Unit 1, Round 1 AP GOV
A Long Term Effect
A
Claim After Grievances
A
Federalist No. 10
A
A System of Government
B
Alternative Intent
B
A Federalist Voice
C
grievances in the declaration of independence
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. The majority of the grievances listed in the Declaration are examples of where the king had overreached executive authority. This extensive list of complaints made colonists very wary of giving too much power to the president. In fact, the Articles of Confederation lacked an executive branch completely. During the Constitutional Convention, there were heated debates over how much power to grant the president.
institutional limits on interest group influence
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. An interest group could successfully use grassroots lobbying to get Congress to pass a law that creates the policies that it supports, but a presidential veto could prevent the law and the policies that it includes from going into effect.
the three branches
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. Only the members of the House of Representatives were always elected directly by the people. Until the ratification of the 17th Amendment members of the Senate were selected by state legislatures, not the people. The President is still indirectly elected as the Electoral College creates a buffer between the vote of the people and the presidency. In two recent elections (2000 and 2016) the candidate that won the popular vote did not win the presidency. The president appoints Supreme Court justices.
limits to interest group influence
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. Even if an interest group is able to influence Congress and the president to approve legislation they support, the federal courts, which are not directly subject to influence by interest groups, have the power to declare the legislation unconstitutional.
the federalists and the anti-federalists still resonate
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. The key to recognizing this answer is to remember that Federalists favored a stronger national government. The inability of the government under the Articles of Confederation to control domestic disturbances like Shays' Rebellion convinced Federalists that a stronger national government under the Constitution was a necessity. Today, terrorism is a major threat to the United States and we have seen federal legislation like the Patriot Act that allows the government to surveil American citizens in ways that Anti-Federalist would be concerned about because it may limit due process and equal protection provisions in the Bill of Rights.
Anti-Federalist Conviction
D
Belief in Natural Rights
D
Brutus No. 1
D
Constitutional Limits of Factions
D
keep those powers separated
The correct answer is Choice 'A'. The Constitution specifically delegates the power to initiate all revenue (tax) measures to the House and not the Senate. The reason for this goes all the way back to the American Revolution and the call for "No Taxation without Representation!" Because the House was the only part of Congress directly elected by the people (Members of the Senate were appointed by state legislatures until the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913), the power to raise taxes was given to those members of Congress the people got to choose.
a shift in American beliefs
a
Constitutional principle from chart
b
an alternate attitude
b
an analogous decision
c
brutus' fears
c
exclusive power of national government
c
an advocate for the dissent
d
checks on legislative process
d
concurrent national and state powers
d
constitutional guarantee of federalism
d
fiscal federalism
d
impact of cases on government power
d
Comparing Representative Democracies
A
Early Political Divisions: Feds vs. Anti-Feds
A
Ideals in the Declaration of Independence
A
Influence of Enlightenment Ideas
A
Misgivings Confirmed
A
Models of Representative Democracies Today
A
Supremacy of the States
A
Voting in the Confederation Congress
A The New Jersey Plan - each state has one vote
Debate on Models of Representative Democracies
B
Enlightenment influence
B
Founded in Opposition
B
Looking Toward Independence
B
Models of Representative Democracies - Federalist No. 10
B
Overarching Concepts in the Declaration of Independence
B
Related Principles
B
Shifting Beliefs
B
The Meaning of Liberty
B
The View of a Political Scientist
B
Federalists vs Anti-Federalists
B federalists want more federal power
A Practical Example
C
Articles of Confederation and Economic Policy
C
Claims Made by Robert Yates
C
Comparing Representative Democracies
C
Constitutional Ideals
C
Justifying the need for a stronger central government
C
Models of Representative Democracies Today
C
Motives
C
Overarching Concepts in the Constitution
C
Rebuttal to Brutus No. 1
C
Short-Term Effects of Articles
C
The Declaration of Independence and Democratic Ideals
C
Unalienable Rights
C
Views on the Constitution
C
matters left unresolved
Choice 'A' is the correct answer. Just how much power states would retain under the new Constitution created much debate in 1787. The Supremacy Clause in Article VI states that, "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof;.. shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding." Marijuana is illegal under federal law, so constitutionally speaking, it should be illegal for states to legalize its use. Because state sovereignty was a matter of debate in 1787 many compromises were reached to secure ratification of the Constitution, particularly the 10th Amendment which reserves powers to the states in that, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." The powers reserved to the states was a vital compromise that advocates of state's rights fought for to protect the sovereignty of the states from the abuse of a federal government they feared was granted too much power under the Constitution. The legalization of marijuana by the states tests this concept of sovereignty as states have passed legislation for something that is technically a violation of federal law as states continue to test the limits of power established by the Constitution between state and federal governments.
