COURTS - Cram for the Exam

Making COURTS TENable

As you begin to CRAM for your EXAM think about the following key terms. Can you identify the significance of these words?

Rule of Law

Justice is Blind
Selective Incorporation
Opinion of the Court
Voting Blocs
Borked
Amicus Curiae Brief
Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
Oversight
Litmus Test
Jurisprudence

COURTS Placemat

Check Out USTREAM review from 2010.

Stay tuned for more information regarding the 2011 USTREAM review coming Monday night May 9.

CONGRESS - Cram for the Exam

Making CONGRESS TENable

As you begin to CRAM for your EXAM think about the following key terms. Can you identify the significance of these words?

Cup and Saucer

Necessary and Proper Clause
Amendment Process
Constituent Service
Gerrymandering
Leadership
Logrolling
Franking
Legislative Process
Iron Triangle
Commerce Clause

CONGRESS Placemat

CIVICS TERM-ament

INCUMBENCY WINS!

Check out the Final 4 Bracket
Check out the East Regional Bracket
Check out the West Regional Bracket
Check out the Southwest Regional Bracket
Check out the Southeast Regional Bracket

Making American Government TENable now on your TABLET

We are trying to make American government and politics more TENable, more understandable. Now available DOWNLOADABLE eBOOKS for your TABLETS.

Check out the following eBOOKS using any of your tablet devices. Access this website from your iPAD or iPHONE and download the following eBOOKS and begin to Cram for the Exam..

Foundations click here
Federalism click here
Public Opinion click here
Participation click here
Political Parties click here
Campaigns click here
President click here
Congress click here
Interest Groups click here
Courts click here

PRESIDENT - Cram for the Exam

Making the EXECUTIVE BRANCH TENable

As you begin to CRAM for your EXAM think about the following key terms. Can you identify the significance of these words?

Bully Pulpit

Energetic President
Bureaucracy
Impeachment
Electoral Mandate
State of the Union
Revolving Door
Coattails
Veto
Presidential Roles
U.S. v. Nixon (1974)

EXECUTIVE BRANCH Placemat

CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS - Cram for the Exam

Making CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS TENable

As you begin to CRAM for your EXAM think about the following key terms. Can you identify the significance of these words?

Handlers

Presidential/Midterm
Motor Voter Bill
Horserace Journalism
Bandwagon Effect
Hard/Soft Money
PACs
Cattle Show
Incumbency
Pseudo Events
Bush v. Gore (2000)

CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS Placemat

INTEREST GROUPS - Cram for the Exam

Making INTEREST GROUPS TENable



As you begin to CRAM for your EXAM think about the following key terms. Can you identify the significance of these words?

Mother’s Milk of Politics [Money]

Minority Rights
Access Points
Silent Vote
527s
Single Issue Voting
K Street
Approval Ratings
Lobbying
Executive Orders/Agreements
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

INTEREST GROUPS Placemat

MAKING GOVERNMENT TENable - 0ne word at a time

Below the ten major themes of American government and politics are discussed one word at a time. Each theme has a primary word followed by ten additional words. Together they make a primer for American government. Together they help to make American government and politics tenable, more understandable.













Making American Government and Politics TENable - Use this TENable Placemat for review

POLITICAL PARTIES - Cram for the Exam

Making POLITICAL PARTIES TENable

As you begin to CRAM for your EXAM think about the following key terms. Can you identify the significance of these words?

Big Tent

Divided Government
Party Machine
Labels
2 Party System
Base/Rank & File
Platforms
Personal following
Party caucuses
Patronage
McCain-Feingold


Political Party Placemat

PARTICIPATION - Cram for the Exam

Making PARTICIPATION TENable

As you begin to CRAM for your EXAM think about the following key terms. Can you identify the significance of these words?

