occ pol 1510 test 3 open study guide
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Oakland Community College, POL 1510 American Government open study guide.TRANSCRIPT
POL 1510 Review Themes for Final Quiz#3 Fall 2009 Oakland Community College
Please note that some classes are at different places on this review sheet. Please use as a guide only and refer to your class notes to see the actual material covered for your version of quiz#3.
Ratification Debates
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
What were the primary concerns of the anti-Federalists and why was their critique important? (Is it still important?)
The conflict over ratification as an early form of the Nationalists vs. States Rights debate--- the persistence of the two-party system in the USA
Basic Structures of the Federal Constitution
Three branches, separation of powers, checks and balances (please know specific examples such as: the president and the veto power, bicameralism, federalism, judicial review, president is commander in chief and only Congress can officially declare war, only the Senate has the power to give their "advice and consent" on treaties and to executive branch appointments)
The Dynamic Nature of Federalism in the US Political System and the Power of Judicial Review [know at least the basics of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and the import of the 9th, 10th, and the 14th amendments, Brown v. Board of Education (1954), Griswald v. Conn. (1965), Roe v. Wade (1973)]
Congress (Article I of the Constitution)
Basic differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate (including knowledge of bicameralism)
House of Representatives- the "peoples" branch?- delegate model of representation?
The numbers game and power- from the 3/5th's compromise to the census
The potential for party leadership and the Speaker of the House
Limited debate, importance of rules
The Senate- the "wise guys"?- trustee model of representation?
The exclusive power to give "advice and consent” to the President (checking the appointment power and the treaty power of the executive branch)
the potential for unlimited debate- filibuster and the cloture motion
Making Laws----Am I just a bill or am I lying dead in committee?
How does the process of making a law begin in the Congress? The importance of standing committees in the US Congress, party control of committees/sub-committees, different types of standing committees (especially appropriations vs./and policy committees), the various purposes of committees (such as the need for information/specialization and the need to get re-elected)
Logrolling and Pork-barreling
Article 1.8- Powers of Congress:
We highlighted four: the power to tax and spend; the commerce clause; the explicit power to declare war; and the necessary and proper clause (the elastic clause)
What can't Congress do (in theory)?
Initially, Congress can't ban the slave trade for at least twenty years (until 1808)
Deny you your 'habeas corpus" rights unless there is an invasion or a rebellion
Derive tax money from any source other than the census (meaning no national income tax until the Constitution was amended via the 16th amendment)
"No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time."
Article II: The Presidency
Major sources of presidential authority: what the Constitution gives to the president (explicit vs. implicit), what Congress does through time (lawmaking, etc.), the president's powers of persuasion
Commander in Chief (especially creative uses of this power, i.e. Truman's desegregation order)
Pardon power, Treaty and Appointment power (judges, public ministers, etc.) exclusive power to "receive ambassadors and other public ministers...and take care that the laws be faithfully executed"
Basic Structure of the Executive Branch- mainly the EOP and the Cabinets (who creates the cabinets?)
Some other potential things to consider:
Why is it important that citizens are guaranteed a jury trial?
The importance of the "full faith and credit clause"
Some examples of how the Constitution (prior to the 13th amendment) explicitly protected slavery as an institution
The importance of the "Supremacy Clause"