Government 310L (UT) Exam 1
Questions and All Correct Answers.
Politics - Answer Politics is process of making collective decisions. "Who gets what, when,
how?"
Political Science - Answer The study of political processes, systems, and political behavior
Elastic Clause - Answer "The Necessary and Proper Clause" - "To make all laws which shall be
necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers." Congress authority to
all laws
Establishment Clause - Answer Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Freedom of Religion - Answer Congress cannot pass laws prohibiting the rights of religion of
abridging the freedom of speech or the press or the right to peaceable assemble and petition
the Government.
Supremacy Clause - Answer States that federal laws are more powerful than state and local
laws. Major concession by opponents of strong federal government. States do have explicit
protection and reserved powers.
TX Plural Executive - Answer Unlike at federal level, multiple officials in Texas are elected
independently of each other. Governor is far weaker than the president of the USA. Limits the
governor's agenda power.
Empirical Political Science - Answer Focuses on describing trends in current politics
Theoretical Political Science - Answer Seeks to determine the causes of those trends
Normative Political Science - Answer Looks to create policy suggestions (how policies should
be)
Separation of Powers - Answer Federal power divided between executive, legislative, judicial
branches of government
Judicial Compromise - Answer Most delegates agreed on need for a Supreme Court, but did
not agree on need for lower courts. Compromise; left it to Congress to decide.
, Executive Branch - Answer Extensive presidential power under significant congressional
control. Senate advise and consent on treaty ratifications and confirmations. Impeachment
clause is an insurance policy. House impeaches President, Senate tries the President.
Legislative Branch - Answer Power to tax, coin money, regulate commerce, declare war,
maintain an army. House chosen by voters every two year; no term limits. Senate elected by
state legislatures; sex year terms.
TX part-time legislature (implications) - Answer -bicameral legislature
-senate consist of 31 members
-house consist of 150
-house representatives are elected to 2 year terms
-senators elected to four year terms
Furman V. Georgia - Answer Temporary halt on 8th Amendment grounds. Reversed in Gregg.
V. Georgia.
Coercive Power - Answer Essentially, legitimized violence. Usually only allowed to a limited
number of parties (army, police forces, etc)
Amendment Process - Answer Referring to US constitution, there are various forms of
potentially amending the constitution, only one really matters though- to pass both house and
the senate via 2/3rd vote in both and then ratification by 3/4th of state legislature. This is a very
high, hard bar. Even Texas has an easier process
TX Judiciary (difference from federal) - Answer All judges are elected to the TX Judiciary.
McCleskey v. Kemp - Answer Aggregate statistics cant be used for individual cases.
Purposes of Government - Answer Governments are established to define and protect
property rights
Antifederalists - Answer Argued AGAINST ratification. Small/farmers/buisnessmen were
mostly in debt. Claimed national gov. was too strong, Gov should be closer to the people (more
states rights), and Insistent of the Bill of Rights
Federalists - Answer Argued FOR ratification. Federalist Papers: James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton, and John Jay; Commercial classes must put their trust in elites. Outlined arguments
Questions and All Correct Answers.
Politics - Answer Politics is process of making collective decisions. "Who gets what, when,
how?"
Political Science - Answer The study of political processes, systems, and political behavior
Elastic Clause - Answer "The Necessary and Proper Clause" - "To make all laws which shall be
necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers." Congress authority to
all laws
Establishment Clause - Answer Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Freedom of Religion - Answer Congress cannot pass laws prohibiting the rights of religion of
abridging the freedom of speech or the press or the right to peaceable assemble and petition
the Government.
Supremacy Clause - Answer States that federal laws are more powerful than state and local
laws. Major concession by opponents of strong federal government. States do have explicit
protection and reserved powers.
TX Plural Executive - Answer Unlike at federal level, multiple officials in Texas are elected
independently of each other. Governor is far weaker than the president of the USA. Limits the
governor's agenda power.
Empirical Political Science - Answer Focuses on describing trends in current politics
Theoretical Political Science - Answer Seeks to determine the causes of those trends
Normative Political Science - Answer Looks to create policy suggestions (how policies should
be)
Separation of Powers - Answer Federal power divided between executive, legislative, judicial
branches of government
Judicial Compromise - Answer Most delegates agreed on need for a Supreme Court, but did
not agree on need for lower courts. Compromise; left it to Congress to decide.
, Executive Branch - Answer Extensive presidential power under significant congressional
control. Senate advise and consent on treaty ratifications and confirmations. Impeachment
clause is an insurance policy. House impeaches President, Senate tries the President.
Legislative Branch - Answer Power to tax, coin money, regulate commerce, declare war,
maintain an army. House chosen by voters every two year; no term limits. Senate elected by
state legislatures; sex year terms.
TX part-time legislature (implications) - Answer -bicameral legislature
-senate consist of 31 members
-house consist of 150
-house representatives are elected to 2 year terms
-senators elected to four year terms
Furman V. Georgia - Answer Temporary halt on 8th Amendment grounds. Reversed in Gregg.
V. Georgia.
Coercive Power - Answer Essentially, legitimized violence. Usually only allowed to a limited
number of parties (army, police forces, etc)
Amendment Process - Answer Referring to US constitution, there are various forms of
potentially amending the constitution, only one really matters though- to pass both house and
the senate via 2/3rd vote in both and then ratification by 3/4th of state legislature. This is a very
high, hard bar. Even Texas has an easier process
TX Judiciary (difference from federal) - Answer All judges are elected to the TX Judiciary.
McCleskey v. Kemp - Answer Aggregate statistics cant be used for individual cases.
Purposes of Government - Answer Governments are established to define and protect
property rights
Antifederalists - Answer Argued AGAINST ratification. Small/farmers/buisnessmen were
mostly in debt. Claimed national gov. was too strong, Gov should be closer to the people (more
states rights), and Insistent of the Bill of Rights
Federalists - Answer Argued FOR ratification. Federalist Papers: James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton, and John Jay; Commercial classes must put their trust in elites. Outlined arguments
