Landmark Cases
This case upheld state-enforced racial segregation under the doctrine of “separate but equal,” but which constitutional amendment’s equal protection clause did it interpret narrowly?
Answer: Plessy v. Ferguson (14th Amendment)
Which theory of representation describes elected officials who make decisions based primarily on the preferences of their constituents rather than their own judgment?
Delegate
Which amendment, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States and guaranteed equal protection under the law?
14th Amendment
Which clause of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to pass laws that are needed to carry out its enumerated powers, even if those laws are not explicitly listed
Necessary and Proper Clause
What is the term for federal money given to states to support specific programs, often with conditions attached?
Grants-in-aid
In McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Chief Justice Marshall argued that Congress had powers beyond those explicitly stated in the Constitution. Which clause did he use to justify this, and what principle did it establish about federal versus state authority?
The Necessary and Proper Clause; it established the principle of implied powers and federal supremacy over the states.
What term describes representatives who use their own judgment to make policy decisions, even if it goes against the immediate preferences of their constituents?
Which amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibited the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude?
15th Amendment
Which constitutional clause establishes that federal law takes priority over state law when the two conflict?
Supremacy Clause
What federal requirement, especially used in the Voting Rights Act, obliges certain states or localities to get approval from the federal government before changing election rules or procedures?
Preclearance
Marbury v. Madison (1803) involved a dispute over a last-minute judicial appointment. What key principle regarding the Supreme Court’s authority over laws did this case establish?
It established judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional.
Which type of congressional oversight involves members actively monitoring and investigating government programs on a routine basis, rather than waiting for problems to arise?
Police Patrol Oversight
Which 1965 law aimed to eliminate discriminatory voting practices like literacy tests and required certain states with histories of discrimination to get federal approval before changing voting laws?
Voting Rights Act of 1965
What constitutional concept protects citizens from the government depriving them of life, liberty, or property without fair legal procedures?
Due Process Clause
What is it called when the federal government forces states to comply with federal rules in one policy area by threatening to withhold funding in a different policy area
Cross-over sanctions
The Supreme Court in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) not only denied African Americans citizenship but also struck down a major congressional compromise. Name the compromise and explain why the Court claimed Congress lacked authority in this matter.
The Missouri Compromise; the Court claimed Congress lacked authority to ban slavery in the territories because enslaved people were property, and the Constitution protects property rights.
What is the difference between substantive representation and descriptive representation, and why might both be important in understanding how Congress represents its citizens?
Identify 4 key events in the civil rights movement from 1954 to 1968. Be sure to explain the impact of these events on American society
There are several acceptable answers for this question!
Which clause or principle allows states to give citizens of other states the same legal rights and protections as their own citizens, preventing discrimination between in-state and out-of-state residents?
Privileges and Immunities Clause
Which type of federal mandate requires states to take specific actions without providing federal funding to cover the costs?
Unfunded mandate
Describe the basics of Gibbons vs Ogden and explain its relevance.
This case involved a dispute over a New York–granted monopoly on steamboat operations, which conflicted with a federal license issued under an act of Congress. The Supreme Court ruled that regulation of interstate commerce falls under the federal government’s authority via the Commerce Clause, making federal law supreme over state law
What does it mean that “politicians are strategic actors”? What does this tell us about politicians’ behavior? Why might politicians have different motivations from voters? What do we mean when we say that voters are not like politicians?
Saying that politicians are strategic actors means that they make decisions by anticipating the consequences of their actions and choosing behaviors that help them achieve specific goals, such as reelection, influence, policy success, or advancement within their party.
How did the Three-Fifths Compromise increase Southern political power while denying political rights to enslaved people?
It counted enslaved people toward representation without granting them rights, giving slaveholding states more seats in Congress and Electoral College power.
What constitutional principle divides government power among three branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, and often works in tandem with checks and balances?
Separation of Powers
What is the term for when federal law overrides or invalidates conflicting state or local laws, and why is this significant for understanding the balance of power in U.S. federalism?
Preemption; it is significant because it establishes federal supremacy over state law in areas where the Constitution grants federal authority, shaping the limits of state autonomy.