NaimExplain

Describe an average member of the US Congress today. What are the four representation styles of members of the US Congress? Which is appropriate to which House of Congress? - average member: mid-50s, married with two children. most were born in the states they represent. about 1/3 are lawyers. -Trustees, Delegates, Partisans, Politicos. -Trustee

What are the formal and informal qualifications for the US Senate? Who are Montana's Senators? Answer: FORMAL: *must be at least 30 yrs old *must have been a US citizen for at least 9 years * must be an INHABITANT of the state from which he or she is elected. INFORMAL: party ID, name, familiarity, gender, ethnic characteristics, political experience. - Jon Tester, Steve Daines.

How were US Senators elected in 1789? How are they elected today? What amendment made this change? For how long do Senators serve? Why did the Framers make Senators terms this long? Is this a good idea? Explain. -Chosen by state legislatures -Today, they're elected by popular election. (17th) - Senators serve six year terms so they don't have to re-elect every other year and they can do what they think is right. Yes, it makes them a more enlightened and responsible body.

What is gerrymandering? In a drawing, show how gerrymandering works. What court case ordered that States draw their district lines to most nearly equal the one man one vote rule? - Refers to the act of drawing congressional districts to the advantage of the political party that typically control's the state legislature. -Wesburry v Sanders

What are the formal and informal qualifications for election to the US House of Representatives? Answer: FORMAL: * at least 25 yrs of age * must have been a citizen of the US for at least 7 yrs * must have been an INHABITANT of the state from which he/she is elected INFORMAL: party ID, name, familiarity, gender, ethnic characteristics, political experience.

How are US House seats apportioned? How and when are US House seats reapportioned? What does a typical Congressional district look like? Who is Montana's member of the US House? Answer: -They're apportioned (distributed) among the states based on their population. -After each decennial census. -The voter's in each district elect one of the state's representatives. -Greg Gianforte

Describe the size of the US House of Representatives and terms of its members. Why did the Framers select this length of term? Answer: SIZE: 436 voting members, serve two year terms, no limit on the # of terms they may serve. -to make representatives more sensitive to constituent concerns than senators.

What are terms and session of Congress? When do terms begin? What Amendment provides the starting date? Answer: TERMS: length of time that officials serve after an election. SESSIONS of CONGRESS: the regular period of time during which congress conducts business. START: January 3rd of odd #'d years. the 20th amendment

For what three reasons does the Constitution provide for a bicameral Congress? List and explain each reason. Answer: HISTORICAL: the British parliament consisted of 2 houses, many colonial assemblies were similar in form. PRACTICAL: a bicameral legislature was necessary to compromise the VA and NJ plans of representation. THEORETICAL: the framers favored a bicameral congress in order that one house might act as a check on the other.

What are the electoral duties of Congress? What is the most recent time that the 25th Amendment has been invoked? Answer: -If no candidate for president receives a majority in the electoral college, the House decides the election. (each state gets one vote) -If no candidate for VP receives a majority in the electoral college, the senate decides the election. -if the VP is vacated, the president selects a successor, who faces congressional approval by a majority vote in both houses of congress. -John F. Kennedy assassination

What is the impeachment process? How many Presidents have been impeached? How many have been removed by impeachment? Will President Trump be impeached? Explain. 1. Trial in the senate 2. a 2/3 vote of the senators present need for conviction 3. the chief justice of the supreme court presides in the trial. -2 -zero -Probably, democratic party will attempt to

What is the amendment process? How many amendments have been formally proposed? How many have been ratified? -amendment process: article 5 gives congress the power to propose amendments by a 2/3 vote in the House. -10,000 -27

What is eminent domain? What court case extended the scope of eminent domain? Is eminent domain a good idea? How is Montana's eminent domain standard different from that used by the US? -Power of a government to take private property for public use. -Kelo v. City of New London - Its good for the public as a whole usually - Property owner has a choice

From what two sources is the power of Congress to conduct foreign relations derived? Who should hold the most power in foreign relations, the Congress or the President? What are the provisions of the War Powers Resolution? -Foreign relations and war powers -Congress; it takes the decisions out of the hands of one person. 1. within 48 hours of the use of force president must inform congress, 2. within 60 days of the use of force, if congress doesn't authorize the use of force, then; 3. the president must withdraw the use of force within 30 days.

