Ch 5 - Affirmative Action

What is 'affirmative action'?
What are three major court ruling concerning affirmative action?
Do you agree or disagree with those rulings?

Ch 5 - The Wage Gap

What is the 'wage gap' ? (Define and explain)
Why do think there is a wage gap?
Will the wage gap continue to shrink in the future?

Ch 5 - Title IX

What is 'Title IX'?
Do you agree or disagree with the law?

Ch 5 - Reed v Reed

Why is the Reed v Reed an important case?
Do you agree with the ruling?

Ch 5 - Equal Rights Amendment

What was the 'equal rights amendment'?
Explain if it should have been ratified by the states?

Ch 5 - Japanese Internment

What was the supreme court ruling in Korematsu v United States?

Ch 5 - Voting

What amendments have expanded the right to vote?
What were some ways African-Americans were discriminated against with regards to voting?

Ch 5 - Civil Rights Act of 1964

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 accomplish?
Explain why such a law was or was necessary.

Ch 5 - School Segregation

What case allowed segregation in schools and society in general?
What case overturned the 'separate but equal' ruling in public schools?

Ch 5 - Standards of Classification

Identify and explain each of the three (3) standards of review by the courts.
Do you think we need these different standards? Explain why or why not.

Ch 5 - Fourteenth Amendment

The Fourteenth Amendment has two important parts, (1) the 'equal protection' clause and (2) the 'due process clause'. 

Define each of these.

Explain which one is most important and why.

Ch 5 - Equality

In the United States, 'equality' often means "equal opportunity'. Give specific examples of equal opportunity in the U.S. or specific examples where there is not equal opportunity.

Ch 4 - The Right to Privacy

Explain if there is or is not a 'right to privacy'?
What did was the ruling in the 1965 Griswold v Connecticut case? Do you agree or disagree with the decision
What did was the ruling in the 1973 Roe v Wade case? Do you agree or disagree with the decision?
What did was the ruling in the 1992 Planned Parenthood v Casey case? Do you agree or disagree with the decision?

Ch 4 - Capital Punishment

What did was the ruling in the 1972 Furman v Georgia case? Do you agree or disagree with the decision?
What did was the ruling in the 1976 Gregg v Georgia case? Do you agree or disagree with the decision?
What did was the ruling in the 1976 Woodson v North Carolina case? Do you agree or disagree with the decision?

Ch 4 - The Right To Counsel

What amendment includes the right to counsel?
What supreme court case deal with the right to have an attorney?
Explain if  you agree or disagree with this supreme court decision.

Ch 4 - Self-Incrimination

Which amendment concerns self-incrimination?
What supreme court ruling established guidelines for police questioning of accused persons?
Explain why you agree or disagree with this ruling?

Ch 4 - Exclusionary Rule

What Supreme Court ruling created the 'exclusionary rule'?
Do you agree or disagree with the ruling?

Ch 4 - The Right to Bear Arms

What second amendment issues has the Supreme Court ruled on in the past?
Do you agree or disagree with those ruling?

Ch 4 - Miller v California

What did the Supreme Court rule in Miller v California?
Explain if you agree or disagree with the courts ruling.

Ch 4 - Freedom of the Press

Select one Supreme Court ruling concerning Freedom of the Press, explain the ruling, and tell if you agree or disagree and why.

Ch 4 - Prior Restraint

Define 'prior restraint'.
Explain if you think the government should or should not have the power of prior restraint.

Ch 4 - Religious Rulings

Select one Supreme Court ruling concerning Freedom of Religion, explain the ruling, and tell if you agree or disagree and why.

Ch 4 - Freedom of Religion

What is the 'establishment clause'?
What is the 'free exercise clause'?
Do you agree or disagree with these ideas contained in the first amendment?

Ch 4 - Incorporation Doctrine

What is the 'incorporation doctrine'?
Why is the incorporation doctrine important?
Do you agree with the idea of the incorporation doctrine?

Ch 4 - Fourteenth Amendment

What is the "equal protection clause' and why is it important?
What is the 'due proceess clause' and why is it important?

Ch 4 - Freedom of Speech

What did the Supreme Court say in Barron v Baltimore?
What did the Supreme Court rule in Gitlow v New York?
Which ruling do you agree with and why?

