Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

Question 1

Who are the four important Enlightenment philosophers, and what are their important beliefs?

Answer 1

• Thomas Hobbes; a governed state is best for society, population will sacrifice some rights
• John Locke; natural rights and consent of the governed
• Jean-Jacque Rousseau; popular sovereignty, “people have the authority”
• Baron de Montesquieu; limited government, republicanism, and separated powers

Question 2

Define “REPUBLICANISM.”

Answer 2

Citizens of sovereign states shall elect their leaders

Question 3

Define “REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.”

Answer 3

Government with which people entrust elected officials to act in your interest

Question 4

What was the Declaration of Independence, and who should you remember in relation to it?

Answer 4

• The Declaration of Independence was authored by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin
• Signed July 4th, 1776 and provided moral and legal reasoning to remove the 13 colonies from Great Britain

Question 5

What is the United States Constitution, and who should you remember in relation to it?

Answer 5

• The US Constitution was authored by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington
• Created blueprint for 3 branches of government

Question 6

Define the differences between “PARTICIPATORY,” “PLURALIST,” and “ELITE” democracy.

Answer 6

• Participatory; involvement of citizens in politics
• Pluralist; people with interests making groups or factions
• Elite; representatives act as trustees for the people

Question 7

What are the characteristics of federalists versus anti-federalists? Beliefs? Important contributors? Documents?

Answer 7

• Federalists; a strong central government will prevent factions from overpowering government; Federalist No. 10; James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
• Anti-federalists; a strong central government will trample people’s liberties; Brutus No. 1; Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Thomas Jefferson

Question 8

What were the Articles of Confederation, and what were its weaknesses?

Answer 8

• “League of leadership among states, one branch, congress had limited power
• Inability to tax, no court system, no currencies, no military, no trade regulation, each state has one vote

Question 9

What was the importance of Shay’s Rebellion?

Answer 9

Showcased the inability of the federal government to stop riots

Question 10

What was the Great Compromise?

Answer 10

VA Plan, NJ Plan; Bicameral Legislature, House of Representatives and Senate

Question 11

What was the 3/5 Compromise?

Answer 11

3/5 of each slave would count as population total, pivotal for electoral votes

Question 12

What is the Electoral College?

Answer 12

Electing a president through states, which decide how to choose electors; # of electors = each states congress representatives

Question 13

What is the Commerce Clause?

Answer 13

Gives federal government power to regulate trade and set tariffs

Question 14

What is included in Article V of the Constitution?

Answer 14

Constitution can be amended; 2/3 vote to approve in Congress, 3/4 vote by state legislatures

Question 15

What was the USA Patriot Act?

Answer 15

• Passed in response to 9/11 terrorist attacks
• Allowed government to legally tap phones of suspected terrorists
• Disproportionately targets Muslim communities

Question 16

What is the No Child Left Behind Act?

Answer 16

• Sanctioned underperforming schools based on federal standards
• States determine standards that must be federally approved

Question 17

Define the differences between the EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, and JUDICIAL branches.

Answer 17

• Executive; POTUS & VPOTUS, federal agencies, carries out nation’s laws
• Legislative; 100 senators and 435 HoR, makes laws, participates in committees
• Judicial; SCOTUS, lower appeals, trials, judicial review

Question 18

What are checks and balances?

Answer 18

The ability of the branches of government to keep the other branches from overstepping their constitutional power; vetos, congressional suggestions, impeachment, etc.

Question 19

Define “FEDERALISM.”

Answer 19

The sharing of power between federal and state governments

Question 20

What is the Supremacy Clause?

Answer 20

National power is above state powers but is limited to enumerated powers

Question 21

Define “EXCLUSIVE POWERS.”

Answer 21

AKA delegated powers; federal powers, military, foreign diplomacy, currency, commerce

Question 22

Define “RESERVED POWERS.”

Answer 22

State powers, education, marriage, health and safety, policing

Question 23

Define “CONCURRENT POWERS.”

Answer 23

Powers shared between federal and state governments, taxes, courts, lands

Question 24

Define “FEDERAL GRANT.”

Answer 24

Addressing national issues with free federal dollars; Grant-in Aid Programs, “Power of the Purse”

Question 25

What is the difference between a categorical grant and a block grant?

Answer 25

A categorical grant is money allotted by the government for a specific cause; a block grant is money allotted by the government for a broader cause

Question 26

What is a mandate grant?

Answer 26

Money for states to comply with federal mandates

Question 27

Which Constitutional documents ensure federal power?

Answer 27

• Article 1, Section 8; Enumerated powers, Commerce Clause, Elastic Clause
• Section 9; What Congress can’t do
• Section 10; What Congress Can Do

Question 28

Which Constitutional documents ensure state power?

Answer 28

• 10th Amendment; Any powers not listed in Articles 1-3 belong to the states
• 14th Amendment; requires states to protect immunities granted by other states; Equal Protection Clause, states cannot deny protection of laws

Question 29

What is the Commerce Clause?

Answer 29

Gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states and with foreign nations; Article 1, Section 8

Question 30

What are enumerated powers?

Answer 30

Powers that are specifically granted in Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution

Question 31

What were the Federalist Papers?

Answer 31

Group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution

Question 32

What are implied powers?

Answer 32

Those that are “necessary and proper” to carry out Congress’ enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the “elastic” clause

Question 33

What is judicial review?

Answer 33

Power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and actions; established during Marbury v. Madison

Question 34

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

Answer 34

AKA “Elastic Clause”; it states that congress can exercise those powers that are “necessary” and “proper” to protect citizens

Question 35

Define “POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.”

Answer 35

Principle in which ultimate political authority resides with the people

Question 36

What is a unitary system?

Answer 36

System of government in which all power is invested in a central government

Question 37

What was the importance of Marbury v. Madison (1803)?

Answer 37

Established the use of judicial review in federal courts

Question 38

What was the importance of Lopez v. United States (1995)?

Answer 38

Limited congressional powers of the Commerce Clause, something that hadn’t ever been done; claimed that allowing Congress to categorize any activity as commerce would give Congress unlimited power

Question 39

What was the importance of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

Answer 39

SCOTUS ruled that Congress has implied powers as listed in Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution; Necessary and Proper Clause

Question 40

What is the importance of Federalist No. 10?

Answer 40

This argues that a stronger central government would be able to suppress factions and listen to a broader variety of opinions

Question 41

What is the importance of Brutus No. 1?

Answer 41

This states that a stronger central government would suppress civil liberties