Unit 1: Constitutional Foundations

What type of government structure indicates a balance between state and national governments?

Federal

What is generally a weakness of confederal governments?

Central govt is weak and only has power that states allow it to have

In which form of govt do individuals have the most freedom and level of participation?

democracy

How are presidents and prime ministers different?

Prime minister is chosen by parliament, but president is chosen by voters

What system best matches the notion of citizens electing politicians to make policy decisions on behalf of everyone?

Representative Democracy

What foundational British document, signed in 1215, established limited government & basic rights of citizens?

Magna Carta

Which enlightenment thinker suggested the use of 3 branches of government to separate control of government powers?

Montesquieu

Which of the following government principles is best attributed to John Locke?

Social Contract Theory

Locke believed in all the following EXCEPT

the inherently evil and unjust nature of man

Which philosopher most influenced Thomas Jefferson's writing of the Declaration of Independence?

Locke

The Great Compromise (combining NJ & VA plans) established which of the following?

a bicameral Congress

The 3/5ths Compromise is so named because

Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for census purposes

Which clause gives Congress the exclusive power to regulate business and trade between the states?

The Commerce clause

All of the following were weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation EXCEPT

state governments were too weak

Which of the following best explains the significance of Shay's Rebellion?

Showed national govt didn't have the ability to stop an insurrection

If we still had the Articles of Confederation today, who would control our defense?

the individual states

Which of the following fundamental principles is NOT incorporated into the U.S. Constitution?

unitary power

Popular sovereignty essentially affirms the principle that

government derives their power from the consent of the governed.

Why were The Federalist Papers written?

To argue in favor of ratification of the Constitution.

Anti-federalists demanded which of the following features during the ratification phase of the new Constitution?

a bill of rights

Which of the following institutions is a part of the judicial branch of the government?

Supreme Court

Which divisions of the government are responsible for ensuring that laws are enforced?

President & Executive Bureaucracy

Which branch of the government makes, debates, and passes the laws?

Legislative

The requirement that executive treaties negotiated by the President be approved by the Senate is an example of...

checks and balances

What was the primary goal of the Founders in establishing federalism in the new Constitution?

Prevent too much centralized power in just one level of government.

Which amendment is responsible for reserving all previously unmentioned Constitutional power to the states?

10th Amendment

Establishment of post offices by Congress would be considered what type of power?

Enumerated

Conducting elections in each of the 50 states would be considered what type of power?

Reserved

Taxation from both the national and state governments is what type of power?

Concurrent

Congress has the power to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to its assigned duties. What clause gives this power?

elastic clause

Which of the following is a power that is DENIED to both the state and federal governments?

The power to conduct illegal searches and seizures

Acts of Congress that utilize the "necessary & proper" clause are created with which power?

Implied

The balance of power between states & national government best relates to which 2 Constitutional provisions?

Supremacy Clause vs 10th Amendment

The formal process to amend the Constitution is a classic example of which principle?

Federalism