Chapter 1 Section Homework

Read pages 1-11. Answer the following questions. They should be brief not long.

  1. What do you think Nancy Kassebaum mean when she said: “democracy is both frustrating and invigorating?”
  1. What are the two basic concepts that American democracy is based on?
  1. How did Danny Seo serve as an example to all?
  1. How did the US Gov respond to September 11?
  1. What are other functions of government?
  1. What kind of a institution is government?
  1. Who exercises the powers of government?
  1. What are public policies?
  1. What are some examples of public policies?
  1. What is power?
  1. What are the 3 basic powers of government?
  1. Where are the powers of government written?
  1. What kind of government holds the powers in the hands of one person?
  1. What kind of government is where the power is with the majority of the people?
  1. Why did early civilizations invent government?
  1. What did Aristotle mean when he said “man is by nature a political animal”?
  1. Specifically, what is politics?
  1. Why is politics neither good nor bad but necessary?
  1. Define the term, the state.
  1. How many states are there around the world today?
  1. What is the differences between a state and a nation?
  1. What is the population of San Marino?
  1. Population of China?
  1. The US?
  1. What does the term homogeneous mean?
  1. How big is San Marino?
  1. Russia?
  1. US?
  1. What does the term sovereign mean?
  1. What does sovereignty allow states to do?
  1. What examples can you think of that shows how a state enforces its will to accomplish goals?
  1. What did Hobbs mean when he said, “the war of every man against every man”?
  1. What are some examples of places lacking government and therefore lack the basics of civilization?
  1. What is the force theory?
  1. What is the evolutionary theory?
  1. What is the divine theory?
  1. What special power did the emperor of Japan hold until 1945?
  1. What is the Social Contract Theory?
  1. Thomas Hobbs said that early man had unbridled freedom and yet could not protect himself from the actions of others. So which is greater government and security or unlimited freedom and survival of the fittest?
  1. Explain how three things that are very different can coexist in a democracy: sovereignty, limited government, and individual rights.
  1. According to the PREAMBLE of the Constitution what is the purpose of government?
  1. Before 1787 what written form of government did the US have?
  1. What strength is the Constitution built on?
  1. What is justice?
  1. Is this the most important duty of government? Explain why.
  1. What would be an example of Martin Luther King’s quote: “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere?”
  1. Is this true? Explain.
  1. What is order and why is it essential to society?
  1. What are some recent examples of American disorder?
  1. What did Barbara Jordan mean when she said in 1976: “if one citizen is unwilling to participate, all of us are going to suffer.”
  1. Why is national defense mentioned numerous times in the Constitution?
  1. What are examples of promoting the general welfare?
  1. What did the founders value above all things?
  1. How can we treasure individual liberty yet we accept that liberty is not absolute?
  1. How does Patriotism impact government?
  1. What is a treatise?
  1. Examine the picture of John Locke. Determine if he used curlers or if his hair is naturally curly. Perhaps a perm?
  1. What is the natural state of man according to Locke?
  1. What is the only way a person can be subjected to the power of another?
  1. What gives a community the power to act as a body?
  1. What would make a person who is completely free, equal, and independent want to join a society or community of other people?
  1. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a charms tootsie pop?

Chapter 1 Section 2 and 3 Homework

Read pages 13-23. Answer the following questions. They should be brief not long.

  1. What did Alex Pope say about government?
  1. Does the form of government matter? Explain.
  1. What are the 3 classifications of government?
  1. What are the 2 basic forms of government?
  1. In a democracy where does authority and power rest?
  1. What did Lincoln say that best expresses this thought?
  1. What would be an example of a direct democracy?
  1. Why does direct democracy not exsist at a national level?
  1. What are examples of indirect democracies?
  1. Why do many consider the US a republic and not a democracy?
  1. Why is a dictatorship the oldest form of government in the US?
  1. What is the difference between an autocracy and oligarchy?
  1. What are the best modern examples of a dictatorship?
  1. Many dictatorships appear to be a democracy. Explain how this is done?
  1. What is a unitary government?
  1. What is a good example of unitary government?
  1. What quality defines a federal government?
  1. Besides the US, what other nations have a federal government?
  1. What is the weakness of a confederation?
  1. What is a modern confederation that has a great impact on the world’s economy?
  1. What are two examples of confederation in US history?
  1. Define propaganda.
  1. Why is the use of propaganda a powerful tool in the political process?
  1. What did James Bryce mean when he said: “No government demands so much from the citizen as Democracy, and none gives so much back.”?
  1. Why do you think Winston Churchill believes that democracy is not perfect or all wise?
  1. What are the 5 foundations of democracy?
  1. How does democracy serve the individual and the society as a whole?
  1. There is a difference between equality and the democratic sense of equality. Describe this difference.
  1. What does the term “popular will” mean and how do we measure it?
  1. How does a democracy protect the minority groups from the majority groups?
  1. What process allows concepts such as the will of the majority and individual rights live together as one?
  1. What did Kennedy mean when he said “The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”?
  1. How do we achieve the balance between extremes to make democracy work?
  1. The American economic system is called:
  1. List the four fundamental factors of our economic system:
  1. Describe how the laws of supply and demand work.
  1. Democracy and free enterprise have one thing in common. What is it?
  1. What kind of economy is free enterprise and government regulated?
  1. We have this today. Why?
  1. What is positive about government regulation?
  1. What is negative?
  1. Thomas Jefferson would love the fact that the internet and democracy seem to be made for each other. Why do you think Jefferson would love to log in and surf the net, enter chat rooms, and so on?
  1. How does the internet provide a hazard to democracy and responsible citizenship?
  1. Why did Baker and Carr end up before the Supreme Court in 1962?
  1. What arguments supported Baker?
  1. What arguments supported Carr?
  1. What decision did the Supreme Court make and why? Look on page 799

