Introduction to American Politics - Political Science 101
Exam No. 1 - Study Guide
1. Define Government? Define politics?
Government is a group that rules over a set of people. They create laws, enforce them, and look over
their people.
Politics is the ideas and things happening under a government. These things can include ideas about
social issues, conflicts, and problem solving.
2. What is limited government?
Limited government is when ideal that government authority should have as little power as possible.
Early Americans didn’t trust government and liked the power they had gained.
3. What is democracy? What is constitutional democracy? What is direct democracy?
Democracy is a type of government where people have the power. This can be through elected
individuals or directly.
Constitutional democracy is a government that has a constitution or that has specific frame work they
follow as guidelines.
A Direct democracy is when people directly decided on things not using representative to vote and
decided for them.le
4. What is representative democracy?
Opposite of direct dem. Representatives vote and make decisions for their people.
5. Explain what is a bicameral legislature?
Having 2 parts to the law making body. An example would be our house of rep. and congress
6. What is social contract?
A widely accepted theory or ideas about how to behave ethically or morally.
7
8.What is political culture?
A widely accepted belief about how a government should rule in a society
9.
10. According to lecture, what are the major 5 areas where we learn the American political culture?
1. Liberty 2. Equality 3. Democracy 4. Civic duty 5. Individual responsibility
, 11. Define federalists. Define anti-federalists.
Federalist- historically supported the constitution and its central power
Anit-federalists don’t want to have a powerful central government
12. What is a system of checks and balances?
Each branch of government hold power over the next so no one part has more power than another.
13. Explain separation of powers.
The power in a government should be divided up. The us has congress, law making, president, the head,
and juridical, to make rulings.
14.What is confederation? Define Bill of Rights?
A confederation is a group of small areas(state) that come together under one government but still keep
their own authority.
15.
16. How is an Amendment to the Constitution ratified?
An amendment to the constitution is ratified(corrected or changed)
17.
18. What is Articles of Confederation? What is constitutionalism?
The articles of confederation was the first constitution in the US. All the states were banding together.
The articles kept the federal government power low but the individual territories power intact. Colonist
were leery of government power after what had happened with Britain.
Constitutionalism is a government that rules under a fundamental law, like the constitution in the US.
19. Discuss the case, McCullouch v. Maryland.
The issue was is it constitutionally legal for the government to create a bank and then if Maryland was
overriding that by taxing the bank in its state. But the underlining issue was a power struggle between
states and the federal government. The supreme court decided it was ok for the fed govt. to create
banks and that states couldn’t tax federal banks. Marshall was the judge. He brought about nationalism.
Exam No. 1 - Study Guide
1. Define Government? Define politics?
Government is a group that rules over a set of people. They create laws, enforce them, and look over
their people.
Politics is the ideas and things happening under a government. These things can include ideas about
social issues, conflicts, and problem solving.
2. What is limited government?
Limited government is when ideal that government authority should have as little power as possible.
Early Americans didn’t trust government and liked the power they had gained.
3. What is democracy? What is constitutional democracy? What is direct democracy?
Democracy is a type of government where people have the power. This can be through elected
individuals or directly.
Constitutional democracy is a government that has a constitution or that has specific frame work they
follow as guidelines.
A Direct democracy is when people directly decided on things not using representative to vote and
decided for them.le
4. What is representative democracy?
Opposite of direct dem. Representatives vote and make decisions for their people.
5. Explain what is a bicameral legislature?
Having 2 parts to the law making body. An example would be our house of rep. and congress
6. What is social contract?
A widely accepted theory or ideas about how to behave ethically or morally.
7
8.What is political culture?
A widely accepted belief about how a government should rule in a society
9.
10. According to lecture, what are the major 5 areas where we learn the American political culture?
1. Liberty 2. Equality 3. Democracy 4. Civic duty 5. Individual responsibility
, 11. Define federalists. Define anti-federalists.
Federalist- historically supported the constitution and its central power
Anit-federalists don’t want to have a powerful central government
12. What is a system of checks and balances?
Each branch of government hold power over the next so no one part has more power than another.
13. Explain separation of powers.
The power in a government should be divided up. The us has congress, law making, president, the head,
and juridical, to make rulings.
14.What is confederation? Define Bill of Rights?
A confederation is a group of small areas(state) that come together under one government but still keep
their own authority.
15.
16. How is an Amendment to the Constitution ratified?
An amendment to the constitution is ratified(corrected or changed)
17.
18. What is Articles of Confederation? What is constitutionalism?
The articles of confederation was the first constitution in the US. All the states were banding together.
The articles kept the federal government power low but the individual territories power intact. Colonist
were leery of government power after what had happened with Britain.
Constitutionalism is a government that rules under a fundamental law, like the constitution in the US.
19. Discuss the case, McCullouch v. Maryland.
The issue was is it constitutionally legal for the government to create a bank and then if Maryland was
overriding that by taxing the bank in its state. But the underlining issue was a power struggle between
states and the federal government. The supreme court decided it was ok for the fed govt. to create
banks and that states couldn’t tax federal banks. Marshall was the judge. He brought about nationalism.