characteristics of the Connecticut compromise
Choice 'A' is the correct answer. The Connecticut Compromise (or "Great Compromise") of 1787, largely credited to Roger Sherman, did the most to suppress the conflict between large states and small states. The earlier Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature that would be apportioned based on population, a notion that upset many smaller states. The New Jersey Plan countered with the idea of a unicameral legislature that would provide for equal representation among all the states. The Connecticut Compromise assuaged both sides by recommending a bicameral legislature in which one branch (the House of Representatives) would be apportioned by population and another branch (the Senate) would provide the states equal representation.
historical examples of impeachment
Choice 'A' is the correct answer. The U.S. Constitution vests Congress with the power to impeach and remove a sitting president. Article I, Section 2 states that the House of Representatives "shall have the sole Power of Impeachment," while Article I, Section 3 declares that the Senate "shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments." The cartoon above features a canon labeled "Congress" aimed at President Andrew Johnson with Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton holding an artillery rammer. Johnson had previously sought to remove Stanton from office, violating the Tenure of Office Act and sparking congressional impeachment proceedings.
hamilton's support of national judiciary
Choice 'A' is the correct answer. Alexander Hamilton, writing under the pseudonym "Publius", firmly believes that an independent, national judiciary is the best safeguard of the integrity of the Constitution. Moreover, he believes that a strong judiciary is necessary to harness the legislative branch from veering outside constitutional bounds. Writes Hamilton in Federalist No. 78, "the courts were designed to be an intermediate body between the people and the legislature, in order, among other things, to keep the latter within the limits assigned to their authority."
historical support
Choice 'A' is the correct answer. Southern Democrats during the 19th century took a decidedly states' rights view of American government. Though this argument centered on protecting southerners' ability to hold slaves as property and avoid federally imposed tariffs, it paralleled the argument in the Articles of Confederation, which strongly advocated for states' rights.
achievements of the articles
Choice 'A' is the correct answer. The Articles of Confederation was instituted in 1777. The Confederation Congres took over national governance from the Second Continental Congress. This new Congress was responsible for deploying the negotiators for the treaty that ended the American Revolution and recognized American Independence. The Treaty of Paris, finalized in 1783, is significant not only for ending the American Revolution but marking the international recognition of the United States of America as a sovereign nation.
the annapolis convention
Choice 'A' is the correct answer. The inability of the government established by the Articles of Confederation to regulate trade among the states is what led Alexander Hamilton to call for a convention in Annapolis to discuss issues related to commerce among the several states, which makes this choice the best answer. Under the Articles of Confederation the power to regulate trade among the states was not given to the central government and each state had the freedom to regulate trade across and within its borders. This led to many issues regarding fishing rights in the Chesapeake Bay, conflicts over charging tolls to cross state borders, and many other problems that made conducting trade difficult.
