Questions and Answers
What is the difference between a representative democracy and a direct democracy?
In a representative democracy, people elect representatives to make political decisions, while in a direct democracy, people make all political decisions themselves.
What does government do for people?
Government affects various aspects of life, including education, taxation, and public services.
What political activities can people engage in other than running for office?
People can vote, attend rallies, contribute money to campaigns, and write to their politicians.
What key tenets of American political thought were influential in the decision to declare independence from Britain?
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What actions by the British government convinced the colonists that they needed to declare their independence?
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In what ways did Shays' Rebellion reveal the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
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What does separation of powers mean?
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Why did so many people oppose ratification of the Constitution, and how was their opposition partly overcome?
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What did the Fourteenth Amendment achieve?
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What key constitutional provisions define the scope of authority of the federal and state governments?
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What are the main functions of federal and state governments?
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What are the main differences between cooperative federalism and dual federalism?
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What were the implications of McCulloch v. Maryland for federalism?
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What does it mean to refer to the carrot of grants and the stick of mandates?
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Describe the advantages of federalism.
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Describe the disadvantages of federalism.
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Describe the primary differences in the role of citizens in government among the federal, confederation, and unitary systems.
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How have the political and economic relationships between the states and federal government evolved since the early 1800s?
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Discuss how the federal government shapes the actions of state and local governments.
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What changes were made to strengthen the role of the federal government under the U.S. Constitution?
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What are the primary responsibilities of municipal governments?
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Is it preferable for representatives in the state legislature to behave as trustees or as delegates? Why?
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Briefly explain the difference between civil liberties and civil rights.
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Briefly explain the concept of selective incorporation, and why it became necessary.
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Explain the difference between the establishment clause and the free exercise clause.
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Explain why someone accused of a crime might negotiate a plea bargain rather than exercising the right to a trial by jury.
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Explain the difference between a criminal case and a civil case.
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Explain the difference between a right listed in the Bill of Rights and a common-law right.
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Describe two ways in which new technological developments challenge traditional notions of privacy.
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What are the implications of the Supreme Court decision in Burwell v. Hobby?
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What is the difference between civil rights and civil liberties?
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What were the key provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
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Briefly describe the similarities and differences between the experiences of Native Americans and Native Hawaiians.
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Study Notes
Representative vs Direct Democracy
- Representative democracy allows citizens to elect officials to make decisions and pass laws.
- In contrast, direct democracy requires citizens to make political decisions and enact laws themselves.
Role of Government
- Government influences various aspects of daily life, including food choices, education, public spending, and leisure activities.
Civic Engagement Activities
- Individuals can remain informed through news media.
- Support for political candidates can be shown through financial contributions or participation in rallies.
- Citizens can engage with elected officials via letters or votes.
American Political Thought
- Early American beliefs centered on the rights to life, liberty, and property, particularly among white males.
- Emphasis was placed on limited government to protect individual rights.
British Actions Leading to Independence
- Colonists were most aggrieved by direct taxes imposed by Britain, leading to conflict and the subsequent call for independence.
Shays' Rebellion and the Articles of Confederation
- Shays' Rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles by showing the federal government's inability to support states in crises, demonstrating a need for revision.
Separation of Powers
- This principle divides government responsibilities into branches, necessitating collaboration for lawmaking between Congress and the President.
Opposition to the Constitution
- Fear of national government power and elitism fueled opposition to the Constitution, leading to a preference for state-level governance.
Fourteenth Amendment Achievements
- Provided citizenship and equal legal protections for African Americans, enforcing rights at both state and federal levels.
Constitutional Framework for Federal and State Powers
- Key provisions include Article I, Section 8, the Supremacy Clause, and the Tenth Amendment outlining federal and state authority limits.
Functions of Federal vs State Government
- Federal government handles taxation, interstate commerce, national defense, and currency; state governments focus on local laws, crime control, and infrastructure.
Cooperative vs Dual Federalism
- Dual federalism emphasizes separate spheres of authority, while cooperative federalism promotes collaboration between national and state governments.
Implications of McCulloch v. Maryland
- Established the doctrine of implied powers, affirming national supremacy over state laws in constitutional matters.
Grants vs Mandates
- "Carrot of grants" encourages state compliance through funding, while "stick of mandates" enforces compliance through legal requirements.
Advantages of Federalism
- Encourages state loyalty, pragmatism, involvement in governance, ensures power separation, and helps prevent tyranny.
Disadvantages of Federalism
- Can lead to reduced standards and benefits among states, obstruct federal initiatives, and increase economic and social inequalities.
Citizen Roles in Different Government Systems
- In federal systems, citizens elect representatives; in confederations, they leverage local power; in unitary systems, central authorities hold most power.
Evolution of Federal-State Relationships
- Political history includes dual federalism avoiding interventionism, cooperative federalism expanding federal involvement, and recent trends promoting new federalism.
Federal Influence on State Governments
- State governments mirror federal structure; federal funding influences state priorities and policy directions.
Strengthening the Federal Government Post-Constitution
- Key development included the ability to tax citizens, facilitating infrastructure and national force growth.
Responsibilities of Municipal Governments
- Provide public utilities, maintain facilities, enforce laws, manage economic development, and oversee zoning and transportation services.
Trustee vs Delegate Representatives
- State legislative representatives should act as delegates to ensure they understand and address constituents' concerns effectively.
Civil Liberties vs Civil Rights
- Civil liberties are constraints on government power, ensuring personal freedom, while civil rights guarantee equal treatment from authorities.
Selective Incorporation
- This process extends the Bill of Rights to state actions, ensuring equal civil liberties across all states.
Establishment vs Free Exercise Clauses
- The establishment clause prohibits an official religion, while the free exercise clause protects individual worship, both protecting religious freedoms.
Plea Bargains
- Accused individuals often prefer plea bargains for certainty and lighter consequences compared to potential trial outcomes.
Criminal vs Civil Cases
- Criminal cases typically involve jury trials with potential imprisonment; civil cases are often decided by judges with monetary compensation as punishment.
Bill of Rights vs Common-Law Rights
- Rights specified in the Bill of Rights have stronger protections than those established through court precedents.
Technology and Privacy Challenges
- Email privacy concerns arise from interception technology; social media exposes personal lives online, threatening individual privacy.
Burwell v. Hobby Implications
- This ruling allows closely held businesses to opt out of laws conflicting with owners' religious beliefs if less restrictive alternatives exist are available.
Similarities and Differences of Native Americans and Native Hawaiians
- Both groups faced land loss and cultural threats, experiencing poverty; Native American tribes have self-governance, unlike Native Hawaiians.
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Description
Explore the concepts of representative and direct democracy, and the role of government in American life. This quiz covers civic engagement activities and the historical context of American political beliefs. Test your knowledge on how British actions influenced the path to independence.