Potential Follow-Up Questions for Unit 4 - We the People
Unit Four: How Have the Values and Principles Embodied in the Constitution Shaped
American Institutions and Practices?

What are some of the powers denied to the Congress in Article I, Section 9?

What is the difference between “enumerated powers” and “implied powers”? How is this related to
the difference between “strict interpretation” and “broad interpretation”?

What checks are there on the legislative branch?

What is the importance of the committee system in Congress?

In what ways have political parties made Congress better organized? What negative impacts have
parties had on Congress?

What is meant by the common good? What are some examples of the laws that promote the common
good? Issues that involve the public good?

How do the Senate and House of Representatives differ?

A recent poll showed that only 8% of Americans approve of the job that Congress is doing. Why do
you think people have so little faith in Congress, and what can Congress do to improve its reputation?

Explain why the writ of habeas corpus was deemed so important by the Framers that they included it
in the body of the Constitution.

What is legislative supremacy?

Why is the Civil Rights Act of 1964 considered to be landmark legislation?

What are some other examples of landmark legislation?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (more popularly known as Obamacare) was the
subject of a recent Supreme Court case. Why did some argue the law was unconstitutional? Do you
agree or disagree?

Who are some of the more important members of today’s U.S. Congress?

What are some of the more important committees in the Congress?

Why is the rules committee so important in the House of Representatives?

Is it desirable for members of Congress to vote according to their conscience even it conflicts with the
majority opinion of the people they represent?

Why do you think the Congressional power to impeach and remove officials has been used so
sparingly over the years?
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Potential Follow-Up Questions for Unit 4 - We the People

What is a filibuster? Do you agree or disagree with some who believe the filibuster is being used too
often in modern times, or even abused?

What do you think are some of the most important pieces of legislation passed by Congress in recent
years?

How would you rate your current representatives in the House and Senate?

What are some of the important differences between the U.S. Congress and the Washington
Legislature?

What are some examples of powers that are shared between the President and Congress?

Why did the Framers believe that an “energetic executive” was needed?

How can the Congress check the exercise of presidential power?

On what constitutional grounds did President Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation? Why did
the Emancipation Proclamation not free all the slaves?

What in colonial history made the framers fearful of creating a stronger executive branch? Do you
think those fears were founded?

How can public opinion affect presidential power?

Mass media, such as the news, tend to focus on the person of the President rather than the Congress.
Do you think this has thrown off the balance of power?

Framers initially considered a 7-year term for the President without re-election. Do you think this
would have been a wiser idea?

What factors have necessitated many presidents to take a more broad view of presidential powers
since the early years of the republic?

What powers does the executive have that are not enumerated powers? Are they implied powers?

Who were some of our greatest Presidents, and what made them great?

Who were some of our worst Presidents, and why would you describe them as being some of the
worst?

What are some of the most important executive departments, and what are their responsibilities?

What checks are there on the executive branch?

What is an executive order and why has the use of executive orders greatly increased?
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Potential Follow-Up Questions for Unit 4 - We the People

On what constitutional grounds did President Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation? Why did
the Emancipation Proclamation not free all the slaves?

What are executive orders? In what way are they different from legislation? Give some examples of
executive orders.

Article II, Section 1, gives the president “executive Power” but does not define what that power is.
What other provisions of Article II give an indication of what the Framers meant by executive power?

The Constitution spells out the oath of office for the president. What powers and responsibilities flow
from the words in the oath?

Who were the members of George Washington’s cabinet?

Describe some administrative agencies and the ways in which they impact our daily lives?

What are some of the most important executive departments, and what are their responsibilities?

Should presidential authority be expanded in a time of war?

Is there any power the Executive has that is ultimately not checked? What about pardons?

What was the purpose of the War Powers Resolution passed by Congress in the 1970’s? Many
believe it has not been effective in limiting presidential powers. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

What proceedings, if any, should be conducted in secret? How does this relate to the doctrine of
“executive privilege”?

What powers are denied to the states by the Constitution?

Traditionally, education and health care were issues that state governments dealt with. Is the federal
government overstepping its authority by getting involved in these issues?

Who are some of the more effective leaders of our political system today?

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a federal system of government.

What does the term sovereignty mean? Where does sovereignty does sovereignty reside in different
systems of government?

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages to a federal form of government?

What does the term sovereignty mean? Where does sovereignty does sovereignty reside in different
systems of government?

What sort of system did the Constitution establish? How did it combine aspects of both the unitary
and confederate systems?
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Potential Follow-Up Questions for Unit 4 - We the People

In what ways can the federal government influence state laws and the actions of state governments?
Are these methods of influence appropriate?

Why did the Founders establish a confederate form of government upon declaring independence from
Great Britain?

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of a confederate form of government?

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages to a federal form of government?

How did the case of McCullough v. Maryland affect the division of powers between federal and state
governments?

What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment? How has it been important to the maintenance of
federalism?

How has the 14th Amendment impacted the relationship between the federal and state governments?

Do you believe that the United Nations could correctly be termed a confederation? Explain why?

What are the reasons for the growth in the power of the federal government as compared to the states?

How does Congress use the “power of the purse” to influence state governments?

At times U.S. laws and State laws conflict with one another. Issues such as same-sex marriage,
medical marijuana, marijuana legalization and others are legal in some states, but are not recognized
or outlawed by federal law. How should such issues be resolved?

Has the growth in power of the Federal government at the expense of the state destroyed the original
intention of the Framers?

James Madison believed that State governments were more likely to fall victim to the negative effects
of factions than would the national government. Has American history shown his concern to have
been a valid one? Explain.

Which branch of the national government do you believe has had the greatest impact on limiting the
independence in state government in recent years, the Congress, Presidency, or Supreme Court?

What are some examples of areas of government that are traditionally left up to the states? What areas
of government are the responsibilities of the federal government?

Has the growth in power of the Federal government at the expense of the state destroyed the original
intention of the Framers?
Other General Unit 4 Questions:
 What checks are there on the judicial branch?
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Potential Follow-Up Questions for Unit 4 - We the People

Can you describe the difference between judicial activism and judicial restraint? What are the
different ways in which the Constitution may be interpreted?

What is the difference between a broad construction or a narrow construction of the constitution?
Which of these did Chief Justice John Marshall adhere to?

What are some of the most important cases decided by the Supreme Court?

Name several current or recent members of the Supreme Court and evaluate the job they have done on
the court.

There has been more controversy involved with interpreting certain parts of the Constitution as
opposed to others. What are some parts of the Constitution that have provided the Court with its
greatest challenges?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an independent judiciary that we have under our
Federal Constitution, as opposed to a system of popularly elected judges that we have in the State of
Washington?

Does the power of judicial review, as it is exercised today, give too much power to the Courts? Why
or why not?

Can you describe a recent example of the use of judicial review that you agree or disagree with?

Should cameras be allowed to cover the proceedings of the Supreme Court? Why or why not?

What is the difference between “enumerated powers” and “implied powers”? How is this related to
the difference between “strict interpretation” and “broad interpretation”?

What is the importance of the committee system in Congress?

What are some of the powers denied to the Congress in Article I, Section 9?

How might a trial by a jury of your peers keep governments from abusing their powers?
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