Defects in the Articles of Confederation
Choice 'A' is the correct answer. The inability of the government established by the Articles of Confederation to regulate trade among the states. The inability of the government established by the Articles of Confederation to regulate trade among the states is what led Alexander Hamilton to call for a convention in Annapolis to discuss issues related to commerce among the several states, which makes this choice the best answer. Under the Articles of Confederation the power to regulate trade among the states was not given to the central government and each state had the freedom to regulate trade across and within its borders. This led to many issues regarding fishing rights in the Chesapeake Bay, conflicts over charging tolls to cross state borders, and many other problems that made conducting trade difficult.
short term effect
Choice 'A' is the correct answer. The intended audience of Federalist No. 51 was undoubtedly members of the ratifying convention of New York which had yet to give its assent to the new Constitution. Secondarily, another target would have been Virginia which was another holdout. Whether Federalist No. 51 actually achieved this purpose is up for debate.
an appropriate pseudonym
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. Anti-Federalist authors often used the pseudonyms "Brutus" or "Cato" when writing their critiques of the proposed Constitution. Both were famous historical characters of ancient Rome. Marcus Junius Brutus was a Senator involved in the Senatorial conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar, the man responsible for the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis was a statesman and politician in the late stage of the Roman Republic, whose resistance to corruption led him towards a long conflict with Julius Caesar.
effects of the 3/5ths compromise
Choice 'B is the correct answer. The debate on how slaves should be counted was a very divisive issue at the Constitutional Convention. Southern states with large populations of slaves wanted to count their slaves for reasons of representation in the House of Representatives, while many Northern states with small slave populations were opposed for two significant reasons. One, counting slaves for representation in the House would give the Southern states a distinct advantage in controlling the House of Representatives, but because the votes cast in the electoral college were based in part on a state's number of representatives in the House, and secondly, counting slaves in the census would also give Southern states an advantage in electing the president. In the end, the 3/5ths compromise counted only three of every five slaves for representation in the House of Representatives, but those opposed to both the count and slavery itself reached a compromise that this count would also be used to determine taxes paid by each state. Southerners got to count their slaves for the House, but it cost them more money come tax time.
argument in the federalist papers, no. 78
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. In Federalist No. 78, Alexander Hamilton argues that the judicial branch would represent the weakest of the three branches because its role would merely be to adjudicate (compared with the legislative branch which controls finances or the executive branch which controls the military). Nevertheless, Hamilton believed the judicial branch held one key check over the power of the legislature - the power to determine whether or not the acts of Congress were constitutional. To Hamilton, this right to judicial review was a vital assurance to prevent abuses of power by the legislative branch. To be sure, the U.S. Constitution does not specifically empower the Supreme Court the right to judge the constitutionality of congressional laws. However, that power was best established in the outcome of Marbury v. Madison (1803).
powers retained by the states
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. Marijuana is a controlled substance under federal law, and is illegal throughout the United States to possess or use according to the federal government, yet despite this fact, many states have legalized its use for medicinal or recreational use. Since the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and any law passed by Congress is supreme to any state action under Article VI of the Constitution, states should not be allowed to legalize a drug that is illegal under federal law. States that have legalized marijuana are technically operating beyond what the Constitution and federal law allow. States are utilizing the doctrine of States Rights nonetheless here to test the Federal government. For now, the federal government is practicing a modern version of salutary neglect and is allowing states to legalize marijuana, but that could change at any time if the President or Congress decides to enforce the laws regarding marijuana that are already on the books.
compromise between federalists and anti-federalists
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. The Federalists were all about elevating the power of the federal government over the power of the states to correct one of the major problems associated with the Articles of Confederation. The Federalist wanted to make sure that the Constitution, and any laws passed under it were above State law and therefore codified that position in Article VI of the the Constitution, "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding. To counter this potential abuse of power, Anti-Federalists demanded a Bill of Rights to temper the power of the new federal government and protect state's rights. Under the 10th amendment they got the protection they desired, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Basically, it means what the Constitution does not prohibit to the states, it allows.
characteristics of impeachment
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. The U.S. Constitution defines the process of impeaching federal officials. Each state constitution does the same for state-level officials, although the exact procedure varies a bit from state to state. A recent and noteworthy impeachment of a state official was that of Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich in 2009 due to corruption charges. Blagojevich was subsequently removed from office.
