Download Political Science Questions for Practice | POLS 112 and more Study notes Local Government Studies in PDF only on Docsity! POLITICAL SCIENCE 112 Practice Questions – Exam 1 Below are some practice questions you may use to help prepare for the first exam. The questions on the exam will not come from this list, but may concern some of the same topics. After studying a chapter, you should write answers to the questions in less than 10 minutes each, without using the book. If you have a study partner, you may want to compare and discuss your answers afterward. You should also review your book and notes and then try to craft an “ideal” answer. As a side note -- the number of questions allocated to a chapter below does not reflect the relative importance of the chapter or the probability that there will be an essay question from a particular chapter. Chapter 1: Why does our government necessarily face dilemmas when it seeks to promote the core values of freedom, order and equality? Discuss. Chapter 2: Describe and explain the major differences between the “Majoritarian” and “Pluralist” models of democracy. What is meant by “Procedural Democratic Theory?” What are its characteristics? What are its weaknesses? Discuss. What is meant by “Substantive Democratic Theory?” What are its characteristics? What are its weaknesses? Discuss. Chapter 3: Why were the Articles of Confederation replaced by a new constitution after only a few years? That is, what were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? Discuss. What were the major disagreements at the constitutional convention in Philadelphia in 1787? How was each settled? Discuss. What are the basic principles that are enshrined in our Constitution? Explain and/or describe each one. By what means has our Constitution been changed over the past 200 years? Describe each of these means. Chapter 4: What is the “Elastic Clause” in the Constitution? Why has it been a source of disagreement and dispute among scholars and public officials throughout our history? Discuss. What is meant by “Cooperative Federalism” and “Dual Federalism?” Which of these models could better be illustrated by looking at the program to build inter-state highways in the U.S.? Explain. What is a “Grant-in-Aid?” Why is it so important and useful in National-State relations? Do grants-in-aid also bring problems with their use? Discuss.