Ch 4 - The First Amendment

What rights are protected by the First Amendment?
Which of these rights is most important? Explain.

Ch 20 - Foreign Aid

When it comes to foreign aid, is the United States a generous nation? Defend you answer.

Ch 20 - Balance of Trade

What is a 'balance of trade'?
What are the concerns regarding America's balance of trade?

Ch 20 - The International Economy

Define 'interdependency'. Is interdependency a good thing? Explain.
Define 'globalization'.Is globalization a good thing? Explain.

Ch 20 - Nuclear Proliferation

Can the spread of Nuclear weapons be stop?
If yes, how?
If no, why not?

Ch 20 - Defense Spending

What are the major costs involved with defense spending?
Does the United States spend too much on defense? Explain your answer.

Ch 20 - The War on Terror

What is 'The War on Terror'?
What are some of the major events related to The War on Terror.
 

Ch 20 - Containment / Cold War

Define 'containment'.
What was the 'cold war'?
What was the most important event in the cold war? Defend you answer.

Ch 20 - Isolationism

What is 'isolationism'?
How did isolationism became of major part of U.S. foreign Policy?
Explain why we should or should not return to a more 'isolationism' style of foreign policy.

Ch 20 - U.S. Policymakers

Identify the four (4) major policy makers concerning foreign policy in the United States.
Which of these do you think is most important? Explain.
Which of these do you think has too much power? Explain.

Ch 20 - World Organizations

Name the five (5) major 'actors on the world stage'.
Rank these five in order of importance and explain why.

Ch 20 - Instruments of Foreign Policy

What are the three major tools of foreign policy.
Which one of these are most important and why?

Ch 19 - Global Warming

Is 'global warming' a serious threat to the United States? Explain your answer.

Ch 19 - Alternative Energy

About 85% of our energy needs come from non-renewable fossil fuels.
Should we look for alternatives at this time?
What type of alternative energy source(s), if any, should the federal government support?

Ch 19 - Energy Policy

What role should the federal government play in the the field of energy?

Ch 19 - Federal Legislation

Identify and explain the federal laws and agencies that have been created involving environmental regulation / protection.

Ch 19 - The Feds and the Environment

Explain why the federal government should or should not be involved with the regulation/protection of the environment.

Ch 19 - Health Care and Interest Groups

What organizations (interest groups) are most involved in the health care debate?
What position do they promote?

Ch 19 - Medicare and Medicaid

Should we eliminate Medicare?
Should we eliminate Medicaid?

Ch 19 - National Health Insurance

Should the United States develop a national health insurance program? Explain why or why not.

Ch 19 - Health Maintenance Organizations

What are HMOs?
Are HMOs an effective way to cover health care costs?
Do HMOs have too much power? Too little power?

Ch 19 - The Cost of Health Care

Is the high cost (in per capita dollars and/or percentage of GDP) a reason to or not to have more government involvement in health care?

Ch 18 - Social Security

What is Social Security?
Why is Social Security a concern for the future?
What are some ways to 'fix' Social Security?

Ch 18 - Simpson-Mazzoli Act

What did the Simpson-Mazzoli Act accomplish?
What changes in immigration laws are needed today?

Ch 18 - Immigration

What are some alleged 'myths' about immigration?
Are these myth, truly myths or accurate? Support your opinion.

Ch 18 - The 'New Welfare'

What was The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996?
What did it accomplish?

Ch 18 - Social Security Act of 1935

Was the Social Security Act of 1935 good for the country? Explain.

Ch 18 - Federal Programs

Name a major Social Welfare Program and what is tries to accomplish.
Tell what programs you think are effective and which ones are ineffective and why.

Ch 18 - Transfer Payments

What are ' transfer payments'?
Are they an effective method of providing aid to the less fortunate?

Ch 18 - Earned Income Tax Credit

What is the EITC?
What has it achieved?

Ch 18 - Types of Taxation

What are the three major types of taxes?
How does each type operate?
Which type of taxation do you think would be 'best'?

Ch 18 - The Poor in America

What groups tend to be poor?
What is the 'feminization of poverty'?
How has poor among the elderly changed?

Ch 18 - Income

What is 'income distribution'? What is 'income inequality'?
Is either a problem that the federal government should be involved with?

