1. The Constitution

Question 1

What do Articles I and II ensure about the governance of the US? - The Constitution

Answer 1

Article I granted legislative powers to a congress made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Article II set out that the US should be governed by an Executive in the form of a President.

Question 2

What do Articles III and VI set out for the governance of the US? - The Constitution

Answer 2

Article III set out the supremacy of the Supreme Court on all legal matters. Article VI set out miscellaneous powers, including the ‘Supremacy Clause’ that made the constitution the Supreme law of the USA.

Question 3

Give an example of delegated powers reserved to the federal government. Explain how certain implied powers may develop from this - The Constitution

Answer 3

Congress has a delegated power to raise an army and navy, resulting in it being implied that Congress has the power to draft people into the armed forces. Furthermore, Congress has the delegated power to ‘provide for the common defence and general welfare of the US.’ From this comes the implied power that Congress can levy taxes to provide defences.

Question 4

How many amendments to the constitution was proposed during the presidency of Bill Clinton? How many of these were successful? - The Constitution

Answer 4

17 constitutional amendments were proposed during the presidency of Bill Clinton. None of these were successful.

Question 5

How many amendments were proposed during the presidency of George W Bush? How many were successful? - The Constitution

Answer 5

6 amendments were proposed to the constitution during George W Bush’s presidency, although none were successful.

Question 6

How many amendments to the constitution have been ratified since 1788? - The Constitution

Answer 6

Since 1788, 27 amendments to the constitution have been ratified.

Question 7

What examples of amendments were agreed to by the House during Clinton’s presidency but rejected by the Senate? - The Constitution

Answer 7

During Clinton’s presidency, the House agreed to amendments which would ban the desecration of the American flag, as well as amendments which would require a balanced budget.

Question 8

What is the Bill of Rights? When was it passed? - The Constitution

Answer 8

The Bill of Rights is the collection of the first 10 constitutional amendments, designed to protect the citizens of the US against actions by an overly powerful government. This was passed in 1789.

Question 9

When has the State of the Union address been of significance previously? - The Constitution

Answer 9

2010 State of the Union address focussed on Obama’s healthcare reforms, with legislation passed 2 months later.
2021 State of the Union address prioritised Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ agenda.

Question 10

What instances are there of the President using a veto on congressional bills? - The Constitution

Answer 10

Obama used his presidential veto on 12 occasions during 8 years in office, including on legislation that would repeal his healthcare reforms.

Question 11

What examples are there of the President checking the powers of federal courts through nominations? - The Constitution

Answer 11

Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor in 2009 and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court in 2010, whike Donald Trump nominated both Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett to the court.

Question 12

How many people did Clinton pardon on the last day of his presidency? How many did Obama pardon in his final 3 weeks? - The Constitution

Answer 12

Clinton pardoned 140 people on the last day of his presidency, with Obama pardoning 142 in 3 weeks.

Question 13

Which notable individual did Ford pardon? Which notable individual did Trump pardon? - The Constitution

Answer 13

Ford notably pardoned his predecessor, Nixon, of any crimes that may have been committed as part of the Watergate Scandal. Trump pardoned former White House strategist Steve Bannon.

Question 14

What examples are there of Congress amending, blocking or rejecting legislation under Obama? - The Constitution

Answer 14

In 2010, a heavily amended version of Obama’s healthcare reforms were passed. Furthermore, any attempts at gun control or immigration reforms were rejected.

Question 15

How many of Bush’s vetoes were overridden by Congress? How many of Obama’s were overridden? - The Constitution

Answer 15

4 of Bush’s vetoes were overridden by Congress. 1 of Obama’s 12 vetoes were overridden by Congress.

Question 16

When has the control of the ‘power of the purse’ been used by Congress to check the President? - The Constitution

Answer 16

In 2019, Congress refused to accept a package to agree the funding for the federal government, with a 35 day government shutdown ensuing under Trump. Divided government in 2006 also refused to fund Bush’s Iraq War.

Question 17

What examples are there of Congress checking the Presidency’s foreign policy in terms of treaties? - The Constitution

Answer 17

3 major treaties have been blocked by the Senate:
1919 - Treaty of Versailles
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Question 18

What examples are there of the Senate rejecting Presidential appointments? - The Constitution

Answer 18

Reagan had 1 of SC nominees rejected by the Senate (Bork), Obama had nomination of Merrick Garland rejected to the SC due to the close proximity to the 2016 election.

Question 19

What example is there of Congress checking the presidency through the power of investigation? - The Constitution

Answer 19

In 2012, 7 Congressional Committees were set up to investigate the actions of Clinton and Obama in Benghazi, Syria.

Question 20

What examples are there of Congress checking the presidency through impeachment? - The Constitution

Answer 20

President Andrew Johnson was impeached, Clinton was charged with perjury and then the obstruction of justice, Trump was charged with abuse of power over Russian interference and later charged with incitement of insurrection.

