PSI-101 EXAM 1 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
2026
◉ A battle over who controls the government and the process by
which policy decisions are made.
Answer: Politics
◉ A system of government that allows two or more entities to share
control over the same geographic region.
Answer: Federalism
◉ The personal freedoms that the government cannot deny
individuals, either by law, constitution, or judicial interpretations,
unless there is a compelling state interest or need to do so.
Answer: Civil liberties (protect us from government)
◉ The positive acts of governments taken to protect individuals
against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by governments or
individuals.
Answer: Civil rights (protection by the government)
◉ Views of Hobbes and Locke?.
, Answer: Hobbes - Man's state of nature is war, so a strong
government is necessary to restrain vices
Without government, life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and
short"...Order is more important than liberties
Locke - As long as the government preserved "life, liberty, and
property," the people would let it govern—this was the "contract" (if
the contract is broken, the people can revolt)
◉ The agreement that people give up some freedom to a
government in exchange for protection and order. If the government
fails to protect their rights, the people can change or overthrow it.
Answer: social contract theory
◉ A pamphlet written in 1776 that encouraged the American
colonies to declare independence from Britain
- free from British rule
- govern themselves
- America strong enough to stand on own
- Being tied to British only brings wars
- fair democratic government.
Answer: Common Sense by Thomas Paine
2026
◉ A battle over who controls the government and the process by
which policy decisions are made.
Answer: Politics
◉ A system of government that allows two or more entities to share
control over the same geographic region.
Answer: Federalism
◉ The personal freedoms that the government cannot deny
individuals, either by law, constitution, or judicial interpretations,
unless there is a compelling state interest or need to do so.
Answer: Civil liberties (protect us from government)
◉ The positive acts of governments taken to protect individuals
against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by governments or
individuals.
Answer: Civil rights (protection by the government)
◉ Views of Hobbes and Locke?.
, Answer: Hobbes - Man's state of nature is war, so a strong
government is necessary to restrain vices
Without government, life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and
short"...Order is more important than liberties
Locke - As long as the government preserved "life, liberty, and
property," the people would let it govern—this was the "contract" (if
the contract is broken, the people can revolt)
◉ The agreement that people give up some freedom to a
government in exchange for protection and order. If the government
fails to protect their rights, the people can change or overthrow it.
Answer: social contract theory
◉ A pamphlet written in 1776 that encouraged the American
colonies to declare independence from Britain
- free from British rule
- govern themselves
- America strong enough to stand on own
- Being tied to British only brings wars
- fair democratic government.
Answer: Common Sense by Thomas Paine