Objectives for Roesler’s POL 101 Final

Note: the final is comprehensive, so this is only for those topics since the midterm

be sure to ask to review your midterm a week or two before the final if I don't suggest it

the comedy clips are optional, but are helpful in understanding the material


Chapter 6 

  1. Discuss problems of opinion polling, such as push polls and the bandwagon effect.
  2. In chapter 6, the text shows how a question is asked can garner differing results.  Why were the results so different?
  3. Explain the two different models of ideology (linear and EFO).  Which better explains ideology in the US?  You should watch the ideology minilecture.
  4. Discuss the importance of key agents of political socialization: family, schools, peers and the media.  Which is the most important in shaping long-term attitudes?


Chapter 7  -- only the first 5 of these 

  1. How has the rise of adversarial journalism changed how the media covers politicians?
  2. Why did the Supreme Court rule the CDA unconstitutional?   CBS was fined $500,000 last year for showing Janet Jackson's nipple for a fraction of a second.  Why is there a discrepency between broadcast media and the internet?
  3. Given that the modern media is usually a for-profit business, how would that affect what the news covers and its ‘bias’? 
  4. Read the box titled "Crime, Violence & National Security on Television" on page 562 (ch 14) of the text and the Newsweek article on "24".  Discuss the impact of television on Americans' fears and support for expanded police powers.  Is there a difference between those who get their news from television and those who read the newspaper?
  5. Read this press release from the PIPA website about American misperceptions on Iraq and explain how people who watch supposedly liberal CBS and conservative FOX are almost equally misinformed about Iraq.  What does this suggest about how well-informed we are about the world?
  6. Watch the Talking Points clip.  How does this clip illustrate a growing sophistication in media manipulation on the part of politicians. 
  7. Watch these clips on the mainstream news media: Oprah & Jon Stewart on 60 Minutes. How does Jon Stewart explain winning the "Best News" program award?  Do you agree with his harsh criticism of the mainstream press?

Chapter 8 
  1. What factors affect voter turnout?  Compare turnout in the US with that in other countries? (Figure 8.3)
  2. Discuss the history of voting restrictions, including recent attempts to ease voting restrictions.
  3. Which groups are most likely to participate in politics?

Chapter 9 

  1. Distinguish between a political party and an interest group.
  2. In terms of groups affiliations (race, gender, socioeconomic status), who are ‘typical’ Democrats and Republicans?  Also see figure 9.5
  3. What factors perpetuate the two-party system in the US (i.e. why is it hard for 3rd party candidates to win)?  Discuss the impact & role of 3rd parties. 
  4. What role do parties play in the US & other democracies?  Compare “responsible party government” with “divided government.”
  5. Briefly explain the structure of the two main parties.

 

Chapters 10 & Campaign Finance Reform Video & Electoral Variations Article

  1. Discuss the role of money in elections and politics.  How has modern technology affected the need for money in campaigns?
  2. Do donations by companies like Enron or MBNA buy influence or only access?
  3. Based on readings and videos, discuss ways interest groups and candidates have used to circumvent campaign finance laws (such as the Federal Election Campaign Act) after the Buckley v Valeo decision. 
  4. How has the 2002 McCain-Feingold law tried to address these questions?   Do you think the restrictions in this bill are a good idea?   Are they constitutional?
  5. How has the selection process for candidates changed over the years?
  6. Watch this NOW clip on voting problems and this silly Daily Show clip and discuss the two voting problems they illustrate (for voter registration and the voting process itself).  Discuss one benefit of electronic voting?  In your opinion, how hard would you make it to vote (voter registration standards)?  Should there be national voting standards?
  7. Watch this NOW clip on Public financing for campaigns.  What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Maine & Arizona approaches?
  8. What was the framers’ reason for creating the Electoral College to select the president?   Discuss other approaches to selecting a president.  (listen to Electoral Variations to answer this question; if you have trouble with the NPR site, try this link).  You can also go here for a map of the 2004 swing states (some students had trouble accessing it on my Electoral Variations assignment).*
  9. Discuss gerrymandering.  What has been the impact of court rulings such as Baker v Carr, Wesberry v Sanders, Shaw v Reno and Miller v Johnson (chapter 12) on redistricting and gerrymandering?  Do you think the redistricting process is fair?  Based on this NPR clip.  (or go here if you have trouble witht the NPR site), what are the advantages of Iowa's unusual approach to redistricting process? 

