Understanding Federalism and Rights - EOC REVIEW #1

Analyze how the inclusion of the Bill of Rights helped resolve the debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Which reasoning best explains its impact?

• It provided a compromise by explicitly protecting individual liberties, addressing Anti-Federalist concerns about centralized power.

• It allowed the Federalists to remove all state powers, satisfying their desire for a strong central government.

• It eliminated the need for any further amendments to the Constitution.

• It gave the President unchecked authority over Congress.

Given John Adams' "Thoughts on Government" (1776), evaluate how his ideas influenced the structure of American government. Which of the following best demonstrates the application of his reasoning?

• Establishing a single legislative body with unchecked power.

• Creating a system of checks and balances among separate branches of government.

• Allowing the President to appoint all members of Congress.

• Abolishing state governments in favor of a national monarchy.

Using your knowledge of the Clinton v. New York (1998) Supreme Court decision, reason through why the Court ruled the line-item veto unconstitutional.

• It violated the separation of powers by allowing the President to unilaterally amend or repeal parts of statutes.

• It gave Congress too much power over the President.

• It allowed states to override federal laws.

• It required a constitutional amendment to be valid.

Compare the processes of presidential and congressional elections in the United States. Which reasoning best explains a key difference in how candidates are selected?

• Presidential candidates are chosen by state legislatures, while congressional candidates are chosen by the Supreme Court.

• Presidential elections use the Electoral College, while congressional elections are decided by direct popular vote in each district or state.

• Both types of elections use the same process and criteria.

• Congressional elections require a national referendum, while presidential elections do not.

Evaluate the impact of the 1973 law requiring the President to consult Congress before sending U.S. troops into combat. Which reasoning best explains the law’s intended effect on the balance of power?

• It aimed to reinforce congressional authority over military actions, limiting unilateral presidential decisions.

• It gave the President unlimited power to declare war.

• It abolished the need for congressional approval in all military matters.

• It transferred all military authority to the Supreme Court.

Assess why the Founding Fathers chose to create a government based on federalism. Which reasoning best supports their decision?

• To balance power between national and state governments, preventing tyranny by either.

• To ensure the national government could override all state laws without restriction.

• To eliminate the need for state governments entirely.

• To allow foreign governments to control state policies.

Given the outcome of Sheppard v. Maxwell (1966), analyze how the Supreme Court balanced the rights of a fair trial with freedom of the press. Which reasoning best explains the Court’s decision?

• The Court prioritized the defendant’s right to a fair trial over unrestricted media coverage to prevent prejudicial publicity.

• The Court allowed the media to control all aspects of the trial.

• The Court abolished the right to a fair trial in high-profile cases.

• The Court required all trials to be held in secret.

Strategically evaluate how the Federalist and Anti-Federalist debate influenced the structure of the U.S. Constitution. Which reasoning best explains the resulting compromise?

• The Constitution included a system of checks and balances and a Bill of Rights to address both sides’ concerns.

• The Constitution eliminated all state governments.

• The Constitution established a monarchy.

• The Constitution gave Congress the power to appoint the President.

Using evidence from John Adams’ "Thoughts on Government," reason why Adams advocated for a bicameral legislature.

• To prevent the concentration of power and ensure more thorough deliberation of laws.

• To allow the executive branch to dominate the legislative process.

• To reduce the number of elected officials.

• To make the legislative process as quick as possible.

Analyze the strategic reasoning behind the Supreme Court’s decision in Clinton v. New York regarding the separation of powers. Which statement best reflects the Court’s logic?

• Allowing the President to veto specific parts of a bill undermined the legislative process established by the Constitution.

• The President should have the power to write new laws.

• Congress should have no role in the legislative process.

• The Supreme Court should approve all legislation.