AP Government Rudy Unit 1 Test
They left some matters unresolved For example, this lack of resolution on the process of electing a president has caused conflict recently.
Why are the compromises that were necessary to secure ratification of the Constitution still debated today?
Concerns about protecting self-government The Framers wanted self-government in the form of a "living" system of government that they could change when necessary.
Why did the Framers decide to include Article V of the Constitution, detailing an amendment process?
the central government lacked the power to enforce tax laws or regulate commerce
Why did the US economy decline under the Articles?
it reinforced the idea of national supremacy, altering the relationship between federal and state governments
Why was McCulloch v. Maryland a landmark case?
ruled that the federal government had exceeded its authority under the commerce clause
Why was US v. Lopez a landmark case?
a large grant given to a state by the federal government with only general spending guidelines
block grant
grants that appropriate federal funds to states for a specific purposes
categorical grants
Part of Article I of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce (buying and selling of goods across state lines).
commerce clause
Powers shared by the national and state governments
concurrent powers
a system established by the Constitution through which the president is chosen by electors from each state, which has as many electoral votes as it has members of Congress
electoral college
model of democracy in which a smaller number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well-educated, influence political decision making
elite democracy
the powers of the national government specifically granted to Congress in Article I Section 8 of the Constitution
enumerated powers
An interest group seeking to influence government for the benefit of its members
faction
the distribution of constitutional authority between state governments and the national government, with different powers and function exercised by both
federalism
powers of the national government derived from the enumerated powers and the necessary and proper clause
implied powers
A political system in which the government's power is restricted by laws or a written Constitution
limited government
a command, indicated by an electorate's votes, for the elected officials to carry out a party platform or policy agenda
mandate
The right to life, liberty, and property, which no government may take away.
natural rights
Part of Article I of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to create laws that they find "necessary and proper" for carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
necessary and proper clause
model of democracy in which citizens have the power to decide directly on policy and politicians are responsible for implementing those policy decisions
participatory democracy
model of democracy in which no one group dominates politics and organized groups compete with each other in influence policy
pluralist democracy
principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives, who are the source of all political power
popular sovereignty
The bill must pass both the House and the Senate with a two-thirds majority
A member of the House of Representatives proposes a Constitutional amendment that would force the president and Congress to balance the budget every year. Which of the following accurately describes the amendment process?
Full Faith and Credit Clause
A state must honor the public acts and records of any other state under the
Anti Federalist
Anti Federalist or Federalist: Having the military controlled by the federal government leads to possible abuse and destruction of liberty and safety for the states
Federalist
Anti Federalist or Federalist: It is necessary for judges to be independent of politics in order to be just in their interpretations
Federalist
Anti Federalist or Federalist: No plan for government can eliminate factions entirely, but the systems shall limit their effects
Federalist
Anti Federalist or Federalist: Nothing in the Constitution says the federal government has power to limit peoples' freedoms in the first place
Anti-Federalist
Anti Federalist or Federalist: The United States is too large to have a central government. People won't know their leaders and will lose control over thee government.
those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government, opposed ratification of Constitution
Anti-Federalist
legislative branch (bicameral, qualifications, terms, methods of selection, system of appointment) ends with the necessary and proper clause
Article I
Executive Branch section 1 sets term and electoral college, qualifications, and how to replace section 3 powers and duties- commander in chief
Article II
establishes a supreme court and defines its jurisdiction
Article III
mandates that states honor the laws and judicial proceedings of other states; also includes the mechanisms for admitting new states to the union
Article IV
specifies how amendments can be added to the Constitution
Article V
Supremacy Clause: national law is supreme over all other laws passed by the states or by any other subdivision of government specified no religious test shall be required for holding office
Article VI
concerns procedures for ratifying new Constitution
Article VII
the first government system of the United States, which lasted from 1776 until 1789. The Articles placed most power in the hands of state governments.
Articles of Confederation
Enumerated powers are powers that the Constitution explicitly grants to the federal government, whereas implied powers are not explicitly written but are necessary for carrying out enumerated powers
Based on the ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), what is the difference between enumerated powers and implied powers?
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution, which explicitly protected individual liberties such as freedom of speech
Bill of Rights
An Anti-Federalist essay, which argued against a strong central government based on the belief that it would not be able to meet the needs of all US citizens.
