The Constitution
Federalism
Supreme Court Cases
Foundational Docs
Mr. P's Mix Up
100
The Constitution's delegation of authority among three branches of government so that no single group of government officials controls all the governing functions.
What is the separation of powers?
100
What is the definition of "Federalism?"
Federalism is the relationship/division/sharing of powers between national and state governments
100
U.S. v Lopez Year
1995
100
Year of the ratification of the Constitution
1789
100
What was Mr. Puder's High School Mascot
The Arroyo Grande Eagles!
200
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, which were ratified in 1791, constituting an enumeration of the individual liberties with which the government is forbidden to interfere.
What is the Bill of Rights?
200
What are categorical grants?
Categorical grants are monies given to states with specific rules in place, requiring money to be spent in a federally mandated way (think of this as money for only one specific category of spending).
200
McCulloch v. Maryland year
1819
200
What does Federalist #10 warn us about?
The dangers of factions!
200
Mr. P's favorite fast food restaurant
IN-N-Out
300
This Article states that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land!
Article 6
300
A clause in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to do whatever it thinks is needed to meet its enumerated obligations; this is the basis for implied powers.
What is the "necessary and proper" clause?
300
What is the definition of the commerce clause and which case used this term?
In US v. Lopez (REQUIRED SCOTUS CASE), Lopez brought a gun to school violating the Gun Free School Zone Act (GFSZA). The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lopez, striking down the GFSZA through its interpretation of the commerce clause. Since Congress had the power to regulate only interstate commerce, and bringing a gun to school did not constitute interstate commerce, the law exceeded the powers of Congress.
300
What does Brutus I warn us about?
Brutus argued for a small, decentralized government, noting that a large republic would not be able to meet the needs of its citizens, since each part of the nation would have vastly different interests and needs. Brutus also argued that the Constitution created a national government that was far too powerful, pointing to the Necessary and Proper Clause and Supremacy Clause as two examples that demonstrated the power of a large national government would grow uncontrollably at the expense of states.
300
Mr. P's favorite band
August Burns Red
400
This Article reviews the process to Amend the Constitution
Article 5! V
400
What are Block Grants?
Block grants give states more control over how to spend the federal aid (think of this as a big block of money that states can split up and use as they wish)
400
Who won McCulloch v Maryland and tell me a 10 second summary of the case!!?
McCulloch won! THE FED Gov!
In McCulloch v. Maryland (REQUIRED SCOTUS CASE), Maryland attempted to tax that National Bank, leading the Supreme Court to rule that the Supremacy Clause ensured that federal law has authority over state laws when the two are in conflict. The case also created the concept of implied powers that gave Congress power to do things needed to implement enumerated powers.
400
What was the purpose of Federalist #51?
Not only are these 3 branches assigned separate powers, they are also given the ability to check the power of other branches—thus creating checks and balances.
400
Mr. P's fiancee's name!
Kelsey
500
The compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created the bicameral legislature with one chamber's representation based on population and the other chamber having two members for each state.
What is the Connecticut Compromise (or the Great Compromise)?
500
What are unfunded mandates?
Where states must carry out the mandate without any federal funding.
500
Who won in U.S. v Lopez? AND did this increase or decrease federal power?
Lopez! It decreased federal power!
500
Name 3 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
- No central leadership (executive branch)
- Congress had no power to enforce its laws.
- Congress had no power to tax.
- Congress had no power to regulate trade.
- No national court system (judicial branch)
- Changes to the Articles required unanimous.
- consent of 13 states.
500
Mr. P's favorite TV show
Parks and Rec
Bob's Burgers
Spongebob Squarepants
600
Define enumerated powers!
Enumerated powers are the powers granted to the Federal government, and specifically Congress, which are mostly listed in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
600
Name a Supreme Court Case which demonstrates the relationship of Federalism
US v Lopez
McCulloch v Maryland
600
Did McCulloch v Maryland increase or decrease federal power?
Increase!
600
Name all 7 Articles of the Constitution!
600
What are implied powers?
Implied powers are political powers granted to the United States government that aren't explicitly stated in the Constitution.