Civics Study Guide

Civics Semester Exam Review
Semester 2, 2008-2009 Academic School Year
Green Bay Southwest High School Social Studies Department
Mr. Crane


Chapter 1: We the People
What are civics, citizenship, and government?
What are the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship?
What are our most important American values? How does America display and protect these values?
What are the two ways that one is born an American citizen?
How may a person become a citizen through naturalization?
What kinds of questions appear on citizenship tests and are they a good indication of what all American citizens should know?

Chapter 2: Foundations of Government
What are the three types of nondemocratic governments?
What are the two types of democratic governments?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of democratic and nondemocratic government?
What are the three main purposes of government?
What are the purposes of any constitution?
Why are governments important? In which cases is government most necessary?
What are the differences between the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution?
What are the three parts of the Declaration of Independence (why was it written)?
What was the Articles of Confederation and what were its strengths and weaknesses?
What were the issues and debates at the Constitutional Convention? How were they dealt with?
Who were the Federalists and Antifederalists and what issues did they debate?
How did the Federalists ultimately convince the states to ratify the US Constitution?
In what ways did the US Constitution strengthen the national government that existed under the Articles of Confederation?
Chapter 3: The United States Constitution
What is the Preamble to the US Constitution? What principles does it describe?
What is the structure of the US Constitution? Be able to write the order of the articles.
What are the six major principles that the entire US Constitution rests on?
What are the roles and powers of each branch of government according to the US Constitution?
What are the basic similarities and differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate?
What are the qualifications for Presidents, Senators, and Representatives?
How do the branches of government check each other?
How can the content and meaning of the US Constitution change over time due to amendments and interpretation?
What are the two methods of proposing and the two methods of amending the US Constitution?
What is the Bill of Rights and what are some examples of its rights and freedoms? Why was it added to the Constitution, and which groups supported and opposed it and why?

Chapter 4: Rights and Responsibilities
What is the Bill of Rights and why was it added to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights consists of ten amendments. What are the two ways to propose and the two ways to ratify an amendment?
What is the freedom of religion and what two clauses does it consist of?
What are the various issues with the freedom of religion and when can it be limited?
What is the freedom of speech?
What are the two types of speech and which tends to have more protections?
How has government attempted to regulate speech?
What is the three-part test that the USSC uses to determine whether government may restrict symbolic speech?
What is “clear and present danger”?
What is the preferred position doctrine?
What is seditious speech?
What are “fighting words”?
What is the freedom of the press?
How does a free press contribute to democracy?
What are the various issues with the freedom of the press and when can it be restricted?
Why is the freedom of press more restricted for broadcast TV/radio than it is for other types of media like cable TV/internet?
What is prior restraint and what is the one situation in which it is allowed?
What is the freedom of assembly?
What is the one restriction on groups one may join?
Why are there restrictions on picketing?
What are the various issues with the freedom of assembly and when can it be restricted?
How have major U.S. Supreme Court cases affected these constitutional freedoms?
Chapter 5: The Legislative Branch
How are congresspersons elected and how has this changed over time?
Why is the Senate considered to be the more prestigious chamber?
What are the salaries, benefits, and privileges of congresspersons?
How are the House of Representatives and the Senate alike and different?
Qualifications
Term of Office
Number of Members
o Titles and Roles of Leaders
o Atmosphere (formality, rules, etc.)
What do redistricting, reapportionment, and gerrymandering mean and when/why do they occur?
What are the two types of gerrymandering and how do they work?
What are the functions of the five types of committees in Congress?
Which ones are permanent? Which ones contain members from both chambers?
How does the committee structure of Congress help it function effectively?
What are the steps a bill must take in order to become a law?
Why is it difficult to pass a law? Is this a good or bad thing?
What three actions can a committee take on a bill?
What is a committee hearing, why is it important, and when does it take place?
What factors influence a lawmaker’s decision whether or not to support a bill?
What choices does the President have when a bill reaches his or her desk?
If the President vetoes a bill, what can Congress do about it?
How many representatives does Wisconsin have in the House of Representatives?
Who are Wisconsin’s U.S. Senators? (Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold)
Who represents the 8th Congressional District (Northeastern Wisconsin) in the House of Representatives? (Dr. Steven Kagen)


Chapter 6: The Executive Branch

What are the salary and benefits of the president?
What necessary and preferred qualifications exist for those who wish to run for the presidency (constitutionally and in reality)?
Who are the top four people in line to be president if something happens to the current president? Why did many Americans support making the Speaker of the House third in line for the presidency?
What are the only two constitutional duties of the vice president? What other roles have they increasingly assumed?
What is the structure, history, and role of the cabinet? How is the job of a department secretary a difficult one? What factors limit the cabinet’s role?
What are the seven key roles of the president (the “hats” he or she wears)?
What important leadership qualities and skills do we expect from our president?














Chapter 7: The Judicial Branch
What is the structure of the federal court system?
What is the structure of the state court system?
What are the types of jurisdiction; which cases are heard in federal courts?
What is judicial review and how was it developed?
Who are the current U.S. Supreme Court justices, including the Chief Justice?
How is business conducted by the U.S. Supreme Court?
How are justices and other federal judges selected, and what influences their views?


Chapter 8: State Government

What powers do state governments have? What do they tend to focus on more or less than the federal and local governments?
How and why do state governments work together with other states and with the federal government?
What is full faith and credit and what problems would exist if states did not follow this policy?
What are initiatives and referenda, and why do these exist when we already elect people in government to make major decisions for us?
What are the main powers and duties of state governors? Are these similar to or different from the powers and duties of the president?
What are the differences between trial, appeals, small-claims, traffic, and other types of state courts?


Chapter 9: Local Government

How are local governments established, and why are they needed?
What powers do local governments have? What do they tend to focus on more or less than the federal and state governments?
How and why do local and state governments work together?
What is the purpose of town meetings?
Why are townships, villages, and other local governments formed, and how do they operate?
What are similarities and differences between the four structures of local government?
How might governments both cooperate and compete for power, influence, and money?
Chapter 10: Electing LeadersChapter 11: The Political System
What is a political party and what are its purposes and functions?
What are the three types of party systems and some examples of each?
What are the three types of third (minor) parties and what impact do they have on the major parties?
Why is it so difficult for third (minor) parties to win elections, especially the presidency?
What do liberal and conservative mean, and how do they affect one’s positions in major issues?
What are the similarities and differences between primary elections and general elections?
How are campaigns financed and what do they use the money for?
What is the history of suffrage (voting rights) in the United States?
What qualifications and characteristics are important in winning elections?
What are the general trends of American political affiliation (e.g., location, age, race, etc.)?
What are the trends of voter participation in America and how do they compare to other countries? Is this a problem and what ideas do people have to increase voter participation?
What is propaganda and how are the various types used to influence voters?
How does the electoral college elect the president, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of this indirect approach?

Project Citizen
What did you learn about citizenship, government, and problems in society through Project Citizen?
What is public policy, who makes it, and how can citizens influence it?
What are the private, public, and civil society spheres and what are some examples of activities that we participate in for each sphere?
What procedures (rules) should governments follow to make sure that public policy is fair for everyone?