Brutus No. 1
-people have a right happiness rather than property -separation of powers was played out in all 3 branches -US government was formed due to an agreement between US citizens and England -written to spark a revolution
Describe Jefferson's argument in the Declaration
-people have the right to property rather than happiness -only believed in the separation of powers being played out in the executive and legislative branches -the formation of government is formed through the people for the people -focused on the rights that citizens are guaranteed when the government is declining
Describe Locke's argument in the Second Treatise
the state government
Dillon's Rule states that all local governments must be authorized by
block grants
During the Devolution Revolution, which type of federal grant did they tend to favor?
-veto legislation -call congress into special session -implement (or fail to implement) laws passed by Congress
Executive checks on the Legislative
-appoint federal judges -refuse to implement decisions
Executive checks on the judicial
those who favored the new strong national government and supported Constitution
Federalist
An essay written by James Madison, which argued that a strong representative government would be able to control the effects of factions.
Federalist no. 10
An essay written by James Madison that explained how the structure of the new government under the Constitution would provide the necessary checks and balances to keep the government from becoming too powerful.
Federalist no. 51
promote the economic interests of those at the Constitutional Convention
Granting supremacy to the national government was done in part to
One issue that the compromises solved was how states would be represented in Congress. Under the Articles, every state had one vote, regardless of the size of its population. The Great Compromise gave larger states more say in the House of Representatives by tying representation there to state population, while keeping state representation equal in the Senate by giving each state two votes.
How did the compromises necessary to secure ratification resolve issues in the Articles of Confederation?
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) extended federal power; US v. Lopez (1995) limited federal power
How did the decision in US v. Lopez (1995) differ from the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?
elite democracy
If Alexander Hamilton, who was a federalist, was describing a type off democracy that he advocated for, which would it be?
Hiring postal workers to deliver the mail To carry out its duty of delivering the mail across the country, the federal government would need to hire people to do it.
If Congress has the power to "deliver the mail," which of the following might be an implied power of Congress?
The structure of the government itself should limit its powers
In Federalist no. 51, Madison writes that the "interior structure of government" should be the means of keepings its branches "in their proper places." What does he mean by this?
commerce
In US v. Lopez, the Supreme Court ruled that the _______________ clause did not give Congress constitutional authority to regulate guns near a school
-declare executive branch actions unconstitutional -chief justice presides over impeachment trials
Judicial checks on the Executive
-rule federal and state laws unconstitutional
Judicial checks on the Legislative
-impeach the president -reject legislation or funding the president wants -refuse to confirm nominees or approve treaties -override the president's veto by a two-thirds vote
Legislative checks on the Executive
-change the number and jurisdiction of federal courts -impeach federal judges -propose constitutional amendments to override judicial decisions
Legislative checks on the Judicial
A Supreme Court case that guaranteed the supremacy of federal laws over state laws
McCulloch v. Maryland
to create a stronger governing system
Regarding the Articles, what did Shay's Rebellion illustrate the need for?
it indicated that the state and national governments were weak
Shay's rebellion contributed to calls for a stronger national government because
the Supreme Court declares a law unconstitutional
The Founding Fathers designed a system of check and balances for the national government. Which of the following best illustrates that concept?
1. three distinct branches of government 2. three separately staffed branches of government to exercise these functions 3. constitutional equality and independence of each branch
What are the three key features of separation of powers?
a large, diverse republic and checks and balances will tame factions
The chief argument in James Madison's Federalist #10 is
the separation of powers and checks guards against tyranny of one branch over another
The chief argument in James Madison's Federalist #51 is
categorical grants are for particular, well-defined purposes and projects with strings attached, while block grants address some larger purpose
The chief difference between block grants and categorical grants is
Great Compromise, the Three-Fifths Compromise, and the Electoral College
What compromises were discussed at the Constitutional Convention?
factions
What did a pluralist democracy deal with?
representation when it came to the enslaved population of southern states and the importation of enslaved Africans
What did the 3/5 Compromise settle matters of?
required the consent of nine state ratifying conventions
The ratification of the US Constitution...
A loose league of friendship The Articles of Confederation gave few powers to the central government, leaving most power with the states.
The relationship between the states under the Articles of Confederation could best be described as which of the following?
A Supreme Court case that stopped Congress from using the commerce clause to ban guns in schools
US v. Lopez
In 1992, Alfonso Lopez, a high school senior, walked into his San Antonio high school with a concealed weapon. He was arrested for violating a Texas law that prohibited firearm possession on school grounds. At first, Lopez was charged in a court in Texas, but he was later charged with violating the Gun-Free Schools Act, a federal offense. Lopez was found guilty and appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that this law was an overreach of congressional power because schools were supposed to be controlled at the state level, not the federal level. The court agreed with him and overturned the conviction.
