exam review

Question 1

Give two examples of one branch checking another

Answer 1

President can veto any bill passed by congress, but congress can overturn that veto ⅔ votes

Question 2

What was the importance of Shay’s rebellion with regards to the writing of the constitution?

Answer 2

It exposed how weak the federal government was under the Article of Confederation, help directly lead to new, stronger Constitution

Question 3

What is federalism?

Answer 3

division or sharing of power between national and state government

Question 4

What did the Supreme Court decide in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)?

Answer 4

Gave congress power to regulate interstate commerce

Question 5

Read the 10th Amendment, Write in your own words.

Answer 5

The powers not specifically stated in the U.S Constitution are powers for the states and the people

Question 6

what are “reserved powers”?

Answer 6

powers held by the state

Question 7

Define bill of attainder

Answer 7

piece of legislation declaring a party is guilty of crime

Question 8

Define Ex post facto law

Answer 8

criminalizes an act that wasnt a crime when it was committed

Question 9

Define the habeas corpus clause of the Constitution

Answer 9

explain to judge what reason they have for holding a prisoner custody

Question 10

Which one of the powers/clauses in Article 1 Section 8 (1-17) has been used the most to expand the power of the national government? (NOT elastic clause because that’s Art. 1, Sec 8, Clause 18)

Answer 10

The commerce clause

Question 11

What is fiscal federalism?

Answer 11

Pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system

Question 12

What is cooperative federalism?

Answer 12

system of government in which states and the national government share powers and policy assignments

Question 13

What are block grants?

Answer 13

Money given to the states for a broad purpose

Question 14

Which document describes a government based in unity, natural rights and the social contract theory?

Answer 14

The Declaration of Independence

Question 15

Describe the difference between the pluralist theory and the elitist theory of democracy

Answer 15

pluralist theory: political power rests with competing interest groups sharing influence in government
elitist theory: a small group of people have more influence over the government

Question 16

What is unfunded mandate?

Answer 16

Statute or regulation that requires state or local government to perform certain actions, with no money provided for fulfilling the requirements

Question 17

What was the most evident change from the AOC to the Constitution?

Answer 17

Bigger national government with the power to tax

Question 18

What are the six principles of government?

Answer 18

• Popular sovereignty
• limited government
• seperation of powers
• federalism
• checks and balances
• republicanism
• individual rights

Question 19

What is a judicial review? is it in the constitution?

Answer 19

power of judiciary to determine whether actions from executive or legislative are in accordance with constitution

Question 20

What Supreme Court decision gave us judicial review?

Answer 20

Marbury v Madison

Question 21

What all did the Virginia Plan call for at the Constitutional convention?

Answer 21

Called for the legislature divided into two bodies: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Achieved representation of each state in congress, gave larger state’s power

Question 22

what are concurrent powers?

Answer 22

Powers which are shared by both federal and state government

Question 23

what are implied powers?

Answer 23

Powers that go beyond enumerated powers

Question 24

what are enumerated powers?

Answer 24

Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed to the constitution

Question 25

what are inherent powers?

Answer 25

Powers the government exercises simply because it’s the government

Question 26

What was the basic purpose for the Feedralist Papers to be written?

Answer 26

To convince people ratification of Constitution was a good plan

Question 27

Locke believed the primary role of the government was to do what?

Answer 27

to secure and protect the natural rights of the people

Question 28

What is the traditional democratic theory of the government?

Answer 28

Theory where the majority can rule without violating minority rights

Question 29

What is the clause called in Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18, and what does it allow for?

Answer 29

Necessary and proper (elastic) clause, allows congress to exercise implied powers that are necessary and proper to carry out the enumerated powers

Question 30

Describe the Connecticut compromise and what problem it solved in the 1787 convention

Answer 30

Compromise reached that established two houses of congress: House of Representatives and Senate. This maximized equality among states and gave more power to people in small states compared to larger states.

Question 31

What is the main difference between a categorical grant-in-aid and a block grant?

Answer 31

Categorical: Federal money to states for a specific purpose; Block grant: federal money given to states for broad purpose of use

Question 32

What was the importance of the McCulloch v. Maryland Supreme Court decision?

Answer 32

Established supremacy of national government over state government