Ch 18 - Types of Programs

What is the difference between an 'entitlement program' and a 'means-test program'? Which type do you think is the most effective? Why?

Ch 17 - Labor and The Federal Government

Define 'collective bargaining'.
Define 'right-to-work' laws.
Explain how the Wagner Act (National Labor Relations Act) and the Taft-Harley Act changed the role of the federal government concerning labor.

Ch 17 - Free Trade & Protectionism

What is 'free trade'?

What is ''protectionism'?

Which system, or mixture of systems, do you think is best for the economic well-being of the United States?

Ch 17 - Economic Theory

Define Keynesian economic theory.
Define supply-side economics.
Explain which 'theory'  you agree with more.

Ch 17 - Fiscal Policy

Define fiscal policy.

Ch 17 - The Federal Reserve System

What is the goal of  the federal reserve system, AKA, 'the Fed'?
What are the main ways the Fed can influence the American economy?

Ch 17 - Monetary Policy

What is a 'monetary policy'?

Ch 17 - Unemployment and Inflation

The federal government tries to keep both unemployment and inflation to a minimum.
Explain which should have a higher priority, keeping inflation at a low level or unemployment at a low level?

Ch 17 - The Minimum Wage

Should the United States have a 'minimum wage'?
If not, explain why not.
If so, explain why and who- the federal or state government- should set the minimum wage?

Ch 17 - Federal Government Regulation of the Economy

In what ways does the federal government regulate the economy?
Does the federal government regulate the economy too much? Too little? or about the right amount? Explain your answer.  

Ch 17 - The American Economy

Define 'capitalism'.
Define 'mixed economy'.
Decide and defend what type of economic system we have and should have.

Ch 16 - Length of a Judges Term

Explain why federal judges, including those on the Supreme Court, should or should not have lifetime tenure.

Ch 16 - Judicial Philosophy

What is judicial restraint?
What is Judicial activism?
Explain what philosophy do you think judges should follow?

Ch 16 - Original Intent

Should judges base their ruling on 'original intent'? Explain.

Ch 16 - Supreme Court Decisions

Identified and expand upon the different types of Supreme Court decisions & opinions?

Ch 16 - Selecting a Supreme Court Case

What is a 'writ of certiorari'?
What is the rule of four?
Is  it right that the Supreme Court can limit the cases it reviews?

Ch 16 - Senatorial Courtesy

What is 'senatorial courtesy'?
Explain why 'senatorial courtesy' plays an important role in the nomination and appointment of federal judges or why we should get rid of that practice?

Ch 16 - The U.S. Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has original and appellate jurisdiction, which one is more common and why?
What types of cases does the USSC have original jurisdiction over?

Ch 16 Federal Courts of Appeal

What is the role of an appeal court?
How many federal courts of appeal are there?

Ch 16 - Federal District Courts

What is the jurisdiction of federal district courts?
Should their jurisdiction be increased or decreased? Explain.

Ch 16 - Jurisdiction

What is 'jurisdiction'?
Name three types of Jurisidiction.

Ch 16 - Amicus Curiae Briefs

What is a amicus curiae brief?
Should amicus curiae briefs be allowed? Explain why or why not.

Ch 16 - Litigants

What is 'plaintiff'?
What is a 'defendant'?
What name, title, or group  goes first in the lawsuit?
What does it mean to have 'standing to sue'?

Ch 15 - Iron Triangles & Issue Networks

What is an 'iron triangle'?
What is an 'issue network'?
Explain if these 'subgovernments' are  good or bad for the American political system?

Ch 15 - Deregulation

What are some reasons given for deregulation?

Explain whether you agree or disagree with the idea of deregulation.

Ch 15 - Privatization

Should the federal government 'privatize' some functions?
If yes, which ones and why.
If no, explain why not.

Ch 15 - Bureaucratic Problems

Identify and explain some of the problems bureaucracies have with implemented laws and programs.

Ch 15 - Independent Executive Agencies

What are Independent Executive Agencies?
Do we have too many Independent Executive Agencies? Too few Independent Executive Agencies? Or about the right amount of Independent Executive Agencies? Explain.

Ch 15 - Government Corporations

What are Government Corporations?
List two examples of Government Corporations.
Do we need to expand Government Corporations? Eliminate Government Corporations? Or keep the number and role of Government Corporations about the same?

