Unit 2 STUDY GUIDE – Constitutional Underpinnings
Textbook: Chapters 1, 2, 3
Chapter 1
1. List and explain the five basic functions shared by national governments throughout the world.
2. Differentiate between government and politics.
3. Explain the Laswell Model. Select a current policy issue and apply the model.
4. Define democracy:
5. Robert Dahl’s Criterion for Democracy:
a. Equality in voting
b. Effective participation
c. Enlightened understanding
d. Citizen control of the agenda
e. Inclusion
6.
Do you agree with Dahl? Why or why not?
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7. List and explain four common challenges to democracy.
a.
b.
c.
d.
8. Be able to free-hand draw the Policymaking System. Be able to explain by using a current
event example.
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9. Differentiate between majority rights and minority rights. How can a government accomplish
both? Use a current event to explain the tension between the two rights.
10. Contending Theories of Democracy -- Complete the table.
THEORY
EXPLANATION & CHARACTERISTICS
ELITISM
PLURALISM
HYPERPLURALISM
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EXAMPLE(S)
Chapter 2
11. Be able to recreate and explain the original electoral process.
12. Evaluate how democratic the electoral plan was. What does it say about the founders’ view of the
populace?
13. What has since changed? How?
14. Who determined the eligibility for voting in federal elections?
15. In your own words, explain the origination of rights and purpose of government according to John
Locke and Thomas Jefferson. Include the following terms in your answer -- social contract, natural
rights, consent of the governed and popular sovereignty.
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16. Identify the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and how the U.S. Constitution addressed the
concern.
Major Weakness
How was it resolved with the U.S. Constitution?
Cite the Article & Section.
1.
2.
3.
4.
17. Explain why the 1780s were deemed the Critical Period and explain the significance of Shay’s
Rebellion.
18. Describe the compromises that were made at the Constitutional Convention in order to preserve the
Union.
Connecticut Compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise
The Commerce & Slave
Compromise
The Compromise on Selecting
the Chief Executive
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19. Define “bicameral legislative” and explain the reasons the founders chose a bicameral structure.
20. Describe the Framers of the Constitution – economic and professional background.
21. Identify the authors and explain the significance of The Federalist Papers.
22. List the major points from Federalist #10 and Federalist #51. (Back of textbook, pp. 698-702)
23. Identify the key Anti-Federalists and explain their major concerns with the Constitution.
24. Be able to thoroughly explain the differences between the Federalists & Anti-Federalists.
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25. Know the three major debates of the Constitutional Convention.
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26. Highlight each of the following “checks” in your copy of the U.S. Constitution.
27. List other checks and balances from the U.S. Constitution.
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28. Know the formal amendment process for the Constitution.
29. Explain the rationale for the amendment process.
30. What is an informal amendment? Provide examples of well-known informal amendments.
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Chapter 3 -- Federalism
31. CLASSIFICATION OF GOVERNMENTS – Complete the charts & provide examples.
UNITARY SYSTEM
CONFEDERAL SYSTEM
Description –
Description –
Countries --
Countries --
FEDERAL SYSTEM
Description –
Countries –
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32. Know the authority relationships for each system.
33. Be able to explain this chart.
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34. TYPES OF CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS – Complete the chart.
PROVISION
CONSTITUTION
Annotate your copy.
Delegated Powers
Enumerated Powers
Implied Powers
Inherent Powers
Concurrent Powers
Denied Powers
Reserved Powers
Taxing Powers
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EXPLANATION
35. CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF FEDERALISM – Complete the chart.
PROVISION
CONSTITUTION
Highlight your
copy.
WHOSE
POWER IS
INCREASED?
Nat’l or State
EXPLAIN HOW IT RELATES TO FEDERALISM
Cite Key Court Cases
Commerce
Power
Necessary &
Proper Clause
(“Elastic”)
Supremacy
Clause
Reserved
Powers
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EVOLUTION OF FEDERALISM
36. Compare the contrasting forms of federalism – dual, cooperative, & new federalism.
37. Why is dual federalism compared to a layer cake?
38. Why is cooperative federalism compared to a marbled cake?
39. Complete the following charts & explain each.
1787
PEOPLE
FEDERA
L
STATE
STATE
STATE
1866
PEOPLE
FEDER
AL
1933
STAT
E
STATE
PEOPLE
FEDER
AL
STATE
STATE
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40. Explain how each of the following helped expand the power of the national government. Include
the constitutional provisions asserted by each side.
a. Civil War
b. Civil Rights Movement
41. Explain horizontal federalism.
42. Provide an explanation and example for each of the following obligations that states have to
each other -a. Full faith and credit
b. Extradition
c.
Privileges & Immunities
43. In your own words, explain ‘fiscal federalism’?
44. What is a federal mandate? Give two examples.
45. Explain the burden of under funded or unfounded mandates.
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46. FISCAL FEDERALISM – Complete the following chart.
Grant type
Explain
Example
Categorical grants
(general)
Project grants
(categorical)
Formula grants
(categorical)
Block grants
47. Explain how the “power of the purse” has played an important role in the development of
American federalism.
48. Which type of grants do states prefer? Why?
49. Which type of grants does the national government prefer? Why?
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50. Explain how politics plays a role in the types of grants-in-aid offered by different administrations.
51. Apply the concept of preemption to current events such as air and water pollution.
52. Define direct orders, crosscutting requirements and crossover sanctions and explain how the
national government uses them to achieve their goals. (classroom discussion)
53. Analyze two ways state governments try to influence national politics.
54. Evaluate whether the same-sex marriage issue has helped shift respect/power back to the state
governments and why.
55. Evaluate the abortion as a federalism issue. Which side wants the states to be more powerful?
Which side wants the national government to be more powerful?
56. Explain the devolution of federalism.
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57. KEY SCOTUS CASES RELATED TO FEDERALISM – Complete the chart.
Case
Facts
Issue & Ruling
Significance?
Who won – N or S?
McCulloch
v. Maryland
Gibbons v.
Ogden
U.S. v.
Lopez
U.S. v.
Morrison
South
Dakota
v. Dole
Heart of
Atlanta Motel
v. U.S.
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58. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF FEDERALISM -- Complete the chart.
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
An individual's attitude about federalism depends partly on how much he or she values equality vs.
freedom. Uniform laws passed by a unitary government tend to emphasize equal treatment of citizens.
Diverse laws logically are supported by individuals who find particular merit in allowing more individual
freedom.
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