Foundations and the Constitution

Question 1

What’s government?

Answer 1

The formal institutions and processes through which decisions are made for a group of people

Question 2

What’s sovereignty?

Answer 2

The highest political authority/ independent ability to act as it wishes

Question 3

What’s politics?

Answer 3

The process by which gov. makes and carries out decisions

Question 4

According to Aristotle, what is the root cause of evil in all forms of gov.?

Answer 4

Self interest

Question 5

Why is the concept of legitimacy important for a gov.?

Answer 5

Illegitimacy gov don’t last long

Question 6

What’s social contract theory according to John Locke?

Answer 6

Society decide to create gov., they surrender some rights so there can be law and gov. To protect those rights

Question 7

What’s democracy?

Answer 7

The people are in charge

Question 8

What is a federal system? (Federalism)

Answer 8

Power divided among national gov. and regional gov.s

Question 9

Differentiate direct democracy and a republic

Answer 9

In a direct democracy people makes laws directly

In a republic people select representatives to make laws and govern

Question 10

What’s a bi-cameraman legislator?

Answer 10

It’s a two chamber legislature

Question 11

Summerize the philosophical justification for revolution expressed in the Declaration of Independence

Answer 11

people have alienable rights gov. can’t take and people can change gov. if they fail

Question 12

What are the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 12

the nations first constitution

Question 13

What was the original purpose of the May 1787 meeting now known as the constitutional convention?

Answer 13

to fix the Articles of Confederation

Question 14

What were the basic ideas put forth in the Virginia Plan? Which type of states supported it? Why?

Answer 14

representation based on population and bicameral legislature

big states supported because they had an advantage over the population for their representation

Question 15

How was the New Jersey Plan different from the Virginia Plan? Which states supported it?

Answer 15

separation of powers, unicameral legislature, equal representation
small states

Question 16

What was the great compromise ( also known as the Connecticut compromise)?

Answer 16

having a bicameral legislature, house of representatives, equal representation of the senate

Question 17

What issue was resolved by the three-fifths compromise?

Answer 17

How to count the enslaved population for the purpose of representation for congress

Question 18

What did the Federalists want?

Answer 18

Strong national gov. ratify the constitution (federalist supported constitution)

Question 19

What did the Anti-federalists want?

Answer 19

Apposed the constitution

Question 20

What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers? Who wrote them?

Answer 20

To defend the constitution

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Jon Jay

Question 21

What is the Bill of Rights? Why was it added to the Constitution in 1789?

Answer 21

first 10 amendments of the constitution (protected basic rights)
To appease the antifederalist

Question 22

Popular sovereignty-

Answer 22

Ultimate political is w/the people

Question 23

Limited Government/ Rule of Law-

Answer 23

The idea that the power of gov is limited by a constitution

Question 24

Separation of Powers-

Answer 24

The powers of gov that are separated into 3 powers leg. exec. jud.

Question 25

Checks and Balances-

Answer 25

Each branch monitoring each other

Question 26

Judicial Review-

Answer 26

The power of the courts to determine the constitutionality passed from the branches of gov.

Question 27

Federalism-

Answer 27

power divided by national and state gov.

Question 28

What is the supremacy clause, why is it important?

Answer 28

The constitution is the supreme law of the land, it confirms that the national gov. has more power than the states

Question 29

How many amendments have been added to the Constitution?

Answer 29

27

Question 30

Expressed Powers-

Answer 30

powers exclusively delegated to the national gov.

Question 31

Implied Powers/ Necessary and Proper Clause-

Answer 31

Powers not listed in the constitution but logical

Question 32

Inherent Powers-

Answer 32

Historically recognized as belonging to all gov.s

Question 33

Reserved Powers-

Answer 33

reserved to the states

Question 34

Concurrent Powers-

Answer 34

Held both by national and state gov (like tax)

Question 35

Full faith and credit clause

Answer 35

each state has to give full faith in credit to the public acts and records