POLS-4105-Midterm-1-Review.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
POLS 4105 Name_____________________________________ Spring 2020 Midterm 1 Review Midterm 1 will cover Clinton (1994); Cox (2000); the prologue and Chapters 1 and 3 of American Creation; Chapters 2 and 3 of Founding Brothers; Dougherty and Heckelman (2006); Robertson (2006); Clinton and Meirowitz (2004); Aldrich and Grant (1993); How a Bill Becomes a Law; John Adams, Episode 2; the Constitution and the impact of primaries. For the scholarly articles, students should pay particular interest in the “sell” (i.e. the explanation for why is this topic important), the conventional wisdom, the author’s theory/argument, their data, dependent and independent variables and any weaknesses in the paper discussed in class or other assigned work. For the book chapters and lectures, students should pay close attention to concepts listed in the outlines. The Exam will feature ten matching questions; 30 multiple choice questions, 1 game tree exercise and two short essays. Example questions for each section are provided below, as are four short essay questions. Of these, three will appear on the exam. I. Sample Matching Questions Part 1 – Matching: For each term or concept below, write the letter of the appropriate match in the blank. (10 Questions, 1 point each) 1. personal power __________ a) popular sovereignty 2. Thomas Jefferson _________ b) South Carolinian delegate to the Continental Congress – he opposed Adams and independence. 3. John Rutledge__________ c) author of the Declaration of Independence 4. John Locke___________ d) expertise, mastery of parliamentary tactics II. Sample Multiple Choice Questions Part 2 – Multiple Choice: For each of the following questions, circle the letter corresponding to the answer that is most appropriate. (30 questions, 2 points each) 1. Which of the following events occurred first? a) The Annapolis Convention was called b) Shay’s Rebellion c) George Washington is elected president d) The Constitution was ratified 2. Which of the following is evidence used by Aldrich and Grant (1993) to further their argument? a) Voting data from the Constitutional Convention that shows Anti-Federalists were far more likely than Federalists to support the New Jersey Plan b) Voting data from the first Congress that shows Anti-Federalists make up a very large part of the opposition of measures that were seen to strengthen the national government c) Voting data from the first Congress that shows Anti-Federalists make up a comparatively smaller part of the opposition of measures that were seen to strengthen the national government d) Case studies that demonstrate support for the Connecticut compromise mostly came from members who would later affiliate with the Federalist party in the first Congress 3. Robertson (2006) makes four primary criticisms of Dougherty and Heckelman (2006). Which of the following is NOT a criticism made by Robertson? a) They are examining different questions b) Members may be voting in a non-sincere fashion c) Rules are inherently exogenous structures d) Sequence matters 4. Which of the following is a conclusion consistent with arguments made by Clinton (1994)? a) Marbury v. Madison was a political masterpiece in which Chief Justice John Marshall “outfoxed” President Thomas Jefferson. b) Marbury v. Madison can best be viewed as a type of “game,” in which Chief Justice Marshall and President Jefferson were pitted against each other with neither side winning a clear advantage. c) One can consider Marbury a game, where both sides engaged in mutually assured destruction, and the resulting outcome was abhorrent to both sides. d) To the extent that Marbury was a “political” decision, it seems to have been tacit political compromise between two figures who have most often been considered mortal enemies in the drama of the United States constitutional history, not a “game” with a clear winner and loser. 5. Which of the following was a central feature of the New Jersey Plan? a) Broad judicial review for the courts b) A single executive who could not be removed from office by the legislature c) More narrow legislative authority than was provided for by the Articles of Confederation d) A single house chamber with equal representation for each state regardless of population 6. A situation where something gained by one side is counterbalanced by an equal loss by the other side is referred to as what? a) An empty set b) A condorcet winner c) An equilibrium d) Zero-sum 7. Which of the following states did NOT send delegates to the Constitutional Convention? a) New York b) New Hampshire c) Rhode Island d) Georgia 8. Which of the following was a way the founders checked the executive’s power? a) they providing that only Congress could declare war b) mandated