Exam #1 Unit A -Written Responses- Question Options (September 27 - September 28)

 

PLSC 200 Written Question Study Guide- Exam #1

Four (4) of the following questions will be the short answer responses on Exam #1.  It is an open not exam and you may prepare notes on all of the questions.  Answers will need to be a minimum of 150 per short answer response.

 

 

Introduction and Constitution

  1. Compare and contrast the concepts of a Democracy vs. a  Republic.

  2. What was the objective of the United States in adopting Montesquieu’s Separation of Powers along with the system of Checks and Balances?  Give an example of how the system works.

  3. Why did the Anti-Federalists refuse to support the ratification of the Constitution? How did the Federalists gain the approval and support of the Anti-Federalists?

  4. Who were the authors (3) of the Federalist Papers? What was the objective of these writings? Comment on Federalist 10, Federalist 51, or Federalist 70.

 

 Federalism

  1. Compare and Contrast Delegated Powers v. Reserved Powers
  2. Define the National Supremacy Clause and state its objective. Can the Federal Government pass laws to restrict the Reserved Powers of the States? Explain why or why not?
  3. Define the Necessary and Proper Clause and state its objective. Why are these powers also known as Implied Powers?  How did the Supreme Court interpret the Necessary and Proper Clause in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?
  4. What is the objective of Amendment 10? What are police powers and how does the state use them?
  5. What is the Interstate Commerce Clause (Commerce Clause) and what powers does it give to the Federal government?
  6. Horizontal Federalism. Define the Full Faith and Credit Clause.  Cite an application of the concept in law or use  a Supreme Court case to define or  illustrate your example.
  7. Cite the changes to Federal and State legal relationship established by the following two Supreme Court rulings: Barron v. Baltimore (1833) and Dred Scott v Sanford ( 1857)