Review chapter 5

The supreme courts decision in the case of Mcculloch v

A. Alexander Hamilton

Which of the following was the was central issue in the debate over implied powers?

C. The necessary and proper clause

What are the main goals and purposes of the bicameral structure in Congress?

Congress is a bicameral legislature, and its two houses are the House of Representatives and the Senate. The main goal is to keep everything as equal as possible and give everyone the correct amount of power. In the House of Representatives, the seats of the House are apportioned among the states, in order to give more seats to the states that have bigger populations. The Senate, on the other hand, has a set two Senators from each state, totaling 100 senators among the 50 states. The bicameral legislature was created because the framers were familiar with the two house system in the British Parliament. The biggest influence of this system was the Great Compromise, and the plan that was accepted featured two houses: the first involving small states and large states having equal representation and the second involving representation based on population.

What is the role of Congress in the system of checks and balances?

Congress plays a vital role in the system of checks and balances. As the legislative branch of government, Congress has potent checks on the powers of the executive and judicial branches. Congress also must enforce laws.

Do you think the process of making law should be made more difficult or easier? Explain your answer.

Do you think the process of making law should be made more difficult or easier? Explain your answer.

How do you think the powers of Congress will change in the future?

I don't see the powers of Congress changing anytime soon. Although many different aspects of the government are corrupt and aren't always in the best interest of the people, it is how our nation has been run for a while now and nothing catastrophic enough has occurred showing the need for a change in the powers of Congress.

Do you think presidents should be judged by their personal qualities as shown in their behavior in public?

I think to an extent presidents should be judged by their personal qualities as shown in their behavior in public. The reality of it all is that the president is human, and he's going to make mistakes, have flaws, and not always say the right things. What is important is that he or she is able to recognize when they make mistakes and be able to counter their faults by acting in the best interest of the country as a whole and fixing their problems rather than just hiding them and hoping people don't see them.

Why did single-member districts evolve in the house?

Single member districts evolved in the house in order to avoid communist parties and because they were biased against rural areas.

What can you conclude from the numbers of bills submitted and the numbers of bills passed in Congress?

The House and Senate have passed a pretty small number of bills compared with other non-election years. Obama has signed the fewest measures into law in at least two decades, and you can conclude that the House doesn't approve of Obama's ideology.

In what ways is the House closer to the people than the Senate?

The House is considered more representative compared to the Senate for a few reasons, the main ones being that it changes with the population and every two years there is a new election. Also, in the Senate, some changes aren't made for up to six years.

How does the size of the Senate affect its operation?

The Senate is relatively small in size which has significantly affected how it operates. There is large deference to minority views and because of the small size all senators are given the opportunity to speak their word on the different issues.

How does the practice of the filibuster reflect the special character and structure of the Senate?

The filibuster was used to delay the debate or voting on a bill. As long as a congressman can keep talking, the vote is delayed, until 60 senators call to end the debate.

What did Thomas Jefferson infer from the necessary and proper clause?

Thomas Jefferson inferred that the Supreme Court would serve to expand the federal power past what was limited by the Constitution. He thought they would be able to do this because the Supreme Court was not accountable to do checks or balances from the states.