Class,
Here are about 30 basic themes. This list is not exhaustive, but should serve as a reminder to you as to where we have gone. Thank you,
Pete
2007 Study Guide
Intro to American Gov’t
“Events, dear boy, events”
History
1) Framing of the Country – Escape from Central Gov’t
2) “Tyranny of the Majority” – changing nature of that term
3) States as Key Players; they are the central feature of the Constitution, and the national government derives from them
4) The Civil War Amendments’ greatly expanding the power of the federal government
5) “State Action” requirement of constitutional violation, and the ONE exception to that
6) Locke/Jefferson – roots of political theory
7) Parliament/Monarchy – roots of political practice
8) Conception of equality and how it has changed from 1789 to 2007
Courts
1) Establishment of Judicial Review – facts and aftereffects. Be prepared to detail specifically the facts leading up to the suit being filed. You should know who Marbury was, who Madison was, and who Marshall was.
2) Explain why the suit was filed in the Supreme Court, instead of one of the ‘lower courts’ Congress established.
3) Explain the difference between Appellate and Original Jurisdiction as it relates to MvM and the Judiciary Act.
4) Explain the political tension the court was under (remember – John Marshall was appointed by Adams, who was just defeated by Jefferson). Explain the ‘two bad alternatives’ assumed that the court was under, and explain the ‘third option’ invented by Marshall. And be sure to use its proper name (Hint: J_______ R________).
5) Difference between ‘state courts’ and ‘inferior/lower courts’
6) Describe the meaning of ‘good behavior’ and what it might mean in our context.
7) The Vice President typically presides over the US Senate. In the case of the impeachment of a President, the Chief Justice does. Why do you think this is?
8) What is John Roberts’ job title?
Congress
1) Nature of House v. Senate – which body represents what constituency?
2) Two Chambers compared to England’s Parliament (will also be an ‘executive/presidency question). Why do we have a separation of powers? (Remember English/Colonial history here!)
3) What is the appointment process and how is it similar to passing a bill?
4) How are Senators elected? How were they elected, and why?
5) How are Members of Congress elected, and what process, held each ten years, determines how districts are set up? We spoke recently about an early reference to that process involving slavery and taxes. Be prepared to discuss that reference.
6) Who is the leader of the House of Representatives and who is the Leader of the Senate? Which position do you feel is more important?
7) Explain what processes a Senator can use to prevent something being passed.
Presidency
1) Who elects the President, and how are they chosen?
2) What does the popular vote determine in the several states?
3) What body determines the manner of elections for federal office?
4) Who won the popular vote in the year 2000
5) Who won the popular vote in the year 2004?
6) Name the only two Vice Presidents in history (that we know of…I hear Walter Mondale has a mean temper) to have shot a person while in office.
7) What is the group of people who collectively make up the Executive Branch called, and who hires them?
8) In Iowa, describe our process for selecting candidates for President
9) Be prepared to offer your analyses of the differences between the six top candidates for President
UPDATE, SUNDAY APRIL 22d
T-Th AM Class: We will finish discussing the study guide, which I will hand out on Thursday, and then we'll talk about the exam as the schedule indicates.
Tues PM Class: Please digest the following for next week as promised!! Thanks to a student, I picked up on a typo I made; the Tues night paper for The Bill is due on the 1st of May, as the schedule indicates. Thanks -
THE BILL
17 April 2007
Please use the following questions as a basic outline for
your paper. Do NOT answer these in a 1., 2., 3….format. Rather, use them as a
guide to direct your final reading and writing.
- Explain
the actual process of how a law is passed, as you think was envisioned by
the founders.
- Explain
briefly the process as it is exhibited in The Bill (Do not include interest groups, lobbyists etc yet – I am only seeking the
political and governing process with this part of the analysis.)
- How
does the process of ‘checks and balances’ work in real-life as described
by the author of this book? (Note: Many of you mentioned that the program
created by ‘The Bill’ was cancelled in 1995 according to a passage at the
end of the book. Keeping checks and
balances in mind, is that true?)
- Referring
to question 3, are there elements of governing that are influenced by
people who are not ‘checked and
balanced’? If so, who are they, and what do they do? Is there a role for
power to be exercised by people who are outside of the system?
