Basic Principles and Practices
1) Which article of the U.S. Constitution grants the power to coin money, make treaties, and levy import duties?
A. Article I B. Article II
C. Article III D. Article IV
A) Article I because it talks about how the legislative branch (Congress) is responsible for making the laws. It has the power to do those things because the founders gave the most powers to this branch because it is made up of many representatives elected directly by the people.
The Mayflower Compact includes a pledge to ensure that all citizens look out for the general good of the colony. Based on this, what impact has the Mayflower Compact had on modern understanding of the purpose of government in the United States?
A. The government should protect the property of influential citizens.
B. The government should provide equal protection under the law.
C. The government should advance the goals of the elite.
D. The government should establish religious unity.
B) The government should provide equal protection under the law
It introduced early concepts of self-governance and majority rule, which have shaped the nation's principles of democratic government, influencing key documents such as state constitutions, the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution.
The U.S. Supreme Court enabled which government practices to continue in its ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson?
A. Prohibiting monopoly formation.
B. Segregating public facilities.
C. Establishing immigration quotas.
D. Regulating financial markets.
B) Segregating public faclities
Use the passage below, taken from a presidential nomination speech, to answer the question that follows.
“What do the people of America want more than anything else? To my mind, they want two things: work, . . . and with work, a reasonable measure of security . . .”
Based on the passage, which government program would the speaker support?
A. Great Society
B. Fair Deal
C. New Deal
D. Brain Trust
C) New Deal
What is the relationship between Majority Rule and Minority Rights constitutionally and through application?
Majority rule and minority rights are related because they are both protected within the United States through concepts in the Bill of Rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion, as well as suffrage rights.
Explain the difference between expressed powers and implied powers? Provide examples
Expressed powers/enumerated powers are those listed in the Constitution as belonging to the federal government. Examples:
Implied powers are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are inferred from the expressed powers. They allow the federal government to carry out its duties effectively. Examples include:
How did the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation lead to the writing of the U.S. Constitution?
From no regulation of commerce, lack of central authority, and inefficient Legislative process, the result was the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, which established a stronger federal government with an executive branch, a judiciary, and the power to tax and regulate commerce. The new Constitution also provided a more flexible process for amendments and a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
1) Which of the following cases resulted in a decision that undermined civil rights and liberties in prioritization of national security?
A. Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
B. Brown v. Board of Education
C. District of Columbia v. Heller
D. Korematsu v. United States
2) A person is arrested for burglary. The police question him for hours, which results in a confession. The police did not inform him he could have an attorney present during questioning.
Which Supreme Court case could make his confession be excluded from evidence in court?
A. Miranda v. Arizona
B. Plessy v. Ferguson
C. McCulloch v. Maryland
D. Gideon v. Wainwright
D) Korematsu v. United States
D) Gideon v. Wainwright
In order to attract investment and business and reduce expenses, a state legislature proposes passing a law that removes the need for certain federal regulatory features relating to office and factory environments.
Which legislative action would most likely cause the U.S. Supreme Court to decide that this violated the Supremacy Clause?
A. Pendleton Act
B. Fair Housing Act
C. Social Security Act
D. Occupational Safety and Health Act
D) Occupational Safety and Health Act
How are Montesquieu’s view of separation of powers and John Locke’s theories related to natural law and Locke’s social contract,
Locke’s philosophical principles about the purpose and limits of government influence Montesquieu’s structural approach to organizing government to protect individual freedoms and prevent tyranny.
Concurrent powers are those shared by both the federal government and state governments. Both levels of government can exercise these powers simultaneously, as long as they do not conflict with each other. Examples include:
Reserved Powers
Reserved powers are those not delegated to the federal government or prohibited to the states by the Constitution. According to the 10th Amendment, these powers are reserved for the states or the people. Examples include:
What were the Northwest Ordinances of 1784-1787 and how did it influence the US constitution?
-a series of laws enacted by the Confederation Congress to manage the expansion and governance of the Northwest Territory, which encompassed land northwest of the Ohio River, east of the Mississippi River, and south of the Great Lakes.
It influenced the US constitution by territorial expansion, federal authority, bill of rights, and prohibition of slavery
. Use the passage below, from a landmark Supreme Court case opinion, to answer the question that follows.
“So if a law be in opposition to the constitution; if both the law and the constitution apply to a particular case, so that the court must either decide that case conformably to the law, disregarding the constitution; or conformably to the constitution, disregarding the law; the court must determine which of these conflicting rules governs the case.”
Which Supreme Court case established the precedent described in the opinion?
A. Bush v. Gore B. Miranda v. Arizona
C. Marbury v. Madison D. Dred Scott v. Sandford
C) Marbury v. Madison
At the Constitutional Convention, there was a major debate between large states and small states about representation in the new Congress. This debate was resolved by the Great Compromise.
What was the result of this compromise?
A. The number of citizens in a state would determine how many seats that state had in Congress, but slaves and other noncitizens would not be counted for this purpose.