Ch 15 - Independent Regulatory Commissions

What are Independent Regulatory Commissions?
Do Independent Regulatory Commissions have too much power?

Ch 15 - The Hatch Act

What is the Hatch Act?
Explain why you agree or disagree with the provision.

Ch 15 - Pendleton Act

What did the Pendleton Act do?
Was the Pendleton Act a mistake?
What system is better for a bureaucracy - the 'spoils' system' or the 'merit system'?

Ch 15 - Myths About Bureaucracy

What are some 'bureaucratic myths' listed in the book?
Do you agree or diagree that these 'myths' are just that, false beliefs about the bureaucracy or are they accurate?

Ch 14 - Reforming the Budget Process

What did the Congressional Budget & Impoundment Control Act of 1974 accomplish?
Were the changes for the better/ Defend your answer.

Ch 14 - The Budget Process

What groups are involved in the creation of the federal budget?
Which of these groups are most important?

Ch 14 - Medicare

What is Medicare?
Can we afford Medicare the way it is currently funded?
How should Medicare be changed?

Ch 14 - Social Security

Is Social Security, the way it is currently administered, sustainable? If so, explain. If not, what would you change?

Ch 14 - Social Spending

Do we spend too much on the social services? Too little? About the right amount? Justify your answer.

Ch 14 - Military Spending

Do we spend too much on the military? Too little? About the right amount? Justify your answer.

Ch 14 - Tax Reform

What type of 'tax reform', if any, do you support? Explain why.

Ch 14 - Tax Expenditures

Define Tax Expenditures.
Should we eliminate Tax Expenditures? Explain why or why not.

Ch 14 - Progressive or Regressive

What type of taxes are 'progressive'? 'Regressive'?
Explain if 'progressive' or 'regressive' taxes are fair?

Ch 14 - Federal Revenue

What are the major 'revenue streams' for the Federal Government?

Ch 14 - Deficit and Debt Difference

What is the difference between deficit and debt? Which one is a better measure of government budgeting?

Ch 13 - Presidential Checks

What are some of the checks on presidential power that the legislative and judicial branches have over the President?

Ch 13 - Presidential Terms

How long is the term for the President?
Which amendment limits to the President to two elected terms?
Do you think we should keep that amendment?

Ch 13 - Presidential Power

Is the President too powerful?
What formal and informal powers does the President have?
Which ones are most important?

Ch 13 - War Powers

Is the War Powers Act of 1973 constitutional? Explain your answer.

Ch 13 - Presidents and Mid-Term Elections

The political party of the president usually gains seats during presidential election years and they usually lose congressional seats during mid-term elections years, why do you think this happens?

Ch 13 - Presidential Coattails

Do you think that 'presidential coattails' are still in affect today?

Ch 13 - Presidential Roles

Identify and explain the major roles of the Presidency and explain which role or roles you think are most important.

Ch 13 - The Executive Office

Name the the different groups within The  Executive Office of the President? Explain which one is most important.

Ch 13 - The Cabinet

What is the role of the cabinet? Do we have too many cabinet-level positions?

Ch 13 - The Vice President

What are the formal and informal roles of the Vice-President? Do we need a vice-president in today's world?

Ch 13 - Expansion of Presidential Power

Why has the power of the Presidency increased since the writing of the Constitution?

Ch 13 - Impeachment

Should impeachment be used? Why or why not? Under what conditions?

Ch 13 - Presidential Prerequisites

What do you think is the best path to the Presidency- Congressional experience? Governorship? Military experience? Business experience? International diplomacy?

Ch 12 - Effectiveness of Congress

Is Congress an effective institution. Give specific examples comparing Congress to other aspects of American society while explaining your answer.

Ch 12 - Speaker of the House

What are the formal powers that make the Speaker of the House a powerful position?

Ch 12 - Political Parties & Congress

Do political parties play too large of a role in the organization and operation of Congress? Explain why or why not.

Ch 12 - Committees

Explain which committee do you think is more important the House Rules Committee (a standing committee) or a Conference Committee (a joint select committee)?

Ch 12 - Filibuster

Do you think that the filibuster is undemocratic?  Explain if the rule by continued or disallowed?

Ch 12 - Seniority System

Is the seniority system effective? Defend your position.

