Philosophers
Influential Documents
The Constitution
Federalism
Mishmash
100
This is the concept that the Framers of the Constitution borrowed from Montesquieu.
What is separation of powers?
100
The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom heavily influenced this part of the Constitution.
What is the First Amendment?
100
Which of the branches of government do each of the following Articles discuss: Article I? Article II? Article III?
What is Legislative, Executive, and Judicial?
100
This is what says the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties take precedence over state laws.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
100
Name at least 2 checks on 2 different branches of government.
President vetoes a bill. Congress overrides a veto. Supreme Court declares law unconstitutional. President nominates Supreme Court justice. Congress can impeach the President.
200
What type of government does Hobbes think is best, and why does he think that type is necessary?
Absolute monarchy, because man is inherently evil and must be controlled.
200
The purpose of the Bill of Rights was to...
Limit the power of the federal government and protect individual liberties
200
Explain the 3/5ths Compromise.
Counted each slave as 3/5ths of a person for the purpose of representation in Congress
200
Name at least 3 examples of expressed powers.
What are coining money, declaring war, taxation, creating post offices, appointing federal officials, regulating interstate & international commerce?
200
This is the type of federalism in which the federal and state governments have overlapping powers
What is cooperative federalism? (Marble cake)
300
According to Locke, why do men join communities?
For security, and protection of their rights
300
This document served as a model for the Bill of Rights.
What is the Virginia Declaration of Rights?
300
This was the plan that created a bicameral Congress, creating one house based on equal representation and one house based on population.
What is the Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise?
300
Name at least 3 examples of reserved powers, and identify the part of the Constitution that discusses reserved powers.
What are setting up school systems, marriage & divorce laws, driver's licenses, regulation of alcohol, speed limits. What is the 10th Amendment?
300
What was the goal of the Federalist Papers?
To persuade New York (and the general public) to ratify the Constitution
400
According to Rousseau, what is the best type of government?
What is a direct democracy?
400
Name at least 3 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
No executive, no power to tax, couldn't regulate interstate trade, no common currency
400
This was the plan that included a system of checks and balances and a national legislature based on population.
What is the Virginia Plan?
400
Explain the Elastic Clause, and give one example of something the federal government has done using the clause as justification.
Congress may do what is "necessary and proper" to carry out its expressed powers, as stated in Article I Section 8. These are implied powers. Example: build interstate highways
400
What is the purpose of the Full Faith and Credit Clause, and what is one exception to it?
To ensure that court decisions and documents of one state are recognized in other states. Exception--gay marriage.
500
This is the theory that says people give up some of their rights to the government in exchange for protection.
What is social contract theory?
500
Why wouldn't the Anti-Federalists ratify the original Constitution, and what finally convinced them to do so?
Feared a powerful national government, fear that personal liberties were not protected (no Bill of Rights). Ratified when promised a Bill of Rights would be added.
500
What are concurrent powers? Name at least 2 examples.
Powers shared by the federal and state governments. Examples: taxation, law enforcement, establishing courts
500
Identify and explain at least 2 advantages to having a federal system of government.
Provides people with more access to government, problems can be solved at the local & state level, states can experiment & perfect new policies before the federal govt tries them
500
What effects did McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden have on the federal and state governments?
What is limited the power of the states, expanded the powers of the federal government (implied powers)