Category: Objective Test
Type: INDIVIDUAL OPEN EVENT
Type: INDIVIDUAL OPEN EVENT
ELIGIBILITY: The participant may not have previously competed in this event at the national level. (For the 2021 SLC: This event is open to all members, but registration is necessary in Blue Panda.)
STATE: Open event at the CA State Leadership Conference based on the above eligibility. Check Conference Program for Day and Time.
NATIONAL: The top four(4) places in the state competition will represent California at the National Leadership Conference. NOTE: Some SLC top-10 competitors will become eligible for the national conference as a result of drops. Make sure you get early approval from your parents to attend the National Conference so you will be in a position to say "yes" to your adviser if you are "bumped up".
Overview: 60-minute test administered during the Conference.
Objective Test Competencies: Political Science Terms & Concepts; History & Role of Political Science; Civil Liberties & Civil Rights in Political Science; Forms of Government & Legislatures; Electoral Systems & Presidential Elections; The Powers & Elections of Congress; Federal Judicial System; Federal Bureaucracy; Mass Media & Politics; Public Opinion & Culture; Political Science Law; Public & Social Policy; Government Fiscal Policy; Government Foreign & Defense Policies; International Relations Concepts
Skills: This event provides recognition for FBLA members who show an understanding of the government’s role in society and the interaction between economic and political life.
GUIDELINES: (It is highly recommended that competitors read all guidelines)
Objective Test
General (All Events)
General Competitive Events Tips
Objective Event Tips
Objective Test
General (All Events)
General Competitive Events Tips
Objective Event Tips
PREPARATION:
Format Guide
Format Guide PDF
Competencies:
Political Science Terms & Concepts
1. Define political science.
2. Explain the role and conflicts of politics in government.
3. Define democracy, capitalism, and Constitutionalism.
4. Define types and sources of political power.
5. Explain shifting power from a majority to a few.
6. Explain the relationship between political culture and public opinion.
7. Describe the role of citizenship and civil society in a democracy.
8. Define political justice and individual rights.
9. Define the components of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
10. Explain the difference between countries, nations, states, and governments.
2. Explain the role and conflicts of politics in government.
3. Define democracy, capitalism, and Constitutionalism.
4. Define types and sources of political power.
5. Explain shifting power from a majority to a few.
6. Explain the relationship between political culture and public opinion.
7. Describe the role of citizenship and civil society in a democracy.
8. Define political justice and individual rights.
9. Define the components of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
10. Explain the difference between countries, nations, states, and governments.
History & Role of Political Science
1. Describe the history of political parties in the U.S.
2. Explain the difference between the two-party and multi-party government systems.
3. Define current political parties.
4. Explain the role of minor political parties.
5. Describe the relationship between political parties and special interest groups.
6. Define special interest groups.
7. Explain the difference between private and public special interest groups.
8. Explain how special interest groups (example: Boston Tea Party) have influenced American politics.
2. Explain the difference between the two-party and multi-party government systems.
3. Define current political parties.
4. Explain the role of minor political parties.
5. Describe the relationship between political parties and special interest groups.
6. Define special interest groups.
7. Explain the difference between private and public special interest groups.
8. Explain how special interest groups (example: Boston Tea Party) have influenced American politics.
Civil Liberties & Civil Rights in Political Science
1. Outline the history of Civil Liberties in the United States.
2. Explain the importance and limitations of freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly.
3. Define the procedural rights for the accused.
4. Explain the right to privacy and the right to bear arms.
5. Describe the role of courts in deciding civil liberty cases.
6. Explain the history of civil rights.
7. Understand the concept of basic civil rights for all.
8. Explain equal protection under the 14th Amendment.
9. Explain Civil Rights for Women and Americans with Disabilities.
2. Explain the importance and limitations of freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly.
3. Define the procedural rights for the accused.
4. Explain the right to privacy and the right to bear arms.
5. Describe the role of courts in deciding civil liberty cases.
6. Explain the history of civil rights.
7. Understand the concept of basic civil rights for all.
8. Explain equal protection under the 14th Amendment.
9. Explain Civil Rights for Women and Americans with Disabilities.
Forms of Government & Legislatures
1. Define the role and functions of government.
2. Explain the characteristics of a democracy.
3. Describe autocracy, totalitarianism, and authoritarianism.
4. Define transitional governments.
5. Explain the powers and functions of legislatures.
6. Differentiate between Congress and Parliament.
7. Explain the purpose of legislative committees.
2. Explain the characteristics of a democracy.
3. Describe autocracy, totalitarianism, and authoritarianism.
4. Define transitional governments.
5. Explain the powers and functions of legislatures.
6. Differentiate between Congress and Parliament.
7. Explain the purpose of legislative committees.
Electoral Systems & Presidential Elections
1. Explain the U.S. Electoral College system.
2. Differentiate direct and indirect elections.
3. Describe individual representation and the U.S. electoral systems.
4. Define primary elections.
5. Explain election runoffs and recalls.
1. Explain the U.S. Electoral College system.
2. Differentiate direct and indirect elections.
3. Describe individual representation and the U.S. electoral systems.
4. Define primary elections.
5. Explain election runoffs and recalls.
The Powers & Elections of Congress
1. Define the role of Congress.
2. Explain the electoral evolution of Congress.
3. Explain the rationale for reapportionment and redistributing congressional districts.
4. Explain party nomination.
5. Describe national forces that influence Congress.
6. Explain the difference between Presidential and Congressional campaigns.
7. Describe factors that influence election outcomes.
2. Explain the electoral evolution of Congress.
3. Explain the rationale for reapportionment and redistributing congressional districts.
4. Explain party nomination.
5. Describe national forces that influence Congress.
6. Explain the difference between Presidential and Congressional campaigns.
7. Describe factors that influence election outcomes.
Federal Judicial System
1. Describe the difference between the state and U.S. court systems.
2. Describe the power of the federal judiciary.
3. Define the federal court system of the U.S.
4. Explain the judicial decision-making process.
5. Explain the checks and balance system on the power of the U.S. Supreme Court.
6. Explain the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction.
7. Explain the selection of Supreme Court Justices process.
8. Describe how special interest groups use litigation strategies to influence government policy.
2. Describe the power of the federal judiciary.
3. Define the federal court system of the U.S.
4. Explain the judicial decision-making process.
5. Explain the checks and balance system on the power of the U.S. Supreme Court.
6. Explain the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction.
7. Explain the selection of Supreme Court Justices process.
8. Describe how special interest groups use litigation strategies to influence government policy.
Federal Bureaucracy
1. Define bureaucracy.
2. Explain the history, impact, and problems associated with federal bureaucracy.
3. Explain the relationship between the President, Cabinet, and Congress when determining legislation.
4. Explain how elections are related to public perception of government.
5. Define the bureaucratic accountability process.
2. Explain the history, impact, and problems associated with federal bureaucracy.
3. Explain the relationship between the President, Cabinet, and Congress when determining legislation.
4. Explain how elections are related to public perception of government.
5. Define the bureaucratic accountability process.
Mass Media & Politics
1. Explain how mass media and journalism have impacted the political system.
2. Describe the difference between private- and state-controlled media.
3. Explain media’s influence on the public.
4. Define media bias and the reason for public criticism of media.
5. Explain the role of media in elections and other government activities.
6. Explain rules that govern media.
7. Define yellow media.
2. Describe the difference between private- and state-controlled media.
3. Explain media’s influence on the public.
4. Define media bias and the reason for public criticism of media.
5. Explain the role of media in elections and other government activities.
6. Explain rules that govern media.
7. Define yellow media.
Public Opinion & Culture
1. Define public opinion and public culture.
2. Explain how to measure public opinion.
3. Explain how public opinion leaders are selected and recognized.
4. Describe the difference between random and quota sampling used to collect public opinion.
5. Explain the bias associated with opinion polls and surveys.
6. Explain how voter turnout is impacted by polls and surveys.
7. List alternative forms of political participation.
2. Explain how to measure public opinion.
3. Explain how public opinion leaders are selected and recognized.
4. Describe the difference between random and quota sampling used to collect public opinion.
5. Explain the bias associated with opinion polls and surveys.
6. Explain how voter turnout is impacted by polls and surveys.
7. List alternative forms of political participation.
Political Science Law
1. Explain the difference between laws and customs.
2. Define American law.
3. Define code law.
4. Explain the difference between criminal law and civil law.
5. Define statutory law.
6. Describe administration, regulatory, and religious law.
2. Define American law.
3. Define code law.
4. Explain the difference between criminal law and civil law.
5. Define statutory law.
6. Describe administration, regulatory, and religious law.
Public & Social Policy
1. Explain the steps of the public policy process.
2. List types of policy.
3. Give examples of Republican and Democrat policy beliefs.
4. Define social insurance programs.
5. Describe public assistance programs.
2. List types of policy.
3. Give examples of Republican and Democrat policy beliefs.
4. Define social insurance programs.
5. Describe public assistance programs.
Government Fiscal Policy
1. Explain the difference between market- and state-controlled economies.
2. Define and give examples of regulatory policy.
3. Explain governmental policies to protect the U.S. economy.
4. Describe business cycles influenced by governmental decisions.
5. Explain how government promotes economic interests.
6. Define fiscal policy.
7. Explain how monetary policy is determined by the federal reserve.
8. Describe types of U.S. foreign policy.
2. Define and give examples of regulatory policy.
3. Explain governmental policies to protect the U.S. economy.
4. Describe business cycles influenced by governmental decisions.
5. Explain how government promotes economic interests.
6. Define fiscal policy.
7. Explain how monetary policy is determined by the federal reserve.
8. Describe types of U.S. foreign policy.
Government Foreign & Defense Policies
1. Explain which government entities are responsible for foreign policy.
2. Describe situations that call for U.S. military power.
3. Explain how government protects the ideals, interests, and needs of America.
4. Explain the economic rationale for a national security policy.
5. List the tools of foreign policy.
6. List important veteran organizations.
2. Describe situations that call for U.S. military power.
3. Explain how government protects the ideals, interests, and needs of America.
4. Explain the economic rationale for a national security policy.
5. List the tools of foreign policy.
6. List important veteran organizations.
International Relations Concepts
1. Explain the difference between globalization and nationalism.
2. Define sovereignty and world policy.
3. Describe international policies.
4. Explain inconsistency of human rights throughout the world.
2. Define sovereignty and world policy.
3. Describe international policies.
4. Explain inconsistency of human rights throughout the world.