What is Congress's Commerce Power? From where is it derived? What case first established it? What case extended the Commerce Power? Is this a good idea? Explain. -the power of congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade -is granted in the commerce clause of the constitution -Gibbons v. Ogden -Swift and Company v. US -no, government uses it as a power grab

Where do you find the government's borrowing power? Is the borrowing power a good idea? What is the total US debt today? How does the US Government borrow money? -Article 1, Section 8, clause 2. -no -about $21.8 trillion -Sale bonds

What is a tax? Explain the differences between types of taxes. What is the purpose of taxes? What are some limits on the government's taxing power? -TAX: charge levied by government on persons or property to meet public needs. -Direct tax must be paid by the person on whom it is levied. -Indirect tax: a tax levied on one party but passed onto another for payment. 1. congress may tax only for public purposes, not for private benefit. 2. congress may not tax exports. 3. direct taxes must be apportioned among the states. 4. indirect taxes must be levied at a uniform rate in all parts of the country.

What is the difference between strict and liberal (or broad) construction of the Constitution? Who were the main proponents of these interpretations in 1788? Which do you support? Explain. -STRICT: led by Thomas Jefferson, argued that Congress should only be able to exercise: its expressed powers and those implied powers absolutely necessary to carry out those expressed powers. LIBERAL: led by Alexander Hamilton, favored a liberal interpretation of the constitution, a broad interpretation of the powers given to congress.

What are the three types of Congressional power? Explain them and give examples of each. -EXPRESSED: granted to congress explicitly in the constitution. ex; the power to tax -IMPLIED: granted by reasonable deduction from the expressed powers. ex; -INHERENT: granted through the constitution's creation of a national government for the US. ex;

Explain the filibuster and the cloture rule. What was the longest group filibuster in US Senate history? What was the longest individual filibuster? Why is a 60 vote majority known as a 'filibuster proof' majority? -filibuster: attempt to "talk a bill to death" -cloture: limits debate w a vote of 60 senators, no more than 30 hrs may be spent on debate -sen. strom Thurmond, 24 hrs, 16 min. 

What is the most powerful committee in the US House of Representatives? Why is it the most powerful? What are some things that this committee does? -Rules Committee -It is not responsible for a single area or policy like other committees. -in charge of determining under what rules other bills will come to the floor.

What are the three types of resolutions? What are the differences between them? -Joint: A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president. -Simple: deal with the creation of special committees, do not require action by the House. -Concurrent: An expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president

What are the differences between standing, select, joint, and conference committees? -Standing: a permanent committee that meets regularly. -Select: established to handle a specific matter and usually exist for a limited time. -Joint: composed of members of both houses. -Conference: created to iron out differences between bills passed by the House and Senate before they are sent to the president.

What are standing committees? Name two standing committees in both houses of the US Congress and explain their function. -A permanent committee that meets regularly. -The House standing committees: Agriculture and Armed services. - Senate standing committees: Finance and Foreign Relations.

How are committee chairpersons chosen in both houses of the US Congress? What is their role on their respective committees? -From the majority party by the majority party caucus. -Determine whether bills will be considered or not.

When does the US Congress convene? What are the leadership positions in both houses of Congress? Who holds the top two leadership positions today? -January 3rd of odd #'d years -The Speaker of the House and The President of the Senate -Nancy Pelosi and Michael Pence (VP)

What is the most important flaw in the Electoral College? What solution do you propose to fix that flaw? Explain. - the electoral college makes it possible for a candidate to win a majority of popular votes but lose the election. -DIRECT POPULAR ELECTION- voters would vote directly for the president and Vice President at the polls instead of electors.

How were presidential candidates nominated in the past? How are they selected today? What are platforms and planks in this context? - chosen by a special body of presidential electors. Each cast two votes, each for a different candidate. Most votes would become president, second most would become Vice President. -chosen by the electoral college today. -PLATFORMS: series of statements expressing the party's principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues. -PLANKS: political party's stance on one issue within a platform.

Should we amend the Constitution to abolish the Electoral College? Why or why not? Answer: -NO -we've always had an electoral college, it's what the framers wanted. -ensures that all parts of the country are involved in selecting the president. - guarantees certainty to the outcome of the presidential election.

What were the circumstances of the 1800 election? Why did people agree to the 12th Amendment? -Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied, even though they were from the same party. - allowed each elector to distinctly cast one electoral vote for the president and Vice President.

Under what circumstances can a President or Vice President be replaced? How often has this happened? 1. The president informs congress, in writing "that he is unable to discharge the powers of his office" OR 2. The Vice President and a majority of the cabinet members inform congress, in writing "that the president is thus incapacitated". - has happened 9 times.

