Unit 1: The Constitution

Question 1

What date what the US constitution signed?

Answer 1

17th September 1787

Question 2

What are the three principles of the constitution?

Answer 2

Separation of powers
Checks and Balances
Federalism

Question 3

What are the three features of the US Constitution?

Answer 3

Codified
Judicable
Entrenched

Question 4

Name three reasons the Constitution is significant

Answer 4

Compromise between different views
Designed to avoid tyranny
A ‘beacon of democracy’

Question 5

Name three ways checks and balances can help government

Answer 5

Leads to more scrutiny and bipartisanship
Prevents tyranny
Reduces mistakes and improper decisions

Question 6

Name three ways checks and balances can hinder government

Answer 6

Gridlock
Impeachments can result from party differences
Supreme court nominees can be poorly treated

Question 7

What philosopher were the Founding Fathers influenced by?

Answer 7

Montesquieu - argued for separation of powers to avoid tyranny

Question 8

How many branches can a person be in at one time? and example

Answer 8

ONE - Barack Obama had to resign from Senate when he was elected President

Question 9

Define Federalism

Answer 9

A theory of government where power is divided between a central national government and state governments

Question 10

Name 5 factors that led to an increase in federal government

Answer 10

Westward expansion
Population growth
Better communication e.g radio, internet
Foreign policy
Great Depression

Question 11

Did state or federal government have the most power from 1780-1920s?

Answer 11

State

Question 12

What happened in 1930-1960? (federalism)

Answer 12

Increase in federal control

Question 13

What happened with New Federalism and when was this period?

Answer 13

Decentralisation - unfunded mandate so didn’t benefit states, from 1970-2000 (republicans)

Question 14

How is federalism implied in the constitution?

Answer 14

Three branches
10th Amendment
Necessary and proper clause (all other powers given to states)

Question 15

Name 4 consequences of a federal system

Answer 15

• Variety of laws and taxes
• Different election systems
• Regionalism
• States used as policy experiments

Question 16

What are the two ways an amendment proposal can be confirmed

Answer 16

2/3 vote by BOTH houses of congress

Constitutional convention called by 2/3 of states

Question 17

Name 2 things an amendment can be ratified by

Answer 17

3/4 of state legislatures

3/4 of state constitutional conventions

Question 18

How can an informal amendment be created?

Answer 18

Judicial review by Supreme Court

Question 19

Give 3 examples of informal/interpretive amendments

Answer 19

Rowe v. Wade
Brown v. Board
U.S. v. Nixon (president not above law)

Question 20

Name 3 ways the amendment process is ineffective

Answer 20

Informal amendments
Super majorities
‘Dead-hand control’ - prevents reform

Question 21

Name 3 ways the amendment process is effective

Answer 21

Majority have to agree with change - only essential amendments pass
Shifts in society addressed by amendments in past
Protects liberties of Americans

Question 22

Define original intent

Answer 22

Interpreting the Constitution as the Founding Fathers originally meant for it to be implemented

Question 23

Name 2 reasons original intent should still apply

Answer 23

Provides stability when making decisions - judges may impose own values if not

Judges need neutral criteria to make non-biased decisions

Question 24

Name 3 reasons original intent should not still apply

Answer 24

Values of society then vary drastically with those today

Even FF had different opinions on what should be included - shows it is imperfect

Judges need to fill gaps with modern things e.g Carpenter v. US - mobile phoness