Constitution
1. Fill in the spaces to finish the 5 points in the Theory of Democracy
1. Equality in _________
2. Effective ___________
3. Enlightened ________
4. _______ control of the agenda
5. Inclusion of _________
1. Voting
2. Participation
3. Understanding
4. Citizen
5. All who are willing to participate
1. What are the three forms of government?
1. Unitary, federal, confederal
What were the Articles of Confederation?
America's first set of laws
Created a confederate government in which most of the power was vested in the states
Created a weak national government
In a federalist system ____ parties have control over the geographical area.
A.) 2
B.) 3
C.) 4
D.) 5
E.) 6
A.) 2
What are the three branches of government?
Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
2. Match the Political Theorists to the Theories of Government that they believed in, and define each theory
1. Theory of One
2. Elite & Class Theory
3. Pluralist Theory
4. Hyper-Pluralist Theory
a.Rousseau
b.Locke
c.Hobbes
d.Hume
1. c, class level and wealth is all the power in the world
2. d, competition divides government, reducing effectiveness
3. b, between groups to promote agenda, establish policy through compromise
4. a, single ruler
2. What form of government issue involves the central gov’t being in charge of the central?
2. Unitary
What were 4 major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Central government could not collect taxes
No executive branch
No Judicial branch (interstate disputes)
National Government could not regulate foreign or interstate commerce (trade)
Unanimous consent required for amendments
9 of 13 states needed to pass legislation
2. In our federation, the power is distributed among two forms of government, name them.
State powers
Federal powers
What was The Great Compromise?
Agreement between large and small states to show equal representation.
3. Using the basic rule of thumb (learned in class) and the idea of federalism, describe the difference between conservative and liberal beliefs.
Conservatives favor less government, much like anti federalists wanted stronger state governmental power and limited federal involvement. The quote for conservative beliefs is “government is a necessary evil”. Liberals favor more government, like federalists believed a strong central government was needed and the most beneficial method of governing the nation. This quote is “government capable of positive good”
3. Compare and contrast the characteristics of federal and confederal governments
3. Fed-strong central govt& in states, more flexible, confed- power rests in local entities (states), and national gov’t can only do what confederate association allows it to
What did The Virginia Plan propose?
A new national government that the Virginia delegation proposed at the Constitutional Convention. It called for a strong, unitary national government, with separate executive and judicial branches, and a two-house legislative branch with representation based on each state's population.
3. To ensure a direct line of communication between citizens and the government that serves them, in a federalist government we elect ______
A.)Congressmen
B.)Senators
C.)Representatives
D.)Union speakers
C.)Representatives
What are the three levels of the federal Supreme Court?
District court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court
4. Contrast how Hobbes and Locke believed power should be distributed. Including what types of today’s democracies correlate to these distributions.
Hobbes believed that power should be distributed by the Power-Elite method, also known as representative democracy today. Hobbes and Locke both supports the idea of Political-Elite distribution of power, which closely resembles participatory democracy. Locke also supported majoritarian distribution of power, called direct democracy today.
4. What is the key to making the federal government work?
4. Knowing what powers/ decisions need to be centralized, and what need to be at local level
Why was Shay's Rebellion a turning point for The Articles of Confederation?
It emphasized the weaknesses of the confederation; National government could not force the states to obey its law and states made laws that some found to be unfair. They had the lack of strong and steady leadership. The National government had no power to raise money to pay for action.
4. In our federalist government what keeps one branch from becoming stronger than the others?
A.)Distribution of power
B.)The president
C.)Frequent re-elections
D.) Checks and Balances
D.) Checks and Balances
What is a double jeopardy?
The prosecution of a person twice for the same offense.
5. Explain the significance of having government within a nation, and answer what you think the most important purpose is, and why (what about it is so important?).
Answers vary, purpose of government- maintain social order, provide goods & services, promote and protect freedom
5. Draw a diagram of the three forms of government, including three levels and the direction authority flows
Unitary
Upper Level Gov.
Authority ↓
Lower Level Gov.
Authority ↓
Citizens
Federal
Upper Level Gov.
Authority ↑ ↓
Lower Level Gov.
Authority ↓
Citizens
Confederal
Upper Level Gov.
Authority ↑
Lower Level Gov.
Authority ↓
Citizens
Explain one specific way in which the United States Constitution addresses a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.
The Constitution gave the federal government the power to tax.
Printing and coining money became a power reserved only for the federal government under the Constitution.
The creation of a bicameral legislature under the Constitution, especially the House of
Representatives, allowed people to express a voice in government while still maintaining a strong central authority.
The Constitution granted specific powers to the federal government and reserved other powers for the states.
5. Why was Mcculloch vs Maryland (1819 ) an important supreme court case for the U.S?
A.)It made Maryland an official state
B.)It concluded that states cannot tax the federal government
C.)It allowed for the taxation of goods across state lines
D.)It made it possible for interracial marriage
B.)It concluded that states cannot tax the federal government
What is needed to pass a law?
Bill must go through both houses of congress with a majority vote of 2/3 of the houses. Goes to the President to be signed or vetoed. 2/3 majority of both houses of congress are required to override presidents' veto.