- Assuming
the answer to question 4 is yes,
please understand that many initial opponents of the President’s plan
would be thought of as generally being supportive
of him generally. What was their cause for concern?
- President
Clinton entered office with tremendous political support, and majorities
in the House and Senate of his party, which is as close to having a King’s powers as our system will
allow. How come he did not get everything he wanted? What about the actual
way Congress is organized slowed his efforts down?
- This
book centers on the national government. Please understand a few ways in
which the state governments are affected by this legislation. Using the 10th
Amendment (Page 606!) as your guide, would the founders have predicted
such a federal relationship to the states? Please consider this as well as
more severe, shall we say, coercive attempts Congress has
successfully made to direct the several legislatures.
- Assume
your analysis of this book ends with The
Bill becoming The Law. Where
is the other branch of government in this process? When a bill has is
signed, is that the end of the story?
Please turn this in at the beginning of class on Tues., 1 May. Please limit your paper to three and one half single-spaced typed pages,
12 pt font, 1 inch margins, including header and footnotes. If you prefer
double-spacing, please feel free to hand in seven such pages.
Do not feel obliged to cite general knowledge or things we
spoke over in class. Do cite any pages you are referring to in The Bill, and also cite any specific text/quotes from other sources
you may use. For citing passages in The Bill, please use this site as a aide. It's not a substitute for using a citation handbook, but it'll familiarize you with the process (I suspect your comp lectures will really not like this, but - we're not in comp!)
There are no late papers accepted without a prior phone call
or email to me. As always, feel free to call me at (319) 961-1260 or email at pete@mcroberts.com . THANK YOU.
Finals Schedule and Other Info
Class,
we are on the home stretch. I hope that this schedule helps you prepare
for this next full month. I have every faith that each of you will do a
good job, not only on your exam, but during these weeks in which heavy
participation is required.
Please
note that there are two schedules listed below, one for the Tues/Thurs
AM course, and one for Tues PM. Also please note that the Tues/Thurs
class will meet in Black Hawk Hall as we ordinarily would on Tues AM,
but will then move to our new room in Grundy 203. For the Thurs. PM
class, there is no change.
Also
please note that although I make every attempt to check my email once a
day, that is no longer the best way to reach me. If you have a
question, please feel free to call me locally at 961-1260. I encourage you to do so when you have a question.
Now, let’s get started!
Tuesday/Thursday:
Tues 10 Apr: Written M v M questions (see below) and finish The Bill discussion.
Th 12 Apr: Talk about M v M
Tues 17 Apr: Ch. 11 (The Presidency)
Th 19 Apr: M v M paper due, discuss study guide
Tues 24 Apr: I hand out study guide
Th 26 Apr: Discuss exam
1 Apr: Oral Exam
8 Apr: Final Exam
Tues Night Class:
10 Apr: Ch. 11 (The Presidency)
17 Apr: Bill Discussion (I will also hand out written questions for Bill paper)
24 Apr: Oral Exam Study Guide
1 May: Discuss Oral Exam, turn in Bill paper
8 May: Oral (Final) Exam
For Tuesday, 10 Apr AM Class, please use the following as a guide for your Marbury v. Madison
written assignment. This is not a series of questions, rather a
reminder as to main issues we’ve discussed. Please give me a two page,
single spaced paper, with five questions you have raised during our
discussions and through the reminders below. Then, answer them! Your
paper should have no more than one inch margins and have 12 point font.
You have a lot of leeway with this – simply put, spot issues,
describe them, then answer the questions you have raised in the context
of our classroom lectures and your own thoughts.
As a reminder,
Facts:
History and Constitutional Basis for the Supreme Court
Constitutional Limits on the Court’s Power
Facts Behind Marbury v. Madison
The Change in the Court’s Power
How does a case reach the Supreme Court and how is it decided?
Analysis:
Persuasion – then and now – what’s the power of the court?
What does Judicial Review really mean?
The majority on the Court has changed several times in the past years. As a
result, decisions made in the past – were they done today – would turn
out differently. As a result, the Court clearly has the power to change
the law at their discretion. Do they? If so, why, and if not, why not?
