Government Test 1

Front 1

Understand what is meant by the books argument that America’s Core Values are Liberty, Equality, and Self-Government.

Back 1

liberty-- free from personal and economic persecution; equality-- the idea that everyone should receive the same opportunities based on talents; self government-- revolves around the idea of popular sovereignty

Front 2

What are the basic activities of government?

Back 2

maintain national defense, provide public goods, provide public services, assimilate into political culture, and collect taxes

Front 3

What are the principals which Democratic Theory rests? How does America’s Democracy match up?

Back 3

majority rule, minority rights: the majority's voice may be heard easier and may be more effective yet the minority rights are still protected

Front 4

What is the concern with the “Tyranny of the Majority” under a democratic government?

Back 4

with a strong majority, they can manipulate and corrupt the government in which individual liberties will be violated

Front 5

Be able to discuss the system of checks and balances and the division of power between our three branches of government.

Back 5

checks and balances is the government's ability to regulate and oversee the decisions of other branches; separation of powers is the division of power among institutions and branches

Front 6

What events lead to the Constitutional Convention?

Back 6

failure of the articles of confederation and the annapolis convention because only 5 states attended

Front 7

What is a constitution and is it necessary for Democracy?

Back 7

a document in which a state or organization is to be governed; instills rights for individuals and certain powers allow equality of governing

Front 8

Discuss the arguments of Charles Beard regarding the aims of our Founding Fathers and then note the responses provided by critics of Beard to refute his claims.

Back 8

charles beard stated that the founders produced the constitution and government based on their own economic/political interests and desire to protect their personal standing; critics state the evidence he used was not justified by the conclusions in which he drew

Front 9

What were some of the problems under the Articles of Confederation that led to the drafting of a new constitution?

Back 9

retention of states' sovereignty, congress had little power, no checks and balances, no judicial provisions, economic turmoil

Front 10

Describe and analyze the conflicts and compromises that occurred during the drafting of the Constitution. What was the conflict between the large and small states, and how did the Great Compromise resolve it? What was the nature of the conflict regarding slavery during the Philadelphia Convention? How did the Three-fifths Compromise resolve this conflict?

Back 10

the great compromise created a bicameral legislature. one based on representation based on population (NJ). the other based on equality of representation of regardless of population (VA); southern states would not vote in favor of the constitution without some inclusion of population based on slavery because a large percent consisted of slaves; it was agreed that for every 5 slaves the population would increase by 3 people

Front 11

The process of ratifying the Constitution generated extensive debates. Why did the Antifederalists object to the Constitution? What were the rejoinders of the Federalists?

Back 11

the anti federalists thought the constitution placed too much power in the hands of the national government and they wished for more power to reside in the states; the federalists consisted of madison, jay, and james. they favored the constitution because of the power it gave to the national government

Front 12

According to your text, what types of constitutional amendments usually pass? Is it structural or policy? What are the implications with regard to proposals to prevent same sex marriage?

Back 12

the twenty-five successful amendments are concerned with the structure or composition of government. social change in the form of constitutional amendments is very hard to achieve

Front 13

What are the key differences between a federal system, unitary system, and a confederacy?

Back 13

a unitary system consists of one national government in which power is centralized; a confederation is a system of government dominated by the states that have joined together yet do not grant much power to the national government; a federal system is when power is divided between central and local government and popular sovereignty is a major aspect

Front 14

What factors have contributed to the growth of our national government?

Back 14

"necessary and proper" clause, article 6 which states that national laws and treaties are supreme over everything else; implied powers

Front 15

What are the advantages/disadvantages of having more power in the hands of national vs state-local government?

Back 15

state/local government:
- more in touch with their constituents
- each state is different/diverse
- government trust has substantially decreased

national government:
- lack of participation
- set national standards
- local governments are less specialized/educated
- corruption at state level

Front 16

What is the “necessary and proper” clause within the U.S. Constitution? What is the tension with this clause and the 10th Amendment?

Back 16

article 1, section 8 of the us constitution which enumerates the powers of congress and provides congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry them out. the 10th amendment protects powers reserved to the states and the necessary and proper clause allows the federal government to override state supremacy on matters that the states have control over according to the 10th amendment

Front 17

How does the National Government use funding to influence the policy decisions of state and local governments?

Back 17

the national government threatens to deny funding for amenities provided to the states by them whenever the states decide not to adopt policies put in place by the national government