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Survey of United States Government and Constitution

C181 Study Guide Here's what I wish I had done from the beginning: -Print US Constitution. Highlight the important parts & reference it often. -Print 27 Amendment Mnemonics. Highlight/reference. -Print Constitutional Powers, Checks & Balances in the US Federal Gov. Chart. Reference. -Print C181 Study Guide, utilize it and take notes while watching the C181 cohort videos. -Print C181 Significant Court Cases Spreadsheet. Fill in court rulings in 1-2 sentences. Reference. -Print C181 Checks and Balances Study Aid. Have a Course instructor help you fill in the correct answers if you are unsure what the correct answers are. Reference often. - Listen to the C181 Mentor Video Lectures. Each video is 5-10 minutes long. Covers chapters 1-16. Also excellent review to refresh important concepts the day prior to taking your exam. -Schedule a 45 minute session with your CI.

Highlighter Color Key: Kim’s Owen’s Study Guide Adifferent Facebook Group member’s study guide Josiah Jones post-review tips __________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 1: Freedom, Order, or Equality __________________________________________________________________________________ Section 1.2- The Purposes of Government Purpose

Definition

Maintaining Order

Established ways of social behavior. Maintaining order is the oldest purpose of government.

Providing Public Goods

Benefits and services, such as parks/sanitation/police, that benefit all citizens but are not likely to be produced voluntarily by individuals.

Promoting Equality

government's role in redistributing income

Answer the following questions: 1. Define liberalism according to John Locke: a. The belief that states should leave individuals free to follow their individual pursuits. Note that this differs from the definition of liberal later in this chapter. 2. What is the purpose of government according to John Locke’s philosophy of liberalism? a. The protection of life, liberty, and property Section 1.3- A Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Government Answer the following question: 1. What three values are considered to be foundational to American government? a. order, freedom, and equality.

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Section 1.4- The Concepts of Freedom, Order and Equality Answer the following questions: 1. What is the difference between political equality and social equality? a. Political: Equality in political decision making: one vote per person, with all votes counted equally. b. Social: Equality in wealth, education, and status. 2. How does the U.S. Constitution guarantee political equality? The U.S. Constitution prohibits

titles of nobility and does not make owning property a requirement for holding public office. Public schools and libraries are open to all. For many people, the concept of social equality is satisfied by offering equal opportunities for advancement; it is not essential that people actually end up being equal. 3. Contrast equality of opportunity and equality of outcome. a. Opportunity: The idea that each person is guaranteed the same chance to succeed in life. Public goods and economic advances b. Outcome: The concept that society must ensure that people are equal, and governments must design policies to redistribute wealth and status so that economic and social equality is actually achieved. Take from rich give to poor. Types of Equality: Political equality, equality of outcome, equality of opportunity Policy

Type of Equality

Equal pay for men and women

Outcome

Public schools One person, one vote

Opportunity Political

Section 1.5- Two Dilemmas of Government Answer the following questions: 1. The original dilemma is freedom vs. ORDER 2. Circle, highlight, or check the policy that best reflects the original dilemma: a. Mandatory testing for HIV/AIDS b. Paying men and women the same wages 3. The modern dilemma is Freedom vs. EQUALITY 4. Circle, highlight, or check the policy that best reflects the modern dilemma: a. Banning controversial YouTube videos b. Mandating that buses and trains are accessible to people with disabilities Section 1.6- Ideology and Scope of Government Answer the following questions: 1. Define political ideology: A consistent set of values and beliefs about the proper purpose and scope of government. Ex: Liberal, conservative, libertarian, capitalist, communist, fascist, socialist, Marxist, anarchist, totalitarian, etc. 2. How does Totalitarianism differ from Anarchism? a. Totalitarianism: A political philosophy that advocates unlimited power for the government to enable it to control all sectors of society. Gov do everything. lef b. Anarchism: A political philosophy that opposes government in any form. Gov shouldn’t exist. Right Page 2 of 49

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Survey of United States Government and Constitution

