Constitutional Democracy

Chapter Overview Americans have long been skeptical of politicians and politics. Yet politics is a necessary activity for a democracy. Americans have long been skeptical of politicians and politics. Yet politics is a necessary activity for a democracy. Politics and politicians are essential and indispensable in making our system of separated institutions and checks and balances work. Politics and politicians are essential and indispensable in making our system of separated institutions and checks and balances work.

Chapter Overview "Democracy" is an often misused term, and it has many different meanings. Here it is used to refer to a system of interacting values, interrelated political processes, and interdependent political structures. "Democracy" is an often misused term, and it has many different meanings. Here it is used to refer to a system of interacting values, interrelated political processes, and interdependent political structures. The vital principle of democracy is that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people, and that this consent must be regularly renewed at free and fair elections. The vital principle of democracy is that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people, and that this consent must be regularly renewed at free and fair elections.

Chapter Overview Stable constitutional democracy is encouraged by various conditions, Stable constitutional democracy is encouraged by various conditions,  an educated citizenry  a healthy economy  overlapping associations and groupings within a society in which major institutions interact to create a certain degree of consensus.

Chapter Overview There is some concern about a recent decline in social capital - the experiences people gain in working together in community groups. There is some concern about a recent decline in social capital - the experiences people gain in working together in community groups. Lessons about compromise, accommodation, and participation are important building blocks for democracy. Lessons about compromise, accommodation, and participation are important building blocks for democracy. Some experts say there is a decline in civic engagement while others see a healthy level of voluntary and charitable engagement that is making our communities and nation better. Some experts say there is a decline in civic engagement while others see a healthy level of voluntary and charitable engagement that is making our communities and nation better.

Chapter Overview Despite a myriad of social ills, optimism breaks through. Despite a myriad of social ills, optimism breaks through. Constitutionalism is a general label we apply to arrangements such as checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, due process, and the Bill of Rights that force our leaders and representatives to listen, think, deliberate, bargain, and explain before they act and make laws. Constitutionalism is a general label we apply to arrangements such as checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, due process, and the Bill of Rights that force our leaders and representatives to listen, think, deliberate, bargain, and explain before they act and make laws. A constitutional government enforces recognized and regularly applied limits on the powers of those who govern. A constitutional government enforces recognized and regularly applied limits on the powers of those who govern.

Chapter Overview Constitutionalism is a general label applied to arrangements such as checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, rule of law, due process, and the Bill of Rights that force our leaders and representatives to listen, think, bargain, and explain before they act and make laws. Constitutionalism is a general label applied to arrangements such as checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, rule of law, due process, and the Bill of Rights that force our leaders and representatives to listen, think, bargain, and explain before they act and make laws. A constitutional government enforces recognized and regularly applied limits on the powers of those who govern. A constitutional government enforces recognized and regularly applied limits on the powers of those who govern.

Chapter Overview Constitutionalism is a general label applied to arrangements such as checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, rule of law, due process, and the Bill of Rights that force our leaders and representatives to listen, think, bargain, and explain before they act and make laws. Constitutionalism is a general label applied to arrangements such as checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, rule of law, due process, and the Bill of Rights that force our leaders and representatives to listen, think, bargain, and explain before they act and make laws. A constitutional government enforces recognized and regularly applied limits on the powers of those who govern. A constitutional government enforces recognized and regularly applied limits on the powers of those who govern.

Chapter Overview Democracy developed gradually. Democracy developed gradually. A revolution had to be fought before a system of representative democracy in the United States could be tried and tested. A revolution had to be fought before a system of representative democracy in the United States could be tried and tested. It took several years before a national constitution could be written, and almost another year to be ratified. It took several years before a national constitution could be written, and almost another year to be ratified. It took still another two years before a Bill of Rights could be adopted and ratified. It took still another two years before a Bill of Rights could be adopted and ratified.

