Chapter 1: US Constitution and Federalism

Question 1

Amendments

Answer 1

27 amendments, although over 11,000 proposed

Question 2

Supreme Court being used to protect state rights

Answer 2

Texas v US (2016) ruled in favour of Texas Blocking Obama’s executive order of DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents Programme)

Question 3

Supreme Court check on the executive

Answer 3

2005- checked the legality of the president’s actions in relation to his approval of unauthorised spying on US citizens since 9/11

Question 4

Congress checks on the executive

Answer 4

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021- veto overridden

Question 5

Bipartisanship

Answer 5

2021- Biden’s Bipartisan $1 trillion Infrastructure law

Question 6

Federalism: (Bush)

Answer 6

• Increase in domestic spending e.g. ‘No Child Left Behind Act - 2001’

Question 7

Federalism: (Obama) (2)

Answer 7

• Role of fed. govt increased due to introduction of Obamacare (2010) +
• Allowed for states to pursue their own policy goals e.g. 2012- Colorado legalised marijuana for recreational use

Question 8

Example of vagueness of constitution undermining its authority

Answer 8

Obergefell v Hodges 2015, in stating that gay marriage was a constitutional right, some politicians and even a member of the Supreme Court
claimed that the Supreme Court was no longer following the Constitution

Question 9

Proposals passed by Congress but failed to receive sufficient state support:

Answer 9

Parental Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution failed to pass

Question 10

Example of federal government departments increasing-

Answer 10

Government has 15 departments, (up from 3 when the constitution was written)
E.g Homeland Security added in 2002

Question 11

Growing globalisation increasing the role of the federal government

Answer 11

the physical damage of 9/11 was estimated $55 billion, with New York needing federal money to help clean up

Question 12

Example of federal law being overturned by the Supreme Court, allowing states greater freedom

Answer 12

Shelby vs Holder 2013: federal law was overturned when parts of the Voting Rights Act were declared unconstitutional.

Question 13

Example of states deciding their own laws

Answer 13

cannabis is legal in 23 states

Question 14

Examples of states having control over taxes

Answer 14

For example, states set their own sales tax, with some states like Montana having no sales tax and California having the highest rate at 7.5 per cent.

Question 15

Example of federal government taking more control by imposing national policies on all states

Answer 15

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and Affordable Care Act 2010

Question 16

Example of states acting in a national crisis

Answer 16

2020- covid-19 pandemic, each state took its own approach (32 states did this before covid was declared a national crisis)

Question 17

Example of Congress using the elasticity clause

Answer 17

1819 case of McCulloch v Maryland; Court supported the authority of Congress to charter a federal bank

Question 18

Use of “necessary and proper clause” to cause the expansion of the federal government:

Answer 18

Federal government has 15 departments, with ‘Homeland Security’ being added in 2002