Question 1

The U.S. Constitution was created through much compromise. Discuss some of the important compromises that developed during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. How did these compromises impact our structure of government and its daily functions?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The U.S. Constitution was created through much...

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT true concerning the Bill of Rights in our U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The Bill of Rights was not originally written into the Constitution; rather, it was added as the first amendments after ratification.

Question 3

Describe the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances. How have they evolved? How have they been incorporated into the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the principles of separation of powers...

Question 4

Including the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution has __________ Amendments.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution has 27 Amendments, including the Bill of Rights which consists of the first ten Amendments.

Question 5

Describe the Constitutional process for impeachment and removal of the president and include a discussion about the impeachment of President Clinton in 1998. Did the constitutional process work in this particular case? Why would the writers of the Constitution make this process so difficult?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the Constitutional process for impeachment and...

Question 6

Hamilton expressed the view that the judiciary was the weakest branch because it "only possessed the power of judgment." In light of the power of the judiciary to determine constitutionality of federal statutes established in Marbury v. Madison, indicate whether Hamilton's apposition is valid or invalid.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hamilton expressed the view that the judiciary...

Question 7

What is the most common method used to amend the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The most common method used to amend the U.S. Constitution is through a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress or two-thirds of state legislatures proposing an amendment, followed by ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures. This method has been used 26 times, including for amendments such as the Bill of Rights and the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.

Question 8

The 1819 Supreme Court ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland seemed like a minor issue, but the ruling had a long-lasting impact. What was the primary impact of this ruling?

Accepted Answer

The primary impact of the McCulloch v. Maryland ruling was that Congress had the authority to create a national bank, and that in some cases, certain powers not explicitly granted to the federal government in the Constitution could be considered "necessary and proper" to carry out other explicitly stated powers. This established the doctrine of implied powers and expanded the power of the federal government.

Question 9

Americans, especially legal scholars, view the U.S. Constitution in different ways. Discuss the differences between the theories of strict constructionism versus the living constitution.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Americans, especially legal scholars, view the U.S....

Question 10

Who believed in a loose construction or interpretation of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

John Marshall, as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was known for his decisions that supported a loose interpretation of the Constitution, expanding federal power.

Question 11

Compare and contrast the rhetoric of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist movements. Who made up the body of each group? What did they think about the proposed Constitution? What were some of the primary arguments on each side?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the rhetoric of the...

Question 12

What is the difference between enumerated and implied powers? How do these different concepts of political power impact the balance of power within the federal system of governance?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between enumerated and...

Question 13

Hamilton expressed the view that the executive must be a single person in order to realize "energy," which "is a leading character of good government." Analyze the experience of the United States under the Articles of Confederation to show whether or not events supported Hamilton's position.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hamilton expressed the view that the executive...

Question 14

Why would the writers of the Constitution have created such a difficult amendment process?

Accepted Answer

The writers of the Constitution wanted to protect the Constitution from short-lived or temporary passions, fearing that such passions might lead to the adoption of hasty and unwise amendments. They hoped that the difficult amendment process would ensure that any changes to the Constitution would be carefully considered and thoroughly debated before being ratified.

Question 15

Describe the ways in which Madison's view that a "multiplicity of interests" could significantly reduce the possibility of a majority emerging to oppress individual rights. Explain the reasons both in favor of and opposed to his analysis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the ways in which Madison's view...

Question 16

The concept of strict construction requires that the Constitution

Accepted Answer

Strict constructionism involves interpreting the Constitution based on the original intent of the framers, and therefore, changes to the Constitution should only be made through the formal amendment process rather than through discretionary actions by Congress or judicial rulings.

Question 17

In 1776, delegates to the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to draft a document that would state their list of grievances and articulate their intention to seek independence. List the writers of the Declaration of Independence, and name the primary writer and the reasons for (and objections to) his prominence. Discuss the philosophies and theories embodied in this revolutionary document.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 1776, delegates to the Second Continental...

Question 18

The power of the United States Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of an act of Congress was established in

Accepted Answer

Marbury v. Madison is the landmark case that established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the authority to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. Neither McCulloch v. Maryland, Bas v. Tingy, nor Hawkins v. McGee directly dealt with the issue of constitutionality and the power of the Supreme Court. Therefore, the best choice is A) Marbury v. Madison.

Quiz 2: The Founding and the Constitution