a little rebellion can be a good thing
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. The excerpt calls for unified action on the part of all the states when it says,"..the present State of our national affairs, foreign and domestic, as may reasonably be supposed to merit a deliberate and candid discussion, in some mode, which will unite the Sentiments and Council's of all the States." Nothing united all the states to act together to fix the problems inherent with the Articles of Confederation like Shays' Rebellion. In 1786 in western Massachusetts the rebellion led by Daniel Shays over debt, paper money and taxes was the turning point for many states to realize that the government under the Articles of Confederation was too weak to prevent domestic insurrections because it had no standing army to combat such aggression. Prior to Shays rebellion many states were happy with a central government that had limited military power and felt their local militias were the best guarantee of liberty. When the Massachusetts militia could not put down Shays rebellion other states were frightened by the spectre of anarchy and finally committed to joining the convention in Philadelphia to formally address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
domestic insurrection
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. The excerpt calls for unified action on the part of all the states when it says,"..the present State of our national affairs, foreign and domestic, as may reasonably be supposed to merit a deliberate and candid discussion, in some mode, which will unite the Sentiments and Council's of all the States." Nothing united all the states to act together to fix the problems inherent with the Articles of Confederation like Shays' Rebellion. In 1786 in western Massachusetts the rebellion led by Daniel Shays over debt, paper money and taxes was the turning point for many states to realize that the government under the Articles of Confederation was too weak to prevent domestic insurrections because it had no standing army to combat such aggression. Prior to Shays rebellion many states were happy with a central government that had limited military power and felt their local militias were the best guarantee of liberty. When the Massachusetts militia could not put down Shays rebellion other states were frightened by the spectre of anarchy and finally committed to joining the convention in Philadelphia to formally address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
the amendment process
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. Article V of the Constitution contains all the provisions for amending the Constitution. Members of Congress may propose Amendments and it takes a 2/3rds vote in both the House and the Senate to move forward. The proposed amendment then is sent to the individual states where it must be ratified by 3/4ths of the state legislatures or by special ratification conventions held in the states.
shifting political beliefs
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. As opposition to the Articles of Confederation grew and events such as Shays' Rebellion underscored some of the limitations of the system of government, Americans grew fearful that a weak central government was, indeed, problematic. Many realized that a system of empowered states might lead to more turmoil and that a stronger central government might do a better job of securing the people's rights.
small states v. big states
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. Both the New Jersey Plan favored by the small states and the Virginia Plan favored by the large states called for a separation of powers into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. How those branches would be selected and operate were distinctly different, but the idea of separation of powers was the same in both plans. The Virginia Plan had more defined details about a system of checks and balances than did the New Jersey Plan, but giving the each branch the ability to limit the abuse of power by the other two branches made this compromise attractive to both the small states and large states.
checks by congress on the president
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. Congress is given the power to appropriate funds in Article I of the Constitution. Congress can prevent the president from carrying out policy initiatives that require funding by refusing to appropriate the necessary funds.
political philosophy
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. In Federalist No. 10, James Madison spends most of his time speaking about the subject of factionalism. Within this topic, he seems most concerned about factions arising over the distribution of wealth and property. Madison strongly believes that the wealth of the minority should be protected from the desires of the property less majority. He warns that such a majority might "rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project," tearing the country apart in the process.
excerpt from federalist 51
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. James Madison is arguing in Federalist 51 that the Constitution will incorporate the separation of powers when he references "the necessary partition of power among the several departments". He also describes how the the separation will be maintained by allowing the branches to "be the means of keeping each other in their proper places".
the author's background
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. James Madison was a devotee of Enlightenment thought. The themes of the Enlightenment, such as modernization, skepticism, reason, and liberty are found throughout Madison's writings, including his contributions to The Federalist. As such, Madison became a champion for liberal republicanism.
the core belief
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. Madison freely admits that "the latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man." He contends that various personal circumstances in society guarantee the development of factions. Individuals who share common opinions concerning such subjects as religion, government, and economics will naturally coalesce into factions.