Mentor Note: The economic theories differ based on how much government involvement each theory argues that there should be in the economy. We have capitalism here in the United States, which supports free enterprise (privately-owned businesses) with some government regulation, like making sure our food is safe for consumption. Laissez-faire is like an extreme form of capitalism, where there is free enterprise but no government intervention at all. Communism is on the other side of the spectrum, where all aspects of the economy are run by the state. Classless society- strict social order. Answer the following questions: 1. Explain the differences between capitalism and socialism. a. Capitalism: The system of government that favors free enterprise (privately owned businesses operating without government regulation). Laziae faire hands off let people do what they want. Advancment for society bc people will want what other have inequality. Society as a whole better off. b. Socialism: A form of rule in which the central government plays a strong role in regulating existing private industry and directing the economy, although it does allow some private ownership of productive capacity. Lef, group ov individual. Economically, politically and social equality takes over operation everyone has same resources. i. Welfare state. Everyone on the same plane economically. 2. What kind of economic system would libertarians support and why? Laise faire: An economic doctrine that opposes any form of government intervention in business. Section 1.7- American Political Ideologies and the Purpose of Government Complete the following ideology value table: prioritize freedom or order in the original dilemma, prioritize “freedom” or “equality” in the modern dilemma. Ideology Libertarian

Conservative

Communitarian lef Markism gov expected to ensure standard of living for everyone Liberals

Freedom or Order in the Original Dilemma? Freedom Maintain order (right). Protect life and property but that’s it Order over Freedom!

Freedom or Equality in the Modern Dilemma? Freedom

*Order can mean protecting life and property (law and order) and protecting morality/traditional values (social order)

*More of an economic freedom- people and businesses are free to do what they want with their money (low taxes, little regulation of businesses)

Order

Freedom

Freedom

Equality

Equality

*More of a lifestyle freedom (free to make choices about marriage, reproduction, etc) Want gov to promote equality. Tax gradual people who earn more tax higher help less fortunate, antibig business.democrats

Conservative

Want less government except law and order. Social order Page 3 of 49

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Position on Issue

Value this policy pursues-Freedom, Order, or Equality

Support harsher punishment for drug crimes

When government increases punishment for crime (law and order)= Order over freedom less gov

Conservative

Support increased spending on public housing

When government steps in to help higher and lower-income people be more equal= Equality more gov

Liberal

Oppose government except for protection of life/property

When we oppose government/government stays out=Freedom. the absence of constraints on behavior-

Libertarian

Support higher income taxes (progressive tax) – (Progressive Tax: the more money you make, the more you pay in taxes)

When government steps in to help higher and lower-income people be more equal= Equality

Liberal

Support more regulation of big business

When government regulates big businesses, they are protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring businesses treat people fairly=Equality

Liberal

Support lower taxes

Support legalization of drugs

Lower taxes mean you have more money to spend as you want= Freedom (economic freedom)

Government leaves people alone to try drugs if they want to= Freedom

Ideology

Conservative (*Libertarians also want lower taxes, but they tend to support abolishing the income tax)

Libertarian

__________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 2: Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy Section 2.1- The Theory of Democratic Government Answer the following question: 1. Democracy can be indirect (representative) or direct (participatory). Explain the differences between these two forms of democracy.

Indirect democracy: universal participation, political equality, majority rule.

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Section 2.2- Institutional Models of Democracy Mentor Note: There are two models, or blueprints, of democracy: the majoritarian model: citizen control their gov by elections, citz knowledgable about gov & politics, participate in poliical process vote, rational when voting. (majoritarianism) and the pluralist model (pluralism)gov of by and for people, intrest group competition: decentralization gov broken up, divided authority gov diverse enough, open access open to allow competition of intrest groups. To explain, imagine going to the doctor with a cough, a fever, and a sore throat. The doctor questions you about your symptoms to diagnose what is making you sick. Majoritarianism and pluralism are like different sets of questions we can ask to ‘diagnose’ a government as democratic or not.

Belief or Assumption

Majoritarian Model

Pluralist Model

Assumes people are interested in politics

yes

no

Assumes people are knowledgeable about politics

yes

no

Assumes people have consistent opinions about politics

yes

no

Emphasizes the importance of public opinion

yes

no

Believes elections are important

yes

no

Believes decentralized (many points of decision-making), group participation is important

no

yes

Believes government should be responsive to the general public

yes

no

Believes government should be responsive to interest groups

no

yes

Explanation:  The Majoritarian Models assumes people are active and interested in politics and so government should trust the people and be responsive to them; government can know what the people want through public opinion polls and elections  Key ideas of Majoritarian Model: will of the people, government is responsive to the people, government values public opinion polls and elections  The Pluralist Model says most people are not active or interested in politics so government should not trust the people; instead, government should trust knowledgeable interest groups (i.e., government should listen to the American Nurses Association when it comes to health care, not the general public).  Key Ideas of Pluralist Model: Interest groups, uninformed/inactive public, government does not trust public opinion, open and decentralized government  [Note: The U.S. has a decentralized government, which means many points of decision-making= lots of people for interest groups to influence and lobby. This is one reason interest groups have flourished in the U.S. In nations with a centralized government and one point of decision-making, like a king or dictator, there is no reason for interest groups to exist since one person/group is making all the decisions] Page 6 of 49

