Unit 1 – Court cases and support for Statements
A – answer
HD – historical document
CC – court case
CE – current event
Question 1 According to the Founders, what are the basic purposes of
government?
A – WTP pg. 15-16
HD -John Locke and state of nature
CC – Barron v. Baltimore – protection of property http://www.oyez.org/cases/1792-1850/1833/1833_0
CE – Eminent domain http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/01/can_a_pipeline_builder_take_yo.html
Question 2 Why did the Framers think a constitution was necessary to achieve these purposes?
A – WTP pg. 18-19
HD - John Locke and social contract
HD – Declaration of Independence “That to secure these rights…”
CE – Egyptian revolution http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/25/mubarak-faces-egypt-prote_n_813572.html#s229529
Question 3 Which did the Founders think was more important, the common good or individual
rights?
A – WTP pg. 23-24, 149
HD – Preamble of the Constitution “We the People…” and explain/define the “General Welfare” and “Blessings of Liberty”
CC – Jacobson v. Massachusetts http://www.oyez.org/cases/1901-1939/1904/1904_70
CE – Edward Snowden http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2849605/Snowden-leaks-cost-lives-say-terror-experts-Extremistschanged-tactics-fugitives-leaks-intelligence-operations.html
Question 4 Does our government still serve the purposes that the Framers intended?
A – WTP pg. 15-16
HD – Preamble of the Constitution and explain “ourselves and our Posterity”
CE - Nurse in Maine/Ebola http://abcnews.go.com/Health/kaci-hickox-follow-maine-ebola-quarantine-rule-lawyer/story?id=26501921
CE – FBI drone program and secrecy http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2015/01/06/fbi-has-either-lied-to-public-about-its-droneprogram-or-inaccurately-defended-need-for-secrecy/
Additional
A. Where did the framers get their ideas about good government?
John Locke
Roman Republic
British Parliament
Current event – 3 Americans imprisoned in Iran – different rights in different countries
B. What does it mean to consent to be governed? Please give examples.
C. What was life like for the average colonist and how did it influence their ideas about government?
More on next page.
Julie Finke 2015
IT Department | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT #2
General Unit 1 Questions (answer on a separate sheet of paper)
1. How might living in the colonies help to influence people’s ideas about government?
2. Do you agree with John Locke’s ideas? Why or why not?
3. What are natural rights and how do we get natural rights?
4. How do citizens consent to be governed?
5. What might life be like if there were no rules, laws, or government?
6. What is a republican government?
7. What is a direct democracy?
8. What are representatives in a republican government supposed to do?
9. Define the term common good. Give examples of the common good in your school, community, and
country.
10. Define the term civic virtue. Why is it important that citizens have civic virtue?
11. What is a constitution?
12. What is a constitutional government?
13. What is a dictatorial government?
14. How did the Founders think the power of government could be limited?
15. Why do you supposed most state constitutions begin with a bill of rights?
Julie Finke 2015
IT Department | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT #2