AP Government Jeopardy –
Constitutional Foundations
In
Theory
Philo- Constitut Where’s Federal- Feeling Mis-cell-ing
it
isms
“power”
any
sophical
found?
-ful
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
300
300
300
300
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300
400
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400
500
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500
Final Jeopardy! Question
Constitutional Foundations
Federalism
Direct democracy
Citizens vote to make
decisions on public
policy, directly making
law themselves
Ex: Town meetings,
referendums, initiative
In Theory
100
Representative democracy
Citizens elect
representatives who
make laws
Ex: U.S. Congress, state
legislatures
In Theory
200
Elite Theory
A small group of
people, identified by
wealth or political
power, rule in their selfinterest
In Theory
300
Pluralism
In a political culture
with multiple interest
groups, no one group
can gain ascendency to
govern, requiring
bargaining and
compromise among
groups
In Theory
400
Hyperpluralism
A situation in which
interest groups block
one another, creating
stalemate and inaction
In Theory
500
Natural rights
The concept that people
are born with and
entitled to certain rights;
championed by John
Locke who included
life, liberty, and
property ownership
among these
Philosophical 100
Social contract theory
The idea that
governmental authority
is derived from an
implicit understanding
with the governed that
imposes responsibilities
on both parties
Philosophical 200
Limited government
The idea that power of
government is restricted
to those powers that the
people have granted it,
often embodied in a
written constitution
Philosophical 300
Popular sovereignty
The idea that
government derives its
authority from the
people, who are the
ultimate rulers
Philosophical 400
Checks and Balances
Principle that each of
the three branches of
U.S. government is
subject to restraint by
the other two branches
Ex: Senate approval of
major Presidential
appointees
Philosophical 500
Articles of Confederation
Replaced by the current
constitution, as it had a
number of faults that
generally resulted from
its weak central
government
Constituting
100
Constitutional Convention
Called to rewrite the
Articles of
Confederation, but
instead wrote a new
constitution
Constituting
200
Great (Connecticut) Compromise
Compromise between
large and small states
that created a bicameral
legislature with equal
representation in the
Senate and populationbased representation in
the House
Constituting
300
Ratification of the U.S.
Constitution (1788)
Highly opposed by the
Anti-Federalists, this
required the consent of
9 of the 13 states
Constituting
400
Federalists
Led by James Madison,
Alexander Hamilton, and
John Jay; supported
ratification of the U.S.
Constitution
Constituting
500
First Amendment
Guarantees basic
freedoms: speech,
religion, press, petition,
andassembly
Where’s it
found? 100
Fourteenth Amendment
Consists of two clauses:
Due Process that extends
most of the Bill of Rights
to states, and Equal
Protection that provided
the basis for ending
discriminating practices
Where’s it
found? 200
Full Faith and Credit
Clause
States are required to
recognize the laws and
legal documents of other
states (Article IV)
Ex: birth certificates,
marriage licenses, drivers’
licenses, wills
Where’s it
found? 300
Supremacy Clause
States laws are invalid if
they contradict the U.S.
Constitution, federal laws,
or treaties (Article VI) –
Strengthened in
McCulloch v. Maryland
and Gibbons v. Ogden
Where’s it
found? 400
Commerce Clause
Basis for federal
legislation regarding civil
rights, labor relations, and
other areas only indirectly
related to trade between
the states
Where’s it
found? 500
Dual federalism
Concept that national and
state governments are
each supreme within their
own spheres of influence
Ex: U.S. government has
sole responsibility for
foreign policy
Federalisms
100
Cooperative federalism
Concept that national and
state governments share
policymaking power in
some areas
Ex: Cooperation of state
and federal governments
in building the interstate
highway system
Federalisms
200
Devolution
(New Federalism)
Giving states more
authority over use of
federal grants
Ex: Welfare reform
legislation dismantled a
federal program and gave
the power to the states
Federalisms
300
Fiscal federalism
National government grant
money is used to influence
and fund state and local
policies and programs
Federalisms
400
Mandates
Requirements imposed by
the federal government on
state and local
governments (sometimes
unfunded)
Federalisms
500
Separation of powers
Principle that powers are
divided between three
independent branches of
government, keeping any
one branch from
becoming too powerful
Feeling
“power”-ful
100
Enumerated (Delegated)
Powers
Powers specifically
granted to the federal
government by the
Constitution (Article I,
Section 8)
Ex: Power to raise an
army, print money,
regulate immigration
Feeling
“power”-ful
200
Implied Powers
Powers not specifically
granted to the federal
government, but
“necessary and proper” to
carry out listed powers
Ex: Creation of a national
bank upheld in McCulloch
v. Maryland
Feeling
“power”-ful
300
Concurrent powers
Powers granted to both the
national government and
state governments
Ex: Power to levy taxes,
borrow money, establish
courts
Feeling
“power”-ful
400
Reserved powers
Powers not specifically
granted to the national
government, nor denied to
the states (10th
Amendment)
Ex: Administer elections
Feeling
“power”-ful
500
Legislative, Judicial, &
Judicial
The three branches of the
U.S. government
Mis-cell-any
100
2/3 of Congress;
3/4 of states
Majorities –
Congressional initiation
AND states ratifying –
needed for a
constitutional amendment
Mis-cell-any
200
Block Grants
Grants given to states that
can be used for a variety
of programs in a broad
policy area; states have
considerable discretion as
to how money is spent
Mis-cell-any
300
Categorical grants
Grants not for a specific
program, but for a
specified purpose; state
defines program and has
some discretion as to how
funds are spent
Ex: “drug prevention”
funds could be used for
law enforcement,
education, rehab centers
Mis-cell-any
400
Grants-in-aid
Money provided by the
federal government for a
specific project or
program; state has little
discretion as to how funds
are spent
Mis-cell-any
500
• Why did the framers
choose federalism?
• List two advantages of
federalism.
• List two disadvantages of
federalism.
FINAL
JEOPARDY
• Preserve state government while creating a
stronger national government.
• Avoids concentration of power, keeps
government close to people, states as
“laboratories of democracy,” allows for
regional differences.
• Complexity and duplication, conflicts of
authority, inconsistency in regulations,
education, etc.
FINAL
JEOPARDY