Ch 12 - Committee Chairs

Do committee chairs have too much power? Not enough power? Or about the right amount of power?

Ch 12 - The Committee System

What are the different types of committees? Identify three committees in the House and in the Senate.

Ch 12 - Congressional Leadership

What are the major leadership position in Congress? Identify and explain which one do you think is most important.

Ch 12 - House and Senate Differences

Identify four differences bewteen the House and Senate. What difference do you think is most important and why?

Ch 12 - Bicameralism

What is bicameralism? Why did the United States select this type of organization? Would it be better for the United States if we did away with our bicameral system?

Ch 12 - Term Limits

What are some arguements for and against 'term limits'? What do you think?

Ch 12 - Relection

What incumbent 'advantage' do you think is most important?

Ch 12 - Incumbents

Why do incumbents win elections so often? Is this a good or bad thing for American democracy?

Ch 12 - Congressional Demographics

As far as gender, race, religion, education, and occupation is congress 'representative'? Does it matter?

Ch 12 - Congressional Pay

What is the salary and benefits (perks) for members of Congress? Is it too much? too little? Or about right? Explain.

Ch 11 - Lobbyists

What are some of the 'services' provided by lobbyists to government officials.

Ch 11 - Union Shops

Explain whether you think 'union shop' rules should be allowed to be written into contracts or should 'right-to-work' laws be enacted.

Ch 11 - Types of Interest Groups

Identify and explain the four major types of interest groups.

Ch 11 - The Efforts of Interest Group

What are the four major ways interest groups try to influence public policy in the American political system?
Which method is most effective?

Ch 11 - Problems Within Interest Groups

Do you agree or disagree with Olson's 'law of large groups'? Explain.
Do you think the 'free-rider problem' is really a problem for interest groups?

Ch 11 - Sucessful Groups

Name a characteristic that can make an interest group sucessful.

Ch 11 - Linking Institutions

What are the differences between interest groups and political parties?

Ch 11 - Interest Group Theory

There are three major theories about interest groups- pluralist, elite, and hyperpluralist. Select one theory and explain why you agree or disagree with that theory.

Ch 11 - Interest Group Definitions

Define one of the following:
Interest Group
Pluralist Theory of Interest Groups
Elite Theory of Interest Groups
Hyperpluralist Theory of Interest Groups

Ch 9 - The Permanent Campaign

Explain whether you agree or disagree you agree with Sideny Blumenthal's 'permanent campiagn' thesis.

Ch 9 -Frontloading

Is 'frontloading' a problem in the presidential primary system?

Ch 9 - Being First

What state holds the first Caucus? What state holds the first primary? Explain if you believe these events important or overstated?

Ch 9 - Campaign Financing Groups

What are 527 groups? PACs? and SuperPACs? When funding campaigns explain if you think their role is too small, too large or just right? Explain.

Ch 9 - Campaign Financing

Is campaign finance reform needed? Explain?

Ch 9 - Media & Nominations

Which type of media - TV, Radio, Internet, or Direct Mailings - is most beneficial to candidates?

Ch 9 - Alternative Presidential Primary Systems

If you were given a choice of a national primary or a series of regional primaries, which would you choose and why?

Ch 9 - Presidential Primary System

Is the current presidential primary system effective? Explain you answer.

Ch 9 - Caucuses & Primaries

Explain which nomination system you prefer- caucus or primary.

Ch 8 - Third Parties

Does the American political system need a viable 'third' party? Explain.

Ch 8 - Winner Take All System

Is it time to get rid of the American 'winner-take-all' system?

Ch 8 - Critical Elections

Do you think there will be a 'critical election' that will cause 'party realignment' in 2016? Explain your answer.

Ch 8 - Primaries

What kind of primary do you think is best - closed? open? or blanket?

Ch 8 - What is ticket splitting? What role does it play in American politics?

Ch 8 - Rational-Choice Theory

Explain why you accept or reject the 'rational-choice theory.

Ch 8 - Tasks of a Political Party

Which role of a political party is most important?

Ch 8 - Types of Linkage Institutions

Which of the four types of 'linkage institutions' do you think is most important? Which one is least important?

Ch 8 - Linkage Institutions

What are 'linkage institutions'?

Ch 8 - Party Competition

What is 'party competition'? What role does in play in American politics?