Chapter 2 Section 1 and 2 Homework

Read pages 26 to 39. Answer the questions.

  1. What is unique about Daniel Webster’s quote?
  1. What is the purpose of the International Student Activism Alliance?
  1. What year was the Declaration of Independence written?
  1. Constitution?
  1. We borrowed most of our political system from the English. Who influenced the English political system?
  1. According to the chart on page 29 what are the 4 documents that influence the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?
  1. What important functions does local government carry out?
  1. What is a limited government?
  1. How does a representative government work?
  1. Why did English nobles force King John to sign the Magna Carta?
  1. What is the Petition of Right?
  1. Why did William and Mary draft an English Bill of Rights?
  1. The first permanent English settlement in North America was?
  1. What is the difference between a charter and a royal colony?
  1. How did the colonial bicameral legislature work?
  1. What was unique about the House of Burgesses in VA?
  1. How were the proprietary colonies organized?
  1. What is a good example of self-government in colonial Rhode Island and Connecticut?
  1. Look at the Magna Carta on page 33. What is similar to in the US Constitution?
  1. What was Ben Franklin trying to say in his quote?
  1. What geographic problem prevented the English from controlling to colonies and gave colonists great freedom?
  1. Describe what the book means when it says that the relationship between Britain and the colonies had become federal.
  1. Why did the British change this and begin taxing the colonies in the 1760s?
  1. What war were the British trying to pay for through higher taxes?
  1. Why did the colonists reject the claim of the British crown that they were subjects of the king and could be taxed?
  1. What is special about the New England Confederation of 1643?
  1. What was the purpose of the Albany Plan of Union?
  1. Who was the author of the plan?
  1. Why did the colonies reject this?
  1. What was the Stamp Act of 1765?
  1. How did the colonists respond to this?
  1. How did the colonists organize themselves and communicate?
  1. What actions did the 1st Continental Congress take?
  1. Why did the King repeal many of the acts and taxes?
  1. What event led to the 2nd Continental Congress?
  1. What are two important actions taken by the 2nd Continental Congress?

Chapter 2 Section 3, 4, and 5 Homework

Read pages 44-59. Answer the questions.

  1. What is meant when the author says the 1st and 2nd Continental Congress rested on no legal basis?
  1. What was the first permanent plan of government called?
  1. Why do you think it took it took 5 years to ratify the plan?
  1. Which state was holding up approval of the plan?
  1. How many votes did each state have?
  1. Why is there only a legislative branch? No executive or judicial branch is provided for.
  1. What are the 10 powers of government under the Articles?
  1. Why did the states have more powers than Congress?
  1. What was the greatest weakness of the Articles?
  1. Why did they not give Congress the power to make states obey laws made by Congress?
  1. What was the cause of the states being in conflict with each other after the Revolution?
  1. What did George Washington say about the Articles?
  1. How did the Articles help create a financial crisis that would lead to Shay’s Rebellion?
  1. What important meeting occurred at Mt. Vernon in March of 1785?
  1. What was decided at the Annapolis Convention?
  1. Describe the scene that the Constitution was written in? Look on page 48.
  1. Who are the “Framers”?
  1. What can be said of the background of the 55 Framers?
  1. Why were famous Americans such as Franklin, Henry, Richard Henry Lee, John Hancock, Jefferson, and Adams absent from the Constitutional Convention?
  1. What important rule did the Convention make to conduct business?
  1. Why did they work in secret?
  1. What did Edmond Randolph propose n May 30th?
  1. Why was there such a bitter debate over Randolph’s proposal?
  1. Who was the author of the VA Plan?
  1. What did the VA Plan propose?
  1. Why did small states oppose this plan?
  1. What did the New Jersey Plan propose?
  1. What were the 2 problems with the New Jersey Plan?
  1. What did Franklin say in jest to help the delegates work through the arguments?
  1. How did the Connecticut Compromise save the day?
  1. Which two states had the most slaves? Look at the chart on page 52.
  1. Why would southern states want to count slaves as citizens?
  1. How did the 3/5ths Compromise satisfy southern states?
  1. What was the price southern states had to pay for the 3/5ths Compromise?
  1. Why were southerners worried about the power to regulate trade?
  1. What was the Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise?
  1. What is meant by the term bundle of compromises?
  1. What is so difficult in the process of building a compromise?
  1. Who were 4 philosophers who influenced the thoughts of the Framers?
  1. What happened on Sept, 17, 1787?
  1. How many states had to approve the Constitution to ratify it?
  1. Who are the Federalists?
  1. Who are the Anti Federalists?
  1. What were two parts of the Constitution that drew the most criticism?
  1. Who ratified the Constitution first?
  1. Why was Virginia’s ratification so important?
  1. What role did the Federalist Paper’s play in ratification?

