Review+GOVT+2305

Here specific topics which should help clarify what 2305 students should focus on for the final:

What is the subject matter in each of the Articles of the US Constitution? What types of powers are referred to in the US Constitution? What are civil liberties and civil rights? Be familiar with each of the amendments, with special attention paid to the 14th Amendment. What impact did the 14th Amendment have on the structure of US government? Be able to describe the general design of each of the branches established in the US Constitution. What is the extent of the powers of Congress, the President and the Supreme Court? How are these institutions separated? How can each of these institutions check and balance each other? What is gerrymandering? What types exist? What are the consequences of gerrymandering? What is a political party? What is an interest group? How are they similar and distinct? Be able to answer questions about the party eras. What is the current relationship between the two major political parties? Why are there only two major political parties? Which groups support the major parties? What types of limits on the freedoms of speech and press are permissible? What role does the press play in a democracy? What is a sub government? What groups tend to be part of a sub government? What are the major components of democracy? What dilemmas are associated with democracy? What is ideology? What purpose does it serve? What are the major ideological viewpoints and how are they organized? Be familiar with the argument in the Declaration of Independence? What is government? What is politics? What governments are most and least efficient? What arguments are made in Federalist #10 and #51? What opinion did the members of the founding generation have about democracy? Why? What is federalism? What relationship do the three levels of government have with each other? What functions do each of the levels of government serve? How ought the Constitution be interpreted? What debates exist about this? What types of elections are held in the US? What types are designed in the US Constitution? What is public policy? Be able to describe the public policy process. What is social welfare and foreign policy? What are the principle issues associated with each? Be able to describe the nature of religious freedom in the US. What do each of the institutions created in the US Constitution actually represent? What are the positive and negative aspects of democracy? What did Hamilton say about the nature of judicial power in Federalist #78? How has the executive branch increased over American history? What factors lead to the increase? What distinct powers does each branch possess? How do interest groups attempt to influence governing officials? What factors make interest groups are powerful? Why? What is the purpose of the separated powers? What types of debates occurred in the Constitutional Convention? What powers does the US President possess? How has Congress evolved over time? Who, or what, controls Congress? What controls does each branch have on the others? What types of freedoms are established in the Bill of Rights? How are they secured?What debates existed over the need for a bill of rights in the early stages of the republic? What impact did the Magna Carta and the British Bill of Rights have on the structure of the US Government? What factors have led to the expansion of US power over American history? What debates have emerged over the proper nature of the equal protection clause? What specific powers have been reserved to the states, and why? How are trials and appeals conducted? Be familiar with the bill making process and the role of committees in Congress. How do cases get to the Supreme Court? What debates existed over judicial review in the early tears of the republic? What are the major differences between the House and the Senate? Why does the US have a bicameral system? What impact did the New Deal and Great Society have on American government?