Question 21

How does Congress check the Federal Courts in terms of impeachment? What examples are there of this? - The Constitution

Answer 21

Congress can oversee the impeachment, trial and removal of office of federal judges. In March 2010, Judge Porteous was removed over corruption, while from 1986-9, 3 federal judges were removed by Congress.

Question 22

What instances are there of constitutional amendments allowing (attempting to allow) Congress to check the power of the Federal Courts? - The Constitution

Answer 22

In 1896, it was declared unconstitutional for the state to impose a federal income tax, with the 16th Amendment later passed to allow this. Furthermore, amendments have been attempted to be passed to outlaw the desecration of the American flag.

Question 23

What instance is there of the Federal Courts checking the Nixon presidency through judicial review? - The Constitution

Answer 23

In 1974, the Supreme Court forced Nixon to hand over evidence that was attempted to be suppressed as part of Watergate.

Question 24

What example is there of an Act of Congress being declared unconstitutional by the Federal Courts? - The Constitution

Answer 24

In 2013, the Voting Rights Act was deemed to be unconstitutional due to its targeting of certain states who would require preclearance from the federal government when changing voting laws.

Question 25

Of the 48 years from 1969 to 2016, how much of this period was divided government? How many of these years saw the Presidency and Congress controlled by entirely different parties? - The Constitution

Answer 25

Of the 48 years between 1969 and 2016, 35.5 years saw divided government. For 24 years, the Presidency and Congress were controlled by different parties.

Question 26

For how many years between 1969 and 2016 did one party control the Presidency and both houses of Congress? What instances are there of this? - The Constitution

Answer 26

Between 1969 and 2016, only 12.5 years of united government took place. This took place from 2009-11 unded Obama, from 2003-7 under Bush and from 1993-5 under Clinton.

Question 27

In the 48 years from 1921 to 1969, how many years of divided government were there? - The Constitution

Answer 27

Across 48 years from 1921 to 1969, there were only 10 years of divided government.

Question 28

What examples are there of lesser scrutiny by Congress in instances of united government? - The Constitution

Answer 28

Under Lyndon B Johnson, Congress passed legislation allowing the President to have expanded remit over Vietnam with reduced scrutiny. Furthermore, little scrutiny by Republican Congress of Bush’s war in Iraq. ONLY TWICE IN LAST 50 YEARS HAS CONGRESS REJECTED VETO OF PRESIDENT OF ITS OWN PARTY.

Question 29

What example is there of bipartisanship under Bush? - The Constitution

Answer 29

Bush managed to succeed in passing his educational reforms as a result of bipartisanship, with leading Democrat Senators such as Edward Kennedy supporting this.

Question 30

By what % did federal government spending increase under Bush? What 4 areas was the majority of this funding focussed on? - The Constitution

Answer 30

Federal government spending increased by 33% under Bush. The majority of this funding was focussed on education, medicare, homeland security/defence and the economy.

Question 31

Which policy of Obama’s suggests a changing federal/state relationship? - The Constitution

Answer 31

Obama sought to reform healthcare and provide universal healthcare insurance for those who were unable to afford this. This placed greater onus on the role of the federal government intervening in the lives of individuals.

Question 32

What Supreme Court ruling suggests that the federal government maintains its powers over state autonomy? - The Constitution

Answer 32

The National Federation of Independent Business v Sebelius ruling maintained the Affordable Care Act and its involvement in forcing state governments to fund medical schemes.

Question 33

What past and recent examples exist of federal government taxation and budgeting intervening in typically state government areas? - The Constitution

Answer 33

1930s New Deal stimulus package, $3tn COVID recovery package under Biden, $787bn stimulus after 2008 Financial Crash, Hurricane Katrina rebuilding and aid.

Question 34

What Supreme Court rulings have reasserted the authority of the states over the federal government? - The Constitution

Answer 34

US v Texas saw the SC strike down Obama’s use of an EO to implement immigration reforms due to costs to the states. Sebelius (2012) struck down Medicaid provisions in Obamacare due to the fact that states were threatened with withdrawal of federal Medicaid grants if they didn’t participate in Obamacare.

Question 35

What evidence is there of the continued authority of state governments in the field of illegal immigration? - The Constitution

Answer 35

Some states allow ‘sanctuary cities’, where illegal immigrants are protected from identification as such by federal immigration officials.

Question 36

What % of constitutional amendments have successfully been passed and ratified? - The Constitution

Answer 36

Only 0.2% of all constitutional amendments have been passed and ratified.

Question 37

What examples are there of interpretative amendments ensuring that the constitution remains relevant to the modern day? - The Constitution

Answer 37

Roe v Wade - secured the right to abortion by approving its constitutionality.
Obergefell v Hodges - secured right to same-sex marriage under the 14th Amendment.
Carpenter v United States - ruled that acquiring mobile phone data was a 4th Amendment search, requiring a warrant.

Question 38

What % of bills became law in the 1980s? What % of bills become law now due to partisanship? - The Constitution

Answer 38

6-7% of bills became law in the 1980s, with this declining to 2-3% nowadays due to partisanship.