Suffrage

Elites
15,19,26 Amendments
Exit Poll
Activists
Critical/Realignments
Voting Rights. Act ‘65
Turnout
Single-Member Dist.
Winner-Take-All
One-man One-vote

Participation Placemat

PUBLIC OPINION - Cram for the Exam

Making PUBLIC OPINION TENable

As you begin to CRAM for your EXAM think about the following key terms. Can you identify the significance of these words?

Political Socialization

Bill of Rights
14th Amendment
Equal Protection
Litigation
3rd Parties
Spin/Information
Frontloading
Marginal Districts
Rule of Propinquity
FOIA

For government and politics review check out citizenu.org and MyCitizenU on You Tube.

PUBLIC OPINION Placemat

FEDERALISM - Cram for the Exam

Listen to the 2 Teachers talk about the essentials of FEDERALISM



Making FEDERALISM TENable

As you begin to CRAM for your EXAM think about the following key terms. Can you identify the significance of these words?

Federalism

Supremacy Clause
Marble Cake
Demographics
Grassroots
Devolution
Mandates
Referendums
Grants
Electoral College
Jurisdiction

For government and politics review check out citizenu.org and MyCitizenU on You Tube.

FEDERALISM Placemat

CRAM for the EXAM - FOUNDATIONS

The 2 Teachers are here to CRAM for the EXAM. Review the FOUNDATIONS of American government and politics.




Making FOUNDATIONS TENable

As you begin to CRAM for your EXAM think about the following key terms. Can you identify the significance of these words?

Separation of Powers

Checks and Balances
Reserved Powers/10th
Pluralism vs. Elitism
Popular Sovereignty
Caucus vs. Convention vs. Primary
Federalist 10
Democracy vs. Republic
Bicameralism
Formal vs. Informal Power
Judicial Review

FOUNDATIONS PLACEMAT

How Powerful is our President?

Is the President of the United States the most powerful person in the world or a pitiful helpless giant?

Learn about the FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

Check out FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY videos below. When you are finished complete the guides that follow. Enter your comments and questions as you go.







The Transformers: Putting Federal Policy into Action.
Our Bureaucracy Autobots or Decepticons?
Reading Guides
Complete by visiting citizenu.org or the You Tube channel MyCitizenU


View 1. Intro-Federal Bureaucracy
1. When government is asked to do something somebody has to do it. Who is that somebody?
2. List at least two (2) things we expect our government to do.
3. What branch of government empowers the Federal Bureaucracy by giving it duties and providing its budget?
4. What branch of government makes up the Federal Bureaucracy?
5. THINKING ABOUT IT. Why do you suppose written policies and execution of those policies often differ?

View 2. Intro-Federal Bureaucracy an Explanation
1. Describe the makeup of the Federal Bureaucracy. What are its basic characteristics?
2. List the three most prominent Cabinet Departments. Why are these so important?
3. Explain what is meant by Independent Agencies of the Federal Government. List two (2) examples.
4. The Federal government also runs certain corporations. Name one.
5. THINKING ABOUT IT. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being hierarchically organized?

View 3. Intro-Federal Bureaucracy: Specialized Experts
1. List examples of how our Federal Bureaucracy is made up of specialists.
2. Why are inefficiency and mismanagement a constant concern for the Federal Bureaucracy?
3. Who was Max Weber and what metaphor did he use to describe bureaucracies?
4. What characteristics over time have challenged bureaucracies from optimal performance?
5. THINKING ABOUT IT. What prevents the Federal Government from attracting the very best and brightest?

View 4. Intro-Federal Bureaucracy: Checking Their Work
1. Explain the general opinion most Americans have of the Federal bureaucracy.
2. How has the Executive Branch attempted to check and balance the Federal Bureaucracy?
3. How has the Legislative Branch attempted to check and balance the Federal Bureaucracy?
4. How has the Judicial Branch attempted to check and balance the Federal Bureaucracy?
5. THINKING ABOUT IT. Could we live without the Federal Bureaucracy? Why not outsource government services to those who perform those duties in the private sector?