Question 1

What Supreme Court decision first established that the federal government had implied as well as enumerated powers?

Accepted Answer

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) established that the federal government had implied powers in addition to the powers explicitly listed in the Constitution, through the Necessary and Proper Clause. This case involved the establishment of a national bank and set a precedent for the broad interpretation of federal powers.

Question 2

Which was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Delaware was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787.

Question 3

What was the main handicap of the Anti-Federalists in their efforts to prevent the adoption of the US Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The main handicap of the Anti-Federalists in their efforts to prevent the adoption of the US Constitution was that they had no cohesive alternative plan to propose in place of the Constitution. This lack of a unified, alternative proposal made it difficult for them to effectively argue against the Constitution and rally support for their cause.

Question 4

Explain how James Madison proposes to counteract the effects of faction through Federalism and a separation of powers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how James Madison proposes to counteract...

Question 5

In the Federalist Number 17, according to Alexander Hamilton, what would keep the federal government from infringing on the prerogatives of the states?

Accepted Answer

Hamilton argued that the federal government would be preoccupied with larger issues, such as national defense and foreign affairs, rather than intruding into the domains reserved for the states.

Question 6

What was the alias used by the three authors of the Federalist Papers?

Accepted Answer

The three authors of the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, used the pseudonym "Publius" to honor the Roman consul Publius Valerius Publicola.

Question 7

In the wake of McCulloch v. Maryland , can states tax federal government entities?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court decision in McCulloch v. Maryland established that states cannot tax federal government entities, as doing so would interfere with federal activities and undermine the federal government's authority, which is contrary to the principle of federal supremacy outlined in the Constitution.

Question 8

What did the Federalists and Anti-Federalists agree was appropriate to protect the natural rights of the people from government encroachment?

Accepted Answer

The Federalists and Anti-Federalists agreed that a Bill of Rights was appropriate to protect the natural rights of the people from government encroachment. This was a key compromise that led to the ratification of the Constitution, with the promise that the first Congress under the new Constitution would add a Bill of Rights.

Question 9

How many amendments to the US Constitution have been passed and ratified to date?

Accepted Answer

There have been twenty-seven amendments to the US Constitution that have been passed and ratified as of my last update in 2023.

Question 10

What is a means of amending the US Constitution that has not been used since 1787?

Accepted Answer

The means of amending the US Constitution that has not been used since 1787 is passage through a convention of the states. This method, outlined in Article V of the Constitution, allows for amendments to be proposed either by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a convention of states called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. The convention method has never been used since the original Constitutional Convention.

Question 11

Analyze the different approaches to government taken by the most important delegates to the Constitutional Convention. How did their philosophies and favored political theories influence the final draft of the US Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Analyze the different approaches to government taken...

Question 12

How have all constitutional amendments been adopted to date?

Accepted Answer

All constitutional amendments to date have been adopted through a super majority vote of two-thirds of the House and Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states. This process is outlined in Article V of the U.S. Constitution.

Question 13

What is the only amendment to be ratified entirely by state conventions rather than by state legislatures?

Accepted Answer

The Twenty-First Amendment, which ended Prohibition, is the only amendment to have been ratified entirely by state conventions rather than by state legislatures. This method was chosen to potentially speed up the ratification process and to bypass state legislatures, which might have been under the influence of powerful liquor interests.

Question 14

What does the full faith and credit clause call for among the states?

Accepted Answer

The full faith and credit clause, found in Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, requires that states recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Question 15

Examine the three branches of the federal government as established through the Constitution. How do they reflect Aristotle's perception of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy?   In your response, consider how they can overlap.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Examine the three branches of the federal...

Question 16

What amendment was passed by Congress but never ratified, despite being generally popular among the voters?

Accepted Answer

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was passed by Congress but never fully ratified by the necessary number of states, despite having widespread support among the public. It sought to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex.

Question 17

Which of the following was a leader of the Federalists during the debate over ratifying the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Alexander Hamilton was a prominent leader of the Federalists, advocating for the ratification of the Constitution and co-authoring the Federalist Papers, which argued in favor of it.

Question 18

Explain how federalism allows states and the national government to check each other and allow different parts of the country to adopt different approaches to policy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how federalism allows states and the...

Question 19

What does the Federalist Number 10 identify as the chief danger to the new political system?

Accepted Answer

Federalist Number 10, written by James Madison, identifies factions, particularly those formed by a majority, as the chief danger to the new political system. Madison argues that the formation of factions is inevitable due to the nature of man, but the effects of factions can be mitigated through a large republic and a representative form of government.

Question 20

What is the chief reason why the Federalist Number 10 is generally viewed as the greatest American contribution to political theory?

Accepted Answer

James Madison, in Federalist Number 10, famously argues that a large republic can manage the dangers of factionalism and protect the rights of minorities, thus allowing for majority rule while safeguarding minority interests. This concept is a cornerstone of modern democratic theory.

Quiz 4: The American Government