Strengths of the US Constitution

Question 1

Checks and Balances ensure limited government and reflect the Framers’ intentions

Answer 1

• Clinton’s impeachment in 1998
• Nixon resigns in 1974
• USA v. Windsor (2013)
• Robert Bork (1987)

Question 2

Strengths of Federalism

Answer 2

• “policy laboratory”: Texas has death penalty while Massachusetts does not; Oregon has euthanasia while over 40 do not and California re-legalised medical cannabis in 2016.
• Allows a diverse nation to be held together

Question 3

Formal amendment process

Answer 3

Supermajority of Congress and 3/4 of state legislatures need to amend the constitution; this has occurred on 27 occasions: 13th and 15th amendments necessary, and the DOMA act was struck down in 2013

Question 4

Elastic Clauses allow for timelessness

Answer 4

• Katzenbach vs. McClung (1964) Commerce Clause

- Equal Protection Clause Brown vs Board of Ed (1954)

Question 5

Informal amendments process

Answer 5

-1896 Plessy v. Ferguson—> Brown v. Board of Education 1953