Midterm Exam

Question 1

Key features of Articles of Confederation

Answer 1

Limited centralized power, based out of fear of tyranny

Question 2

Problems with Articles of Confedeation

Answer 2

No national coin, defense, or ability to pay back debt. Passing laws required a supermajority or unanimity–gives each state functional veto power

Question 3

How did the Articles of Confederation influence the Constitution?

Answer 3

Strong but not too strong fed government. SOP to avoid tyranny, yet clear things national gov can do

Question 4

Collective Action Problem

Answer 4

Clear individual benefits for a person to do one thing even though its not whats best for the group

Question 5

Tragedy of the commons

Answer 5

People will do whats best for them, despite the consequences. Enough people do this can it can deplete resources

Question 6

Free rider problem

Answer 6

Individual sees their contribution as insignificant, so they dont comply yet benefit from the groups. If enough people free ride, then the group breaks down

Question 7

Electoral incentives for congressional gridlock

Answer 7

SMSP creates self interested congressmen. Elections are an individual thing, so they will take positions that their constituents approve of and pass blame onto others. Their positions matter more than what actually happens

Question 8

Political parties and congressional gridlock

Answer 8

Party polarization means very few moderates. Compromised are difficult, esp in senate where 60 votes is needed to avoid filibuster

Question 9

Institutional designs of congress and gridlock

Answer 9

House, senate, and president must all agree for a law to pass. Committee systems make it a long path for bill to get passed, most die in the process.

Question 10

Ambition must be made to counteract ambition

Answer 10

SOP and checks and balances. Prevent one branch from becoming too powerful

Question 11

Separation of powers and Checks and Balances

Answer 11

President can veto congressional bills, congress can override veto. President appoints judicial nominees, senate must approve. SCOTUS can rule presidential actions or congressional laws as unconstitutional

Question 12

Civil Liberties

Answer 12

Protections from government overreach

Question 13

Civil Rights

Answer 13

Affirmative protections by government

Question 14

What can we learn from Civil Rights Movement?

Answer 14

Collective action is necessary and beneficial (ie bus boycotts, sit ins). Power of political incentives (migration of blacks north made then a key voting block)

Question 15

Founders intent for federalism

Answer 15

Fed has enumerated powers in article 1, everything else is left up to the states. National gov is bound to the constitution

Question 16

How and why has nationalization happened?

Answer 16

Elastic clause has been interpreted by SCOTUS to give more power to national gov, seeing federal law as superior to state law. States also lack resources to get things done.

Question 17

Consequences of federalism

Answer 17

Coordination problem of getting fed and state gov to work together, also getting each state gov to work together. Yet states also work as laboratories of democracy, where policies can be tested and operate before becoming national