securing domestic tranquility
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. The event the finally convinced those in favor of the Articles of Confederation that it lacked the power to put down domestic insurrections was the Shays' Rebellion of 1786-7. Because the Articles did not establish a standing army, the responsibility to put down domestic rebellions was relegated to state militias, and in the case of Shays' rebellion the militia of Massachusetts was reluctant to fight against poor farmers. When the Whiskey Rebellion broke out in western Pennsylvania in 1791 George Washington had the opportunity to prove that under the Constitution the new government did indeed have the power to "secure domestic tranquility" that the Articles of Confederation did not provide. When the rebels heard Washington himself was leading the militia in their direction they quickly disbanded and peace (and the collection of the Whiskey Tax) quickly returned.
constitutional redress
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. The inability to collect taxes from the states was a major weakness under the Articles of Confederation. The central government had to ask the states to supply funds, but had no power to force the states to comply. If states didn't have the money to give to the central government they could just say no. By specifically delegating the power to lay and collect taxes in Article 1, Section 8 of the new Constitution to Congress the Constitution rectified this situation. The fact that this power is the first power delegated in this section implies directly its importance. Combined with the power of the President as commander in Chief of the militia to enforce a tax (as Washington did in the Whiskey Rebellion) the national government under the Constitution proved it had the power to both lay AND collect taxes from the states.
constitutional remedies
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. The inability to collect taxes from the states was a major weakness under the Articles of Confederation. The central government had to ask the states to supply funds, but had no power to force the states to comply. If states didn't have the money to give to the central government they could just say no. By specifically delegating the power to lay and collect taxes in Article 1, Section 8 of the new Constitution to Congress the Constitution rectified this situation. The fact that this power is the first power delegated in this section implies directly its importance. Combined with the power of the President as commander in Chief of the militia to enforce a tax (as Washington did in the Whiskey Rebellion) the national government under the Constitution proved it had the power to both lay AND collect taxes from the states.
argument consistency
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. This statement comes directly from Federalist No.51. As a Federalist, Madison believed in giving the federal government more power to govern than had existed under the Articles of Confederation, but key to the answer her is the phrase, "and in the next oblige it to control itself." The concept of Checks and Balances is all about obliging the government to control itself. Because each branch can effectively "check" the power of the others in many ways the Constitution prevents any one branch or entity of government from abusing its power.
the three branches
Choice 'B' is the correct answer. While it may be beneficial to have appointments for all three branches "drawn from the same fountain of authority", James Madison admits there may have to be some deviation from this idea. For the judiciary especially, "because peculiar qualifications being essential in the members, the primary consideration ought to be to select that mode of choice which best secures these qualifications."
characteristics of the new jersey plan versus the virginia plan
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates put forward several plans. The New Jersey plan proposed that each state have equal representation in a unicameral Congress - a "one state, one vote" idea consistent with the Articles of the Confederation. This plan received the backing of less populous states. In contrast, the Virginia Plan (largely inspired by James Madison) suggested a bicameral legislature that would be apportioned by population. As such, more populous states backed this plan. The discrepancies between the two plans helped bring about the so-called Connecticut Compromise, which melded aspects of the New Jersey Plan and Virginia Plan. Specifically, the Connecticut Compromise called for a bicameral legislature that included a House of Representatives (based on apportionment by population) and a Senate (based on equal representation).
historical example of presidential impeachment
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. The House of Representatives successfully impeached Bill Clinton in December 1998 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice (each linked to a sexual harassment lawsuit). The impeachment vote was highly partisan, supported by most Republicans and opposed by most Democrats. Although the U.S. Senate subsequently held a trial (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court William Rehnquist presiding), the body failed to garner enough votes to remove Clinton from office. The House of Representatives only requires a bare majority to vote for impeachment, making this part of the procedure comparatively simple. The Senate, however, requires a two-thirds vote to remove a president from office - an action far more difficult, especially in highly-charged partisan times.
historical examples of impeachment, part 2
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. The Tenure of Office Act was passed by Congress in 1867, over the veto of President Johnson. The law, supported largely by Radical Republicans in the House and Senate, sought to diminish the powers of the executive by forbidding the president to remove certain officials without the consent of the Senate. The bill was designed in part to foil Johnson's attempt to lead a more conservative oversight of post-Civil War Reconstruction. Johnson violated the Tenure of Office Act when he sought to remove Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton (a Radical Republican) and appoint a new secretary without the Senate's approval. An already disgusted Congress subsequently moved to impeach Johnson in 1868, using his violation of the act as justification. Johnson became the first president to ever be impeached. However, he avoided removal from office during his impeachment trial by a slim one-vote margin in the Senate. Soon after, Stanton tendered his resignation to the president.
