Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Final Exam Info

Wednesday, December 9
12PM-1:55PM
Room 424

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Study Guide Chapters 13-16




Here's some key elements for the Chapters 13-16 to make sure you know. These are not actual test questions, but will give you an idea how well you know the material. Use this study guide in addition to your notes from the text and lectures and the web resource for your text (chapter notes).



Chapter 13 Bureaucracy-Citizens As Owners and Consumers



  • Who ultimately controls the bureaucracy?
  • Who owns it? Are we just "customers"?
  • When and why did the biggest expansion in the bureaucracy occur?
  • Patronage and spoils: what do these terms mean? Which President used these systems of filling jobs?
    • Is patronage dead?
    • Pendleton Act of 1883
  • What is the "merit system"?
  • Republican vs. Democratic orientation towards the bureaucracy
  • What's "RIP"?
  • 4 differences between public and private bureaucracies
  • Political vs career bureaucrats
  • What's the "proxy" administration?
  • Who was Frances Perkins?
  • What do bureaucrats do? Rule making and adjudicating disputes
    • What is the "Federal Register"?
  • Know the 6 major structures within the Federal bureaucracy
  • How can Congress limit the bureaucracy?
    • What is as good example of Congressional "oversight"?
    • Can Congress eliminate a rule approved by an agency? How?
  • What role can the President play?
    • What is "SES"
    • What role does the OMB play (Office of Budget and Management)
  • Role of Courts
  • Are whistle blowers protected?
Chapter 14 The Courts-Judicial Power in a Democratic Setting




  • States and Federal "dual" court system
  • What do Federal district Courts deal with?
  • How many Courts of Appeals are there nationwide?
    • What are "en banc" hearings?
  • What is meant by "precedent"?
  • Significance of Marbury v. Madison case re: judicial review
  • Two types of law and differences. Can you cite examples of each?
  • Types of jurisdiction and judiciability
  • What is meant by "standing" Can you give an example of not having standing to submit a case?
  • Why was Roosevelt upset with the Supreme Court?
  • What is now the emphasis on cases heard in the Supreme Court?
  • Rule of 4 and "writ of certiorari"
  • How many writs are received vs. heard each year?
  • How could you be an "amicus curiae"?
  • Types of opinions issued?
  • 3 types of populations affected by decisions
  • What are some external factors that can affect a decision being implemented?
  • Judicial activism vs. Judaical restraint
  • Qualities of nominees: professional, doctrinal and representational
  • Choosing lower court appointees: some issues that have come up re: politicization of the process
  • Senatorial courtesy definition
  • What are some measures that have enhanced access to the Courts?
  • Judges aren't elected. Isn't that undemocratic?
Chapter 15 Public Policy-Responding to Citizens




  • Public policies are responses to what?
  • Who is ultimately affecteed by social and economic struggles in certain sectors
  • What is "public policy"?
  • What are 2 basic limits are placed on public policies?
  • Various steps in policymaking. Who plays a role in each step (they're different in each step)
  • Types of outcomes based on cost and benefits (chart in book...check it out)
    • Which policy outcomes are easiest/more difficult to maintain?
  • When did the big push on environmental regulation begin?
    • What's a "cap and trade" program?
  • What was the emhasis in the Rio and Kyota Environmental Protocols?
  • Have states gone their own way with environmental regulation?
  • How many people are poor, and what % of total population?
  • What are TANF restrictions?
  • What segment of the population is most vulnerable to the recession?
  • What % of the population is uninsured?
  • Fiscal policy: Keynsian and supply side: differences?
  • What is our national deficit? How much is it projected to be this year? ($1.8 trillion!)
  • What % of the budget goes to pay off the debt (9%)
  • Monetary policy: who's in charge?
  • Reserve requirement, discount rate, open market operations???
  • What's easier to fight? Recession or inflation?
  • Two opposites: free trade or protectionism: pros and cons
  • What is NAFTA. What does the WTO do?
Chapter 16 Foreign and Defense Policy-Protecting American Interests in the World




