Chapter 1 - The key features of the US Constitution

Question 1

What are the fundamental ideas of the Constitution?

Answer 1

• Separation of powers
• Checks and balances
• Bipartisanship
• Federalism

Question 2

What did the French philosopher Montesquieu argue for?

Answer 2

A separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches to avoid tyranny.

Question 3

What did Richard Neustadt say about the separation of powers in 1960?

Answer 3

‘[The Constitution] created a government of separated institutions sharing powers.’

Question 4

What did Cronin and Genovese say about political power in 1998?

Answer 4

‘Leadership is difficult precisely because the Framers of the Constitution wanted it to be so’.

Question 5

What are the executive checks on the judiciary?

Answer 5

• Appoint federal judges.

- Grant pardons.

Question 6

Executive checks on the legislature?

Answer 6

• Propose legislation.
• Veto legislation.
• Make appointments to federal posts.
• Negotiate treaties.

Question 7

Judicial checks on the executive?

Answer 7

• Declare actions unconstitutional.

Question 8

Judicial checks on the legislature?

Answer 8

• Declare Acts of Congress unconstitutional.

Question 9

Legislative checks on the judiciary?

Answer 9

• Impeach and remove judges.
• Amend the Constitution.
• Approves appointments of federal judges.

Question 10

Legislative checks on the executive?

Answer 10

• Override a veto.
• Confirms executive appointments.
• Ratifies treaties.
• Impeach and remove a president.

Question 11

Why did Trump fail to repeal Obamacare?

Answer 11

Congress blocked him despite there being a united government.

Question 12

What is needed to override a presidential veto?

Answer 12

2/3 majority in each chamber.

Question 13

What veto by Obama did Congress manage to overturn?

Answer 13

Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act September 2016.

Question 14

Why was there a government shutdown for 35 days in December 2018?

Answer 14

Congress rejected Trump’s budget and his provisions to build a wall with Mexico.

Question 15

What did the War Powers Act do?

Answer 15

Gave Congress the power to withdraw troops after 60 days if Congress had not voted to approve.

Question 16

When was Clinton forced to withdraw troops from Somalia due to the War Powers Act?

Answer 16

1994

Question 17

What treaty did the Senate reject in 1999?

Answer 17

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Question 18

Was the JCPOA a treaty or EA?

Answer 18

Executive agreement

Question 19

When did the Supreme Court find its power of judicial review?

Answer 19

Marbury v Madison 1803

Question 20

What did the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act do?

Answer 20

Gave $2.2 trillion of stimulus to help the economy due to COVID.

Question 21

Why does the Constitution still work?

Answer 21

• The entrenched nature of it means frequent and ill-conceived proposals do not pass.
• Judicial review means the text can be updated.

Question 22

Why doesn’t the Constitution still work?

Answer 22

• It is too hard to pass amendments.

- Judicial review grants too much power to an unelected body.

Question 23

What are the enumerated federal powers?

Answer 23

• Armed forces.
• Conduct foreign relations.
• Declare war.
• Make national laws.

Question 24

What are the powers of the state governments?

Answer 24

• Regulate their own elections.
• Maintain a militia.
• Anything not in the Constitution.

Question 25

What are the concurrent powers?

Answer 25

• Amend the Constitution.
• Levy taxes.
• Make and enforce laws.