What is the order of presidential succession? 1. Vice-President 2. Speaker of the House 3. President Pro Tempore 4. Cabinet Members

Name and explain four of the roles of the President. Answer: -CHIEF OF STATE: head of the US government and a symbol of all the people. -CHIEF EXECUTIVE: holds the executive power of the US government. -CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR: director of the US government. -CHIEF OF PARTY: leader of the party that controls the executive branch.

What is the President's message power? What are the President's Judicial Powers? Give examples of two of these powers. Answer: - MESSAGE POWER: Constitution provides that the President shall report to Congress on the state of the union and recommend legislation. -JUDICIAL POWERS: Only the president can call Congress into special session; Article 2 sec 3. -EXAMPLES: - message power: power to veto - judicial powers: appoint federal officials

What are the provisions of the War Powers Resolution of 1973? Which presidents have violated this resolution? 1. within 48 hours of the use of force, the president must inform congress, 2. if congress does not approve the use of force within 60 days, then 3. the president has 30 days to remove the use of force. - violated by JFK; sent troops to defend South Vietnam without a declaration of war.

What are the differences between treaties and executive agreements? Which do Presidents prefer? Explain. -Treaties: formal agreement between two or more sovereign states. -Executive agreements: pact made by the President with the head of a foreign state. - executive agreements; do not need Senate consent.

What are the five groups that the President can appoint? Can he/she remove them? Explain. 1. ambassadors and other diplomats; 2. cabinet members and their top aides; 3. heads of independent agencies such as the EPA and NASA; 4. all federal judges, attorneys, and US marshals; 5. all offices in the armed forces.

What are signing statements? What is a good example of a signing statement? What is a good example of an executive order? To whom do executive orders apply? Where do Presidents get the power to issue executive orders? Answer: -Signing Statement: a written pronouncement by the President when he signs a bill to law. - President Obama: Ukraine Freedom Support of 2014 - Executive Order 9066 which delegated military authority to remove any and all people in a military zone. - The President -Article II; the Executive Article.

What are four reasons why executive power has grown? Which president expanded presidential power the most? Explain. Answer: -Increasingly complex social/economic life -By congress passing laws and expanding the role of the federal government -The ability to use the mass media (every president has since Franklin D. Roosevelt) Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft had opposite views of Presidential power. What were those views? Who was right, constitutionally? Is President Trump more like President Roosevelt, or more like Taft? Explain. -T. Roosevelt view: broad view of the powers they inherent -W. Taft view: cannot exercise any power not specifically granted to the president. -Constitutionally, Taft is correct. - President Trump: more like Roosevelt in ways such as not exactly following specific powers, but exercising powers granted and those powers necessary to carry out the presidency.

What is the Civil Service? What did the CS replace? What was the catalyst for the Civil Service? What law created the Civil Service? Is the CS a good idea? Explain. Answer: -Civil Service: group of public employees who perform the administrative work of government. -the spoils system - The civil service act of 1883 (the pendleton act)

What are the differences between independent agencies, independent executive agencies, and Independent regulatory commissions? Give an example of the last two. What is the difference between the terms quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial? Answer: -Independent Agencies: created by congress and are located outside of the executive departments - Independent Executive Agencies: do not hold cabinet status but are very similar to executive departments. ex. NASA - Independent regulatory commissions: beyond the reach of presidential direction and control. ex. Federal Trade Commission - Quasi-Legislative: regulatory commissions have legislative-like powers given to them by Congress -Quasi-Judicial: regulatory commissions have judicial-like powers given to them by Congress.

What is the formal term for the Cabinet? How are Cabinet members selected? How many Cabinet departments exist today? Which is the newest? According to the Constitution, who is supposed to advise the President? Answer: - Executive Departments -Appointed by the president, approved by the senate. -15 -Office of Homeland Security -Article 2 Section 2 "the cabinets role is to advise the president"

What is the name for the President's 'right arm'? What is the 'nerve center' of this part of the Executive Branch? What officials make up the National Security Council? Answer: -Executive Office of the President -The White House Office -The VP, the secretaries of state and defense, the direct of the CIA, and the joint chiefs of staff.

What are the rules for naming parts of the Federal bureaucracy? What are the differences between staff and line agencies? What are examples of staff and line agencies. Answer: - "Department" is for agencies of cabinet rank - other titles out of department include: agency, administration, commission, corporation, and authority. - Staff agency: serve in a support capacity. ex. National Security Council -Line agency: perform tasks for which the organization exist. ex. Environmental Protection Agency.

