Unit 4 - Constitution

Question 1

3 ways the founding fathers limit government power

Answer 1

Sep of power and checks and balance at the federal (national) level

Dividing power between the federal government and state governments

By protecting the freedom of citizens by limiting power of government with the first 10 amendments (bill of rights)

Question 2

Purpose of separation of powers?

Answer 2

Fragment government power

Prevent tyranny

Ensure the liberty of the individual

Question 3

What is federalism

Answer 3

The sharing of power between national and state government (NOT THE SEP OF POWERS)

Question 4

What are some things the national government look after

Answer 4

War with other countries

Delivering mail

Question 5

What are some things the state takes care of

Answer 5

Drivers lisence

Question 6

What is something handled by both the state and national government

Answer 6

Taxes

Question 7

What were the anti federalises able to persuade the leaders into doing

Answer 7

Adding the first 10 amendments to the constitution making the bill of rights

Question 8

Anti fed believe what about the constitution

Answer 8

It should be followed strictly

Question 9

What is meant by implied powers

Answer 9

Powers congress exersises that the constitution does not explicitly define but are necessary and proper

Granted by the elastic clause

Question 10

Example of implied powers

Answer 10

The bank

Necessary to collect taxes, but not explicitly given through the constitution

Question 11

What are denied powers and give an example

Answer 11

Powers that neither state or national governments are allowed to have

Eg tax exports, granting titles of nobility

Question 12

Pros of federalism

Answer 12

• creates more access points in gov
• better protection of individual rights
• states can experiment with new solutions to old problems
• well suited to a geographically large system

Question 13

Cons of federalism

Answer 13

Federal/state gov relationship is a source of conflict

Overly beuracratic - costly to run, resistant to change

Question 14

Legal consequence of federalism

Answer 14

There is a vast variety in state laws on matters such as the age at which pppl can marry

Question 15

Political consequences of federalism

Answer 15

All elections in the US are state based/ run under state law. The presidential election is 50 separate state based elections.

Political parties in America are decentralised, state based parties eg Texas democrats more conservative that Massachusetts democrats

Question 16

Economic consequences of federalism

Answer 16

Huge federal grants going to the states, complexity of the tax system in America.

Question 17

What is the power of the purse

Answer 17

United States Congress must authorise the presidents budget requests for funding programs of the executive branch