Thursday, March 31, 2011

Essay Set 7.

2000_1)The Constitution was an attempt to address problems of decentralization that were experienced under the Articles of Confederation.
(a) List three problems of decentralized power that existed under the articles of Confederation. For each problem you listed, identify one solution that the Constitution provided to address the problem
(b) Some have argued that the tensions between decentralized and centralized power continue to exist. Support this argument by explaining how one of the following illustrates the continuing tension.

• Environmental policy
• Gun control
• Disability access


2002_1 The concept of divided government in the United States means that one political party can control the executive branch while another controls the legislative branch. This poses problems for the President in Making appointments to federal offices.
(a) Describe two problems that divided government poses for the President in making federal appointments.
(b) Identify and explain two ways presidents try to overcome the problems described in (a)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18 terms.
Do 15 pages. I think this takes you through 'TANF'
Essays are also posted.

1. Premise of 2 income trap
2. The working poor
3. Safety net
4. Survey about your wealth and fortune
5. Social welfare programs
6. Money to non poor
7. Entitlement program
8. Means tested programs
9. Conflict over means tested progras
10. ‘deserving poor’
11. purchasing power of US
12. income gap in us
13. explain table 18.1
14. income distribution
15. income
16. wealth
17. who is rich
18. poverty line
19. pov line for family of 3.
20. Who has experienced a year of poverty
21. Barbara Ehrenreich
22. For whom is poverty more ommon
23. How many Homeless
24. Poverty by race (table 18.2)
25. Feminization of poverty
26. What is the superhighway to poverty
27. Progressive tax
28. Proportional tax
29. Regressive tax
30. EITC
31. Transfer payment
32. Soc. Security Act
33. Marten Gilens
34. Media and ‘race coding’
35. PRWORA
36. TANF
37. FDR’s goal for policy
38. Change in Ratio of workers to Recipients
39. Social Security Trust fund.
40. Life span and social security

essa set 6

2006_3 The United States Congress and the President together have the power to enact federal law. Federal bureaucratic agencies have the responsibility to execute federal law. However, in the carrying out of these laws, federal agencies have policy-making discretion.
A Explain two reasons why Congress gives federal agencies policy – making discretion in executing federal laws.
B Choose one of the bureaucratic agencies listed below. Identify the policy area over which it exercises policy making discretion and give one example of how it exercises that discretion.
EPA
FCC
Federal Reserve Board

C Describe two ways in which Congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent.


2006_4 The Framers of the US Constitution created a legislative system that is bicvameral. However, it is not just bicameral; the framers also establishd two houses of distinctly different character and authority.

A Discuss 2 reasons why the framers created a bicameral legislature.
B Identify one power unique to the House, and explain why the framers gave the House that power.
C Identify one power unique to the Senate and explain why the framers gave the Senate that power

Friday, March 11, 2011

Notes and News

Silver Day has a PRACTICE AP TEST on MONDAY, 14 March.
Green Day has a PRACTICE AP TEST on TUESDAY, 15 March.

Both classes are invited to an Test Review, Sunday, 4 PM, in the commons.
1 hour review. Be prompt, please.

The ESSAY from the test will be from the 8 we have gone over thus far.
Here are the last 2.
Essay will be a random draw.

(2005_1)The Judicial branch is designed to be more independent of public opinion than are the legislature or the executive.. Yet, the US Supreme Court rarely deviates too far for too long from prevalent public opinion.
(a) Describe two ways in which the United States Supreme Court is insulated from public opinion.
(b) Explain how two factors work to keep the US Supreme Court from deviating too far from public opinion.



(2005_2)The power of the federal government relative to the power of the states has increased since the ratification of the Constitution.
(a) Describe two of the following provisions of the Constitution and explain how each has been used over time to expand federal power.
• The power to tax and spend
• The ‘necessary and proper clause’ or ‘elastic clause’
• The commerce clause

(b) Explain how one of the following has increased the power of the federal government relative to the power of the state governments.
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Clean Air Act.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

rest of 16 make sure you can answer all of these

Finish Outlining the chapter, or...
Complete the following questions, 34-48.


1. 2 kinds of court cases? Explain.

2. 3 types of participants in Judicial System?

3. Jurisdiction of district courts?

4. How many criminal cases go to trial?
5. How many civil cases go to trial?
6. What is a diversity of citizenship case?
7. How many judicial circuits?
8. What is the difference between a judge and a justice?
9. Role of partisanship in selection of judges?
10. Define the following:
11. Standing to Sue
12. Class action suits
13. Justiciable disputes
14. Amicus curiae brief
15. Original jurisdiction
16. Appellate jurisdiction
17. District courts
18. Court of appeal
19. Supreme court
20. Senatorial Courtesy
21. How many cases submitted to supreme court each year?
22. Explain writ of certiorari?
23. Explain what court cases are likely to be selected by the courts?
24. Define solicitor General?
25. How many cases heard each year?
26. Define Per curiam decision?
27. Define amicus curiae briefs?
28. Define opinion?
29. Who writes the opinion?
30. Dissenting opinion?
31. Concurring opinion?
32. Stare decisis?
33. Precedents?
34. Can the court over rule it’s own decisions. Give example.
35. Define judicial implementation.
36. Define original intent
37. Define the 3 eras of Courts and policies (p. 526)
38. Explain Marbury v. Madison.
39. Define judicial review?
40. Explain the ‘9 old men’
41. What was the role of the warren court?
42. Explain the character of the Burger Court
43. Explain US v. Nixon
44. How do the courts serve as a check on the tyranny of the majority?
45. Explain judicial restraint?
46. Explain judicial activism.
47. What is the doctrine of political questions?
48. What is statutory construction?

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Essay Outline Set 3

(1999_1)In the 1990’s presidential election campaigns have become more candidate centered and less focused on issues and party labels. The change has been attributed both to how the media cover presidential campaigns and to how candidates use the media. Identify and explain two ways in which the media have contributed to candidate-centered presidential campaigns. Identify and explain two ways in which presidential candidates’ use of the media has contributed to candidate-centered campaigns.

Your answer should not include a discussion of presidential primary elections.


(1999_2)National interest groups often target national-level policymaking institutions to achieve their policy objectives.

Select one of the following national interest groups.
- AARP
- AMA (Medical Association
- NAACP
- NAM (national assoc. of Manufacturers)

For the group you selected do each of the following.
- a identify one major national-level policymaking institution that this group targets.
- b describe one resource or characteristic of the group you have chosen and explain how it influences the choice of the target you have identified in (a)
- c describe another resource or characteristic of the group you have chosen and explain how it influences the choice of the target you have identified in (a).