Study Guide: The Constitution

 

Date Due

Assignments

Tues., Nov. 3

1. Read the excerpt from John Locke

2. Answer the questions on Locke’s reading

3. Be sure to bring your pocket Constitution to class every day from now on.

Weds., Nov. 4

1. Read p. 17 – 25 (to “The Challenge”)

2. Answer Reading Questions 1 – 4 for Chapter Two

Thurs., Nov. 5

1. Read the Richard Hofstadter article in the Readings Book p. 43 - 48

2. Answer the reading questions 1- 5 on Hofstadter’s article

Fri., Nov. 6

1. Read p. 25 – 27 in Wilson book

2. Answer questions on Chapter Two 5 - 6

Mon., Nov. 9

1. Read Wilson p. 28 – 30 (to “The Constitution and Liberty”)

2. Answer Reading Questions for Chapter Two 7 – 11

Tues., Nov. 10

1. Read p. 30 – 35

2. Answer questions 12 – 14

3. Read Federalists 10 and 51 on pages 49 and 97 in the Readings book

4. Make good margin notes summarizing the point of each paragraph as you read.

Thurs., Nov. 12

1. Read p. 36 – 41

2. Questions 15 - 19

3. Start the Scavenger Hunt.  Try to learn these answers as you do the activity.  The section on Article One is due tomorrow, but won’t be on the quiz.

Fri., Nov. 13

1. Quiz on what we’ve covered so far

2. Scavenger Hunt questions on Article One due

Mon., Nov. 16

1. Do the Scavenger Hunt Worksheet on the Constitution through Article VII.

2. Start learning the material on the Constitution from the handouts on Checks and Balances and the Division of powers between the state and national governments

Tues., Nov. 17

1. Finish the Scavenger Hunt on the Amendments

2. Start memorizing the Amendments

3. Take the practice quizzes on my site to help you learn them.

Weds., Nov. 18

1. Finish chapter two: p. 41 – 44

2. Answer questions 20 – 22

3. Study handouts on the Constitution and start learning them. 

Thurs., Nov., Nov. 19

Review for the test.

Fri., Nov. 20

Test

 

Questions on John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government

 

Use your own words to type answers to the following questions.  Understand what you’re writing.

1. Summarize the first paragraph in your own words.

 

2. Explain why, a free man in the state of nature would be willing to give up some of his freedom.

 

3. Summarize the three reasons Locke gives for why property is not protected in the state of nature.

 

4. What are the two powers that Locke says man has in the state of nature?

 

5. Summarize paragraph 131 in your own words. 

 

6. Define democracy, oligarchy, monarchy, and mixed government according to Locke.

 

7. Locke is famous for his ‘social contract’ theory of government.  Based on what you just read, what do you think the social contract is?

Reading Questions on Richard Hofstadter from The American Political Tradition (p. 43 – 48) in the Readings Book)

 

1. What was the central dilemma facing the Founders concerning their views of human nature and the type of government they sought to create?

 

2. Summarize in your own words the quote from Federalist 51 on page 45.

 

3. What were the three advantages to a federal government?

 

4. Why did the Founders believe that democracy could conflict with liberty? How did they define liberty?

 

5. What did the Founders believe that democracy would lead to? How can the United States avoid this fate?

 

Reading Questions for Chapter Two: The Constitution

 

Use your own words to answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. This should be typed.

 

1. Make a list of the points that the text makes on what the “Colonial Mind” was thinking at the time of the Revolution.

 

2. Make a detailed list of the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

 

3. What was Shays’s Rebellion and what role did that play in the push for changing the Articles of Confederation?

 

4. Why were the Framers suspicious of democracy?  What is the delicate problem for the Framers as stated on p. 25?

 

5. Make a chart comparing and contrasting the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise

 

6. What were the other compromises involving the president and the Supreme Court decided at the Convention?

 

7. What is the difference between a democracy and a republic and how did the Constitution strike a balance between these two forms of government?

 

8. What is judicial review?

 

9. List and define the two major principles of American representative democracy?

 

10. Start memorizing the list of checks and balances on p. 29 in the green box.  We will be referring to this list for the rest of the year.  You also need to start learning which powers are given only to the Senate.

 

11. What was the founders’ solution to the problem that people will pursue their own self-interest? How is that different from what ancient philosophers believed? What did Madison argue and propose in this context?

 

12. Make a chart showing the Federalist and Antifederalist arguments about the Constitution.  Leave room to add to it.

 

13. The book lists liberties that are guaranteed in the body of the Constitution.  Learn that list.  Define writ of habeas corpus, bill of attainder, and an ex post facto law.

 

14. What arguments did the Federalists use against having a bill of rights?

 

15. Summarize the three provisions in the Constitution regarding slavery.  Why didn’t the Founders abolish slavery?

 

16. Study the box on p. 41 outlining how to propose and ratify an amendment.  Read over the language in Article V of the Constitution.  Memorize these methods.

 

17. What was Charles Beard’s interpretation of the Framers of the Constitution?  What is now known to counter his interpretation?

 

18. In the ratifying conventions, what were the economic divisions of who favored the Constitution? 

 

19. What are the arguments that women were or weren’t left out of the Constitution?

 

20. Outline the criticisms presented of the separation of powers and the counter arguments.

 

21. What are the proposals of those who the government is too large and who would seek changes in the Constitution to limit the government?  What are the counter arguments?

 

By the end of the unit, you will be responsible for being able to define and explain all these items.

 

1.

John Locke

16.

Federalist Papers

31.

Ex post facto law

2.

social contract

17.

Virginia Plan

32.

Bill of Rights

3.

Natural Rights

18.

New Jersey Plan

33.

Proportional Representation

4.

State of Nature

19.

The Great (or Connecticut Compromise

34.

Enumerated Powers

5.

unalienable rights

20.

Republic

35.

Separated Powers

6.

Thomas Hobbes

21.

judicial review

36.

Necessary and Proper Clause

7.

Democracy

22.

separation of powers

37.

Apportionment

8.

Oligarchy

23.

federalism

38.

Supremacy Clause

9.

Monarchy

24.

Popular sovereignty

40.

Treason

10.

Mixed Government

25.

Federalists  and Antifederalists

41.

Fugitive Slave Clause

11.

Articles of Confederation

26.

James Madison

42.

Veto

12.

Constitutional Convention

27.

Alexander Hamilton

43.

Electoral College

13.

Shays’s Rebellion

28.

Federalist Nos. 10 and 51

44.

Original Jurisdiction

14.

Northwest Ordinance

29.

Coalition

45.

Appellate Jurisdiction

15.

factions

30.

Bill of Attainder

46.

Line-item veto