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 stateexpressed powers (enumerated)

implied powersreserved powers

concurrent powersdoctrine of nullification

new federalism (devolution)grants-in-aid

categorical grantsblock grants

dual federalismconditions of aid

mandateLaissez Faire

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:

censusgerrymandering

standing committeesubcommittee

select committeeconference committee

joint committeebill of attainder

ex post facto lawslobbyists

filibustercloture

quorumpigeonhole

pocket vetoconstituent

authorization billappropriation bill

direct taxindirect tax

interest groups

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:

pardonambassador

cabinetbureaucracy

government corporationspolitical appointees

civil service workersspoils system

merit systemNATO

Income TaxProgressive tax

Mandatory SpendingDiscretionary 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 judges?
  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:

jurisdictionexclusive jurisdiction

appellate jurisdictionremand

staredecisisoriginal jurisdiction

judicial restraintjudicial activism

petitions for certiorariRule of Four

docketbriefs

precedentmajority opinion

dissenting opinionconcurring opinion

judicial reviewbankruptcy

grand juryAmicus 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.
  1. 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.
  1. What are different ways in which the different branches check each other through checks and balances?