Unit 2
Chapter 4 (pg. 96-102, 103-110, 112-115)
Big Questions and Ideas:
1. How is the movement from the unitary system to federalism system representative
Montesquieu’s political philosophy?
2. What are the four types of government power created by the U.S. Constitution?
3. Which of those powers were given to the federal government?
4. How does Federalist 45 try to argue that reserved powers trump federal power?
5. Name two direct limits on government from the U.S. Constitution.
6. What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause?
7. What is the Supremacy Clause?
8. What two doctrines emerged because of slavery which almost destroyed the Federal
System?
9. What were the two trends (types) of federalism established by Roosevelt and Reagan?
Compare and contrast.
10. How do grants give the federal government power to shape state decisions? Explain.
Documents and Events:
The New Deal
Federalist 45
10th Amendment
Vocabulary:
unitary state
expressed powers (enumerated)
implied powers
reserved powers
concurrent powers
doctrine of nullification
new federalism (devolution)
grants-in-aid
categorical grants
block grants
Assessments:
Do Now
Vocabulary
Quiz
Chapter 5 (pg. 122-126, 127-136, 137-142, 143-147, 149-155)
Big Questions and Ideas:
1. What are the three reasons why we chose a bicameral legislature?
2. What is the role of a representative (House member and Senator) in the federal
government?
3. What is gerrymandering? How is it used by the political parties? How is it an abuse of
power?
4. What are the different committees and what are their functions?
5. What is the process of a bill becoming a law?
6. Where do revenue raising bills originate? Why? (Who controls the purse strings?)
7. What are the different congressional supports that have been put in place to help the
legislative process (staff members and support services)?
8. What are the powers and limits of the legislative branch written into the Constitution?
9. Who are the congressional leaders? What do they do?
10.What are the qualifications required to be a representative? What are their term
limits?
11. How does the General Welfare clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause stretch
legislative and federal powers?
12. How is the Power of the Purse an important legislative power to control the executive
branch?
Documents and Events:
Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)
Gibbons v. Odgen (1824)
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Elbridge Gerry
Vocabulary:
census
standing committee
select committee
joint committee
ex post facto laws
filibuster
quorum
pocket veto
authorization bill
direct tax
interest groups
gerrymandering
subcommittee
conference committee
bill of attainder
lobbyists
cloture
pigeonhole
constituent
appropriation bill
indirect tax
Assessments:
Do Nows
Vocabulary
Quiz
Chapter 6 and 7
Big Questions and Ideas:
1. What are the three qualifications to be President of the United States?
2. What are the roles of the President in the federal government?
3. What are 5 of the Constitutional powers of the executive branch?
4. What are the 4 goals of foreign policy and what are the five tools used to achieve those
goals?
5. How do political appointees lead to the spoils system?
6. Compare the spoils system to the merit system.
7. What are the benefits and problems with bureaucracy?
8. How does the Electoral College function for choosing the President?
9. How is a progressive tax applied to income tax in the United States?
Documents and Events:
22nd Amendment
25th Amendment
Pendleton Act (1883)
War Powers Resolution of 1973
16th Amendment
Vocabulary:
pardon
cabinet
government corporations
civil service workers
merit system
Income Tax
Mandatory Spending
ambassador
bureaucracy
political appointees
spoils system
NATO
Progressive tax
Discretionary Spending
Chapter 8
Big Questions and Ideas:
1. What is the purpose of the Judicial Branch in the federal government?
2. What is the dual system? What is the structure of the federal and state court systems?
3. What are the different types of jurisdiction? Which courts have which jurisdiction?
4. What are the roles of district courts, appeals courts, and the Supreme Court?
5. What are the four reasons for appointing specific jusdges?
6. What is judicial review, and how did Marbury v. Madison act as a precedent for
judicial review?
7. What is the process for the Supreme Court to hear a case? What do the different
opinions mean?
8. What are the reasons (driving forces) behind court decisions?
9. What are the different types of jurisdiction?
10.What are the qualifications to be on the Supreme Court? Can you name three justices
on the Supreme Court?
11.What are the ways in which federal judges are no longer members of the court?
Documents and events:
Marbury v. Madison
McCulloch v. Maryland (supremacy clause)
D.C. v. Heller
Federalist No. 78
Vocabulary:
jurisdiction
appellate jurisdiction
stare decisis
judicial restraint
petitions for certiorari
docket
precedent
dissenting opinion
judicial review
grand jury
exclusive jurisdiction
remand
original jurisdiction
judicial activism
Rule of Four
briefs
majority opinion
concurring opinion
bankruptcy
Amicus brief
Unit Questions:
1. In a short essay, explain how the judicial branch shapes our legal system and creates a
common law system (what is meant by “common” law?). Use at least two cases to
explain how stare decisis functions, and how precedents begin to change statutory
law through interpretation.
2. Explain how the bureaucratic structure of the executive branch allows the president to
enforce and carry out the laws of congress. Explain using an example of
congressional legislation and how that legislation fits into the presidential
bureaucracy. Use the following terms and explain them in your answer: bureaucracy,
cabinet, and departments.
3. What are different ways in which the different branches check each other through
checks and balances?