Government, Civics, and Political Science
What to know cold
This domain tests the logic of American constitutional design. Understand popular sovereignty, social contract theory, limited government, and federalism, including enumerated, implied, and reserved powers and the elastic, supremacy, and full faith and credit clauses. Know separation of powers and checks and balances with concrete examples, judicial review from Marbury v. Madison, the amendment process, and the Bill of Rights as originally a limit on the federal government alone. Distinguish civil liberties (protections from government) from civil rights (equal treatment), and know selective incorporation through the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause. Expect election mechanics: the Electoral College, reapportionment, redistricting, gerrymandering, primary types, and campaign finance. Also review political parties, interest groups, iron triangles, public opinion and socialization, and comparative systems such as parliamentary versus presidential government.
Traps
Students confuse reserved state powers with concurrent powers, or assume the Bill of Rights applied to states from 1791. Another common error is labeling any policy disagreement a constitutional issue. Comparative questions punish the assumption that a parliamentary system separates the executive from the legislature; it fuses them.
Rule of thumb
When a state law conflicts with valid federal law, the supremacy clause governs; when the question concerns a right applied against a state, look for incorporation via the Fourteenth Amendment.
Worked example
"A state requires a license for a newspaper that criticizes public officials. Which principle is most directly implicated?" Answer: freedom of the press applied to states through the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, per incorporation doctrine.