POL 1510 Review Themes for Final Quiz#3 Fall 2009 Oakland Community College

Please note that some classes are at different places on this review sheet. Please use as a guide only and refer to your class notes to see
the actual material covered for your version of quiz#3.

Ratification Debates

Federalists and Anti-Federalists

What were the primary concerns of the anti-Federalists and why was their critique important? (Is it still important?)

The conflict over ratification as an early form of the Nationalists vs. States Rights debate--- the persistence of the
two-party system in the USA

Basic Structures of the Federal Constitution

Three branches, separation of powers, checks and balances (please know specific examples such as: the president and the
veto power, bicameralism, federalism, judicial review, president is commander in chief and only Congress can officially declare war,
only the Senate has the power to give their "advice and consent" on treaties and to executive branch appointments)

The Dynamic Nature of Federalism in the US Political System and the Power of Judicial Review [know at least the basics of
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and the import of the 9th, 10th, and the 14th amendments, Brown v. Board of Education (1954), Griswald
v. Conn. (1965), Roe v. Wade (1973)]

Congress (Article I of the Constitution)

Basic differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate (including knowledge of bicameralism)

House of Representatives- the "peoples" branch?- delegate model of representation?

The numbers game and power- from the 3/5th's compromise to the census

The potential for party leadership and the Speaker of the House

Limited debate, importance of rules

The Senate- the "wise guys"?- trustee model of representation?

The exclusive power to give "advice and consent” to the President (checking the appointment power and the treaty
power of the executive branch)

the potential for unlimited debate- filibuster and the cloture motion

Making Laws----Am I just a bill or am I lying dead in committee?

How does the process of making a law begin in the Congress? The importance of standing committees in the US
Congress, party control of committees/sub-committees, different types of standing committees (especially appropriations vs./and
policy committees), the various purposes of committees (such as the need for information/specialization and the need to get re-elected)

Logrolling and Pork-barreling

Article 1.8- Powers of Congress:

We highlighted four: the power to tax and spend; the commerce clause; the explicit power to declare war; and the
necessary and proper clause (the elastic clause)

What can't Congress do (in theory)?

Initially, Congress can't ban the slave trade for at least twenty years (until 1808)
 Deny you your 'habeas corpus" rights unless there is an invasion or a rebellion

Derive tax money from any source other than the census (meaning no national income tax until the Constitution was
amended via the 16th amendment)

"No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular
statement and account of receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time."

Article II: The Presidency

Major sources of presidential authority: what the Constitution gives to the president (explicit vs. implicit), what Congress
does through time (lawmaking, etc.), the president's powers of persuasion

Commander in Chief (especially creative uses of this power, i.e. Truman's desegregation order)

Pardon power, Treaty and Appointment power (judges, public ministers, etc.) exclusive power to "receive ambassadors and
other public ministers...and take care that the laws be faithfully executed"

Basic Structure of the Executive Branch- mainly the EOP and the Cabinets (who creates the cabinets?)

Some other potential things to consider:

Why is it important that citizens are guaranteed a jury trial?

The importance of the "full faith and credit clause"

Some examples of how the Constitution (prior to the 13th amendment) explicitly protected slavery as an institution

The importance of the "Supremacy Clause"