Chapter 3 Section 1 Homework

Read pages 62 to 71. Answer the questions. Be prepared for a quiz next class.

  1. What is the meaning of Jefferson’s quote?
  1. How many new voters were created in 1971 with the ratification of the 26th Amendment?
  1. What is meant by the expression: “The Constitution is the supreme law of the land”.
  1. How many words are in the Constitution? What is impressive about this?
  1. Why is the Constitution based on principles and not details with provisions?
  1. What is in the Preamble?
  1. How many articles are in the Constitution? What is the subject of each article?
  1. Why is popular sovereignty perhaps the most important part of the Constitution?
  1. How is popular sovereignty expressed in the Preamble?
  1. What is the principle of limited government?
  1. What is meant by the expression: “the government must obey the law”.?
  1. Why is the Constitution essentially a statement of limited government?
  1. How can we best see the idea of separation of powers in the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution?
  1. How would you describe the language, diction, and tone of the separation of powers in Article 1, 2, and 3?
  1. How did James Madison defend the separation of powers?
  1. How do checks and balances keep the three branches from being totally separated?
  1. Give an example of the president exercising checks and balances.
  1. Give an example of the Congress exercising checks and balances.
  1. Give an example of the Supreme Court exercising checks and balances.
  1. Why do checks and balances rarely result in head on clashes between the branches of government?
  1. Who are the only presidents to be impeached in US History?
  1. Why did the Framers of the Constitution want to prevent an unjust combination of the majority?
  1. What is meant by the term divided government on page 68?
  1. What are the pros and cons of a divided government?
  1. What is judicial review?
  1. Judicial review is not in the Constitution. So how do we know that the Framers wanted courts to have this power?
  1. The Articles of Confederation were weak and a failure. The rule of King George the III is too strong and tyranny. Why is federalism and the US Constitution a perfect compromise to face the challenges of the last 200 years?
  1. Using the analogy above. What figure from children’s literature would pick the Constitution because it was just right.?

Chapter 3 Section 2 and 3 Homework

Read pages 72 to 83. Answer the questions.

  1. In what ways has the US grown from 1789 to now?
  1. How has the Constitution endured the amazing changes and growth?
  1. What are the two basic ways to change the Constitution?
  1. What are two steps involved in the first method of amending the Constitution?
  1. What are two steps involved in the second method of amending the Constitution?
  1. What are two steps involved in the third method of amending the Constitution?
  1. What are two steps involved in the fourth method of amending the Constitution?
  1. What did the amendment conventions of 1975 and 1983 call for?
  1. What do you think of this idea?
  1. Which method is best for proposing amendments: The formal process that begins at the federal level or the convention process that is decided at the state level?
  1. Explain why.
  1. When Congress proposes an amendment why is the signature of the president unnecessary?
  1. Why did the framers decide to do the following:

a state can reject an amendment, it is not bound to that decision, a state can change its mind and reconsider later.

A state that has approved an amendment cannot change its mind later. It is bound to a final and unchangeable decision.

  1. What are the benefits and drawbacks of this arrangement?
  1. How many proposed amendments have there been?
  1. How many were ratified?
  1. What are the first ten amendments called?
  1. Why was the 12th Amendment added?
  1. Why was the 22nd Amendment added?
  1. Why is the amendment process an important tool to reacting to historical events?
  1. Why did Jefferson want to add a Bill of Rights?
  1. What did Madison say was a greater danger to individual rights?
  1. What was Madison talking about when he said the Bill of Rights was a parchment barrier?
  1. Describe the process of informal amendments.
  1. What are the 5 ways this can be done?
  1. How does the Constitution empower Congress to be a major agent of informal amendments?
  1. Why is this essential to government?
  1. How can the President/Executive be an agent of informally amending the Constitution?
  1. What is an executive agreement?
  1. How can the Supreme Court be an agent of informal amendments?
  1. What court case empowered the Supreme Court?
  1. In 1796, what warning did George Washington give Americans?
  1. Why did the Constitution not provide a method of nominating presidential candidates?
  1. What is meant when the book says the electoral college is a “rubber stamp” for each state’s popular vote?
  1. What is an unwritten custom?
  1. What are some examples of customs practiced by the President?
  1. Why are presidential customs important and enduring?
  1. What does the 8th amendment declare?
  1. What happened to Ingraham and Andrews in 1970 down in Florida?
  1. Why did these 8th and 9th graders sue the school?
  1. What was the first court ruling? Why?
  1. What step did the students take next?
  1. What decision did the appeals court make?
  1. Turn to page 802. What decision did the Supreme Court make about Corporal Punishment?
  1. What would you do if you were to be paddled by Mr. O’Rouke for violating a school rule?

Chapter 4 Homework