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Survey of United States Government and Constitution

Answer the following questions: 1. If a majority of members of Congress voted in favor of increasing individuals’ subsidies for health insurance and the majority of the public supported this idea, would this example support the majoritarian or pluralist model of democracy? Why? 2. If the interest groups representing major hospitals and insurance companies opposed increasing individuals’ subsidies for health insurance, but the public supported it, what action(s) of Congress would support the pluralist model of democracy? 3. Explain how Elite Theory differs from the Majoritarian and Pluralist models. Wealthy prople win by they have money. a. It has to do with the wealthy ew t hatasmal lgr oupofpeopl eact ual l ymakesmostoft he b. Thevi i mpor t antgover nmentdeci si ons. Circle, highlight, or check the correct answer: A system of government where voters elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, and where those representatives respond to public opinion, would best be characterized by the terms: An indirect democracy and majoritarianism A direct democracy and majoritarianism An indirect democracy and pluralism A direct democracy and pluralism __________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 3: The Constitution __________________________________________________________________________________ Before the Declaration of Independence, many governments were established by heredity and thought to be chosen by God, giving them absolute power. John Locke’s idea of the social contract theory refuted this idea, and instead argued that the PEOPLE had inalienable rights that could not be taken away and more power to choose their leaders. Moreover, John Locke took issue with Thomas Hobbes notion of the social contract. Whereas Hobbes stressed that the ruler should never be challenged and the power flowed from the ruler to the citizens, Locke argued that the power flowed upward from the citizens and that the people ultimately held the power. Hobbes also believed that, upon entering into the social contract, the people gave over their power permanently to the government. On the other hand, Locke felt that the people retained the power. This supports the Lockean ideal of popular sovereignty. Section 3.1- The Revolutionary Roots of the Constitution Answer the following questions: 1. What is social contract theory? People have right to create and abolish alter gov a. The belief that the people agree to set up rulers for certain purposes and thus have the right to resist or remove rulers who act against those purposes. b. Rules (laws) bind everyone. You must give up some freedom. c. In reference to declaration of independence know “whenever any form of govt becomes destructive, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it”

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2. What connections do you see between social contract theory and the ideas and language of the Declaration of Independence, in an excerpt from it below? Tom jef john locke “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...To secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed… Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...” Section 3.2- From Revolution to Confederation Mentor Note: In Chapter 1, you learned about national sovereignty, which is the ability of nations to govern themselves. In this Chapter, popular sovereignty means that the people should have the power to rule. Answer the following questions: 1. What is a republic? a. A government without a monarch; a government rooted in the consent of the governed, whose power is exercised by elected representatives responsible to the governed. Any type of gov with no king, power lies with the people and people exercise their power through elected representatives. 2. How is this term, republic, related to the idea of popular sovereignty that is reflected in the social contract theory and the Declaration of Independence? a. consent of the governed … responsible to the governed. 3. Under a confederation, who has more power- the state or the national governments? a. Confederation: A loose association of independent states that agree to cooperate on specified matters. b. States have more power/retain their sovereighnty 4. What powers did the states have under the Articles of Confederation? a. Complete sovereignty. Independent rules themselves. Tax raise army 5. What were some of the major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? a. First, they did not give the national government the power to tax. As a result, the congress had to plead for no money/resources from the states to pay for the war and carry on the affairs of the new nation. A government that cannot reliably raise revenue cannot expect to govern effectively. Didn’t have money to raise troops and go to war. b. Second, the Articles made no provision for an independent leadership position to direct the government (the president was merely the presiding officer of the congress). The omission was deliberate—the colonists feared the reestablishment of a monarchy—but it lef the nation without a leader. c. Third, the Articles did not allow the national government to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. (When John Adams proposed that the confederation enter into a commercial treaty with Britain afer the war, he was asked, “Would you like one treaty or thirteen, Mr. Adams?”) d. Finally, the Articles could not be amended without the unanimous agreement of the congress and the consent of all the state legislatures; thus, each state had the power to veto any changes to the confederation. 6. Explain how Shays’ Rebellion serves as an example of the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. Masachusets was trying to pay off war debt. Taxing citizens and too much farmers

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loosing farms. Daniel shay rebelled with farmers stormed and showed it wasn’t working bc had trouble putting down rebellion and help its people. a. The national gov had no power to promote peace and manage factions between the states.

Section 3.3- From Confederation to Constitution Answer the following questions: 1. Identify the central ideas associated with the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan. a. VPjames madison: separation of the government into three branches, division of the legislature into two houses, and proporti...