Unit 1 Study Guide

Question 1

Natural Rights

Answer 1

John Locke
Rights that cannot be taken away

Question 2

social contract

Answer 2

an implicit agreement among the people in a society to give up some freedoms to maintain all social order

Question 3

popular sovereignty

Answer 3

all governments powers come from the consent of the people

Question 4

limited government.

Answer 4

A government’s power cannot be absolute. No branch can be too powerful

Question 5

separation of powers

Answer 5

separating the different powers of the government into three different branches

Question 6

checks and balances

Answer 6

Each branch is assigned distinct powers and responsibilities to ensure no branch oversteps its authority and becomes too powerful

Question 7

federalism

Answer 7

mixed form of government that combines a federal government with a state/regional government

Question 8

republicanism

Answer 8

idea that people exercise their power by voting for a political representative (representative democracy)

Question 9

James Madison drafting of foundational American documents

Answer 9

Father of the constitution
Author of the Federalist Papers

Question 10

Thomas Jefferson drafting of foundational Americans documents

Answer 10

Writing the Declaration of Independence

Question 11

John Jay drafting of foundational Americans documents

Answer 11

Author of federalist papers

Question 12

Alexander Hamilton drafting of foundational Americans documents

Answer 12

Author of federalist papers
Key role in the Constitution

Question 13

Participatory democracy

Answer 13

A model of democracy where citizens have the power to decide directly on policy and politicians are responsible for implementing those policies.
community meetings, referendums, and initiatives where citizens have direct input on policies.

Question 14

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 14

Definition: A model of democracy where decisions are made through negotiations between groups and organizations, rather than by individuals.
Seen in lobbying efforts, interest group activities, and negotiations between different groups to influence policy decisions.

Question 15

elite democracy

Answer 15

A model of democracy where a small group of individuals, often from the elite class, make decisions that affect the larger population.
Observed in the role of politicians, bureaucrats, and experts in policy-making, often with limited direct input from the general population.

Question 16

Federalist 10.

Answer 16

Madison argues that factions are inevitable but can be managed within a large republic. A large republic with a diverse group of citizens makes it harder for any one faction to dominate.

Question 17

Brutus No.1

Answer 17

Argued that the vastness of the U.S. would make it impossible for a single national government to effectively govern

Question 18

Federalist 10 vs Brutus 1

Answer 18

Federalist 10 argues for a large republic saying that with a diverge group of citizens it will be harder for one faction to dominate. Brutus No.1 goes agianst this by saying the vastness of the Us would make it hard to govern.

Question 19

Three models of democracy

Answer 19

Participatory democracy, pluralist democracy, elite democracy

Question 20

Participatory Democracy modern manifestation

Answer 20

Seen in community meetings, referendums, and initiatives where citizens have direct input on policies

Question 21

Pluralist Democracy modern manifestation

Answer 21

Seen in lobbying efforts, interest group activities, and negotiations between different groups to influence policy decisions

Question 22

Elite democracy modern manifestation

Answer 22

Observed in the role of politicians bureaucrats, and experts in policy-making, often with limited direct input from the general population

Question 23

Federalists’ Perspective:

Answer 23

Support for the Constitution: Advocated for its ratification, emphasizing a strong central government.

Question 24

Large Republic Benefits: As highlighted in Federalist No. 10 by Madison:

Answer 24

More effective in controlling the “mischiefs of faction”.
Delegates authority to elected representatives.
Disperses power between the state and national governments.

Question 25

What were federalist concerns

Answer 25

Federalists were mainly concerned with creating a system that could manage internal divisions and prevent any one group from having too much power.

Question 26

Anti-Federalists’ Perspective:

Answer 26

Opposition to the Constitution: Advocated against its ratification, preferring more power for state governments.
Decentralized Republic: As discussed in Brutus No. 1:
Emphasized the benefits of a small, localized republic.
Warned against potential dangers to individual liberties from a dominant central government.

Question 27

The Anti-Federalist beliefs

Answer 27

The Anti-Federalists were deeply rooted in the belief that local governments were better poised to protect individual rights and prevent tyranny

Question 28

Explain the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Answer 28

No military
Any changes to the Article had to be approved by all thirteen states
No executive branch
Congress could not collect taxes, regulate trade or enforce laws

Question 29

Significance of Shay Rebellion

Answer 29

The national government had a very hard time stopping the rebellion, and people began to think that the government was too weak to protect them. This led to the calling of the constitutional convention where states gathered to advise the articles of confederation

Question 30

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Answer 30

Established a bicameral Congress.

Question 31

Electoral College

Answer 31

Mechanism for presidential elections

Question 32

Three-Fifths Compromise

Answer 32

Counting enslaved persons for representation & taxation.

Question 33

Postponement

Answer 33

Decision on enslaved person importation delayed to 1808.

Question 34

Bill of Rights

Answer 34

Added to alleviate Anti-Federalist concerns.

Question 35

Amendment Process (Article V):

Answer 35

Addressed the need for adaptability and change.
Established processes for proposing and ratifying amendments.

Question 36

Federalist 10

Answer 36

Madison argues that factions are inevitable but can be managed within a large republic. A large republic with a diverse group of citizens makes it harder for any one faction to dominate.

Question 37

Federalist Paper 51

Answer 37

Madison discusses checks and balances and the separation of powers. Argues that each branch of government should be independent but also influenced by the others, ensuring no single branch gains too much power.

Question 38

Federalist Paper 70

Answer 38

Hamilton argues for a single executive (the president) and suggests that this would ensure accountability in government, as opposed to a dual executive.

Question 39

Federalist Paper 78

Answer 39

Hamilton discusses the judiciary’s role, emphasizing its importance as the weakest of the three branches. He advocates for judicial review and life terms for judges to maintain their independence.

Question 40

Understand Federalism:

Answer 40

A system where power is shared between national and state governments.

Question 41

Exclusive Powers

Answer 41

Only held by one level of government.

Question 42

Enumerated

Answer 42

(explicitly written in the Constitution)

Question 43

Implied

Answer 43

(inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause).

Question 44

Reserved Powers

Answer 44

Not specified for the national government; reserved for states (Tenth Amendment).

Question 45

Concurrent Powers

Answer 45

Shared by both national and state governments (e.g., taxing, law enforcement, road building).

Question 46

Power Distribution Demonstrated By:

Answer 46

Revenue sharing, block grants, categorical grants, and mandates.

Question 47

Fourteenth Amendment

Answer 47

The Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses give the national government the power to enforce individual protections against states.

Question 48

Commerce Clause

Answer 48

Grants national government power to regulate interstate commerce. Its interpretation by the Supreme Court has influenced the extent of federal power in economic affairs.

Question 49

Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 49

Allows Congress to make laws related to its enumerated powers, with SCOTUS interpretations shaping the scope of these powers.

Question 50

Supremacy Clause

Answer 50

National government laws generally have precedence over state laws. However, SCOTUS decisions can dictate when actions surpass this constitutional authority.

Question 51

Main models of a representative democracy

Answer 51

idea that we vote for people to make decisions for us.

Question 52

Direct democracy

Answer 52

people vote for every decision the government makes