Foundational Documents
this document serves as the framework for our government and contains 7 articles.
constitution
This article defines the legislative branch
Article 1
This part of the constitution allows the government to change with the times and expand powers, is also a property of rubber bands.
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)
One sees the nation and states’ responsibilities within their own spheres (layer cake) while the other sees their responsibilities as shared (marble cake)
What is dual and cooperative federalism?
This document served as the predecessor to the Constitution and fell out of favor for its ineffectiveness.
Articles of Confederation
These are the powers of the presidency defined in Article 2 (name 2)
Commander in Chief, Appoint Judge, Pardon, make treaty, recess appointment
This type of law changes past legality, and can apply to previous actions, allowing prosecution for that action.
ex post facto
This part of the Constitution states that any power not reserved in the federal government is reserved to the states.
What is the Tenth Amendment?
In this paper, James Madison explores majority rule vs. minority rights and argued that a large number of factions would protect our democracy.
federalist no. 10
This section and clause of Article 4 guarantees symmetric federalism
Section four, clause 1 (Guarantee clause)
This type of document requests for someone under arrest to be shown before a court to determine the lawfulness of their detention, usually to secure release.
Writ of Habeas Corpus
One sees the states responding to the one supreme power, one has a weak central government with all the power in the states, and the other sees the organization of the nation as the state and the central government share the same authority over the people.
What are unitary, confederate, and federalist governments
This paper, heavily influenced by the philosophy of Montesquieu, argued against the large republic proposed by the Constitution.
Brutus No. 1
This is the number of articles in the U.S. constitution
Seven
This is the descriptor for power moving down the ladder, to a lower level, especially in a federal situation.
Devolution
While this money granted by the federal government can be used by states for any program, the federal government can issue a mandate to restrict what the state can do with the threat to remove support.
What is a limit to the block grant?