PSCI 2306 EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Who wrote the Bill of Rights? - Answer -James Madison
When was the Bill of Rights added? - Answer -1791
Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution? - Answer -Ratify the Constitution
and to limit the government
What is the RFRA? - Answer -Religious Freedom Restoration Act
What did the RFRA do? - Answer -A law enacted by Congress in 1993; it says that
governments should not substantially burden religious exercises without compelling
justification
How is the RFRA related to the case involving Boerne, TX and the Archbishop of San
Antonio? - Answer -Sued the city for violating his rights under the 1993 Religious
Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) by denying him a permit to expand church
How did the Supreme Court rule in the Boerne, TX and the Archbishop of San Antonio?
- Answer -The Court said that RFRA was, in part, unconstitutional because it infringed
on the power of local governments (and therefore states)
How is federalism good? - Answer -Lets states work on their own problems, we can
deal more readily with issues at the county and city level, as those governments
represent the state to us, we can be diverse
How might federalism protect us in the case of a dictator taking over our nation? -
Answer -Hedge against dictatorship, every state and its citizens would take up arms
against the dictator
What are enumerated powers? - Answer -Powers specifically listed in the Constitution
in Article I, Section 8.
What are some examples of enumerated powers? - Answer -To levy taxes
To borrow money on the credit of the United States
To regulate foreign and interstate commerce
To set rules for naturalization and for bankruptcies To coin money
To punish counterfeiting
To establish post offices
To promote science and useful arts, by issuing patents and copyrights
To set up lower federal courts
To declare war and to raise an army and a navy
Where in the Constitution can reserved powers be found? - Answer -10th amendment
, What are reserved powers? - Answer -Belong to the states; these include important
powers like law enforcement.
Where do implied powers come from? - Answer -Stemming from the necessary and
proper clause
The states can exercise power over the health, safety, and morals of people, which is
known as the ___________ power. - Answer -Police
What is community property? - Answer -Property owned jointly by a married couple.
What is an example of community property? - Answer -Earnings and debts, things
bought with money, student loans
What phrase in the Constitution requires states to recognize the legal documents of
other states? - Answer -"full faith and credit" clause
What are interstate compacts? - Answer -Agreements between/among states
Who makes interstate compacts and who must approve interstate compacts before they
take effect? - Answer -Congress
Why is McCulloch vs Maryland an important case? - Answer -Gave an expansive
interpretation of the elastic clause, and also upheld national supremacy
What was the Supreme Court's ruling in Barron vs Baltimore? - Answer -The Supreme
Court ruled that the Bill of Rights pertained only to the federal/national government, not
actions of the states
Why did Barron lose? - Answer -Ruling has never been overturned, but other rulings
have applied the Bill of Rights
What is the meaning of nullification? - Answer -The act of cancelling something
Which vice president was a big proponent of nullification and wrote about it? - Answer -
John C. Calhoun
"Liberty and Union, now and forever, _____ and ____ ." - Answer -One and
inseparable
What did President Jackson do when South Carolina passed an ordinance of
nullification over the tariff? - Answer -Issued a proclamation to the people of South
Carolina, asserting the supremacy of the federal government and warning that "disunion
by armed force is treason."
Who wrote the Bill of Rights? - Answer -James Madison
When was the Bill of Rights added? - Answer -1791
Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution? - Answer -Ratify the Constitution
and to limit the government
What is the RFRA? - Answer -Religious Freedom Restoration Act
What did the RFRA do? - Answer -A law enacted by Congress in 1993; it says that
governments should not substantially burden religious exercises without compelling
justification
How is the RFRA related to the case involving Boerne, TX and the Archbishop of San
Antonio? - Answer -Sued the city for violating his rights under the 1993 Religious
Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) by denying him a permit to expand church
How did the Supreme Court rule in the Boerne, TX and the Archbishop of San Antonio?
- Answer -The Court said that RFRA was, in part, unconstitutional because it infringed
on the power of local governments (and therefore states)
How is federalism good? - Answer -Lets states work on their own problems, we can
deal more readily with issues at the county and city level, as those governments
represent the state to us, we can be diverse
How might federalism protect us in the case of a dictator taking over our nation? -
Answer -Hedge against dictatorship, every state and its citizens would take up arms
against the dictator
What are enumerated powers? - Answer -Powers specifically listed in the Constitution
in Article I, Section 8.
What are some examples of enumerated powers? - Answer -To levy taxes
To borrow money on the credit of the United States
To regulate foreign and interstate commerce
To set rules for naturalization and for bankruptcies To coin money
To punish counterfeiting
To establish post offices
To promote science and useful arts, by issuing patents and copyrights
To set up lower federal courts
To declare war and to raise an army and a navy
Where in the Constitution can reserved powers be found? - Answer -10th amendment
, What are reserved powers? - Answer -Belong to the states; these include important
powers like law enforcement.
Where do implied powers come from? - Answer -Stemming from the necessary and
proper clause
The states can exercise power over the health, safety, and morals of people, which is
known as the ___________ power. - Answer -Police
What is community property? - Answer -Property owned jointly by a married couple.
What is an example of community property? - Answer -Earnings and debts, things
bought with money, student loans
What phrase in the Constitution requires states to recognize the legal documents of
other states? - Answer -"full faith and credit" clause
What are interstate compacts? - Answer -Agreements between/among states
Who makes interstate compacts and who must approve interstate compacts before they
take effect? - Answer -Congress
Why is McCulloch vs Maryland an important case? - Answer -Gave an expansive
interpretation of the elastic clause, and also upheld national supremacy
What was the Supreme Court's ruling in Barron vs Baltimore? - Answer -The Supreme
Court ruled that the Bill of Rights pertained only to the federal/national government, not
actions of the states
Why did Barron lose? - Answer -Ruling has never been overturned, but other rulings
have applied the Bill of Rights
What is the meaning of nullification? - Answer -The act of cancelling something
Which vice president was a big proponent of nullification and wrote about it? - Answer -
John C. Calhoun
"Liberty and Union, now and forever, _____ and ____ ." - Answer -One and
inseparable
What did President Jackson do when South Carolina passed an ordinance of
nullification over the tariff? - Answer -Issued a proclamation to the people of South
Carolina, asserting the supremacy of the federal government and warning that "disunion
by armed force is treason."
