eneral Guidance about the final exam MATERIAL:

During the first half of the semester, we explored American values, beginning with the Declaration of Independence, and how these values are holding up/or not today.

During the second half of the semester, we learned alot about the institutions of American government by first examining the US Constitution.

The exam will focus, of course, on institutions. This means that most of the questions will focus on Congress, the presidency, and interest groups, and could include a question or two on federalism and separation of powers. Inevitably, institutions and values overlap. The reflection question may be on this overlap.

GRADING:

There are A, B, C, D and F answers. Please keep that in mind as you decide how to answer a question.

Material to be covered The Final Exam will cover:

· The U.S. Constitution, Articles I, II, and III.

· The following complete chapters of the textbook

o Ch. 10—Congress

o Ch. 11—The President

o Ch. 7----Interest Groups

· The following excerpts in the textbook:

o Ch. 1—

§ pp. 3-7—What is government

§ pp 17-24—Size of government , and political ideologies

o Ch. 2—pp. 40-51—

§ Articles of Confederation, Problems with the Articles

§ The constitutional Convention

§ Figure 2-2 Checks and Balances

§ P. 48 The federal system

§ The Road to Ratification

o Ch. 3—

§ pp. 86-91—The constitutional Basis for American Federalism

§ pp. 99-101—Politics of Federalism

Some possible questions 1. How do Americans elect a president?

1. Next year, 2016 is a Presidential election year.

A-Name all the candidates running for president.

B--identify their political ideology.

1. What are the pros and cons of interest groups in a representative democracy?

2. There will be a question or several on the budget--maybe I'll have a budget section.

3. There will be a question on passing a law.

4. There will be a question in which I ask you to reflect on something you've learned this semester. You can't really study for this one.