FRQs—Constitutional Underpinnings

  1. The Constitution was an attempt to address problems of decentralization that were experienced under the Articles of Confederation.
  2. List three problems of decentralized power that existed under the Articles of Confederation. For each problem you listed, identify one solution that the Constitution provide to address the problem.
  3. Some have argued that the tensions between decentralized and centralized power continue to exist. Support this argument by explaining how one of the following illustration the continuing tension.
  4. Environmental policy
  5. Gun control
  6. Disability access’
  7. The U.S. Constitution has endured for more than two centuries as the framework of government. However, the meaning of the Constitution has been changed both by formal and informal methods.
  8. Identify two formal methods for adding amendments to the Constitution.
  9. Describe two informal methods that have been used to change the meaning of the Constitution. Provide one specific example for each informal method you described.
  10. Explain why informal methods are used more often than the formal amendment process.
  11. Using the data in the graph above and your knowledge of U.S. politics, perform the following task.
  12. Identify two trends shown in the graph.
  13. Explain how each of the following contributes to the difference between the federal and the state and local lines in the graph
  14. Block grants
  15. Federal mandates
  16. Trust and confidence in government have declined in recent decades.
  17. Explain how divided government has contributed to the decline in trust and confidence in government. Be sure to include a definition of divided government in your response.
  18. Explain how the increased cost of election campaigns has contributed to the decline in trust and confidence in government.
  19. Explain two specific consequences of the decline in trust and confidence in government for individual political behavior.
  20. The power of the federal government relative to the power of the states has increased since the ratification of the Constitution.
  21. Describe two of the following provisions of the Constitution and explain how each has been used over time to expand federal power.
  22. The power to tax and spend
  23. The “necessary and proper” (or “elastic”) clause
  24. The commerce clause
  25. Explain how one of the following has increased the power of the federal government relative to the power of the state governments
  26. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  27. Civil Rights Act of 1964
  28. Clean Air Act
  29. Initially, the U.S. Constitution did little to protect citizens from actions of the states. In the 20th century, the Supreme Court interpreted the Constitution to protect the rights of citizens from state governments in a process referred to as incorporation.
  30. Define selective incorporation
  31. For two of the following, explain how each has been incorporated. Each of your explanations must be based on a specific and relevant Supreme Court decision.
  32. Rights of criminal defendants
  33. First Amendment
  34. Privacy rights
  35. The framers of the Constitution created a legislative system that is bicameral. However, it is not just bicameral; the framers also established two houses of distinctly different character and authority.
  36. Explain two reasons why the framers created a bicameral legislature.
  37. Identify one power unique to the House of Representatives and explain why the framers gave the House that power.
  38. Identify one power unique to the Senate and explain why the framers gave the Senate that power.
  39. The framers of the Constitution created a federal system.
  40. Define federalism.
  41. Select two of the following and explain how each has been used to increase the power of the federal government relative to the states.
  42. Categorical grants
  43. Federal mandates
  44. Selective incorporation
  45. Select two of the following and explain how each has been used to increase the power of the states relative to the federal government.
  46. Welfare Reform Act of 1996
  47. Block grants
  48. 10th Amendment
  49. In The Federalist paper number 10, James Madison expressed concern over the possibility that both majority and minority factions would have too much power over government and he presented ways of minimizing the danger. The U.S. Constitution established a democratic government but also contained several provisions that limited majority rule. Throughout the next two centuries, the role of majority rule in the United States government and politics continued to change.
  50. Identify the part of the national government that was originally most closely tied to citizens and explain how it was tied to citizens.
  51. Explain two ways the U.S. Constitution limited majority rule.
  52. Choose two of the following 20th century developments and explain how each moved the U.S. from a less democratic system to a more democratic system
  53. Primary elections
  54. The 17th Amendment
  55. Expansion of suffrage
  56. The framers of the Constitution created a political system based on limited government. The original Constitution and the Bill of Rights were intended to restrict the powers of the national government. Later constitutional developments also limited the powers of the state governments.
  57. Explain how each of the following limits the powers of the national executive.
  58. Federalism
  59. Checks and Balances
  60. Explain how each of the following two provisions in the Bill of Rights limits the powers of the national government.
  61. Establishment clause
  62. Guarantee of a public trial
  63. Choose one of the following and explain how it limits the power of state governments.
  64. Citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment
  65. Selective incorporation
  66. There are several different approaches to representation within a democratic political system.
  67. Define direct democracy
  68. Define republican form of government
  69. Describe one reason the framers of the U.S. Constitution chose a republican form of government over a direct democracy.
  70. Describe each of the models of congressional representation.
  71. Trustee model (attitudinal view)
  72. Delegate model (representational view)
  73. Explain why a member of Congress might sometimes act as a trustee rather than a delegate.

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