US v. Lopez Summary
the people
Under the system created by the Framers, the national and state governments share power and derive all authority from
1. republicanism 2. checks and balances 3. popular sovereignty 4. limited government 5. federalism 6. separation of powers 7. individual rights
What are the seven constitutional principles?
argued that a strong central government would render thee states powerless and proposed that the taxing power of congress be limited, that the executive be curbed by a council, that military consist of state militias, and that jurisdiction of Supreme court be limited to prevent it from reviewing the decisions of state courts
What did the Anti-Federalists argue and propose?
a weak central government and placed most powers in the hands of the states
What did the Articles of Confederation establish?
reasons for the new government structure and benefits
What did the Federalists' papers highlight?
an equal control in the other two branches
What did the Framers establish for almost every power granted to one branch?
representation in the federal government
What did the Great Compromise settle matters of?
whether Congress had the power to create a national bank and whether the state of Maryland had interfered with congressional powers by taxing the national bank
What did the Supreme Court consider in McCulloch v. Maryland?
how the president would be elected
What did the electoral college settle matters of?
-the powers denied by Congress -protects others rights that belong to the people even though they may not be expressly stated
What does Amendment IX contain?
gives Congress the power to enact a national income tax without apportioning it to the states
What does Amendment XVI state?
-the enumerated powers for the federal government -the clause that gives Congress the authority to pass any laws that are necessary to carry out the enumerated powers specified -powers not delegated to the national government are reserved to the states
What does Article I contain?
-the clause which states that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privilege's -the clause that all states must honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state -the clause that requires states to deliver captured criminals back to the state where they committed the crime
What does Article IV contain?
the clause mandating that the national law superseded all other laws by states or by any other division of government
What does Article VI contain?
protection of natural rights
What enlightenment idea does the Declaration of Independence rely?
federalism is a sharing of powers between national and regional governments
What is a statement that accurately describes federalism?
a bill of rights was necessary to protect the people from the government
What is the chief argument of Brutus no. 1?
a social contract
What philosophy addresses the idea that governments exist based on the consent of the governed?
the Constitution limited Congress' regulation of the slave trade and called on state to extradite fugitive slaves
What statement about the Constitution and slavery is true?
enumerated and implied
What two types of powers does Congress have under Article I, section 8 of the Constitution?
participatory
What type of democracy did the Anti Federalists support?
elite
What type of democracy did the Federalist's support?
dual
What was the dominant form of federalism prior to the New Deal?
The power to create a national bank was not explicitly written in the Constitution
What was the main argument against creating a national bank?
The VA plan created a bicameral legislature with proportional representation, while the NJ pan created a unicameral legislature with equal representation
What was the major difference between the Virginia plan and New Jersey plan?
believed in the decency of the common man and in participatory democracy; viewed elites as corrupt; sought greater protection of individual rights
What was the political philosophy of the Anti-Federalists?
Elitist; saw themselves and those of their class as most fit to govern
What was the political philosophy of the Federalists?
it outlined King George's violations and appealed to nations around the world
What was the reason that the Declaration of Independence was an important tool in the Revolutionary War?
1. national government lacked the power to tax 2. national government lacked the ability to regulate trade 3. there was no national judiciary
What were the reasons that the Articles of Confederation failed?
social contract theory, equality (politically), and natural rights
What were the three things John Locke advocated for?
Issuing a mandate tying federal block grants to the amount of state spending per pupil
Which of the following describes a way that the federal government could influence state spending on education?
Two-thirds of state legislatures propose a Constitution Amendment Bill, which is ratified by three-fourths of the states
Which of the following procedures results in the addition of an amendment to the Constitution?
It was a compromise between big and small states so that states with a larger population cannot control presidential elections
Which of the following statements best explains the compromise behind the creation of the Electoral College?
Necessary and Proper Clause
Which part of Article I gives Congress powers beyond those enumerated in Section 8?
federal funds designated for special projects within a state congressional district
programmatic requests
support for a republican system of government
republicanism
powers reserved to the states by the 10th amendment that lie at the foundation of a state's right to legislate for the public health and welfare of its citizens
reserved powers
a way of dividing the power of the government among the three branches, each staffed separately, with equality and independence of each branch ensured by the constitution
separation of powers
belief that governments exist based on the consent of the governed
social contract theory
mandate without monies
unfunded mandate