Exam 1 Study Guide

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University of Houston *

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Political Science

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Oct 30, 2023

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Uploaded by MajorDonkeyPerson168

Exam 1 Study Guide A. American Founding: 1. Constitutional Convention: - Date and location of the Constitutional Convention (1787, Philadelphia) - Purpose of the convention (to revise the Articles of Confederation) 2. Issues surrounding the old constitution (Articles of Confederation): - Weak central government - Inability to raise revenue or maintain a military - Lack of national unity 3. Compromises reached in forming the new Constitution: - The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) on representation in Congress - virginia plan and new jersey plan - Three-Fifths Compromise on counting enslaved individuals for representation - - Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise 4. Concerns of the Anti-Federalists (against constitution) thomas jefferson: - Fear of a strong central government - Lack of a Bill of Rights - Potential for tyranny B. Structure of American Government: 1. Separation of powers: - Legislative branch (Congress) - Executive branch (President) - Judicial branch (Supreme Court) 2. Checks and balances: - The system in which each branch of government has the ability to limit the powers of the other branches to prevent one branch from becoming too powerful. 3. Federalism: - The division of powers between the national (federal) government and state governments. - 6 eras of federalism - fed govt increasing and state govt is decrease 4. Functions, basic structure, and rules concerning each branch:

- Legislative branch: Makes laws (Congress - Senate and House of Representatives) - they meet every 2 years - 140 days - Executive branch: Enforces laws (President) - Judicial branch: Interprets laws (Supreme Court) C. Landmark Supreme Court cases: 1. Marbury v. Madison (1803): - Established judicial review, the power of the Supreme Court to review and potentially invalidate laws passed by Congress or actions taken by the executive branch. 2. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): - Established the supremacy of federal law over state law and the implied powers of the federal government. 3. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): - Clarified and expanded the federal government's authority to regulate interstate commerce. 4. Sweatt v. Painter (1950): - Challenged racial segregation in education and paved the way for the desegregation of law schools in texas. 5. Brown v. Board of Education (1954): - Declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional, ending racial segregation in public schools. 6. Hernandez v. Texas (1954): - Extended the protection of the Fourteenth Amendment to Mexican Americans and other racial and ethnic groups. D. Texas Politics: 1. Texas political culture and demographics: - Texas's conservative political culture - Diverse population with a significant Hispanic demographic 2. Texas political history 1836-present: - Texas independence from Mexico (1836) - Annexation to the United States (1845) - Role in the Civil War and Reconstruction - Formation of the modern Texas political landscape

3. Structure of the Texas Constitution: - Separation of powers and checks and balances 4. Rules concerning the Texas legislature: - Bicameral legislature (Texas House of Representatives and Senate) - Regular legislative sessions, special sessions 5. Members of the Plural Executive: - Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Commissioner of the General Land Office, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Secretary of State These are the key topics and concepts you should focus on when studying for your exam. Be sure to review relevant historical events, court cases, and political structures to prepare thoroughly. Good luck with your exam!

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