State and Local Government Final Exam Review

State and Local Government Final Exam Study Guide

• Exam Scope: The exam will cover chapters 7, 8, and 9 of the main textbook, supplemental readings, and lectures.
• Study Resources: This guide is a starting point for review—not an exhaustive list.
• Clarifications and Assistance: If material is unclear, seek clarification from the instructor.

Legislative Branch

• Legislative Professionalism: Definition and comparison to citizen and hybrid legislatures.
• Trustee vs. Delegate: Differences in representative models.
• Judicial Selection Methods: Advantages and disadvantages of specific approaches.
• Voting Cues: Definition and the need for them, including examples.
• Term Limits: Review advantages and disadvantages.
• Lawmaker Background: Common professions of state lawmakers.
• Districts: Differentiate single-member and multi-member districts; the concepts of cracking and packing.
• Redistricting Cases: Important court cases related to redistricting and their significance.
• Gerrymandering & Malapportionment: Definitions and explanations.
• Legislative Powers: Formal and informal powers of state legislatures.
• Executive Orders: Definition and functions in legislative context.
• **Political Capital:**Definition and significance within legislative processes.
• Street-Level Bureaucrats: Explanation of their role in policymaking, and the concepts of urban party machines.
• Legislative Vetoes: Types of vetoes, including explanations and distinctions
• Legislative Representation: Historical and modern-day efforts to improve representation of minorities in state legislatures

Executive Branch

• Gubernatorial Elections: Characteristics of these elections.
• Governor's Roles: The three primary jobs of a governor, including explanations for each.
• Governor's Powers: Formal and informal powers of the governor.
• "Good-Time Charlie," going public, bully pulpit: Related concepts relating to a governor's influence.
• New Judicial Federalism: Explanation of the concept.
• Criminal vs. Civil Law: Distinctions in legal spheres.
• State Court Structure: General structure and functions of trial and appellate courts, including procedural methods.

Judicial Branch

• State Courts Structure: Specific function of state trial courts.
• Appellate Procedures: Explanation of state appellate courts based on appeal reasons.
• Judicial Selection Methods: Comparison of different approaches.
• Role of Lawmakers in Courts: Specific methods of impacting court structure.
• Courts of Limited vs. General Jurisdiction: Distinctions between types of courts.
• Impact of Cases: The significance of important court cases such as League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry, Reynolds v. Sims, and Baker v. Carr.
• Policymaking via Courts: The different ways in which courts influence policy-making.
• Judicial Reforms: Recent changes in judicial practices and the reasons behind them.

State Legislatures and Governors

• Legislative Committees: The role of standing and conference committees in legislative procedures, their influence and methods for efficiently processing legislation, and how they can help overcome shared decision-making problems.
• Legislative Leadership: Methods of party leaders influencing legislation.
• Pork-barrel Politics: Definition and examples.
• Legislative Oversight: The legislature's role in overseeing the executive branch.
• Urban Machine Decline: Factors leading to the decline of urban political machines and the emergence of reforms.
• Budgeting Role of Legislations and Governors: How legislatures and governors manage and contribute to budgeting processes.
• Appointment vs. Election: Analysis of the differing implications between appointed and elected political leaders within different branches of government.
• Problem-Solving Courts: Purpose and implementation.
• Determinate vs. Indeterminate Sentencing: Definitions and comparisons.

Elections and Policies

• Judicial Selection: Discussion on types and different approaches in judicial selection and the role/influence of politics in each.
• Representation: Analysis of representation of women and minorities in state legislatures and governorships.
• State Media's Role: The way media coverage shapes perceptions of state leaders and legislators.
• Disaster/Emergency Response: The role of governors in dealing with natural disasters or other emergencies.
• Nebraska State Legislature: Distinguishing features of the state legislature.
• Specific Case Studies: Details about the significance of specific court cases like League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry, Reynolds v. Sims, and Baker v. Carr is necessary for the exam.

Court Procedures and Structures

• Judicial Procedures: Describing how interested parties seek court intervention to influence courts.
• State vs. Federal Courts: Distinguishing differences between state and federal court systems.
• State Election Processes: Explaining how these compare with other elections and how they are structured.

Additional Information

• Political Systems in States: How state governments contribute to national political decisions.
• Case Studies: Details on select cases and how they illustrate relevant concepts for the exam.

This study guide is designed to help you prepare for the final exam in State and Local Government. Focused on chapters 7, 8, and 9, it covers essential topics such as legislative professionalism, representative models, and redistricting cases. Use this guide as a starting point for your review and clarification of key concepts.