PO101: Introduction to Political Science
FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
The following are offered as suggestions and guidelines for study for the final exam. The Exam will be offered on Wed, May 10 and Fri, May 12 – both at 8:00 am in our regular classroom. You may attend either day. The exam itself will consist of 25 short-answer (definition), identification, and multiple-choice questions. Questions will draw both on the readings (in the text, and those offered on the Web) and on the content provided in lecture. The following categories are offered as a guide to what you should know:
General Concepts
Weber’s definition of the state
A Pluralist’s conception of the state; of state organization
An Institutionalist conception of the state; of state organization
Weber’s three kinds of authority
Montesquieu’s definition of tyranny
Executive v. Legislative tyranny
The "violence of faction" (Federalist #10)
Political & Governmental Structure
Authoritarian v. Democratic forms of government: where is power, where is authority?
The three functions of government (Legislative, Executive & Judicial)
How the three functions are manifest in the U.S. Constitution
The comparative strengths & weaknesses of the three "departments" of government (US)
How power is separated & maintained in the US (checks & balances)
How the U.S. Constitution protects against the "violence of faction" (how it protects minority interests from a "tyranny of the majority")
Bicameral v. Unicameral legislatures; the characteristics of Upper & Lower Houses
Differences between Presidential and Parliamentary forms of Government
Head of State v. Head of Government & their responsibilities
‘Self-selected’ Executives
Political Party Systems
Definition of a Political Party
Functions of a Political Party
One-party, Two-party & Multi-party systems
Anthony Downs’ Central Hypothesis about Party Politics
Electoral Systems
Characteristics of Single-member, winner-take-all district representation
Characteristics of Proportional Representation
Different types of Proportional Representation system
International Relations
The treaty of Westphalia, Sovereignty & Territoriality
Anarchy v. Hierarchy
The Security Dilemma
Sources of Order in the International System:
"Realism" v. "Idealism" & Approaches to understanding International Relations
Is democracy possible in the International environment?
Be sure to review all the readings from week 7 on. You will be held responsible for chapters 7-10 of the Text, as well as the U.S. Constitution and Federalist #10. You should be able to make general comparisons and applications of course material to your country of study. In addition, you should be able to use the techniques and interpret the kind of data covered in the text. Feel free to contact me with questions! (288-5251 ext. 8324; sean.duffy@quinnipiac.edu)