PLS Exam 1 Study Guide
What are the two requirements a political system must satisfy to be considered a
democracy? correct answers 1. Inclusive-all adult citizens vote for the people in charge
2. Competitiveness-system has to allow different political parties to compete on a
relatively level playing field
Approximately what percentage of countries today are democracies? correct answers
25%-43%
What is an authoritarian regime? correct answers A government in which one leader or
group of people holds absolute power; not a democracy
What two key characteristics distinguish US democracy from the political systems of
other democratic countries? correct answers 1. Institutional fragmentation-power
divided among different institutions of govt.
2. Individualist political culture-govt should not be involved in helping some at the cost of
others, individualism (each person responsible for their own fate)
Does the design of US political institutions tend to make change easy or difficult?
correct answers Difficult
When and where was the US constitution written? correct answers September 17,
1787 by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What document did the US Constitution replace? correct answers Articles of
Confederation
Compared to those of other countries, is the US constitution young or old? correct
answers Old
Has the US Constitution been amended frequently or infrequently? correct answers
Infrequently
What were the two major compromises that were struck in negotiating the constitution
and what was each about? correct answers 1. The Great Compromise-between small
and large states about how seats in federal govt would be given out
a. Small states wanted equal seats (New Jersey Plan)
b. Large states wanted seats proportionate to the population (Virginia plan)
2. 3/5 Compromise-about how slaves would be counted in tax representation
a. Southern states wanted slaves to be counted to give more seats in Congress, not for
taxation though
, b. Northern states objected so they decided to count slaves as 3/5 of a person for
taxation and representation
What is the Bill of Rights? correct answers First 10 amendments to the Constitution
When and why was the Bill of Rights included in the constitution? correct answers A set
of states led by Massachusettes said they wouldnt accept the constitution unless they
included this set of amendments (set limits on the govt.)
What were the Federalist Papers? correct answers 85 essays written by members of
the Convention to sell the making of the Constitution to the states
What is the idea of limited government? correct answers In order to protect the rights of
the people, we put limits on what the govt can and cannot do to prevent the govt from
acting rashly and keep the govt from hurting minority groups
What are checks and balances? correct answers The system in which it is made sure
that no branch has more power than the other.
ex) president can veto laws, president appoints all top officials with confirmation from
the Senate
What are grants and denials of power? correct answers Things that the federal govt
has the power over and does not have power over; cannot make certain types of taxes,
imprison people without telling charges, award titles of nobility
What Supreme Court decision was the foundation for judicial review? correct answers
Mabury vs Madison-a case in which the supreme court first declared an act of Congress
to be unconstitutional, thus establishing judicial review
What is representative government? correct answers Govt reflects will of the people
expressed through representatives; Congress and presidency are elected by the people
In what ways did the US Constitution originally favor indirect representation? correct
answers The Senate was selected by state legislatures, president chosen by the
electoral college, run by indirect elections because the people who wrote the
Constitution didnt have confidence that the people that were voting would chose in a
wise way
In what ways has the Constitution been changed to make representation more direct?
correct answers Now, the Senate is chosen directly by the people, the electoral college
is chosen by direct election of state populations, to a large extent, the president is
chosen through a direct election
What is federalism? correct answers A system in which power is shared by different
levels of govt
What are the two requirements a political system must satisfy to be considered a
democracy? correct answers 1. Inclusive-all adult citizens vote for the people in charge
2. Competitiveness-system has to allow different political parties to compete on a
relatively level playing field
Approximately what percentage of countries today are democracies? correct answers
25%-43%
What is an authoritarian regime? correct answers A government in which one leader or
group of people holds absolute power; not a democracy
What two key characteristics distinguish US democracy from the political systems of
other democratic countries? correct answers 1. Institutional fragmentation-power
divided among different institutions of govt.
2. Individualist political culture-govt should not be involved in helping some at the cost of
others, individualism (each person responsible for their own fate)
Does the design of US political institutions tend to make change easy or difficult?
correct answers Difficult
When and where was the US constitution written? correct answers September 17,
1787 by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What document did the US Constitution replace? correct answers Articles of
Confederation
Compared to those of other countries, is the US constitution young or old? correct
answers Old
Has the US Constitution been amended frequently or infrequently? correct answers
Infrequently
What were the two major compromises that were struck in negotiating the constitution
and what was each about? correct answers 1. The Great Compromise-between small
and large states about how seats in federal govt would be given out
a. Small states wanted equal seats (New Jersey Plan)
b. Large states wanted seats proportionate to the population (Virginia plan)
2. 3/5 Compromise-about how slaves would be counted in tax representation
a. Southern states wanted slaves to be counted to give more seats in Congress, not for
taxation though
, b. Northern states objected so they decided to count slaves as 3/5 of a person for
taxation and representation
What is the Bill of Rights? correct answers First 10 amendments to the Constitution
When and why was the Bill of Rights included in the constitution? correct answers A set
of states led by Massachusettes said they wouldnt accept the constitution unless they
included this set of amendments (set limits on the govt.)
What were the Federalist Papers? correct answers 85 essays written by members of
the Convention to sell the making of the Constitution to the states
What is the idea of limited government? correct answers In order to protect the rights of
the people, we put limits on what the govt can and cannot do to prevent the govt from
acting rashly and keep the govt from hurting minority groups
What are checks and balances? correct answers The system in which it is made sure
that no branch has more power than the other.
ex) president can veto laws, president appoints all top officials with confirmation from
the Senate
What are grants and denials of power? correct answers Things that the federal govt
has the power over and does not have power over; cannot make certain types of taxes,
imprison people without telling charges, award titles of nobility
What Supreme Court decision was the foundation for judicial review? correct answers
Mabury vs Madison-a case in which the supreme court first declared an act of Congress
to be unconstitutional, thus establishing judicial review
What is representative government? correct answers Govt reflects will of the people
expressed through representatives; Congress and presidency are elected by the people
In what ways did the US Constitution originally favor indirect representation? correct
answers The Senate was selected by state legislatures, president chosen by the
electoral college, run by indirect elections because the people who wrote the
Constitution didnt have confidence that the people that were voting would chose in a
wise way
In what ways has the Constitution been changed to make representation more direct?
correct answers Now, the Senate is chosen directly by the people, the electoral college
is chosen by direct election of state populations, to a large extent, the president is
chosen through a direct election
What is federalism? correct answers A system in which power is shared by different
levels of govt
