeonholing
Shays Rebellion Slander
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan Congressional Winner-Take-All
Connecticut Compromise Override Single Member District
3/5 Compromise War Powers Act Proportional Voting
Federalist Census Two-Party System
Force Theory Redistricting Third Party
Evolutionary Theory Packing Minority Party
Divine Right Theory Cracking Party in Power
Social Contract Gerrymandering Democrats
Theory Censure Republicans
Incumbents Plurality
Amend Constituents Majority
Supremacy Clause Whips
Elastic Clause Standing Committee
Ratify Rules Committee Marbury v. Madison
Treaty Quorum McCulloch v. MD
Impeach Filibuster Shaw v Reno
Executive Agreement Bill Wesberry v. Sanders
Concurrent Powers Cloture Matal v Tam
Expressed Powers Subcommittee
Reserved Powers Joint Committee
Inherent Powers Conference Committee
Enumerated Powers Seniority System
Necessary and Proper Revenue Bills
Clause Appropriations Bills
Bill of Rights National Debt
Free Exercise Clause Deficit
Establishment Clause
Impeachment
Strict Construction Legislative Oversight
Loose Construction Gridlock
Concurrent Opinion National Budget
Dissenting Opinion Bill
Supreme Court