Unit 1 Essay Prompts

7/29/2019 Unit 1 Essay Prompts

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Kelvin Liu

AP Gov + Politics

Unit 1 Essay Prompts

1. Change of meaning of Constitutionintro: living document, problems with Articlesa. Identify two formal methods for adding amendments

i. Proposed by 2/3 of both Houses or 2/3 State Legislatures apply throughConvention for proposal

ii. of States Legislatures or Conventions have to ratifyb. Describe two inform methodschange meaning

i. Technologythe development of new technologies needs to be accounted forwithin the Constitution. Such technologies as nuclear weapons have resulted in

the pioneering of new legislation never before mentioned within the

Constitution.*

ii. Supreme CourtDecisions made by the Supreme Court are the actualinterpretations of the Constitution, made by that particular court. The changing of

courts will bring different interpretations*. Interpretations, in general, determine

the actual practical meaning of the Constitution. (Marbury v Madison)

c. Explain why informal methods are used morei. Despite being easier to amend than the Articles of Confederation, the amendment

process of the Constitution still requires much time and organization of the 50

states, which cannot be done either easily or frequently. Therefore, in order to fit

the Constitution with the demands of modern day issues, the informal approach is

generally used to change the meaning of the Constitution.

2. Power of Federal government over States power has increased a. Explain how each has been used to expand Federal power

i. necessary and properii. Commerce Clause

b. Explain how Federal Grant System increased power of federal governmenti.

3. Federal Systema. Federalismpower is divided between central authority (federal government) and

individual units (states)

b. Explain how each has been used to increase power of federal govti. Categorical grantspartial preemptionProject and Formula

1. Main source of Federal aid to state/local governments2. Must be used for specific purposes3. Fed attaches restrictions

a. Ex. Nondiscrimination provision, environmental4. Crossover sanctionswithholding grants from states that do not comply

with other Federal legislation

a. Withholding highway funds from states that refuse to raisedrinking age


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5. Crosscutting requirementslose funding for all sections if do notcomply with restriction

ii. Federal mandatesTotal Preemption1. States must follow laws, given no funding

a. NCLB, Narcotics, 18 yo voting, ADAb. Moto Voter by Clintonfailure, DMV had no money to registerc. Justified by Supremacy Clause

c. Explain how each has been used to increase power of statesi. Block Grants - 1966

1. Grants are given with broad areas deciding how to spend money,Education

ii. Tenth Amendment1. The tenth amendment states that any power not granted to the federal

government or prohibited by states are reserved for the states.

2. Elastic Clause for states3.

4. Grapha. Identify two trendsb. Explain how following contribute to difference between the federal and the state and

local lines in the graph

i. Block Grantsii. Federal Mandates

5. Constitutionattempt to address problems of decentralization seen in Articlesa. 3 problems of decentralized power under the Articles. Identify solution in Constitution

i. Congress was not authorized to raise money through taxation1. Without a way for Congress to generate resources, becomes effectively

useless2. Relied upon states to voluntarily chip in moneystates rarely did3. Article 1, under specific powers of Congresspower to lay and collect

taxes, and tariffs

4. Shared powerii. Federal govnt was not given sole power to coin money

1. States would print their own money, federal money would be worthless2. In general, made trade between and within states very complicated and

unorganized

3. Article 1, under specific powers of Congresspower to coin andregulate money

iii. The central government was not given authority to act directly on individuals andstates

1.b. Tensions between decentralized and centralized power still exist. Support argument

through issue of (Gay Marriage, Gun Rights, Abortion)

i. Gay Marriage


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1. According to full faith and credit in Article IV of Constitution, allmarriage/divorce licenses must be respected in all states

2. Currently, only 13 of the 50 states legalize same-sex marriage3. State v. FedEqual Protection clause of the 14th amendment

ii. Gun Rights1. The second amendment grants the right to keep and bear arms2. Some states have a stricter gun law, others, like Texas, have a more

relaxed one.

3. State v. Fedunder what conditions are citizens allowed to keep andbear arms

iii. Abortion1. Fight over the right to life of the first amendment2. Various states have their own laws concerning abortion3. 30 of the 50 prohibit abortion

6. Federal Grants and Supreme Courtexpanded power of national governmenta. 2 pivotal periods in history that expanded use of federal grants

i. Franklin Roosevelts New Deal social relief, financial reform, and economicrecovery from 1930s Great Depression

1. Federal Emergency Relief Act of 1933 (FERA)a. First grant to states for the express purpose of providing public

relief

b. $3 billion over 3 yearsc. States were required to match half of FERA funds with state

funds

d. Could distribute where the states felt the funds were most needed2. Expanded the use of categorical grant programs3. Concentrated more authority and responsibility at the federal level4. After the New Deal, successive presidents Truman, Eisenhower, and

Johnson continued Roosevelts legacy of federal involvement through

categorical grants/federal programs

ii. Richard Nixons New FederalismDecentralize decision making to states andlocalities

1. All previous programs gave grants that had restrictions on them2. Nixons New Federalism intended to devolve a greater degree of

decision making to states

3. General revenue sharing sent funds to states and local government withvirtually no programmatic requirements

4. Special Revenue sharing - Programs intended to give states broaddiscretion in addressing the functional area

5. Similar to block grants, but even lessno application and fewerprogrammatic strings

6. Modification of special revenue sharingCongress wanted more control7. Community Development Block Grant program

b. 2 Supreme Court cases that expanded use of the implied powers of National Government


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i. South Dakota v. Dole 1986, Rehnquist court1. States that did not adopt the 21 year old drinking age were deducted 5%

form highway funds

2. Included within general welfare, Article 1, section 8ii. McCulloch v. Maryland 1819, Marshall court

1. The creation of the national bank was justified by the necessary andproper clause of the Constitution

2. States that Congress has powers not explicitly outlined in Constitution3. States cannot impose taxes on federal organizations4. 7-0 defeat

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Unit 1 Essay Prompts