Unit 2 exam

Question 1

3 branches of government

Answer 1

Legislative, Executive, Judicial

Question 2

Function of Legislative branch

Answer 2

Makes laws

Question 3

Function of Executive branch

Answer 3

Enforces laws

Question 4

Function of Judicial branch

Answer 4

Interprets laws

Question 5

Form of government with strong central government & weak local governments

Answer 5

Unitary government

Question 6

Form of government which balances authority between a central government and smaller regional governments

Answer 6

Federal government

Question 7

What made the Articles Government unable to react to Shays’ Rebellion

Answer 7

No Executive & Virtually No Judiciary

No strong central authority to enforce laws/respond to crises like rebellions.

Without executive branch, federal government lacked leadership to take action

Question 8

Presidential system

Answer 8

Branches of gov each use power to check power of others

Question 9

Parliamentary system

Answer 9

No automatic separation of powers between legislative & executive

Question 10

Main process of amending the Constitution

Answer 10

Proposed by 2/3 of Congress

Ratified by 3/4 of State Legislatures

Question 11

How did the Connecticut Compromise allocate representation in congress

Answer 11

Created bicameral legislature.

• Senate had equal representation
• House of Representatives based on population

Question 12

Which faction insisted on adding the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution? Why?

Answer 12

Anti-federalists, because they feared that the Constitution didn’t do enough to protect individual liberties.

Question 13

The power of judicial review was claimed for the federal courts by the Supreme Court in the case of

Answer 13

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Question 14

When it came to federal power, Anti-Federalists consistently favored

Answer 14

Strict interpretation of Constitution with explicit limits on government & explicit guarantees of individual rights (Bill of Rights)

More in favor Direct Democracy

Question 15

2 key cleavages in the framing of the U.S. Constitution? Why were these important?

Answer 15

Large states v small states:
- Led to the Connecticut Compromise (creating bicameral legislature)

North v south
- Led to 3/5ths Compromise

Question 16

Under the US Constitution, a citizen cannot be imprisoned or detained without being charged, brought before a judge, and given access to counsel. This protection is:

Answer 16

Writ of Habeas corpus (Article I, Section 9, Clause 2)

Question 17

Where exactly is the Writ of Habeas Corpus mentioned in the U.S. Constitution?

Answer 17

Article I, Section 9, Clause 2

Question 18

How does Federalism encourage experimentation?

Answer 18

By allowing state/local governments to try new policies & ideas on a smaller level

Helps find creative solutions to problems w/o risking entire country

Question 19

What is the Supremacy Clause?

Answer 19

Federal laws & U.S. Constitution take precedence over state laws

Question 20

How does the Supremacy Clause affect state and national laws?

Answer 20

If conflict between state & federal law —-> federal law wins.

States cannot pass laws that go against Constitution/federal laws.

Question 21

Dual federalism

Answer 21

“Layer-cake federalism”

Views federalism in which the federal and state governments have separate spheres of power & don’t overlap.

Supreme Court serves as umpire in disputes over responsibilities

Question 22

Identify three enumerated powers of the federal government

Answer 22

• Declare war
• Coin money
• Regulate commerce with states, other nations, and Native American tribes.

Question 23

Identify three reserved powers

Answer 23

• Conduct elections
• Establish and maintain schools
• Establish local governments

Question 24

What part of the Constitution describes reserved powers?

Answer 24

10th Amendment

Question 25

Identify three concurrent powers

Answer 25

- Collecting taxes - Making and enforcing laws - Establishing courts of law

Question 26

What clause in the Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state?

Answer 26

Commerce Clause

Question 27

What is the process by which an accused individual is captured by officials of one state and returned to the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed?

Answer 27

Extradition (Extradition Clause) Article IV, Section 2, Clause 2

Question 28

Where exactly is the Extradition Clause mentioned in the U.S. Constitution?

Answer 28

Article IV, Section 2, Clause 2

Question 29

The fact many presidents served as state governors before taking national office shows which role of federalism?

Answer 29

Provides training and develops leaders

Question 30

Which clause in Constitution requires state courts to accept the public records and laws of other states as valid?

Answer 30

Full Faith and Credit Clause, Article IV

Question 31

Where exactly is the Full Faith and Credit Clause mentioned in the U.S. Constitution?

Answer 31

Article IV

Question 32

What is the main source in the Constitution of State Power?

Answer 32

10th Amendment

Question 33

What is Preemption?

Answer 33

When higher forms of government freeze/block an activity a lower form of government is doing

Question 34

Recalls

Answer 34

Public removes official from office

Question 35

Initiatives

Answer 35

Public writes and approves law

Question 36

Referendums

Answer 36

State writes law, public approves of it

Question 37

Facts and Precedent of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Answer 37

- A National Bank lent $$ to Federal Government and maintained stable currency through lending - Maryland passed a tax on the Banks “not chartered in Maryland” ... but National Bank was the only subject. - McCulloch (cashier at bank), refused to pay the tax. Maryland sued him. Questions at play: - Did Congress had power to establish the bank? - Did the Maryland law unconstitutionally interfere with congressional powers?

Question 38

Powers found in McCulloch v Maryland which could be inferred from the specific powers listed in Article I?

Answer 38

- Reinforced Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper), granting implied powers to Congress so they can carry out express powers. - Gives Congress power to create a national bank Supreme Court ruling: - States cannot tax the federal government (court in this case) - Confirmed that Judicial Review applied to state laws as well—federal courts CAN deem state laws unconstitutional.

Question 39

Facts of US v Lopez (1995)

Answer 39

- Student brought concealed gun to school - He was charged under Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990, federal law that made it illegal to have a gun in a school zone - His lawyers argued federal government didn’t have authority to enforce this law bc carrying gun in school zone not related to interstate commerce.

Question 40

Precedent of US v Lopez (1995)

Answer 40

- Supreme Court ruled law unconstitutional bc carrying a gun in a school zone doesn't affect interstate commerce - Limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause...reinforced reserved state powers - Not all activities can be regulated by Congress just bc they might affect commerce

Question 41

Facts of Marbury v Madison (1803)

Answer 41

- James Madison refused to deliver William Marbury's judicial commission - Marbury sued Madison, asking Court to force Madison to deliver the commission

Question 42

Precedent of Marbury v Madison (1803)

Answer 42

- Established principle of judicial review (court power to declare laws unconstitutional) - Gave Supreme Court power to check power of other branches of gov - Judiciary primary interpreter of the Constitution

Question 43

Layer-cake (dual) federalism vs. Marble cake (cooperative) federalism

Answer 43

Dual Federalism: - Programs and authority are clearly divided among the Federal, State, and Local level Cooperative Federalism: - Programs and authority are mixed among the Federal, State, and Local level

Question 44

What 3 clauses in the Constitution have allowed the federal government to expand its power?

Answer 44

Commerce Clause, Necessary and Proper (elastic) Clause, Supremacy Clause

Question 45

How do modern day Liberals & Conservatives line up with the views on federal and state power?

Answer 45

Liberals favor more federal power Conservatives favor more state/local power

Question 46

Grants from the Federal government to states for broad activities with very few strings attached

Answer 46

Block Grants

Question 47

Funds given to states by Federal government for specific projects like school lunches/building of highways/airports

Answer 47

Categorical Grants