Final Prep #2

1. What do the 1st (3) articles of the Constitution describe?

2. Why did the articles of Confederation Fail?

3. Compare the Virginia plan with the New Jersey plan of Representative  Government.  What was the Connecticut Compromise?

4. List our 3 Branches of government and identify the checks and balances between them. (triangle)

5. Simplify and list the Bill of Rights

6.  Identify and explain the economic theory these (2) men are known for:
          Adam Smith
          Karl Marx

7. Why are federal systems of government better for countries with diverse populations?

8. What is Civil Society?

9. What is jurisdiction?  Using a flow chart, diagram how a case from Deschutes County might reach the Supreme court.

10. What are Entitlement Programs?

11. How does a Bill Become a law? (5 bullet points)

12. Explain the purpose of Congressional Committees (3 bullets)

13. Give the House of Representatives membership numbers, terms and qualifications

14. What are electors and explain why each state has the number it does

15. Explain the how it is possible to lose the popular vote and still become President

16. List the following for President:
          Duties (3)
          Term/salary
          Qualifications ( formal (3))

17. Describe the process of becoming a Cabinet member

18.  List and explain 5 cabinet positions. Who is our current Secretary of State?

19. Choose (2) of the following (3) High Court cases and explain the courts ruling

          Gideon v. Wainwright
          Citizens United
          National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (affordable care)

20. Which electoral system is better and why? (2 arguments) FPTP or PR?

Final Preparation

In class questions for Wednesday:

1. What does PAC stand for and what do they do?

2. Name 2 PACs and which Presidential candidates they supported in 2012.  How much did they spend   during the election.

3. List and explain (4) important election year dates

4.  What is the purpose of a primary election?

5. What is a caucus?  Why is the Iowa caucus so important?

6. How are political parties and interest groups similar?  different?

7.  Why are former members of Congress barred from becoming lobbyists for 1 year after leaving office?

Gideon v. Wainwright

Hopefully this video is a review for most of you on how state criminal court cases reach the Supreme Court.

We will be watching "Constitutional Concepts" How one man changed the constitution in class on Thursday.  Fast forward to minute 23.  Take notes!

1. Who was Clarence Earl Gideon? (education level, profession, etc.)
2. What amendments right(s) did he feel he was being denied?
3. What was Abe Fortas' argument as to why the Betts' v. Brady case should be overturned?
      3a. What were all the "exceptions" to the rule?
4. What percent of criminal law is state law?
5. What was the outcome of the case (opinion vote)

Respond to the following question by referencing the video and any other discussions we had in class regarding Alabama's voter approved gay marriage ban or the Citizens United case.

Write a summary on the following:

     How does a federal system of government accommodate the different states (50) when it comes to making their own laws?  What role does the national government take when it comes to protecting the rights of states to choose for themselves what laws they will have (Alabama gay marriage ban) verses protecting the rights of US citizens under the 14th amendment (Gideon and the right to counsel in Florida)?

Initiative and Referendum

What is a referendum?

What is an initiative?

Who is a Chief Petitioner?

Describe the necessary requirements for a referendum/initiative to reach the general election?

What is a referendum?

What is an initiative?

Who is a Chief Petitioner?

Describe the necessary requirements for a referendum/initiative to reach the general election?

Campaign Finance Debate

We are set to have a debate in class Friday on whether there should be limits on campaign spending, and if so how to set and enforce those limits.

I will be collecting the (7) questions from the blog as well as any arguments you wrote down before and/or during the debate.

Campaign financing

Listen to the following broadcast (NPR 5/8/15)

We are currently watching the Frontline program "Big Sky, Big Money"  You can watch it by clicking HERE

We will have a debate in class next week on whether or not campaign spending should be limited and in what ways.

LINKS TO DEBATE STARTERS
    youdebate.com
    citizenjoe
    debate.org

Page 463 of the text outlines the fundamental arguments on both sides.

For Wednesday (4/24) you will need to have 5 arguments on both sides of the fight (including ways to limit spending)

You also need to define/answer the following:

1. What are PACs? (478)

           1.A Name 2 PACs and political candidates they support (Dem or Rep or other) How much have
            they contributed?

2.What is a caucus? (464) Are they more or less democratic than a nominating convention?

3.What is a primary election and what are the (2) types? (465)

4.How many states held primaries in 2012? Click HERE for a chart

5.Why are the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary 2 of the most important events of the primary season?

6.How much money did the campaigns of Obama and Romney spend leading up to the general election in 2012?

            6. AHow much money was spent by outside private groups (PACs and 501c4s) during the same period?

7. What is Citizens United?  What effect has the ruling had on campaign finance?

Supreme Court Same-sex marriage debate

Read the following articles.  Use them to answer/ identify the arguments

     Excerpts from the Court

     Key Facts (Livescience)