  • Was our country initially desiring to be deeply involved in foreign affiars? Why not?
  • What was significance of Roosevelt Corollary (to the Monroe Doctrine)?
  • What effect did WWs I & II have on our international perspective?
  • Starting with Truman, "containment" was a policy to contain whom or what?
  • Did the "MAD" principle work? Is detente a good thing?
  • Who became our internation "enemy" after the Cold War?
    • What does "preemption refer to?
  • What did the "Bush Doctrine" have as it's 3 elements?
  • What's the most important element of national interests?
    • What 3 components of this element are vital in making national security decisions?
  • Liberalism, rerlaism, idealism, and neoconservatism in foreign policy: characteristics?
  • Who is, no doubt, the foreign policy chief? (Hint: his initials are BHO)
  • The NSC and State Department
    • Are the views of the Secretary of State (eg., Hillary Clinton) always reflected in policy?
  • Department of Defense and the Intelligence "Community"
    • Who gathers intelligence beside the CIA
      • Can your phone be wiretapped? When?
  • How is Congress involved in foreign policy? Various tools at their disposal are....
  • What % of national budget is spent on defense?
  • Are you a "cognitive miser"? How does this manifest itself?
  • Significance of various tools of foreign policy
    • Military power: do other countries spend more based onGross Domestic Product (GDP)?
    • Diplomacy: various forms it takes
    • Foreign aid: How big a part of budget? Is it worth it?
    • International Organizations (UN, NATO, World Bank) Was the US able to get the support of the UN to invade Iraq? Why not?
  • Threats
    • Terrorism: how do you deal with it: a criminal act? Or, remove their areas of operation? Or, ground fights?
    • Nuclear Danger? Who belongs to the nuclear "club"? What is a "missle defense system"? Does it work?
    • Regional conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, and elsewhere. What's the 2-state solution proposed by former President Bush? Carnage in Darfur, Rwanda (Hutus and Tutsis). What are rusks of ignoring these areas with constant conflicts? What is "gencide"? Define it.
  • China: Friend or foe? Why is their economy so strong?
    • Book notes China is second largest debt holder behind Japan...that is now reversed; two flashpoints are what?
  • Alternatives to force: soft power! Would you like to be a volunteer to assist those in need overseas? You'll be spreading the good word

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Leftover Campaign $$$$$$$$$$$$


Can't use it for personal items, travel, gifts, etc. in Federal elections. Local and State laws vary.

FactCheck.org Info

Question re:Impeachment of Clinton


Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 19, 1998. He was acquitted in the Senate on Febraury 12, 1999. He left office in January, 2001. A day before his term was over, he agreed to a 5-year suspension of his law license in Arkansas as part of an agreement to end the investigation of his conduct.

Whistleblower Movie: The Insider


If interested, rent this movie on an insider in the tobacco industry with Russell Crowe...

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Tips for Oral Reports

Oral Report Tips and Suggestions (half your oral report grade is on quality of presentation; the rest is on quality of content)

Pitfalls

Speaker

* No eye contact

* Seems like a robot

* Hides behind the lectern

* Speaks too loud/soft

* Sways/fidgets/paces

* Rambles or loses his/her place

* Never gets to the point

* Fumbles with notes, visuals or PowerPoint

* Too much material



Visuals

* Nonexistent

* Hard to see

* Hard to undertand

* Out of sequence

* Shown too rapidly

* Shown too slowly

* Typos and errors

* Too wordy, no pics



Setting

* Too noisy

* Too hot or cold

* Too large or small

* Too bright for visuals

* Too dark for your notes

* Missing equipment

* Broken equipment

* Ridiculously complicated equipment



Planning Your Presentation

* Two-three sentence “purpose of your presentation”

* Analyze your listeners

* Analyze your speaking situation

* Select appropriate delivery method

* Memorize-only if necessary

* Impromptu-off-the cuff

* Scripted-if very technical

* Extemporaneous with notes-best



Preparing Your Presentation

* Research your topic

* Simplicity & conciseness

* Anticipate Questions

* Outline your presentation

* Plan your visuals

* When will you show certain visuals?

* Which ones work best

* How many visuals are best?

* Are your visuals achievable? What hardware is available?

* What medium is best for your presentation (overheads, PowerPoint, handouts, foam boards, etc.)

* Prepare your visuals

* Be selective

* Easy to read & understand

* 1 point per visual

* Readable to audience

* Limit material on a visual

* Fewest words possible

* 18-24 point sans serif type best

* Each visual a title

* Use color sparingly

* Label diagrams

* Proofread!!!

* Check Room beforehand

* Rehearse Delivery



Delivering Your Product

* Work the “audience” They’re your friend!

* Know your audience!

* Display enthusiasm and confidence

* Be reasonable and considerate of others

* Don’t preach. You’re not a preacher. Avoid jokes and wisecracks….not cool.

* Keep your listeners oriented. Let them know where you’re going.

* Introduce your topic clearly

* Establish common ground

* Provide good transitions between points

* Give examples!

* Review and interpret what you’ve said

* Leave people with something to remember

* Thank your listeners!

* Ask for any questions

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

This is Different.............

What's it like being President vs. running for President. Big differences. How is Obama adapting? Read the NY Times article below.

Being vs. Running