MIDTERM REVIEW PACKET

STUDY GUIDE FOR MIDTERM EXAM

Concepts to Know –

Be familiar with these terms. I will not be asking you to memorize the definitions of each and every one of these terms. As long as you know what they are, you will do fine on the exam.

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Politics
Institution
Government
Order
Liberty
Authority
Totalitarianism
Authoritarianism
Aristocracy
Theocracy
Democracy
Direct democracy
Legislature
Initiative
Referendum
Recall
Consent of the people
Legitimacy
Consent of the people
Representative democracy
University Suffrage
Majoritarianism
Elite Theory
Pluralism
Political culture
Political socialization
Equality vs liberty
Capitalism
Ideology
Liberalism
Conservatism
Socialism
Libertarianism

Chapter 2 – Constitution

Civil disobedience
Conventions
Limited government
Colonial Congresses
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation
Unicameral legislature
Shay’s rebellion
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Supremacy Doctrine
Three-Fifths Compromise
Separation of powers
Popular sovereignty
Federalist Papers
Bill of Rights


Chapter 3- Federalism

Unitary
Federal
Confederal
Centralized government
Decentralized government
Political subcultures
National consensus
Enumerated powers
Necessary and Proper clause
Inherent powers
Police power
Concurrent powers
Prohibited powers
Supremacy clause
Checks and balances
Marshall Court
McCulloch vs. Maryland
Gibbons v. Ogden
Expansion of the Federal Government
Civil War Amendments
Dual Federalism
New Deal
Cooperative Federalism
Picket-Fence Federalism
Categorical grants
Federal mandates
Jim Crow laws

Chapters 4 and 5 – Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Civil liberties
Civil Rights
Defamation of character
Slander
Slander
Separate-but-Equal Doctrine
Grandfather clause
Poll tax
Literacy test
De Facto Segregation
De Jure Segregation
Busing
Plessy vs. Ferguson
Brown vs. Board of Education
Civil Rights Act

Chapter 6 and 7– Public Opinion, Political Socialization, Interest Groups
Consensus
Divisive Opinion
Political socialization
Peer group
Agenda setting
Generational effect
Socioeconomic status
Gender gap
Opinion poll
Sampling
Exit polls
Interest group
Lobbyist
Grassroots lobbying
Endorsement
Contributions
Political Action Committees
Bundling
Democratic corporatism
Proliferation of interest groups
Purposive incentive

Chapter 8 – Political Parties
Independent
Political party
Faction
Two-Party system
Era of Good Feelings
Democratic Party
Republican Party
National convention
Party Platform
National committee
Patronage
Divided government
Ticket splitting
Third party
Realignment
Dealignment
Party identification
Swing voters


Potential Essay Questions:

You will only have to write one essay on this midterm exam. Here are five potential essay questions. On the exam itself, you will have three choices, but will only have to choose ONE.

The Articles of Confederation was the first attempt of the Founding Fathers to establish a working democratic government. Name, and explain, three reasons why this government failed.

In most governments, the judicial branch was a weak institution with limited power to create change in government in the 19th century. Discuss the growth in power of the United States Supreme Court, and explain why it was able to become a strong member of government (cite cases).

The Civil Rights movement was a monumental event in American history that changed race relations in our country forever. Describe three landmark events, court cases, or legislation that played a pivotal role in this movement, and explain its impact on American politics.

Interest groups have multiplied by the thousands in contemporary politics. Why are there so many, and how do they exert influence on the political scene?

Many scholars argue that political parties have become weaker in recent decades. Give three reasons why this is so, and explain.