The Constitution was an attempt to address problems of decentralization that were experienced under the
Articles of Confederation.
a. List three problems of decentralized power that existed under the Articles of Confederation. For each
problem you listed, identify and describe one solution that the Constitution provided to address the problem.

Couldn’t regulate commerce/levy taxes, constitution gave congress the power to coin money, tax, and power and lend money. Couldn’t raise an army/navy, had to rely on the states militias, Constitution gave congress the power to raise an army/Navy, and fund it. For congress to pass a law 9 of the 13 states would have agree, and for a amendment, all stats had to agree, consitution made this easier with 2/3 vote in both house and senate for laws to be passed, and ¾ for amendments.


b. Some have argued that the tensions between decentralized and centralized power continue to exist. Support
this argument by explaining how one of the following illustrates the continuing tension.
Legalizing Marijuana


Same Sex Marriage


Gun Control
gun control is a state matter
cause 2nd amendment
says right to bear arms



2. In The Federalist paper number 10, James Madison expressed concern over the possibility that both majority and minority factions would have too much power over government, and he presented ways of minimizingthat danger. The United States Constitution established a democratic government but also contained several provisions that limited majority rule. Throughout the next two centuries, the role of majority rule in the United States government and politics continued to change.
a. Identify the part of the national government that was originally most closely tied to citizens and explain howit was tied to citizens.

House of representatives, being elected every 2 years, and represent your district.

b. Explain two ways the United States Constitution limited majority rule.

Limited majority rule, through separation of power, (Branches), and impeachent.

c. Explain how each of the following twentieth-century developments moved the United States from a less democratic system to a more democratic system.
The Seventeenth Amendment

Senators are now elected through popular vote, they’re not appointed.


Expansion of suffrage (voting rights)
3.“It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard society against the oppression of its rulers, but to guard one part of society against the injustice of another part. Different interests necessarily exist in different classes of citizens. If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure.”James MadisonThe Federalist, Number 51
Using the quotation above and your knowledge of United States politics, perform the following two tasks:
a. Explain the central point Madison is making about popular government and power.
Madison saying that the majority will always oppress the minority.

b. Explain two constitutional provisions the framers devised to guard against the problems that Madison is addressing.

Separation of power,(Branches), impeachment, and that there’s a bicameral legislature, one house has 2 reps per state, the others by population.

c. Define limited government and explain the role that it plays in your response to B.

Limited government is government that is restricted by civil liberties,(The bill of rights), Which helps stop the majority from being oppressive.

4.
The United States Constitution has endured for more than two centuries as the framework of government.
However, the meaning of the Constitution has been changed by both formal and informal methods.
a. Identify two formal methods for adding amendments to the Constitution.
2/3 vote by house and senate, then ¾ of states must ratify it, or 2/3 of states can call for a constitutional convention, then ¾ of states can approve a amendment.

b. Describe two informal methods that have been used to change the meaning of the Constitution. Provide one specific example for each informal method you described.

Judicial Review, can change laws if they’re unconstitutional. Marbury V Madison. Also I guess executive orders.

c. Explain why informal methods are used more often than the formal amendment process.

Formal Methods take way to long, and there very hard politically to do, while the supreme court only has 9 members, so its easy to change a law or amend the constitution if they want.

5.
The framers of the Constitution created a political system based on limited government. The original
Constitution and the Bill of Rights were intended to restrict the powers of the national government. Later constitutional developments also limited the powers of state governments.

a. Explain how each of the following limits the powers of the national executive (president).

Federalism
Federalism is the separation of power between the federal and state governments, so the federal and state governments cant abuse each other, though in recent years the fed has gotten more powerful.

Checks and balances

This lets congress impeach the president, and judicial review can strike down any executive orders, or laws he passes.




b. Explain how each of the following two provisions in the Bill of Rights limits the powers of the national government.

Freedom of Speech

Lets the press or any citizen protest or speak out against the government. This prevents the government from using the media as a propaganda tool.

Guarantee of a public trial

This prevents the government from just carting people off to jail, without reason.



The framers of the United States Constitution created a federal system.
a. Define federalism.

Federalism is the separation of power between the states and federal government.

b. Explain how each of the following have been used to increase the power of the federal government relative to the states.

Categorical grants
Grants that are given to states, but only for a certain purpose, such as building new schools. Lets the fed control what the states do.

Federal mandates
Like if you make the drinking age 21 in your state, you get $50,000 a year to spend on highways, or something like that. If you do x, you get y amount of money for something.

c. Select two of the following an explain how each has been used to increase the power of the states relative to the federal government

Block grants

Money that the feds give to a state, with very general ways on how t spend it, such as education, and transportation.

Tenth Amendment
Gives the powers not given to the federal government to the states. States set the drinking age, the age you have o be to drive, etc.

Welfare Reform Act of 1996

Only need to know 2^^^

7.
While some commentators have argued that John Marshall exceeded his constitutional authority while serving
as Chief Justice, there is no doubt that he a profound impact on U.S. government and politics.
a. Identify and describe TWO significant rulings from the Marshall court.

Marbury V Madison, established judicial review. Marbury wanted a job that was new, so Marshall established judicial review.
Gibbens V Ogden, established the federal right to regulate interstate commerce.

b. Defend Marshall’s rulings that you by identified by explaining the provision of the Constitution that applied to each case.

Marbury V Madison was the courts right to rule on certain issues. U.S. Constitution, Article III, Section 2, Clause 2

Gibbens V Ogden was the power of congress to regulate commerce, and levy taxes.


c. Explain how these rulings increased the power of the Supreme Court and/or increased the power of the federal government at the expense of the states.


Gibbens took away the states power to tax other states.

Marbury increased the federal governtments power, as judicial review can strike down state laws.