B. Congress would have two houses, one in which state representation was based on population and one in which all states had equal representation.
C. The number of seats each state would have in both houses of Congress would be based on the state's population.
D. Congress would be made up of two houses in which all states had an equal number of representatives in each house.
B) Congress would have two houses, one in which state representation was based on population and one in which all states had equal representation.
What is the difference between republicanism and democracy and discuss how the United States reflects both?
Republicanism is centered around the concept of a republic, where the state is considered a public matter, and the head of state is an elected or appointed official. Democracy is a form of government in which power is vested in the people, either directly or through elected representatives.
The United States reflects both republicanism and democracy by combining a system of representative government, adherence to the rule of law, and checks and balances (republicanism) with principles of popular sovereignty, political equality, and the protection of individual rights (democracy).
Explain arguments presented in the Federalist Papers in support of ratifying the U.S. Constitution and a republican form of government.
The Federalist Papers provide a comprehensive defense of the U.S. Constitution and the republican form of government. They argue that a stronger federal government is necessary for national security, economic stability, and effective governance, while also emphasizing the importance of checks and balances, the separation of powers, and the protection of individual rights.
1) What was The Constitution of Massachusetts (1780) and its influence on the Development of the US as a Constitutional Republic?
2) What is the relationship between the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Bill of rights?
1) the Constitution of Massachusetts (1780) provided a foundational model for the U.S. Constitution, contributing significantly to the establishment of the United States as a constitutional republic with a strong emphasis on the separation of powers, checks and balances, individual rights, and judicial independence.
2) The Virginia Declaration of Rights was a pioneering document that laid the groundwork for the U.S. Bill of Rights. Its enumeration of fundamental rights and its influence on key figures like James Madison ensured that its principles were woven into the fabric of American constitutional law, providing a lasting legacy of individual liberty and protection against government overreach.
1) What was the Baker v. Carr case and what was its influence?
2) What was the Korematsu v. United States (1944) case and what led to it?
1) Baker v. Carr established the principle of "one person, one vote" and allowed for judicial intervention in legislative apportionment, ensuring fairer political representation
2) Korematsu v. United States, despite its controversial upholding of internment during wartime, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of compromising civil liberties in the name of national security.
1) The U.S. Congress fulfilled which of the following purposes of government when it declared war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor?
A. ensuring domestic tranquility
B. promoting the general welfare
C. providing for the common defense
D. establishing a system of justice
C. providing for the common defense
1) Use the passage below, from an exchange between former president Nixon and a television interviewer, to answer the question that follows.
“Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal”
Which constitutional principle does the statement from President Nixon contradict?
A. separation of powers B. republicanism C. rule of law D. equality
2) Which form of government is based on popular sovereignty?
A. communism B. dictatorship
C. monarchy D. republic
1) C- rule of law because not even the president is allowed to be above law or go against it.
2) D- republic because it is the principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives
What are the significant clauses of the Constitution and their cases or definitions?
1. The Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Clause 2)
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
2. The Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18)
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
3. The Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3)
Gives Congress the power to regulate interstate and international commerce.
4. The Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article IV, Section 1)
Requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.
5. The Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment, Section 1)
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
6. The Establishment Clause (1st Amendment)
Prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or favoring one religion over another.
7. The Free Exercise Clause (1st Amendment)
Protects individuals’ rights to practice their religion freely.
8. The Due Process Clauses (5th and 14th Amendments)
Roe v. Wade (1973)
9. The Privileges and Immunities Clause (Article IV, Section 2, Clause 1)
Explain arguments presented in the Federalist Papers in support of ratifying the U.S. Constitution and a republican form of government.
1) Explain the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case
2) Explain the Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier case
1) Bakke addressed the constitutionality of affirmative action in higher education, establishing that while racial quotas are unconstitutional, race can be considered to achieve diversity
2) Hazelwood clarified the extent of student free speech rights in school-sponsored activities, granting schools the authority to regulate content for legitimate educational purposes
1) Explain the Tonkin Gulf Resolution of 1964 and how was it an example of expansions of presidential and war powers?
2) Explain the suspensions of Habeas Corpus and was it a restriction or expansion of civil rights or civil liberties?
1) The Tonkin Gulf Resolution of 1964 and the suspension of habeas corpus in U.S. history illustrate significant expansions of executive power and restrictions on civil liberties. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution empowered the president to engage in military actions without Congressional approval.
2) Habeas Corpus is a legal principle that safeguards individual freedom by ensuring that no one is detained unlawfully. The suspension aimed to curb dissent, ensure loyalty, and detain individuals deemed threats to national security without immediate judicial oversight. It allows detainees to seek relief from unlawful imprisonment by petitioning the court. It was restriction of civil liberties because it limits an individual's right to challenge unlawful detention. It concentrates power in the executive branch and reduces judicial oversight, often justified by the need to address national security threats