the constitutional convention and slavery
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. The phrase "representing men who have no will of their own" is a direct reference to the three-fifths clause or three-fifths compromise reached during the 1787 Constitutional Convention. After the Connecticut Compromise guaranteed that representation in the House of Representatives would be based on population, southern states strongly-rooted in slavery insisted that their slaves be counted as persons. In contrast, many northern states argued that slaves were property and not eligible to be counted toward a state's political representation. Delegates reached a compromise whereby representation in the House would be calculated by counting all free persons and three-fifths of all slaves.
constitutional application
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. Article 1, Sec 8: The enumerated powers of Congress Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution enumerates (delegates) specific powers to Congress, many of which were included to resolve the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Below is a short list of the problems associated with the Articles and how the Constitution fixed them. (Helpful Hint: This has been a frequent topic of essays and multiple choice questions since the very first AP U.S. Government exam.) Because Article I remedies so many weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, it represents the best answer choice for this prompt.
a short term effect
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. Article VII of the Constitution required ratification by at least nine of the thirteen states. Alexander Hamilton invited John Jay and James Madison to compose articles which were designed to sway public opinion towards support of the new Constitution. Federalist No. 10 was published in numerous newspapers in New York in 1787 and 1788. While the addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution played the largest role in swaying New York convention delegates, the publication of Federalist No. 10 undoubtedly helped to tip the balance towards ratification in 1788. Once New York was on board, North Carolina and Rhode Island followed suit to make ratification unanimous.
checks on executive orders
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. Congress and the president often clash over the use of executive orders. The opposing party often complains that the president is exceeding their power in office beyond what the Constitution allows, but when their party holds the presidency they are often very silent about their president using the same tactics due to the partisan nature of politics today. If Congress is truly vexed by the use of executive orders they do have the ability to pass specific legislation to void them, but those laws are also subject to a presidential veto. When president Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation through an executive order, he was so concerned Congress might overturn it he advocated for the passage of the 13th Amendment to end slavery forever.
intent of the framers
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. In Federalist No. 51, James Madison argues that the best chance at limiting the concentration of power in government is to divide it into separate departments. Writes Madison, "to lay a due foundation for that separate and distinct exercise of the different powers of government . . . it is evident that each department should have a will of its own . . . should be as little dependent on those of the others" and be able to "resist encroachments of others."
james madison's viewpoint
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. James Madison most certainly supports division of the national government into branches as proposed in the new Constitution. He understands, however, that the mere division of responsibilities among departments will not guarantee the preservation of liberty which is being sought. Realizing that it is in human nature for those in office to seek as much power as possible, the Framers of the Constitution not only divided the national government into three branches but also created overlapping jurisdiction among those same three branches. Rather than restrict each branch of the national government by some artificial means, the Framers hoped to use human nature where, as Madison puts it, "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition." And finally, by creating a federal system of republican government, with powers shared by the national government and the states, the Framers provided a "double security . . . to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself."
congressional limits
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. The Constitution may have divided Congress into two houses, or "different branches" as the excerpt describes, but neither house can truly dominate the other legislatively because the Constitution requires that any law passed in one house must also pass the other in exactly the same wording. Therefore members of both houses must meet in special Conference Committees to iron out any differences bills encounter as they pass through the legislative process. If compromise can't be reached, the Bill is dead. If a compromise is reached and the bill does not pass in both houses, it is dead again.
weaknesses of the articles of confederation
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. The Tenth Amendment reserved powers clause is the best answer choice in this set. Under the Articles of Confederation you should remember that the thirteen states controlled more sovereignty than did the central government of the United States. The Constitution changed that with the "supremacy clause" found in Article VI which states, "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding." Alarmed by this, many Anti-Federalists looked for a way to preserve some level of autonomy for the states and found it in the Tenth Amendment which states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Essentially, if the power is granted to the federal government or is denied to the states, the states can do just about anything they want to do. (Helpful Hint: The power to regulate slavery was not given to the federal government under the Constitution, nor denied to the states, so each state got to decide the legality of slavery on its own.)
