Key Terms and Concepts for Third Exam

Campaigns and Elections Civil Rights and Liberties
Franchise Habeas Corpus
Suffrage Ex Post Facto
Original requirements for Voting Religious Test
Jacksonian Democracy Bill of Attainder
Universal White Male Suffrage Title of Nobility
15th Amendment Slave Importation Clause
Literacy Test Bill of Rights
Poll Tax 1st Amendment
Grandfather Clause Speech/Press/Assocaition
White Primary Religion
19th Amendment Establishment Clause
24th Amendment Free Exercise Clause
Voters Rights Act 1965 4th Amendment
26th Amendment 5th Amendment
Party Ballot Due Process
Australian Ballot Equal Protection
Straight vs.Split Ticket Voting Meranda Rights
Divided Government Meranda v. Arizona
Primary Election Right to Representation
Open Primary Gideon v. Wainright
Closed Primary Right to Privacy
General Election Roe v. Wade
Convention
Nomination Process
Delegate Selection
Platform Creation
At Large Representation
Single Member Districts
Apportionment
Mal-apportionment
Gerrymandering
Packing
Cracking
Baker vs. Carr
Electoral College
Elector
23rd Amendment
Coattail Effect
Midterm Election

Concepts you should be prepared to discuss cogently

  1. Explain both the legal and political methods that have been used to expand the right to vote.
  2. Explain the primary and general election voting system and discuss how the transition from the Party Ballot to the Australian Ballot has given rise to split ticket voting and divided government. Have these reforms made elections more democratic in the sense that an "ordinary voter" impacts election outcomes more than he/she did prior to the reforms? What new challenges have risen to confront contemporary electoral politics?
  3. Why is the issue of district reapportionment so controversial?
  4. Why do some find the electoral colege so offensive?  In what sense does the idea of republicanism from Madison's Federalist #10 help to justify the electoral college? 
  5. How important is the Bill of Rights for preserving civil liberty and civil rights? Compare the Lockean understanding of civil rights and liberties with the Jeffersonian understanding. Is it possible for government to use policy to make people more free and more equal? Is it desirable?

 

Final Exam Comprehensive Essay Questions

You should be prepared to write an essay of approximately four pages on the day of the final, answering one of the two questions that follow.  You will not be allowed to use your books or any notes.

Question One: This course covered three general areas: Political theory (the "idea" and purpose of American Government), Political Institutions (the structure, organization, and rules of operation of the three branches of American national government), and Political Participation (the electoral process for national offices). A constant theme running through the course was that we face a certain "crisis" in American politics: Most people are skeptical about government and doubt that it functions to serve the common good. If you were asked to share your thoughts about reform, where would you recommend we focus our efforts? Should we try to change the way citizens participate? Should we change the way institutions operate? Should we redefine the idea of American government altogether? Justify your answer by drawing from the theme of this course. You need not confine yourself to one of the three areas—perhaps the true solution lies in changing all three. The best answers will come from students who use this as an opportunity to demonstrate widespread mastery of the course material.

 

Question Two: Write an essay titled "Democracy and American Government." Focus on the following issues:

A. Explain the democratic principles of American Government with respect to the following:

A1. To what extent did the founders intend us to be a democratic society?
A2. Did the founders have any concerns or reservations with regard to democracy?

B. Explain the democratic features of governmental institutions (legislative, executive, and judicial) with regard to the following:

B1. The means by which people attain office in each branch.
B2. How each branch operates internally.
B3. How the three branches operate with respect to each other (focus on the role of checks and balances as a crucial safeguard for democratic government, explaining whether they presently operate in the same manner as was intended by the founders).

C. Conclude your essay by briefly considering whether or to what extent government should be made more democratic, drawing from the general themes of the course to justify your position..