 

* Listen to Electoral Variations at NPR's website.   If you have trouble streaming that file, you can go here, instead


Interesting stltoday  article on the Bradley effect (Eric Mink) 10/29/2008
 
Also, http://www.selectsmart.com/politics.html has a great site for comparing your views on issues with various presidential candidates.  It's a bit simplistic, but they have to be to be short. The direct link is: http://www.selectsmart.com/president/2008.html   

Chapter 12 --Watch Mr. Bill  

  1. How does representation differ between the House of Representatives and the Senate?
  2. Explain how and why the House is a more formally structured institution.
  3. In what way are both the Delegate and Trustee views of representation democratic?  Does Congress represent average Americans or wealthy special interests?
  4. Even though Americans are pretty evenly divided, aren't many close US House races. Go to this CNN map and click on Missouri to see the 2008 outcome of US House races in Missouri.  What impact does  redistricting to create "safe seats" have on such (mostly) lopsided races?   (also see ch. 10) 
  5. Discuss the role of congressional parties, leaders and committees in the legislative process.
  6. What are the main roles/powers of Congress?
  7. Briefly explain how a bill becomes a law.
  8. What has been the impact of court rulings on redistricting and gerrymandering?  (same question that was in ch.10)  


Chapter 13 - go here for history of presidential ads;  

  1. Discuss the expresed, delegated & inherent powers of the President.  New for Spring 09: Do you think the framers would approve of recent presidents using more unilateral tools, such as executive orders?
  2. Disucss other resources and tools the president can use to promote his policies. 
  3. Watch this clip on redefining wetlands.  How does this illustrate the power of the president?
  4. Read the discussion of the President's war powers.  What advantages have allowed presidents gradually to control foreign policy?
    1. At times the Congress has been the dominate branch of government. At other times, the President has been. Why do you think it has changed?
  5. Distinguish between presidential and parliamentary systems of governance.

For a different perspective on Presidential elections, listen to this NPR clip on a Republican's view of French elections.  If you have trouble with thet link, go here.


Chapter 18 

  1. Which branch traditionally sets foreign policy?  Watch this clip  on the Military Industrial Complex.and discuss other influences on foreign policy besides the president.
  2. Discuss how American foreign policy has changed since George Washington's presidency.
  3. Since his inauguration, President Bush has tended to act unilaterally, such as adopting the preemptive doctrine, abandoning the ABM treaty and attacking Iraq without UN approval.  Is Bush's foreign policy best explained as an example of Holy Alliance or Napoleonic Unilateralism foreign policy?

Chapter 14 -- Colbert Report clip on Wetlands definition; and this on Monopoly.

  1. Watch this Colbert clip on Mad Cow testing.  Why don't we test every cow for Mad Cow Disease?  How does this reflect the general dilemna over bureaucracy (in other words, why don't we inspect every shipping container or remove all insect heads from our fig newtons?  Go here for more information on what the government allows in food.
  2. Understand the organization of the federal government bureaucracy (cabinet departments, independent agencies, government corporations & regulatory agencies).
  3. Discuss the bureaucratic challenges that limit the President's control of the bureaucracy.  How do iron triangles and the desire for oversight affected the President's ability to get his agenda through Congress?
  4. Why is Congress’ oversight role so important in creating an effective, responsive bureaucracy? 
  5. How does government secrecy, especially secrets withheld from Congress, make our government less democratic? 
  6. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of devolution and privatization.

