Key Documents
This document was the first governing charter of the United States but created a weak central government.
What is the Articles of Confederation?
The principle that government power is divided among three branches.
What is separation of powers?
Powers specifically granted to the federal government in the Constitution.
What are enumerated powers?
This landmark case established judicial review.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
What was the primary goal of the Federalists in supporting the Constitution, and how did they propose to prevent tyranny?
What is "To create a strong national government that could manage factions through a large republic and checks and balances"?
This document outlines the grievances of the colonists against King George III.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This concept holds that all government power derives from the consent of the governed.
What is popular sovereignty?
Powers shared by both the federal and state governments.
What are concurrent powers?
This case limited the Commerce Clause and marked a shift toward greater state power.
What is United States v. Lopez?
Identify one major fear expressed by Anti-Federalists about the new Constitution and explain how this fear led to the addition of the Bill of Rights.
What is "Anti-Federalists feared centralized tyranny and the loss of individual liberties, leading to the Bill of Rights as a compromise"?
The authors of these papers argued for ratification of the Constitution and a strong central government.
What are the Federalist Papers?
Explain how checks and balances work with one example involving the legislative and executive branches.
What is "Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses"?
Describe the impact of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) on federalism.
What is "It strengthened federal power by upholding the use of implied powers and denying states the ability to tax the federal government"?
Explain how Baker v. Carr (1962) relates to the concept of "one person, one vote.
What is "The case required state legislative districts to be roughly equal in population, enforcing equal protection?
According to Federalist No. 51, what is the primary purpose of separating powers within the national government, and how does Madison propose ensuring that each branch remains independent?
What is "The purpose is to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power, and Madison proposes giving each branch 'the necessary constitutional means and personal motives' to resist encroachments by the others"?
This Anti-Federalist paper warned that a strong central government would eventually erode personal liberties.
What is Brutus No. 1?
Identify and explain the principle reflected in the Supremacy Clause.
What is "Federal law is the 'supreme law of the land,' establishing national supremacy over states"?
Explain how block grants differ from categorical grants, and assess how they impact state autonomy.
Block grants give states broader discretion in how to spend federal funds, enhancing state autonomy, while categorical grants are more specific and restrictive?
Describe how McDonald v. Chicago (2010) incorporated a Bill of Rights protection against the states.
What is "It ruled that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms applies to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment?
Compare and contrast pluralist democracy and elite democracy?
What is "Pluralist democracy is seen in interest group lobbying (e.g., NRA or environmental groups), while elite democracy is evident in disproportionate influence by wealthy donors in elections"?
Analyze how Federalist No. 10 addresses the problem of factions, and explain why Madison favored a large republic.
What is "Madison argued that a large republic would dilute factions’ influence by making it harder for any single group to dominate?
Evaluate how the system of checks and balances can contribute to governmental gridlock, providing a modern example.
What is "Separation of powers can slow decision-making, as seen in government shutdowns due to Congressional budget disputes"?
Analyze how the Necessary and Proper Clause and the Tenth Amendment create ongoing tension between federal and state governments.
The Necessary and Proper Clause expands implied federal powers, while the Tenth Amendment reserves unspecified powers to states, leading to disputes over constitutional interpretation?
Analyze how Supreme Court interpretations of federal power shifted between McCulloch v. Maryland and United States v. Lopez.
What is "McCulloch expanded federal power through implied powers, while Lopez limited it by narrowing the interpretation of the Commerce Clause?
Analyze how participatory democracy, pluralist democracy, and elite democracy each interpret the role of citizens in government. Then, argue which model best explains the policymaking process in contemporary America, citing a specific example.
What is "Participatory democracy emphasizes broad citizen involvement (e.g., voting, protests), pluralist democracy views politics as competition among organized groups (e.g., lobbyists), and elite democracy sees a small, wealthy minority dominating (e.g., corporate PACs). Many argue elite democracy best explains policymaking today, as seen in the influence of major donors on legislation"?