STUDY GUIDES

Dear American Government Students,

Please find your study guides for the Unit Test below. The test will be on Monday, April 25. Happy studying. I would wish you luck, but you and I know it is not about luck.

Just a reminder: no one showed up to the re-take of the Constitution test last Monday. If you failed the Constitution test, you must come to the re-take on MONDAY, MAY 2. You cannot graduate from high school unless you have passed this exam. See me with any questions.

Study Guide:
The Lectures are posted first. The review questions are posted below them. Finally, questions are Libya are at the bottom of the post.

CHAPTER 20 LECTURE NOTES:
Two great issues in American Policymaking shaped by majoritarian politics (politicians compete for votes in order to attain the power they need to create policy)
- national diplomacy
- military policy

How are these policies shaped?
Through majoritarian politics
Political ideology plays an important role
Interest groups
- Exercise influence on certain issues only
- examples
free trade, allocation of military contracts, other issues that engage their interest
- Intervene when military budget is spent on services and military contractors

Majority opinion:
difficult to define
generally approves of the US playing an international role
Certain cases, would prefer the US stay home and Mind Its Own Business
When troops are sent overseas, Americans generally support government decisions and "support our troops"
Majoritarian politics predominantly influences military budget creation

Elite Opinion
Plays a powerful role - more powerful than majority opinion
Divided into four worldviews
1. Isolationist (more popular in the past, less popular today)
2. Containment
3. Disengagement
4. Human Rights

Elite disagreement over whether we should have...
1. stayed in Vietnam
2. Driven Iraqi troops out of Kuwait
3. Given aid to Bosnia
4. Launched an air campaign in Kosovo

How are policies organized?
In order to give citizens control
Dominant public figure: President Obama
...assisted by the National Security Council
- Secretary of State (Hillary Clinton)
- Secretary of Defence (Robert Gates)

President (Commander in Chief) maintains "civilian control" over the military
Issues orders through the Secretary of Defense
The Joint Chiefs of Staff give Planning and Advice to the President on Military Policy

CHAPTER 22 LECTURE NOTES:
Key Questions on Governemnt
Who governs
To what ends

No easy answers
everything depends on
the policy being proposed and
the opportunities to mobilize - for opponents and proponents

Changes over time -
Responsibilities and activities of government have expanded
New challenges to government in...
Government structure and Ideals of Government

Proposed reforms
Can be sweeping, broad, expansive
One example: replacing Congressional system with a parliamentary one
Effect will always be limited...
by how much they affect government efficiency
...the motivation behind reforms limit the speed of the reforms

Motivation for reforms:
public opinion
preserving rights (top goal)

Attempt to shape government
Attempt to make gov't more accountable
Desire for more responsive leadership

Effects of attempts to change government
May be effective
Typically slow to take effect

CHAPTER 20 Qs:
1. What are the two great issues in American policy making?
2. How are these issues shaped?
3. What does "majoritarian" mean?
4. What are interest groups focused on?
5. How do interest groups exert influence on policy making?

6. What is the typical response of the American people when the US plays an international role?
7. How do Americans generally feel when troops are sent overseas?

8. Which is more powerful, Elite Opinion or Public Opinion?
9. List the four worldviews of the political Elite.
10. There are four historical engagements over which the Elite disagree with each other. What are these four events?

11. The way foreign policy is organized, who is given control?
12. Who is the dominant public figure in foreign policy?
13. Which two people assist the President in matters of foreign and military policy? (Name of position, name of person)
14. What is the National Security Council?
15. What do the Joint Chiefs of Staff do?

CHAPTER 22 Qs:
1. What are the two key questions on government?
2. What are the two factors that determine "who governs" and "to what ends?"
3. What two groups "mobilize" or take action on a given issue?

4. How have the responsibilities and activities of Government changed over time?
5. In which two areas has the government experienced new challenges?

6. Give one example of a "sweeping" (broad) governmental reform that has been proposed.
7. What is it that slows the speed of a reform taking effect?
8. What motivates reform movements?
9. What is the chief goal of reformers?
10. What are two examples of ways reformers would like to change or "shape" the government?
11. How quickly do reform movements take effect?

LIBYA QUESTIONS (to help you prepare for the essay question)
Prepare a five-paragraph response to one of the following questions. Both will be on the test, and you will be able to choose one to answer.

1. Outline the conditions that you believe are necessary before the United States Military should intervene in situations overseas.

2. Should Colonol Muammar Gaddafi be forcefully removed from power?
a. If yes: on what grounds (why)? Who should do it? Why?
b. If no: why not? What would he have to do to justify being forcefully removed?

3. Compare the situation in Libya with the Holocaust. Discuss the conditions that must exist in order for the US military to intervene in such a situation.