PS 201 Study Guide Chapter 2

Question 1

Amendment Process

Answer 1

The Constitution allows amendments to be proposed either by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by an “application” from two-thirds of the states.
Enactment occurs when three-fourths of the states, acting either through their state legislatures or in special conventions, accept the amendment.

Question 2

Federalists

Answer 2

(supporters of the constitution) they sought a stronger national government

Question 3

antifederalists

Answer 3

(opponents of the constitution) they sought greater protections for states’ rights

Question 4

Federalists Papers #10

Answer 4

written by James Madison
“Among the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction” (emphasis added).
“By a faction I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of the other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community”
Two methods of dealing with factions:
-Remove the cause (big problems)
-Control its effects
-Majoritarian principle
-Republican principal

Question 5

Federalists Papers #51

Answer 5

written by James Madison
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary”
“In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is no doubt the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”
Madison explains system of checks and balances
-By separating government officers into different branches (separation of powers) and giving them the authority to interfere with each other’s actions (checks and balances) they could defend the integrity of their offices

Question 6

Virginia Plan

Answer 6

-Bicameral legislature; representation based on state population
-Lower house selected by the people; upper chamber, executive, and courts selected by the lower house
-Legislature has unilateral law-making powers and can veto state legislation
The Council of Revision may veto legislation, but the legislature can override

Question 7

New Jersey Plan

Answer 7

-Unicameral legislature; equal representation for each state
-Legislature has similar powers as under the Articles. New powers include ability to levy taxes, regulate commerce, and exercise supremacy clause over state legislation.
-Plural executive subject to legislature; courts appointed by executive
-Supreme Court hears appeals (but only in a limited number of cases)

Question 8

The Great Compromise (also known as the Connecticut Compromise)

Answer 8

-Bicameral legislature
-Representation in the lower chamber (the House)
based on population
-House members selected by the voters.
-Representation in the upper chamber (the Senate)
equal across states
-Senators selected by the state legislatures.
-Taxing authority reserved to House

Question 9

Articles of Confederation, 1777

Answer 9

-With the approval of the Articles, governing authority is transferred from the Continental Congress to a permanent Congress.
-Power largely resided in the states.
-Congress dominated national policymaking.
-The executive was quite limited. (The first American
president was actually from Maryland.)
-No independent judiciary.

Question 10

New Consitution, 1787