Name Per. 2. Identify the important principles and issues debated at the Constitutional Convention and describe how they were resolved.

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1 Name Per CHAPTER 2 THE CONSTITUTION LEARNING OBJECTIVES After studying Chapter 2, you should be able to: 1. Discuss the importance of the English philosophical heritage, the colonial experience, the Articles of Confederation, and the character of the Founding Fathers in shaping the agenda of the Constitution writers. 2. Identify the important principles and issues debated at the Constitutional Convention and describe how they were resolved. 3. Explain the Madisonian model of limiting majority control, separating powers, creating checks and balances, and establishing a federal system. 4. Understand the conflict between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists over the ratification of the Constitution. 5. Describe the formal and informal processes by which the Constitution is changed in response to new items on the policy agenda. 6. Evaluate the Constitution in terms of democracy and its impact on policymaking. The following exercises will help you meet these objectives: Objective 1: Discuss the importance of the English philosophical heritage, the colonial experience, the Articles of Confederation, and the character of the Founding Fathers in shaping the agenda of the Constitution writers. 1. Make a list of the major grievances of the colonists under British rule. 2. What are the major components of John Locke's political philosophy and how did they influence Thomas Jefferson's writings? 3. Describe the American government under the Articles of Confederation. 4. Make a list of the reasons why the Articles of Confederation failed.

2 5. Briefly describe the general philosophical views of the founding fathers on the following issues: Human Nature: Political Conflict: Objects of Government: Nature of Government: Objective 2: Identify the important principles and issues debated at the Constitutional Convention and describe how they were resolved. 1. What were the three major equality issues at the Constitutional Convention? How were they resolved? What were the major economic problems addressed at the Constitutional Convention? How were they resolved? 3. Why did the Founding Fathers believe it was not necessary to address individual rights issues specifically in the Constitution? Objective 3: Explain the Madisonian model of limiting majority control, separating powers, and creating checks and balances. 1. Describe the Madisonian model of government.

3 2. Define the term "constitutional republic." Objective 4: Understand the conflict between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists over the ratification of the Constitution. 1. Complete the following table summarizing the major differences between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists on the issues of civil liberties, power of the states, and the economy. Issues Federalists Anti-Federalists Civil Liberties Power of the State Economy 2. Why did the Anti-Federalists believe the new Constitution was a class-based document? Objective 5: Describe the formal and informal processes by which the Constitution is changed in response to new items on the policy agenda. 1. What is an unwritten constitution? 2. Describe the different ways in which a formal constitutional amendment might be adopted.

4 3. The text examines four ways the Constitution changes informally. Complete the following table, listing these ways, defining them, and giving an example for each. Informal Change Definition Example Objective 6: Evaluate the Constitution in terms of democracy and its impact on policymaking. 1. List and explain the five Constitutional amendments that expanded the right to vote

5 Multiple Choice True or False

6 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS Circle the correct answer: 1. In setting the broad rules of the game of politics, constitutions a. are never neutral; they give some participants advantages over others. b. are fair and impartial. c. allow all participants the same political opportunities. d. have no effect on the distribution of power in society. e. are constantly changing. 2. Which body issued the Declaration of Independence? a. The Constitutional Convention of 1776 b. The First Continental Congress c. The first thirteen colonial legislatures d. General George Washington s army e. The British Parliament 3. What are natural rights? a. Rights inherent in human beings not dependent on governments. b. The laws of humans, which are superior to those of nature. c. Laws that only exist when people are in a state of nature. d. Laws that enabled the British to proclaim their rule over the colonies. e. The rights given by a government to a people regardless of their consent. 4. Reflecting Lockean natural rights philosophy, the Declaration of Independence declared that governments derive their just powers from a. God. b. the consent of the governed. c. tradition. d. elected leaders. e. a Constitution. 5. Which of the following phrases is found in the Declaration of Independence? a. Life, liberty, and property b. Men being by nature all free, equal, and independent c. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injustices and usurpations d. The people shall be the judge Oppression raises ferments and makes men struggle to cast off an uneasy and tyrannical yoke e. Both a and c 6. Which of the following was NOT a problem with the national government under the Articles of Confederation? a. The states were unwilling to send money requisitioned by the national government. b. The executive lacked the authority to lead the nation. c. The state legislatures had too little power. d. The national government was unable to regulate foreign trade or the national economy. e. All of the above

