Constitutional Democracy
In which form of democracy (direct or indirect) would the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Indirect
How many amendments does the US Constitution have?
27
This was added to address concerns from Anti-Federalists that the new national government threatened personal liberties and the authority of the states to govern.
The Bill of Rights
Which part of the U.S. Constitution specifically gives powers to the states that aren't given to the national government?
The 10th Amendment
Weaknesses included a weak national government - no president, thus weak enforcement of rules - no unity among states - each state had its own currency...
Articles of Confederation
What do we call it when the presidency is controlled by one party and the legislature by another?
divided government
What are the powers given the the states called?
"Reserved" powers
Argued a "republic" was the best form of government to control the negative effects faction.
Federalist #10
Some call it the "Great" compromise but, which state was the compromise that led to a bicameral legislature named after?
Connecticut
What is Judicial Review?
Power of the federal courts (ultimately the Supreme Court) to review laws and actions by the other branches or state governments to determine whether those actions are constitutional or not.
What is the name of the case that established the power of SCOTUS to strike down laws passed by Congress?
Marbury v. Madison
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 gives the Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations. What is it’s name?
Interstate and Foreign Commerce Clause
This famous quote was used in Federalist #51 to illustrate the importance of checks and balances in preventing tyranny.
"ambition must be made to counteract ambition"
What compromise accommodated concerns over how to count slaves for apportionment?
3/5ths
Name two checks the legislature has over the executive branch?
-Impeachment/investigations
-Selection of the President (House) and Vice President (Senate) in the case of no majority of electoral votes
-May override Presidential vetoes (with a 2/3rds vote in both chambers)
-Senate approves appointments (Departments, Ambassadors, Supreme Court)
-Approval of replacement Vice President
-Power to declare war
-Power of the Purse
In which required SCOTUS decision did the Court rule that Congress has "implied" powers to make laws beyond what is specifically stated in the Constitution?
McCulloch v. Maryland
Which type of grant is preferred by the states and why? (Block or Categorical)
A BLOCK GRANT is money given from the national government to states and states have more flexibility in spending the money whereas categorical grants have more strings attached to how the money is to be spent.
Interstate Commerce Power (the law regulated "possession" of a firearm which isn't directly related to commerce)
In the battle over Constitutional ratification, what group argued for the inclusion of the Bill of Rights?
Anti-Federalists
What portion of the states does it take to ratify an amendment to the Constitution?
3/4ths
List two ways a Senator could work to overturn a SCOTUS decision she disagreed with.
-propose an amendment to the Constitution
-propose the a bill that would alter the size of SCOTUS
-vote for justices who would rule differently
Describe the concept of DEVOLUTION.
DEVOLUTION is the idea that responsibilities that have traditionally been handled by the national government should be handed down to the STATES, thus limiting the role of the national government.
In this essay anti-feds argued against ratification of the new Constitution saying this new form of government would annihilate state governments.
Brutus 1