AP Gov FRQ

Compare the positions of Federalists and Anti-Federalists regarding the power of the national government.

Anti-Federalists: weaker nat'l gov, stronger state gov Federalists: stronger nat'l gov, weaker state gov, balanced relationship

Describe the difference between civil rights and civil liberties.

Civil rights protect groups from discrimination. Civil liberties protect individuals from government actions.

Identify the primary clause of the Fourteenth Amendment that is used to extend civil liberties.

Due Process Clause - states cannot deprive people of life, liberty, or property without due process of law

Explain how one of the following clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment has altered the balance of power between the state and national governments: Due process clause, Equal protection clause

Due process Clause - individual protections in Bill of Rights are applied to states, states are compelled to follow national requirements Equal Protection Clause - protects members of groups from discrimination by states, states are compelled to follow national requirements

Identify the primary clause of the Fourteenth Amendment that is used to extend civil rights.

Equal Protection clause - states cannot deny people equal protection of the laws

Explain how each of the following additions to the Constitution addressed Anti-Federalist concerns: 1st amendment and 10th amendment

First Amendment - free speech/religion/assembly protects an individual's liberty and provides protection from government power Tenth Amendment - reserved powers - powers not mentioned in Constitution are reserved to the states and people

Explain how civil liberties were incorporated by the Supreme Court in two of the following cases: Gideon vs. Wainwright, Mapp vs. Ohio, Miranda vs. Arizona

Gideon vs. Wainwright - right to an attorney for indigents Mapp vs. Ohio - illegally seized evidence cannot be used in court, exclusionary rule Miranda vs. Arizona - must be informed of rights: no self- incrimination, right to counsel, etc.

Explain why informal methods are used more often than the formal amendment process.

It is harder to amend formally. Amendments must go through a vigorous approval process and often don't get passed. Only 17 have passed since the Bill of Rights.

Describe two features of the original Constitution that have led to a growth in the power of the national government.

Necessary and Proper clause/Elastic clause - allows implied powers Supremacy clause - nat'l laws > state laws Commerce clause - allows congress power to regulate commerce, which can be expanded to include many things General Welfare clause - gives congress power to provide for the general welfare Taxing power - article 1, section 8, gives congress power to tax Unitary Executive - pres controls executive branch

Describe a specific legislative action that extended civil rights to each of the following: Women & Persons with disabilities

Women: right to vote, equal pay for equal work, equality in academics and athletics, laws expanding the role of women in the military, etc. Persons with disabilities: public accommodations, educational accommodations, etc.

Describe two informal methods that have been used to change the meaning of the Constitution. Provide one specific example for each informal method you described.

informal methods are used to change the meaning of the constitution because they are easier than passing an amendment, which requires many steps and lots of approval. examples: courts: judicial review/judicial interpretation/application ex. 1996 Miranda vs. Arizona: Miranda denied constitutional rights -> miranda rights commerce clause: give congress power to regulate commerce, which can expand to include many things - gives congress more power elastic clause - gives congress implied powers development of political customs/traditions - until the 22nd amendment, there was an unwritten rule that no president could serve over two terms in office

Identify two formal methods for adding amendments to the Constitution. one method of proposal and one method of ratification:

methods of proposal(⅔): ⅔ vote in both houses of Congress, national constitutional convention called by Congress at the request of ⅔ of the state legislatures (never been used) Methods of Ratification (¾): legislatures in ¾ of states, conventions in ¾ of states simply majority is not adequate