1.1 Ideals of Democracy
A political theorist argues that individuals possess certain rights simply because they are human and that government exists in part to protect those rights.
Which democratic ideal is most directly reflected in this argument?
natural rights
Which model of democracy emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society?
Participatory Democracy
A proposed constitutional system gives the national government substantially greater authority than the government established under the Articles of Confederation.
Which group would have been most likely to support this proposal?
federalists
What major weakness of the Articles of Confederation made it difficult for the national government to respond effectively to Shays' Rebellion?
lack of centralized militiary power
What compromise created a bicameral Congress with representation based on population in the House and equal representation for each state in the Senate?
Great Comp
“A government that derives its authority from the people must remain accountable to those people, and its power must therefore be constrained by institutional limits.”
Which TWO democratic ideals are most directly reflected in the claim?
Answer:
Popular sovereignty AND limited government
A group of citizens organizes a campaign to convince their representatives to support a proposed environmental policy. Which model of representative democracy is most directly illustrated?
Pluralist Democracy
A delegate argues that concentrating political authority in a national government could threaten individual liberty and that states should retain substantial political power.
This argument most closely reflects which perspective?
anti-federalists
What branch of government did the Articles of Confederation lack?
executive branch
What compromise established the system in which presidents are elected by electors from each state rather than directly by a national popular vote?
Electoral College
A government requires citizens to follow laws and pay taxes. In exchange, the government provides security and maintains social order. Which concept most directly describes the relationship between citizens and government in this scenario?
Social Contract
A group of environmental organizations, labor unions, and business associations lobby Congress to influence a proposed law. Which model of democracy does this best illustrate?
Pluralist Democracy
What Federalist essay, written by James Madison, argued that a large republic could control the “mischiefs of faction”?
During a period of economic and political unrest, an armed rebellion develops within a state. The national government is unable to respond effectively because it lacks the necessary centralized military authority.
Which historical event best illustrates this weakness?
Shay's Rebellion
What compromise established a formula for counting the enslaved population for purposes of representation in the House and taxation?
3/5ths compromise
A president, Congress, and the courts each have different governmental responsibilities, while each branch has ways to limit the power of the others. Which democratic ideal is most directly supported by these arrangements?
limited government
“A large republic makes it possible for citizens to elect representatives who can evaluate competing interests rather than allowing every political demand to directly determine government policy.”
This argument is most consistent with which idea associated with Federalist No. 10?
A large republic can control the effects of factions through representation and a larger political system.
Scenario: A political writer argues that a large, centralized national government will become too powerful and threaten individual liberty. Which perspective does this argument most closely represent?
anti-federalist perspective
Suppose the national government under the Articles attempts to resolve a dispute between two states over interstate trade.
Which institutional limitation would most directly prevent the national government from effectively resolving the dispute?
Answer:
The absence of a national court system and the lack of power to regulate interstate commerce.
Scenario: Anti-Federalists worried that the new Constitution did not adequately protect individual liberties. Federalists agreed to support the addition of a set of amendments protecting individual rights.
What compromise helped address this concern?
agreement to add BOR
Scenario: Congress passes a law, the president can veto it, and Congress can override the veto under certain conditions. Which constitutional principle is illustrated, and how does it support democratic government?
Checks and balances; it prevents any one branch of government from exercising unlimited power.
Scenario: A political system gives citizens many opportunities to participate directly in political life, while another emphasizes organized interest groups influencing elected officials. Which two models are being contrasted?
Participatory democracy and pluralist democracy
Scenario: An Anti-Federalist argues that citizens would have greater control over their government in a smaller, decentralized republic. A Federalist responds that a larger republic can better control factions by spreading power among representatives and governments.
What fundamental disagreement are the two writers debating?
Answer:
The proper size and structure of government and how to balance effective government power with protection of individual liberty.
Scenario: The national government needs money to operate and defend the country, but it has difficulty enforcing taxation. At the same time, there is no national executive branch to enforce laws and no national court system.
What broader problem with the Articles of Confederation do these weaknesses demonstrate?
Answer:
The national government was too weak to effectively carry out and enforce national policies.
The Constitution establishes a process for changing the Constitution. What are the two ways an amendment can be proposed, and what percentage of the states must ultimately ratify it?
Answer:
An amendment can be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress OR by a convention called at the request of two-thirds of the states. It must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states.