Foundations of Government/ Colonial Era
Constitutional Convention
Powers of Government
Civil Liberties
Citizenship
100
A. Define Sovereignty. B. Where in the US does sovereignty reside?
A. The authority to rule/make own laws B. The People (aka, "popular sovereignty")
100
A. What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? B. How did the colonists justify their independence?
A. To separate from England and be independent B. The British government got its power from the people and was supposed to use that power to protect the people’s rights. However, after repeated violations of rights, the people had the right to rebel against it.
100
Define and distinguish between expressed and implied powers of Congress.
Expressed = those expressed (mentioned) in the Constitution Implied = powers that are implied by the expressed powers; anything “necessary and proper” to carry out the expressed powers
100
What is the right to due process?
Due process = fair treatment when the government wants to deprive a person of his rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of property
100
Where is federalism established in the Constitution?
10th Amendment-- “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are RESERVED to the States respectively, or to the people”
200
What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy?
Direct = the people are directly involved in legislative decisions Representative = the people elect individuals to govern on their behalf
200
Give 3 reasons why the Articles of Confederation failed.
1. No power to tax 2. No power to enforce laws 3. Unenforceable trade agreements 4. Unfair competition between the states 5. States didn’t work together 6. State governments violated rights *7. No national army available for defense (Shays' Rebellion)
200
Identify the steps involved in how a bill becomes a law.
1. Introduced 2. Sent to a committee 3. Rules Committee (House) 4. Floor debate 5. Sent to other house 6. Sent to President
200
Identify 3 forms of speech/expression the government has a "compelling reason" to restrict.
clear and present danger (threat to public safety) libel/slander (knowingly lying about someone w/malicious intent) sedition (threatening to overthrow the government) obscenity (vulgarity that lacks artistic, literary, or scientific merit) incitement/fighting words (expression leading to imminent lawless behavior) in loco parentis ("parent-like" authority to limit expression in schools) time, place, and manner (limiting when, where, and how speech is expressed)
200
Identify the amendments to the Constitution that expanded the right to vote AND the group it protected.
15th--race 19th--gender 26th--age 24th--Poll taxes (23rd—DC and the electoral college)
300
Where does sovereignty reside in... A. an autocracy? B. an oligarchy?
A. One person B. A small group of people
300
A. What issue divided large and small states at the convention B. how was it resolved?
A. Representation in Congress B. The Connecticut Compromise (aka Great Compromise) bicameral legislature: House = proportional rep, Senate = equal rep
300
Identify three powers of the President
1. Commander-in-chief 2. Makes Treaties 3. Appoints judges, ambassadors, officials 4. Executive power to enforce laws (executive orders) 5. Law-making power (recommend laws, veto, State of the Union) 6. Judicial powers--pardon, amnesty, reprieve
300
What is the "exclusionary rule"?
Any illegally-gathered evidence must be excluded from trial; it may not be used against the accused
300
How did the first two political parties begin?
As a result of opposing views about the meaning of the Constitution and how it should be interpreted.
400
What is the difference between a parliamentary and presidential form of government?
Parliamentary = legislative and executive powers are unified (the people select the Parliament, and the Parl. chooses the Prime Minister) Presidential = legislative and executive powers are separated (the people select the Congress and President separately)
400
A. What issue divided the northern and southern states? B. Identify three compromises that resolved the issue.
A. Slavery B. 3/5 Compromise, Fugitive slave clause, Slave trade clause
400
A. What is the electoral college? B. Why did the Framers select this method of electing the President?
A. EC = The collection of individuals who vote for the President/VP every four years B. The people wouldn't know enough about the candidates to cast an informed vote.
400
Identify 3 rights that guarantee a "fair" trial?
1. Speedy and public 2. Legal counsel (an attorney) 3. Jury of one's peers 4. Have witnesses/confront those against you 5. Told the reasons for your arrest (indictment)
400
What are the differences between citizens and legal residents (resident aliens)?
Resident aliens can't vote, run for office, nor serve on a jury.
500
A. Define Federalism B. Explain how it combines features of both unitary and confederate forms of government
Federalism = government power is separated into national and state governments Unitary = one strong national gov’t Confederate = power resides in several small state governments
500
A. What was the name of people who opposed the Constitution? B. Give three reasons why they did so.
A. Antifederalists B. 1. Constitution gave the gov too much power 2. Too undemocratic 3. No bill of rights
500
How do federal judges get their jobs and what is their major power?
1. Appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate 2. Judicial Review--power to strike down laws/actions that are unconstitutional
500
Why does the 1st Amendment separate church and state?
To promote freedom of belief for all To protect religion from bad government To protect government from "bad" religions
500
Identify 5 different influences on voter behavior and HOW they do so.
Age--Young = DEM; Old = REP Gender--Female = DEM; Male = REP Race/Ethnicity--Minority = DEM; White = REP Religion--Jewish/No religion = DEM; Christian = REP Education--College/Post-Grad = DEM; HS/Some College = REP Geography--Urban = DEM; Rural/Surburbs = REP Income--Low = DEM; High = REP Occupation--Blue collar = DEM; White collar = REP
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