Theoretical Foundations
What is the most common type of government?
Unitary
What one branch of government did the Articles of Confederation have?
Legislative
What was the goal of the Virginia plan?
To have the number of representatives in Congress according to population.
What is federalism?
The constitutional division of power between the national government and the subnational units in which each enforces its laws directly on the people and neither party can change the arrangement without the consent of the other.
How many members are in the house of representatives and the senate?
435 and 100
What is sovereignty?
Supreme political authority
How many votes did each state have under the Articles of Confederation?
One
What is an example of a power granted to the government?
Enumerated, reserved, implied, concurrent
What is a benefit of federalism?
Liberty, participation, manages conflict, innovation, efficiency
How often do elections occur in the house of representatives and the senate?
2 and 6 (on a 2 year cycle)
How many governments are active in the U.S.?
More than 89,000.
True or False: The government could control commerce between states under the Articles of Confederation.
False
What is the necessary and proper clause?
Congress can pass laws deemed “necessary and proper” to carry out expressed powers.
Who wrote the Federalism papers?
What is gerrymandering?
Conflict, competition, cooperation, community, and compromise
Why was Shay's rebellion important?
It showed that the Articles of Confederation were weak.
Which philosopher advocated for separation of powers?
Montesquieu
What is the evolution of federalism?
State-centered, dual, cooperative, centralized, devolution (today).
What is a standing committee?
A standing committee exists from one congress to the next. It's a somewhat permanent committee. The members of a standing committee are appointed by the speaker of the house in the house and the majority leader in the senate. A standing committee has a precise area of jurisdiction over an area of law.
Which two philosophers believed that humans are rational by nature?
Plato and Aristotle.
When was the Articles of Confederation active?
1781-1789
How do you amend the constitution?
First, the amendment can be proposed by 2/3 vote in Congress or 2/3 vote in the states. Then, the amendment is ratified by 3/4 states legislatures or conventions in 3/4 of the states.
How is Brown v. Board of Education and example of a problem with federalism?
The constitution does not confer on the national government providing education and it is not prohibited to the states, so it is a state power according to the reserved powers clause and the 10th Amendment. This blocked segregation for up to a decade in some areas.
What is the most powerful position in the senate?
The Senate majority leader