American Government
Mr. Bekemeyer
Introducing Government in America / Public Opinion
Political Action (CHAPTERS 1 & 6)
(Unit I Exam -- Review)
Chapter 1
1.What are public policies? Describe the policy-making system. Give
two examples. (Pgs. 11 - 13)
2.What are some of the shared fundamental values of Americans?
Explain American political culture. (Pg. 20, NG)
3.What is government? What are public goods? What should government provide for its citizens? How much does government cost
its citizens? (Pgs. 8-9, NG)
4.What are the three key points to Carpini and Keeter's arguments on the
importance of staying informed about public affairs? (Pg. 4)
5.Explain the Divine Right Theory. (James I)(NG)
6.According to Thomas Hobbes, author of Leviathan, what was the "state of nature?" How do we overcome the "state of nature?" What do we
give up? (Leviathan, NG)
7.Explain the role of Greece and Rome in the advance of democratic thought. What was Aristotle's view of government? Is there a modern
example of Aristotelian democracy in the United States? (NG)
8.Why does voter turn-out matter? (Pg. 5)
9.Explain the notion of Freedom, Order, and Equity. (Be complete and
you should be able to provide two public policy examples of each.
(Check your examples w/ Mr. B if unsure.) (NG)
10.Explain how the American frontier created individualism. (Pg. 21)
11.Explain the Majoritarian model (be sure to explain referendum,
initiative). (NG)
12.Pluralism? Hyperpluralsim? Elite theory? (Pgs. 15 - 18, NG)
13.What is a linkage institution? Describe the policy agenda. Provide
examples of linkage institutions and the policy agenda.What are the
policymaking institutions? (Pgs. 11 - 13, NG)
14.Describe Democracy. What is the definition of democracy we use in
class? (Pg. 14, NG)
15.Using the text, what are the modern challenges to Democracy? (Pg. 18)
16.How does Abraham Lincoln summarize democracy? Explain.
(Pgs. 21 - 22, NG)
17.What are the five elements Robert Dahl's Traditional Democratic
Theory? (Pg. 15, NG)
18.Explain what is meant when we say that the fundamental worth of the
individual must be of overriding importance. (NG)
19.How is it going? These review sheets can sure drag …
20.Explain individual v. society. What is meant by "equality of all
persons?" (NG)
21.In terms of equality, what does democracy attempt to guarantee? (NG)
22.What are two things we can say about majority rule? Is it always
perfect? Describe the process. (NG)
23.What is the danger of majority rule? What must the majority guarantee
the minority? (NG)
24.How did the Constitutional framers feel about Democracy?
(Pg. 14, NG)
25.Can democracy survive when the rights of one group are usurped by
another (lawful or otherwise)? (NG)
26.Explain the notion of balance between the rights of the individual and
the rights of the society. (NG)
27.Explain why the free exchange of ideas is so vital to a democracy.
(NG)
28.What was the modern dilemma and the original dilemma? (NG)
29.Describe the bases of individual power. (see reading)
30.What are the challenges to democracy? (Pgs. 18 - 19, NG)
31.Explain the concept of "culture war." (Pg. 22, WebQuest)
32.How active is the American government? (Pg. 24)
Chapter 6
1.Define public opinion. (Pg. 178, NG)
2.Explain Majoritarian and Pluralist model of public opinion (NG)
3.Define political socialization. (NG)
4.What is the role of media in political socialization? (NG)
5.Define terms like melting pot, minority majority, and describe the immigrant society. Why do immigrants immigrate to the United
States?(Pgs. 179 - 183, NG)
6.What is the census or "enumeration" and describe reapportionment.
(Pgs. 178 & 183, NG)
7.Discuss the change in trust toward the government. (Pgs. 193-195)
8.Discuss the difference between liberals and conservatives. (Pgs. 196 -
197, NG, in-class work)
9.Describe the American publics' attitude toward the scope of
government.(Pg. 206 - 207)
10.Describe the "Graying of America." (Pgs. 183 - 184, NG)
11.What is the most important force in political socialization?
(Pgs. 184 - 188, NG)
12.How do political events shape opinion? (NG)
13.Define generational effects. Give an example or two. (NG)
14.How do leaders influence opinion? (NG)
15.How do various demographic traits influence opinion? (NG)
16.Define the gender gap. How do women tend to feel about certain
issues? (NG)
17.Define opinion poll. Define sample, random sampling, sampling error,
random-digit dialing, exit poll. (Pgs. 189 - 193, NG)
18.Who uses opinion polls? Why? Who developed scientific polling?
(NG)
19.Explain how an opinion poll operates. What are some legitimate
concerns about polls? (Pgs. 191 - 192, NG)
20.Evaluate the role of polls in American democracy. (Pgs. 191 - 192)
21.Explain why trust in government has declined. (Pgs. 193 - 195)
22.Identify the activities that encompass political participation in the
United States. (Pgs. 200 - 206)
32.Distinguish between conventional and unconventional types of political
participation. (Pgs. 200 - 206)
33.Show how nonviolent civil disobedience was one of the most effective techniques of the civil rights movement in the American South.
(Pgs.202 - 203)
34.Explain what political scientists mean when they conclude that Americans are ideological conservatives but operational liberals.
(Pgs.206 - 207)
*Key terms (each must be placed on a note card or in electronic form) and defined.
UNIT I – INTRODUCING GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA / PUBLIC OPINION &
POLITICAL ACTION
Power (defined)Government (defined)Liberty
Public goods Politics (defined)Polariztion
Political participation methods Majoritarian politics Republic
Policy agenda Public policy Representative Democracy
Political system defined Political issue Roe v. Wade
Demography Political socialization (agents)
Political culture Exit polls
Political ideology (types) Census / Reapportionment
Public opinion Polling (know different types)
Civil disobedience Political spectrum
Forms of political participation Democracy (Direct and Indirect)
Traditional democratic theory Majority rule
Pluralism Representation
Hyperpluralism Elitism or class theory
PopulismPolicy gridlock
Equality Equality of opportunity
AuthorityLegitimacy