Chapter 15

  1. Explain the rule of law, stare decisis, amicus curiae and certiorari.
  2. What was the impact of Marbury v Madison on the power of the Supreme Court?
  3. Listen to this article and distinguish between Strict versus Broad Constructionists.  
  4. Distinguish between Judicial Activism and Judicial Restraint.  Cite examples of both types of rulings.  Based on the above article, in recent years, which judges have been the most activist (striking down laws)?
  5. Understand the Supreme Court procedures for choosing and deciding cases.


Chapters 16 & 17 & 60 Minutes: Where have all the addicts gone?  

  1. The US government plays a much smaller role in domestic affairs (economic and social policies) than most other Western democratic governments.  How would political culture & values explain this? (Also see chapters 6 & 1).
  2. How does our approach to Welfare (& the 1996 Welfare Reform Act)  reflect our political culture (see question 1)?
  3. What impact is welfare reform on the number of people on welfare?  Considering the rising costs of health care and child care, what is the likely impact of welfare reform on child poverty?
  4. Compare health care approaches in the US and Canada after reading "Paying More, Living Less." How does our approach fit in with our political culture and values?  Be sure to look at the "statistics columns" from the WHO's pages:  
     http://www.who.int/countries/usa/en/ and  http://www.who.int/countries/can/en/ . 
  5. The "2002 No Child Left Behind Act" dramatically increased the role of the federal government in education. List some benefits and drawbacks to having the federal government play a larger role in education.
  6. Discuss the ways government can affect the economy: Regulation, Fiscal & Monetary policy
  7. Distinguish between progressive and regressive taxes.  Do you agree with Susan Pace Hamill argument in the article What Would Jesus Tax?
  8. Watch 60 Minutes: Where have all the addicts gone? and discuss the approach that Switzerland has taken towards drug policy.  What are the benefits and drawbacks of that system?  Would you change our approach to drug policy? (If you want more info -- this part is not required!--  read this article: "A Fix But No Cure..." and this one: Swiss_heroin_model_reporting_benefits)

Possible Long Essay Questions: 2 will be on the exam, and you will answer one.
2 -3 pages;  30 points

  1. The framers worried that creating a strong, democratic government could lead to a tyranny of the majority.  Discuss how the selection of leaders and the structure of government eased those fears.   Be sure to include the following in your answer:  indirect democracy, separation of powers, checks and balances, and civil liberties. Discuss the powers claimed by President Bush (such as military tribunals of terrorism suspects).  Should the government be forced to get a warrant to conduct searches in terrorism (or any criminal) cases as long as the war on terrorism continues?  Do you think these powers are constitutional?  How would the framers feel about this more powerful national government?   How powerful do YOU think the federal government should be?   
  2. Discuss this role the US government has played in social policies such as health care, education, poverty and Social Security. Health care is likely to be a major issue in the 2008 election.  How does our approach to health care  fit in with our political culture? Based on the assigned article and WHO statistics, compare health statistics in the US to that in other countries in terms of cost, life expectancy, and child mortality rates.   What should be the role of the US government?   In other words, should the government provide social safety nets or should Americans take individual responsibility for what happens to them?   In your opinion, should every American be able to get health care?
  3. Explain how the framers set up the selection of the President and the Senators (since changed).  Why didn't they make the US more democratic?   How does the influence of money affect politics today (give examples)? Based on this NOW clip,  explain how public financing works in Maine and Arizona.  In what way would public financing campaigns make America more democratic?  Should America be more democratic?  Why or why not?  If so, how? 

Cases to know for the final : study by using the above questions, but make sure that you know the significance of these cases (which are related to the above questions).

CASES:

Buckley v Valeo                              Jones v Clinton                                          Baker v. Carr

US v. Nixon                                    Shaw v Reno 

Clinton v NY City (line item veto)    Bush v Gore                                              Marbury v Madison