Chapter Overview It has taken more than two hundred years for democratic institutions to be refined and for systems of competition and choice to be hammered out. It has taken more than two hundred years for democratic institutions to be refined and for systems of competition and choice to be hammered out. Democratic institutions such as free and fair elections and equal protection of the laws in the United States are still a work in progress, still in the process of being refined and improved. Democratic institutions such as free and fair elections and equal protection of the laws in the United States are still a work in progress, still in the process of being refined and improved.

In a democracy, government drives its authority from its a. residents. b. citizens. c. political leaders. d. business leaders.

True of false: The word Democracy is not used in the Declaration of Independence or in the Constitution. a. True b. False

Democracy as a theory of government is centered on a. The individual b. Political parties c. Interest groups d. An independent judiciary

Which of the following is not an essential condition for the establishment and maintenance of democracy? a. A relatively prosperous nation, with an equitable distribution of wealth, provides the best context for democracy. a. A relatively prosperous nation, with an equitable distribution of wealth, provides the best context for democracy. b. The exercise of voting privileges takes some level of education on the part of the citizenry. b. The exercise of voting privileges takes some level of education on the part of the citizenry. c. A nation that embraces a highly centralized government-run economy and little private ownership of property.

Framers of the Constitution favored the use of _____ rather than democracy. a. League of Nations b. Confederation c. Republic d. Monarchy

A representative democracy is commonly called a(n) a. direct democracy. b. aristocracy. c. republic. d. oligarchy.

How many presidential and midterm elections have occurred in the United States? a. 226 b. 112 c. 92 d. 104

Which of the following is not required of citizens living in a democratic political system? a. Open-mindedness b. Skepticism c. Optimism d. Unanimous participation

Power, in the American political system, is a. Concentrated in Congress b. Concentrated in the state legislatures c. Concentrated in the federal judiciary d. Fragmented

One of the following words is not at the heart of American beliefs. a. Competition b. Freedom c. Liberty d. equality

What does a constitutional democracy require? a. Active participation b. Faith in common human enterprise c. Skepticism of leaders d. All of the above

The best characterization of the framers of the Constitution would be a. Visionary idealists b. Political philosophers c. Experienced practical politicians d. Spokesmen for the average person

The Founding Fathers favored all but one of the following ideas. a. A unicameral legislature b. A strong executive c. An independent judiciary d. A more powerful Congress

To secure ratification, supporters of the Constitution promised a. Presidential veto power b. A Bill of Rights c. A federal income tax d. A Homestead Act

Adoption of the new Constitution required ratification by _____ states. a. nine b. thirteen c. ten d. seven

The biggest contribution of the Anti-federalists was ____. a. The Federalist b. The Bill of Rights c. New York’s support d. All of the above

Under the Virginia Plan, representation in both houses would be based on a. equal representation b. population c. the geographic size of a state d. the electoral college

The New Jersey Plan called for a. equal representation b. legitimacy derived from citizens, based on popular representation. b. legitimacy derived from citizens, based on popular representation. c. Congress to be given the right to tax and regulate commerce d. a bicameral legislature

The Connecticut Compromise found middle ground on the issue of a. representation b. slavery c. the court system d. the electoral college

Which compromise was between the North and South? a. Virginia Plan b. New Jersey Plan c. Connecticut Compromise d. Three-fifths Compromise

Which of the following was of least concern to Southern delegates at the Constitutional Convention? a. a desire to count slaves to enlarge its representation in Congress a. a desire to count slaves to enlarge its representation in Congress b. abolition of slavery by a northern majority in Congress b. abolition of slavery by a northern majority in Congress c. a northern majority in Congress might discriminate against southern trade

To break the deadlock over representation, the Connecticut Compromise provided that one house of Congress be based on _____; and the other on ______. a. population, equality b. seniority, strength c. popularity, loyalty d. autocracy, capital

The authors of “The Federalists,” a series of essays urging adoption of the Constitution included all but one of the following. a. Alexander Hamilton b. Thomas Jefferson c. James Madison d. John Jay

The Articles of Confederation was _______. a. A strong national government b. The way Britain ruled the colonies c. A loose friendship between the original states d. Made up of a strong president and legislature, but no judiciary