Define bureaucracy. Name and explain the three major elements of all bureaucracies. What is an example of a bureaucracy? Why does your example qualify? Answer: -BUREAUCRACY: a large, complex administrative structure that handles the everyday business of an organization. -Hierarchical Authority - Job Specialization - Formalized Rules ex. the executive departments

How and why does the Constitution give Congress the power to tax? What are the most significant Federal taxes collected today? Answer: -Article I, Section 8 gives congress the power to tax. - To provide for the common defense and general welfare. -Individual and Corporation Income taxes.

What fraction of Federal spending it controllable and what fraction uncontrollable? Who writes the federal budget? When does the federal government's fiscal year begin and end? What is the the federal budget? Answer: - 20% controllable, 80% uncontrollable - the president and congress -October 1st to September 30th - plan for the federal gov'ts spending and expenditures for the coming year.

What are continuing resolutions? If Congress and the President can't reach an agreement on the budget, what happens? Whose fault is it? Answer: - a temporary funding measure that congress can use to fund the federal government for a limited amount of time. - government shutdown.

What are entitlements? Give three examples of them. Are entitlements bad? Explain. What Constitutional limit is placed on the Federal debt? How much money will the US spend this fiscal year? Answer: ENTITLEMENT: benefits that fed. Law says must be paid to those who meet eligibility requirements. -social security - Medicare - unemployment compensation -congress must authorize all federal borrowing - about $4 trillion

How much is the US Government debt today? Give three reasons why our debt is this high. Should we worry about the US Debt? Answer: - $22 trillion - deficit financing, failure to repay the debt over time, interest accruing on the existing debt. -absolutely

Why are estate taxes controversial? What is the reasoning behind gift taxes? For what non revenue reasons are taxes collected? Answer: -prevents families from continuously passing on their wealth tax free. -without a gift tax, someone w a sizable estate could give away a large portion of their property before death and escape death taxes altogether. -for the purpose of regulating and even discouraging some activity that congress thinks is harmful or dangerous to the public.

When is tax day? How are income taxes collected? What are social insurance taxes? What is the difference between progressive and regressive taxes? Answer: -April 15 -collected by the IRS -taxes levied on social insurance agencies -OASDI, Medicare, unemployment compensation -PROGRESSIVE: the higher one's income, the higher the tax. -REGRESSIVE: levied at a flat rate

Who was the first Secretary-General of the UN? Who is the current S-G? What are the three main components of the UN? Who are the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council? Answer: -Trygve Lie -Antonio Guterres -Main Components of UN: Peacekeeping mission, international aid to children and women, and investigations and aid for world health services. -Members: US, France, Britain, China, and Russia.

On what two principles was US foreign policy based after WW2? What was the Cold War? Describe some events of the Cold War. Answer: -Collective Security: nations would agree to act together against any nation that threatened the peace. -Deterrence: policy of making America and its allies so militarily strong that their very strength will prevent any attack. -COLD WAR: period of 40 yrs. during which relations w the US and Soviet Union were tense, but did not result in military action. ex. Cuban Missile Crisis

What are some exceptions to American 'isolationism' up to WW1? What were some exceptions to 'isolationism' from WW1 to WW2? Answer: -John Adams and the war w France, Thomas Jefferson and the Barbary Pirates, Louisiana Purchase, and our relationship w Mexico. -Good Neighbor Policy and Open Door Policy w China.

Describe the history and functions of the Department of Homeland Security. How does OHS coordinate with the CIA? Answer: -Created after 9/11 -works to prepare for, prevent, and respond to domestic emergencies (terrorism). -CIA gathers information and reports it to the DOHS.

Should Women be drafted? Under what constitutional principle was the men only draft recently declared unconstitutional? Answer: Yes; would be unfair+there are already women in the military, proving they can do the tasks. -violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment

Who is the Secretary of State today? What are the functions of the Department of State? What are the functions of the Defense Department? Answer: - Rex Tillerson -Dept of State: handle foreign affairs - promote american foreign policy - issue passports -Defense Dept: protect the security of our country -defer war

Do you favor isolationism, full engagement, or some combination? Explain. Should the US be the world's police? Explain. Answer: -combination - US should focus on domestic affairs + foreign affairs b/c it is one of the major powers of the world. -YES; we are the smartest country in the world w the best military.