opposing plans
Choice 'C' is the correct answer. The debate over representation at the Constitutional Conventions was very intense. Two opposing plans were presented: The Virginia Plan favored by states with large populations and the New Jersey Plan favored by states with small populations. The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislative branch where representation was based on population. The lower house (House of Representatives) to be elected by the people of each state, and the upper house (Senate) to be elected by the state legislatures. The New Jersey plan proposed a single legislative body where each state was represented equally, just like they had been under the Articles of Confederation- making this answer choice the best option for this comparison table.
a precipitating event
Choice 'C'is the correct answer. Madison considered Shay's Rebellion a prime example of democracy run amok. In this case, the armed revolt staged by a group of disgruntled Massachusetts farmers in 1786 illustrated the most dangerous outcome of factionalism. To avoid such disorder in the future, Madison believed that the government of the Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced.
passing the buck on slavery
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. Although Congress is delegated the power to "..dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.." exactly how much power that left to Congress was debatable thanks to the 10th Amendment. The 10th Amendment reserves powers to states that are not explicitly given to the federal government under the Constitution, nor are denied to the states by the Constitution. Since slavery is not a power given to the federal government to regulate under the Constitution, the decision on slavery was theoretically left up to the states. That being said, the concept was tested when the first state to apply from admission from the Louisiana Purchase, Missouri, applied for statehood in 1819. Since the power to regulate slavery was not included in the Constitution, Congress implied that their power to decide if a new state could be slave or free was hotly debated when Missouri applied for admission as a slave state. The compromise Henry Clay brokered pacified both slave owners and abolitionists when Missouri was admitted as a slave state, but all territory north of Missouri's southern border was banned to slavery. Each time new territory was added to the United States, in particular the lands acquired from Mexico in 1848. This time a new debate arose that the people living in territories of the Mexican Cession, under the the concept of popular sovereignty, had the right-not Congress, to decide if their states would be slave or free. The failure of the founders at the Constitutional Convention to resolve the issue of who had the power to regulate slavery as the nation grew in size is the best answer here. Because of this issue the Civil War was most likely inevitable as the result.
argument in the federalist papers, no. 51, part 2
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. In Federalist Paper No. 51, James Madison addresses the ways in which checks and balances in a republican government serve to minimize the concentration of power in the hands of an ambitious few. Of the choices offered, the division of Congress into the House of Representatives and the Senate is the clearest method by which to implement checks and balances on one branch of government. In another section of Federalist Paper No. 51, Madison in fact discusses how the legislative branch should be the most powerful branch in a republican form of government. He further states that a bicameral legislature (with each chamber having "different modes of election and different principles of action") is a prudent way to prevent tyranny within this branch.
18th century america
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. Federalist No. 51 is not a mere propaganda document created by Federalist supporters of the new Constitution. It is a rationally argued treatise which borrows heavily from such Enlightenment philosophers as Baron de Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke. Federalist No. 51 makes use of the newest and brightest political theories available in the western world.
a political scientist's view
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. Federalist No. 51 specifically discusses the division of the national government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Although James Madison also touches on the issue of factionalism at the end of the document, he spends most of his time elaborating on the importance of checks and balances designed to reign in the three branches of the national government.
congressional checks on the executive
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. Impeachment is a serious undertaking and has only been used twice against presidents- (Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached by the House but not convicted by the Senate. Due to the system of Checks and Balances developed by the founders, the process of impeachment is divided by the two houses of Congress with additional representation by Supreme Court. The House of Representatives brings up the Articles of Impeachment and the Senate conducts the impeachment trial overseen by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Conviction requires a 2/3rds vote of the Senate to convict.