that the President could only serve two terms c) allowed only a simple-majority of the Senate to override the veto d) providing that the House confirm appointments to executive departments 9. Which of the following did not author any of the Federalist Papers? a) James Madison b) John Jay c) Alexander Hamilton d) Patrick Henry 10. A competitive Democratic challenger in the upcoming election should make Senator Steve Perry (R- VA) ____________ likely to vote for a conservative Republican Health Care Bill. A competitive Republican challenger in the upcoming primary election would make him ___________ to support it. a) Less; more b) Less; less c) More; less d) More; more 11. Which of the following is NOT an enumerated power given to Congress by the Constitution in Article I, section VIII of the Constitution? a) To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries b) To regulate commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes c) To negate all laws passed by the several States, contravening in the opinion of the National Legislature the articles of Union; and to call forth the force of the Union against any member of the Union failing to fulfill its duty under the articles thereof. d) To declare War, grant letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water III. Sample Game Tree Part 3 – Game Tree Exercise. Please show work if necessary (3 questions, 10 points total). As the chief of staff to Democratic President Kip Winger, you are tasked with helping the President pass a bill allocating funds to starving otters. The President's party enjoys substantial majorities in both chambers of Congress. President Winger would like to work with House minority leader Dee Snyder (R- NY) to pass a bipartisan bill. However, should Snyder reject the bill endorsed by the President, one of two policies would be enacted. First, Winger could opt to not pass any bill, in which case the status quo conservative policy of 1,000,000 dollars per year of otter funding will be in place. Second, with substantial Democratic majorities in both chambers, Winger could support a liberal measure sponsored by Representative Joe Elliott (D-MA)—which could be passed on a straight party vote. The President will only consider the Elliott bill or status quo if the minority leader rejects one of the bipartisan bills he publically endorses. Specifically, the President is considering endorsing one of three bills. A liberal measure sponsored by Representative Stephen Erica Pearcy (D-CA), a moderate measure endorsed by Senator Tom Araya (D- FL), and a slightly more conservative bill authored by Representative Scott Ian (R-PA). The President prefers any of the bipartisan bills to either the status quo or the partisan Elliott measure. Specifically, he would rather have the Pearcy bill to the Araya bill to the Ian measure to the Elliott bill to the status quo. Minority leader Snyder would rather have the status quo to any of the bills endorsed by the President. Specifically, he would prefer the status quo to the Ian bill to the measure written by Araya to the partisan Elliott bill to the Pearcy bill. Using your knowledge of both President Winger and Minority Leader Snyder’s preferences and game theory, answer the following questions: 1. If President Winger endorses the Pearcy bill, what is Snyder going to do? Why? 2. If President Winger endorses the Ian bill, what is Snyder going to do? Why? 3. Knowing what you know about Snyder's preferences, what would you advise President Winger to do? Why? IV. Short Essay Questions Part 4 – Short essay questions. Choose two of three. You can use the back of the page. (10 points each) 1. It’s 2020 and you have recently been given a job as a top advisor to Democratic presidential candidate Steve Perry. A “gotcha journalist” asks your candidate why he thinks America was successful in breaking away from Great Britain. He stumbles in his response, stating that “America was well-suited to gain independence because of patriotism, freedom, liberty and Paul Revere’s midnight jog.” Before the journalist asks him a follow-up question, you need to lean over and give him a better answer. What do you say? 2. Congratulations! After graduating from the University in Georgia you accepted a position as Chief of Staff to recently-elected Georgia Senator Ryan Seacrest. Senator Seacrest campaigned as a bipartisan reformer. Now elected, he is planning to invite Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) over for dinner. You have been tasked with cooking a lasagna and ordering a honey baked ham. Seacrest’s plan is to recreate a grand bargain like the one between Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton historian Joseph Ellis describes in his chapter “The Dinner.” Unfortunately, he has forgotten the details of that bargain.