Question 1

The Constitution was written behind closed doors.In fact,its authors did not have any real authority to draft it in the first place.Given its history,how should we regard the Constitution-as an elitist document,an expression of political philosophy,a living document,or in some other way? Why?

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Question 2

Which is a bigger threat to American democracy today-majority tyranny or minority tyranny? Given your conclusions about the greater threat,are there weaknesses in the design of the Constitution that Madison and others failed to anticipate?

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Question 3

James Madison argued in Federalist Paper No.10 that the "mischiefs of factions" would be controlled under the new Constitution.How did Madison support his case? Given the reality of contemporary politics,is Madison's argument still convincing?

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Question 4

Have the separation of powers and checks and balances built into the Constitution limited government or made it too accessible to citizens? Provide examples.

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Question 5

The Constitution lodged economic policymaking in the legislative branch,in part because its authors believed that Congress would be the branch of government most proximate to the people.Is Congress still the closest to the people today? What has changed and why?

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Question 6

In what ways is the Constitution both democratic and undemocratic?

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Question 7

Are the procedures for amending the Constitution too strong or too weak? Should it be easier or harder to amend the Constitution?

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Question 8

Some have referred to the Constitution as a conservative victory.In what ways were the Framers less interested in republican liberty than in property and social order? Was this necessary for the country's survival,or was it purely selfishness on the part of the Framers?

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Question 9

In what ways has the Constitution been democratized throughout American history? How has this democratization changed the relationship between the people and the institutions of government? Would the Federalists be happy with these changes? Why or why not?

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Quiz 2: The Constitution