2.1-2.3

What are internal Boundaries?

Lines drawn within a country that divides areas for political administrative, or electoral purposes. They help organize governance, allocate resources, and ensure fair representation.

What are voting Districts?

A voting district is a geographic area whose residents elect a representative.

What is redistricting?

Every ten year, after the national census, boundaries are redrawn to reflect population changes. 

What is Gerrymandering?

Is the practice of drawing voting district boundaries in a way that gives political party or group an advance over others. 

What is cracking?

Spreading voters of the opposing party across many districts so they cannot win a majority in any of them.

What is packing?

Putting opposing voters into one district to limit their power, so they can win fewer districts overall.

What is the McCulloch v. Maryland case?

Congress created a national bank, and Maryland tried to tax it. Maryland said Congress didn’t have that power, but the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had implied powers under the “Necessary and Proper” Clause. States couldn’t tax federal institutions. This strengthened the power of the federal government over the states.

What is the United States v. Lopez?

Congress passed a law banning guns near schools using the Commerce Clause. Lopez argued this wasn’t about commerce but local crime. The Supreme Court agreed, ruling the law went beyond Congress’s power. This limited federal authority and reinforced state power over local issues.

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

Congress  has the power to make any laws needed to carry fulfill its duties  like collecting taxes, regulating trade, or defending the country

What is the Commerce Clause?

Congress the power to regulate trade (commerce) across state lines.

What is the Supremacy Clause?

It says that the Constitution and federal laws are the highest laws in the country, meaning they override (are “supreme” over), so If a state law and a federal law disagree, the federal law wins.

What is the Tenth Amendment?

The powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution belong to the states or the people.

What is the Fourteenth Amendment?

No state can deny any person equal protection of the laws or due process of law

What is the Equal Protection Clause?

It says that no state shall deny any person “equal protection of the laws.” The government must treat everyone equally under the law. It can’t unfairly favor or discriminate against any group of people.