an assumption
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. Madison contends that there are two kinds of factions, majority and minority. He assumes that majority factions are the only ones to fear since the concept of popular sovereignty should be enough to keep minority factions at bay. On the surface, this argument seems to hold water. Nonetheless, Madison did not have the vision to see how modern political parties would operate in the U.S. History has shown that vocal minority issue factions are quite capable of hijacking the agenda of a majority political party.
how to skip congress and still amend the constitution
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. The Constitution provides multiple ways to amend the Constitution, one of which, by-passes the U.S. Congress in the process. If 2/3rds of the State Legislatures call for a convention to amend the Constitution, the Constitution may be altered without the involvement of Congress. Any proposed changes must still be ratified by three-fourths of the states, either in the state legislatures or in special ratification conventions where citizens send delegates to vote on the amendment.
an illustration
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. The Founding Fathers and the Framers of the Constitution viewed direct democracy as a suspect form of government. From their study of the Greek city-states and the Roman Republic, they concluded that democratic rule always degenerated into mob rule, and ultimately dictatorship. In Federalist No. 10, James Madison expands on this theme and elaborates on the merits of republican government.
debates over representation
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. The debate over representation at the Constitutional Convention was one of the most contentious issues delegates faced in Philadelphia. States with large populations felt that the "one state, one vote" that the Congress under the Articles of Confederation operated under was unfair, while states with small populations felt that "one state, one vote" created equality among the several states. At the convention two opposing plans for representation were proposed, The Virginia Plan based on population and the New Jersey Plan, based on one state, one vote. Neither side was willing to budge until Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed what is today called the Great Compromise which created a two house Congress with a House or Representatives where a state's representation was based on population and a Senate where each state was represented equally with two senators.
methods of checking congress
Choice 'D' is the correct answer. When Congress gives broad discretionary authority to the bureaucracy, such as an executive agency, that institution has the power to decide how the legislation will be implemented. The implementation may be different from what Congress intended. Unless and until Congress revokes the discretionary authority or funding, the agency can continue to implement policy in the way that it chooses.
Constitutional Mechanisms
D
Declaration of Independence and Common Sense
D
Factional Divide
D
Inspired by the Declaration of Independence
D
Political Impact of Articles
D
Promises of Equality
D
Shift in Beliefs
D
Short Term Effects
D. Brutus No. 1 dealt with anti-federalist views. A direct result was the addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.
argument in the federalist papers, no. 51
The correct answer is Choice 'A'. In this passage from Federalist Paper No. 51, James Madison reflects on the nature of man to seize and wield power over his fellow man. Neither the rulers nor the ruled may be trusted to curb their own appetite for control, prompting Madison's famous line about ambition. The surest security against the concentration of power into the hands of a single official or branch of government is the system of checks and balances. By creating divisions of power in the operation of government, Madison argues that the ambitions of the individual have the best chance of being suppressed and the liberties of all best preserved.
description of minimum wage laws
a
equality under the law
a
impact of fund on federalism
a
mcculloch v. Maryland and the constitution
a
mcculloch v. maryland decision supporters
a
national and state power comparison
a
precedent of mcculloch v. maryland
a
president of mcculloch v. maryland decision supporters
a
state argument: mcculloch v. Maryland
a
the outcome
a
types of federalism
a
changes in federalism
b
changing relationship between federal and state governments
b
enhancements/restrictions of state power
b
interoperation of mcculloch v. Maryland
b
limitations on state power
b
relevant constitutional provision
b
reserved powers to the states (mcculloch one)
b
state and federal balance of power
b
state challenges to federal legitimacy
b
the 14th amendment in action
b
the constitutional theme
b
the constitutional underpinnings of medicaid
b
the key question
b
what isn't denied just could be allowed
b
The concurring argument
c
United States v. Lopez and mcculloch v. Maryland
c
a political scientist's take
c
allocation of powers to national and state governments
c
federalism in action
c
information reflected in the map
c
mcculloch v. maryland and enumerated powers
c
national argument: mcculloch v. Maryland
c
power to tax is the power to destroy
c
reserved powers of the state
c
presidential influence on the Supreme Court
d
state medicaid spending
d
the federal governments's argument
d