7 7. Which of the following is TRUE based on data presented in Table 2.02? a. Before the American Revolution, both northern and southern state legislatures were dominated by wealthy and well-to-do individuals. b. After the American Revolution, increasing numbers of moderate income individuals and farmers entered state legislatures. c. After the American Revolution, in northern states, moderate-income individuals and farmers comprised a majority of office holders in state legislatures. d. All of the above e. None of the above 8. Shay s Rebellion was a significant event in that it a. heightened elites fears that people were ignoring the law and violating property rights of others. b. demonstrated the weakness of Congress to raise a militia that would have stopped Shays and his followers. c. fueled dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation. d. All of the above e. None of the above 9. What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention? a. To write the Declaration of Independence. b. To revise the Articles of Confederation. c. To draft an entirely new constitution. d. To elect the first president of the United States. e. To negotiate a peace treaty with Great Britain. 10. The, offered as a proposal at the Constitutional Convention, called for each state to be equally represented in Congress. a. New Jersey Plan b. Connecticut Plan c. Virginia Plan d. Rhode Island Plan e. New York Plan 11. In 1787, slavery was legal in all states except? a. New Jersey b. New York c. Pennsylvania d. Massachusetts e. Virginia 12. Which issue concerning equality did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention deal with in drafting the constitution? a. Equality of the states b. Equality in voting c. Slavery d. All of the above e. None of the above 13. Historian Charles Beard argued that the Constitution is best understood in terms of a. the propertied upper-class men who drafted it to serve their own elite interests. b. the farmers and middle-class men who comprised the Anti-Federalists. c. a battle between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. d. a battle between state and national power. e. the religious ideologies of delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

8 14. The Anti-Federalists believed that the new constitution a. was a thinly disguised attempt to abolish a federal form of government in the United States. b. was an enemy of freedom and designed to give control of the government to a rich elite. c. created a new government too weak to be effective, and they preferred a monarchy to ensure stability. d. was too democratic and would lead to tyranny of the masses against the wealthy. e. with whatever faults it might have, was the young nation s best hope for a workable government. 15. Which was the first state to ratify the Constitution? a. Delaware b. New Jersey c. Pennsylvania d. Rhode Island e. New York 16. Which of the following statements about judicial interpretation is FALSE? a. Judicial interpretation can profoundly affect how the Constitution is understood. b. The power of judicial review gives courts the right to decide whether legislative actions are in accord with the Constitution. c. The power of judicial interpretation is explicitly stated in the Constitution. d. In the case of Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court decided it would be the one to decide constitutional disputes. e. None of the above 17. When did the two-party system first appear as part of presidential elections? a b c d e In what ways does the Constitution encourage stalemate? a. By providing access for so many interests b. Through the separation of powers c. By protecting individual rights d. By limiting the scope of government e. A and b 19. The Supreme Court decision in United States v. Eichman a. ruled that the Flag Protection Act, which outlawed the desecration of the American flag, was unconstitutional. b. ruled that the Flag Protection Act, which outlawed the desecration of the American flag, was constitutional. c. ruled that die-ins intended to dramatize the consequences of nuclear war were unconstitutional. d. ruled that die-ins intended to dramatize the consequences of nuclear war were constitutional. e. Both b and d 20. The Constitution created a a. class-based society. b. democracy. c. republic. d. government of the rich, well-born, and able. e. majoritarian society.

9 TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS Circle the correct answer: 1. The Declaration of Independence mainly focused on King George s abuses. T / F 2. Most delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 believed that human nature was fundamentally self-interested. T / F 3. The Connecticut Compromise gives more power to people who live in heavily populated states. T / F 4. The founders believed that state governments, where most of the governmental activity was expected to take place, would act as checks on the power of the national government. T / F 5. Among the powers given to Congress in the Constitution is the power to establish post offices and postal roads. T / F 6. The Anti-Federalists feared that the national government designed in the constitution would be far too weak. T / F 7. Since the Bill of Rights was ratified, 26 additional amendments have been added to the Constitution. T / F 8. The Bill of Rights had to be added to the Constitution before any states would ratify it. T / F 9. The Court s power of judicial review was first articulated in Marbury v. Madison. T / F 10. The U.S. Constitution created a democracy. T / F

I. Politics in Action: Amending the Constitution (pp ) A. Flag desecration and Gregory Johnson B. A constitution is a nation s basic law.

CHAPTER 2 The Constitution CHAPTER OUTLINE I. Politics in Action: Amending the Constitution (pp. 31 32) A. Flag desecration and Gregory Johnson B. A constitution is a nation s basic law. II. The Origins