Founding & the Constitution
Name one major debate at the Constitutional Convention
Answer: Representation (large vs. small states) OR slavery OR executive power OR federal vs. state power OR how to count population/taxes.
According to a biblical worldview, what is one purpose of government?
To restrain evil/punish wrongdoing and promote justice/order (protect life/property).
What is an executive order?
A directive issued by the president to manage operations of the federal government/executive branch.
What is the first step in the legislative process?
Bills are introduced
Define the Electoral College in one sentence.
A system where states appoint electors (usually winner-take-all) who formally elect the president.
Name one First Amendment freedom that applies in schools. (NOT NCA) :)
Speech, religion, press, assembly, or petition.
Identify one delegate and the plan/position they supported.
James Madison — Virginia Plan (strong national government; representation by population) OR William Paterson — New Jersey Plan (equal state representation) OR Alexander Hamilton — very strong executive/national power.
Name one danger of no government or extreme government.
No government → chaos/anarchy/violence; extreme government → tyranny/oppression/abuse of power.
What branch issues them, and what branch can limit them?
Issued by the Executive; limited by Courts (constitutional review) and Congress (laws/funding/oversight), and future presidents can revoke.
What is the role of a committee?
Committees review, hold hearings, amend/“mark up,” and decide whether to send the bill to the full chamber.
How can a president win while losing popular vote?
Winning enough states to secure 270 electoral votes while losing the national vote total (because electors are state-based, often winner-take-all).
What does “balance rights with order/safety” mean?
Schools can limit student expression if it substantially disrupts learning/safety or violates others’ rights, but students still retain constitutional protections.
Explain how the Great Compromise resolved representation.
Bicameral Congress: House based on population; Senate equal representation (2 per state).
Give one biblical passage supporting a role for government.
Romans 13:1–4 (government as God’s servant to punish wrong) OR 1 Peter 2:13–17 (submit to governing authorities).
Give one example of a real executive order and what it did.
EO 9066 (FDR) authorized internment of Japanese Americans OR Truman’s desegregation of the military (EO 9981) OR DACA (created by executive action, later debated in courts/politics).
What is a conference committee and when is it needed?
A temporary committee to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of the same bill.
What is gerrymandering and one effect?
Drawing voting district lines to favor a party/group; can create “safe” seats and distort representation vs statewide vote totals.
Define originalism vs living constitution (or restraint vs activism).
Originalism: interpret Constitution by original public meaning; Living Constitution: interpret in light of modern conditions/values. (Restraint: defer to elected branches; Activism: courts more willing to strike laws.)
Describe one major power created or limited by the Constitution.
Congress makes laws/controls budget; President executes laws/commander in chief/veto; Courts interpret laws/judicial review (later clarified in Marbury v. Madison); checks like veto override, impeachment, confirmations.
Give one biblical passage about citizens’ responsibilities.
Jeremiah 29:7 (seek the welfare of the city) OR Matthew 22:21 (render to Caesar) OR Micah 6:8 (do justice) OR 1 Timothy 2:1–2 (pray for leaders).
Argue: should EOs be broad or limited?
Limited—because they can bypass Congress and concentrate power; should mainly clarify/enforce existing laws, not create major new policy.
Two places bills commonly fail and why.
Committee (never brought to vote) OR rules/leadership blocks it OR filibuster/cloture fails in Senate OR veto without override OR conference compromise fails.
One argument for and one against gerrymandering.
For: allows representation of communities of interest / can protect minority representation (sometimes via majority-minority districts). Against: manipulates elections, reduces competitiveness, weakens voter influence.
What is a filibuster and how does it affect lawmaking?
Senate tactic to delay/block a vote by extended debate (or threat of it); requires cloture (usually 60 votes) to end debate, making many bills harder to pass.
Explain how the Convention resolved a major conflict and the outcome.
Example: Slavery issue partly “resolved” with compromises like the Three-Fifths Compromise (counting enslaved people for representation/taxes) and allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808, plus a fugitive slave clause—postponing conflict rather than solving it.
Use one historical example showing weak or extreme government.
Weimar Germany’s instability helped open the door for authoritarian rule (Hitler) OR the French Revolution’s instability/terror shows breakdown and extremism OR Soviet totalitarianism as extreme government crushing freedom.
Should there be an amendment on EOs? Propose a rule and defend it.
Example: Yes—require major EOs to expire after X days unless Congress approves; prevents “law of the land” by one person while still allowing emergency action.
Explain the full process from introduction to approval/rejection
Introduced → committee → (subcommittee/hearings/markup) → floor debate/vote → other chamber repeats → conference committee if needed → both chambers vote final version → president signs or vetoes → veto can be overridden by 2/3 of both chambers (or bill dies).
ropose an alternative/reform and defend it.
Independent redistricting commissions + clear criteria (compactness, respecting communities) to reduce partisan bias OR proportional allocation of electoral votes OR ranked-choice national popular vote (with pros/cons).
Using a Supreme Court case from class: facts, question, decision, and your side.
Varies