American Government Final Exam Study Guide

American Government Final Exam Study Guide

• The final exam is cumulative, covering all significant aspects of each lesson.
• The exam comprises multiple-choice, true/false questions.
• Key concepts for the final exam include traditional, command, market economies, ideology, liberalism, conservatism, centrism, democratic socialism, libertarianism, environmentalism, interest groups, two-party systems, PACs, lobbying, multi-party systems, public opinion, political socialization, and negative campaigning.
• Other important topics include primary elections, plurality, party base, power, authority, city-states, nation-states, continental states, global states, sovereignty, social contract, divine right of kings, corruption, coercion, tribute, institutions, bureaucracy, dictatorship, totalitarian dictatorship, democracy, oligarchy, theocracy, plutocracy, technocracy, republic, monarchy, autocracy, constitutional democracy, constitutional monarchy.
• Also included are Nazism, communism, fascism, unitary, federal, Confederate, left-wing, right-wing, representative government, rule of law, limited government, individual rights, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, constitutionalism, majority rule, due process, republican government, checks and balances, federalism, independent judiciary, judicial review, civil liberties, civil rights, libel, slander, self-incrimination, double jeopardy, conservative, liberal, individualism, one-party systems, watchdog function, and bonding agent.
• Students must understand the distinctions between liberalism and conservatism in their totality, and how states form under various political and economic conditions.
• Crucial concepts include force theory, divine right theory, psychology's role in governance, dictatorial vs. democratic societies, the social contract, and U.S. Constitutional Amendments (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 15, 19).
• Students need to know about natural law, the rule of law, checks and balances, and the geographic distribution of power (federal, unitary, and confederate) as well as the expansions of the electorate.
• Different forms of government: Bureaucracies, Dictatorships, Totalitarian Dictatorships, Democracy, Oligarchies, Theocracies, Plutocracy, Technocracies, Republics, Monarchies, and Autocracies are included.
• Theories of government formation including Forced Theory, Violent/Physical compulsion, and Evolutionary Theory are covered.
• The purpose of government includes common defense, well-being, economic stability, public education and medical care. Ensuring domestic tranquility and justice are also key.
• The stages of state formation: from extended families to tribes to city-states, and finally nation-states. The evolution of democracy and forms of government (democracy, oligarchy, theocracy, plutocracy) are explained.

Forms of Government

• Bureaucracies: Exist in all governments due to department's specific responsibilities, divisions of labor, and specific duties.
• Dictatorships: Governments controlling many aspects of daily life, often effectively during crisis but less during peacetime.
• Totalitarian dictatorships: total control of daily life and society in contrast to regular dictatorship's majority rule.

Theories of Government Formation

• Forced Theory: Governments formed through compulsion and violence.
• Evolutionary Theory: Government forms and grows to manage a growing society.
• Divine Right of Kings theory: Ruler considered divine.

The Purpose of Government

• Providing common defense.
• Providing general welfare.
• Establishing justice and maintaining order.
• Protecting citizens from enemies (domestic or foreign).
• Providing economic stability through services like public education and medical care.

Types of Economic Systems

• Traditional economy: Production and consumption driven by societal traditions and customs.
• Command economy: Production and consumption controlled by the government, emphasizing societal needs.
• Market economy: Production and consumption dictated by supply and demand, featuring private property rights and economic freedom.
• Mixed economies: Combine elements of command and market systems to balance the needs of both.

Power Spectrum

• The spectrum illustrates the degree of power a government has, ranging from totalitarian dictatorships on the left to anarchy on the right. A mid-range includes a healthy amount of law and order to provide optimal freedom.

Political Systems

• Unitary Government: Centralized government with power concentrated in a central authority, suitable for smaller territories with homogenous populations.
• Federal Government: Power balance between states and central government, often employed in large territories.
• Confederate Government: Weaker central government, with more power given to individual states.

U.S. Constitution

• Key amendments (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and 19th) are included. Specific details on each are covered.
• The role of the Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Paragraph 2) in establishing the Constitution's ultimate authority is covered.
• The power of different levels of government (federal, state, and local) is outlined.
• The role of treaties and the level of government responsible for treaty formation is explained.
• The specific amendments and how they relate to voting (15th, 19th, and 26th) is covered and expanded on.

Separation of Powers

• This concept involves the division of governmental authority among separate branches to prevent abuse of power.
• The division helps to check and balance the power within each branch.

Checks and Balances

• These mechanisms ensure each branch of government has the power to limit the actions of the other branches.
• Specific checks and balances are veto power, impeachment, and the judicial review. Examples like businesses losing customers for poor service and employees using unions are given to illustrate the concept.

Sovereignty

• A condition of self-rule, where a people are responsible for running their government.

Bill of Rights

• These amendments protect individual rights from governmental intrusion. Important concepts involving thoughts, beliefs, and actions are covered. Specific rights and freedoms protected from governmental intervention are covered, for example, freedom of expression, speech, association and the freedom of religion. Protection against unreasonable search and seizure is also covered.

Judicial Review

• The power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of laws and governmental actions.

Natural Law

• Basic rules and rights considered universally applicable and not dependent on or created by society.
• Natural rights are frequently associated with morality.

Legal Systems and Principles

• Concepts such as double jeopardy, due process, private property rights, equal protection, rule of law and the concept of limited government are included.

Political Parties

• Ideological parties: hold specific ideas.
• Single-issue parties: focused on specific issues and interests.
• Splinter parties: break away from established parties due to internal conflict.
• Minor parties: exert limited influence over electorate.
• Major parties: have significant control over the electorate. Types and functions of parties are expanded on (ex. Bonding agent, watchdog function).

Voting Rights

• The history of voting rights in the United States is discussed. Focus is on specific amendments and milestones relevant to the expansion of voting rights (15th, 19th, voting rights act of 1965).
• Voting requirements for U.S. citizens are outlined, and the 18th amendment (minimum voting age) is highlighted. Specifics about voting eligibility (age, citizenship, residency), and other related requirements are covered.

Additional Topics

• Nature vs. Nurture: The study of which is more influential in the development of an individual.
• Methods of Propaganda
• Political socialization: How people develop political beliefs.
• Role of political parties.
• Functions of political parties.