Authors use imagery to establish tone and purpose in literature. Write a well-organized essay that discusses Elie Wiesel's use of imagery and how it helps establish tone and purpose in Night. Answer: imagery --> tone

In your opinion, does Night offer readers a message of hope or despair? Compose a well-written essay in which you argue for one or the other. Refer to details from the book to make your argument. Answer: hope & despair - from timed write

Describe how Elie's faith in God is challenged throughout Night. Refer to specific moments in the story and how these relate to his struggle of faith. What is the overall message you take away from his struggle with faith? • Elie is curious about his faith; meets Moishe the Beadle, who helps him learn Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism; Elie is very devout • Moishe emphasizes the importance of asking God the right or real questions • The evil of the Holocaust confuses him: how could a good God allow this? • Rabbi Eliahu's son leaves him behind; Elie prays, let me never do that to my father; Elie feels that in the end he fails his father • When he first arrives at the camp, he sees babies being thrown into a pit of fire; wonders how God could allow this • The "sad-eyed angel" is hanged; some asks, "Where is God?" Elie responds, "He is here on this gallows."

Explain Dickens' use of symbolism at the beginning of Book 1, Chapter 5 of A Tale of Two Cities, when the wine cask spills in the streets of Paris. Topics to consider include the following: what the spilled wine symbolizes, what the description tells us about the French peasants, and how the scene creates foreshadowing. • Wine cask breaks in the street; peasants eagerly drink it up off the ground, revealing that they are oppressed and desperate • Gaspard, "the tall joker," dips his fingers in the wine and write "blood" on a wall; Dickens says "that wine" too would stain the streets and hands; creates foreshadowing: the bloodshed of the Revolution • Dickens emphasizes that it is red wine • Dickens is suggesting that the peasants are willing to resort to violence (reveals their bloodlust) • The peasants' celebratory spirit foreshadows the communal spirit of the violent revolutionaries (example: when they killed Foulon)

Some works of literature contain one or more objects, which as symbols, are crucial to an understanding of the themes of the work. The Guillotine is such a symbolic object in A Tale of Two Cities. In a well-organized essay, discuss the symbolism of "La Guillotine" and its importance to the development of one or more of the novel's themes. Do not merely summarize the plot. • When the revolutionaries killed people and put their heads on pikes (emphasizes their irreverence towards death) • Dickens portrays the guillotine as a death factory/machine by describing how many people it can kill in a day • The guillotine replaces the cross (seen as a symbol of justice, the solution for other troubles); many people joke about the guillotine • The executioner is named Samson (allusion to biblical Samson; who was blinded), the executioner is also "blind" (blind to the morality of his actions). He destroys God's temple (human beings) everyday. • The sacrifice of

Discuss the role of Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities. How is this character central to the major themes of the novel? • Similar question on the Tale of Two Cities test • Same as 2 • But also emphasize how he is like Christ (and thus represents theme of redemption/resurrection)

Explain the concept of the double and what message Dickens conveys with this motif. • Carton sees Darnay as everything he could have been • They look the same; Darnay is accused of treason and Carton's similarity of appearance saves his life • Doubleness of appearance emphasizes contrast of character: mainly that Darnay is virtue; Carton is vice • Carton attempts to change for Lucie and in the end makes the ultimate sacrifice for Darnay; thus he rises in virtue, perhaps even surpassing Darnay (Christ-figure)

Discuss Dickens's attitude toward the French Revolution in A Tale of Two Cities. Does he sympathize with the revolutionaries? If you believe so, identify and describe at least two characters or incidents that prove his sympathy for the revolutionaries. If you think not, identify and describe at least two examples that prove his disdain for them. Dickens doesn't sympathize with Revolutionaries • Dickens portrays Lucie as a light in the darkness whose family suffers because of the revolution's indiscrimination • The woodcutter jokes about executing a family (child included) • The guillotine replaces the cross (seen as a symbol of justice, the solution for other troubles); many people joke about the guillotine • The executioner is named Samson (allusion to biblical Samson; who was blinded), the executioner is also "blind" (blind to the morality of his actions). He destroys God's temple (human beings) everyday. • Guillotine being described in diction of

Which of the four principles outlined in the Constitution has been a subject of ongoing debate? Answer: checks and balances federalism all of these options separation of powers republicanism federalism has been a subject of ongoing debate.

The Framers divided power between which three branches of government? Answer: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary.

The principle of the separation of powers was PRIMARILY intended to do which of the following? Answer: to ensure that the powers of the central government would be limited.

Why did the Framers choose a republican form of government when drafting the Constitution? Answer: The Framers chose a republican form of government because they wanted both to ensure that the people would be represented and to limit the potential power of factions.

What did it take for Virginia and New York to finally agree to ratify the Constitution? Answer: New York and Virginia agreed to ratify the Constitution only after the Federalists promised to include amendments clarifying the limits on government power (the Bill of Rights).

Debates at the Constitutional Convention surrounding the executive branch included which of the following? Answer: Debates surrounding the executive branch included both how many executives should serve and how to elect the executive.