Chapter 1, Section 1 Study Guide: pp. 4-10

Part A---Answer these questions in complete sentences:

  1. What is politics? 5
  2. Why did governments first form? 5
  3. What will life be like without government according to Hobbes? 7
  4. According to the Evolutionary Theory, when is the state born? 7
  5. Briefly describe the Social Contract Theory. 8
  6. What are the purposes of government according to the Constitution’s Preamble? 8-10

Part B---Using your textbook and critical thinking skills, answer the following questions.

  1. Read Locke’s Second Treatise of Government on page 11. What trade-off does Locke say occurs when people live under government?

Chapter 1, Section 2 Study Guide: pp. 12-16

Part A---Answer these questions in complete sentences:

  1. List the 7 classifications of government. 12
  2. Where does the supreme authority rest in a democracy? 13
  3. Describe a representative from of government. 13
  4. How do we show our disapproval of representatives in a democracy? 13

Chapter 1, Section 3 Study Guide: pp. 18-22

Part A---Answer these questions in complete sentences:

  1. What are people entitled to under the democratic concept of equality? 19
  2. Explain what is meant by majority rule and minority rights? 19
  3. Absolute freedom leads to what; which leads to rule by who? 20
  4. What are some examples of activities that the government takes care of instead of private businesses? 21
  5. How is the internet important to democracy? 22
  6. How do democracy and the free enterprise system reinforce each other? 21

Part B---Using your textbook and critical thinking skills, answer the following questions.

  1. Read the summary of the Supreme Court case Baker v. Carr (1962) on page 23 and decide which viewpoint you would support. Explain why.

Chapter 2, Section 1 and Section 3 Study Guide: pp. 28-32 and 44-47

Part A---Answer these questions in complete sentences:

  1. What were the Articles of Confederation? 44
  2. What were the 8 weaknesses to the Articles of Confederation? Why would the States purposefully create a weak national government? 45
  3. Briefly describe Shay’s Rebellion. 46
  4. Why was the period the Articles existed called the critical period? 46

Chapter 2, Section 4 Study Guide: pp. 48-54

Part A---Answer these questions in complete sentences:

  1. Why did the Founders decide to hold their meetings in secret? 50
  2. What was the goal of the Virginia Plan and briefly summarize the aspects of the plan. 51
  3. Briefly summarize the New Jersey Plan. Which states proposed this plan? (large or small states)51
  4. What was the Connecticut Compromise? 52
  5. Why did the Southern States insist on the inclusion of the 3/5’s Compromise and Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise? 52-53

Part B---Using your textbook and critical thinking skills, answer the following questions.

  1. Look at the chart on page 49. What similarities and differences can you see in the Framers’ background? Do you think their personal experiences helped or hurt their ability to draft the Constitution?

Chapter 2, Section 5 Study Guide: pp. 56-58

Part A---Answer these questions in complete sentences:

  1. Why did the Anti-Federalists fear the lack of a Bill of Rights and the increased power of the central government? 57
  2. What year was the Constitution ratified? What year did the new government convene? 59

Part B---Using your textbook and critical thinking skills, answer the following questions.

  1. Look at the map on page 57. Do you think these revolutions were coincidence or connected?
  2. Read the Supreme Court case on page 59. Which viewpoint do you favor? Be prepared to defend your answer.

Chapter 3, Section 1 Study Guide: pp. 64-70.

Part A---Answer these questions in complete sentences:

  1. Who is the only source of all government power? 65
  2. According to Montesquieu, what is the definition of tyranny which leads to his belief in the separation of powers? 66
  3. What case established the power of judicial review? 69
  4. Does the Constitution provide for judicial review? 69
  5. Why was the principle of federalism adopted into the Constitution? 70

Chapter 3, Section 2 and 3 Study Guide: pp. 72-82

Part A---Answer these questions in complete sentences:

  1. Contrast the strict constructionists with the liberal constructionist. 72
  2. What is the most common method used to add an amendment to the Constitution? 73
  3. How can Congress change the interpretation of the Constitution? 79
  4. Describe how executive actions have informally changed the Constitution. 80

Part B---Using your textbook and critical thinking skills, answer the following questions.

  1. Look at the chart on page 76. Which amendment took the most time to adopt?
  2. Cite 2 events or controversies that led to the passage of a corresponding amendment.

Chapter 4, Section 1, 2: pp. 88-103

Part A---Answer these questions in complete sentences:

  1. How did the principle of federalism enable the Framers to solve the problems they faced in 1787? 88
  2. What is the role of the Supreme Court in the federal system? 88
  3. What major economic event led to the large-scale use of grants-in-aid? 101
  4. How do grants in aid blur the line of division of powers in the federal system? 102