Temple College
GOVT 2301
Sucondra Holloway
NAME:_______________
645-03-1270
Fall, 2000
MAKE-UP EXAM #2
PART I. SHORT ANSWER 1. Answer one (1) of the following in a
paragraph. Do NOT answer specific parts as separate items. Integrate your
responses into a well-organized, well-constructed paragraph. Write complete
sentences and pay attention to spelling, grammar, and word choice. Do NOT
assume that “the instructor will know what you mean.” WRITE LEGIBLY IN INK!
23 points
1. Discuss the principle of limited government under the United States
Constitution. What approaches did the framers of the Constitution take to
create a “limited government”? Be specific about how these approaches are
reflected in the document. Why were the framers apparently so concerned
about the principle of “limited government”?
2. Discuss the constitutional principle of separation of powers by:
 explaining the reasoning or rationale behind the concept [the motivation of
the framers in establishing separation of powers as a structural principle
of the Constitution];
 identifying the three (3) premises underlying the concept;
 using examples to illustrate your points.
PART II. SHORT ANSWER 2. Answer one (1) of the following in a
paragraph. Do NOT answer specific parts as separate items. Integrate your
responses into a well-organized, well-constructed paragraph. Write complete
sentences and pay attention to spelling, grammar, and word choice. Do NOT
assume that “the instructor will know what you mean.” WRITE LEGIBLY IN INK!
23 points
1. Briefly compare and contrast the U.S. Constitution with the Texas
Constitution? What are the major similarities and the major differences?
2. Assess this statement by a prominent Texas political scientist:
The Texas Constitution of 1876 is a perpetual product
of Reconstruction.
What does he mean? Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
PART III. SHORT ANSWER 3. Answer one (1) of the following in a
paragraph. Do NOT answer specific parts as separate items. Integrate your
responses into a well-organized, well-constructed paragraph. Write complete
sentences and pay attention to spelling, grammar, and word choice. Do NOT
assume that “the instructor will know what you mean.” WRITE LEGIBLY IN INK!
24 points
1. Compare and contrast the judicial philosophies of John Marshall and Roger Taney as
they relate to the constitutional principle of federalism. Specifically, you should
explain the position of both on:
To be more precise, answer the following:
[A] What is the doctrine of implied powers?
What is Marshall’s position on the doctrine of implied powers?
What is Taney’s position?
Why does each man hold his particular opinion?
[B] What is the supremacy clause?
What is Marshall’s position on the supremacy clause?
What is Taney’s position?
Why does each man hold his particular opinion?
[C] Identify the position of each man on how the Constitution should be interpreted
or applied.
Why does each man hold his particular opinion?
2. Briefly discuss the major differences among the three forms of government: a
federal system, an unitary system, and a confederal system. Define
federalism and identify the six characteristics that are common to all federal
systems.
3. Identify and discuss the four primary means by which the vague provisions of
the United States Constitution have been given more specific meaning,
providing examples to illustrate each.
PART IV. IDENTIFICATION 1. Define and identify the importance of
ten (10) of the following items in a sentence or two for each. 20 points/2 pts.
each. Your answer should be written to demonstrate your familiarity with and
understanding of both terms or concepts in each pair. These items can generally be
answered in two or three sentences. Students should go beyond simple definitions of
the terms or concepts to say why each is important and why the two are juxtaposed.
Here is an example:
[example] republican government v monarchy – A monarchy is a system of
government with a hereditary king or queen who possesses sovereign power
(ultimate political authority). A republican government, in its broadest sense, is any
form of government other than monarchy. For the American founders, republican
government implied popular sovereignty (the people have ultimate political authority)
and they understood it to be a system in which the people would elect their own
representatives and the policies of government would be based on the consent of
the governed.

Article I, section 8:18
v 10th Amendment

separation of powers
v

strict construction v broad construction

Articles of Confederation v Constitution of 1787

a constitution of general provisions v a constitution of detailed provisions
checks and balances

Texas plural executives v constitutional referenda in Texas

1869 Texas Constitution

the Constitution v the Bill of Rights

Federalists v Anti-Federalists

Declaration of Independence

Virginia Plan v New Jersey Plan

reserved powers

theory of nullification v supremacy clause
v
v 1876 Texas Constitution
v the Constitution
implied delegated powers
PART V. Identification 2, Logical Fallacies. Define and identify the
importance of five (5) of the following items in a sentence or two for each.
Illustrate with examples. 10 points/2 pts. each.
[example] gambler’s fallacy – You commit the gambler's fallacy if you assume that the
occurrence of an event affects the probability of that event occurring again in the future.
Consider the probability of drawing an "ace" out of a fair (properly randomized or shuffled)
deck of cards. There are 52 cards in a deck, 4 of those cards are "aces," so the probability is
4/52, or about 8%. If you draw an "ace" then place it back in the deck, what is the probability
of drawing an "ace" the second time? The answer is: 4/52. So the fact that the event (in this
case, drawing an "ace") happened once does not change the probability that it will happen
another time. If you assume, after drawing an “ace” that the probability of such a draw is
greater than 4/52 because you happened to draw an “ace,” you commit the gambler’s fallacy.
.

begging the question

post hoc fallacy

false dilemma

slippery slope

ad hominem argument

appeal to inappropriate authority, traditional wisdom

non sequitur

two wrongs make a right