Ch 5 Questions

1)   What are the ways a person can automatically become or is considered a U.S. citizen?

a.     –Born on US soil

b.     American citizens for parents

2)   Why was the 14th Amendment necessary?

a.     All races born in US made citizen

b.     Necessary because it made African-American’s citizens, which they were not before.

3)   How can a person become a citizen by Naturalization?  What are the steps?

a.     A person must go through a series of steps to become a citizen and have met certain requirements.

                                               i.     Applicant must file a petition requesting citizenship

                                              ii.     Investigation and preliminary hearing that the Immigration & Naturalization Service conducts

1.     Test of qualifications ie moral character

2.     Two people who know this person must testify

3.     Maybe English test

4.     Questioned about US history/government

                                            iii.     Final hearing in Federal court & take oath

1.     Requires person to renounce previous governments

4)   How can a person lose citizenship?

a.     Giving up one’s citizenship by leaving one’s native country to live in foreign country

b.     Punishment for a certain federal crime

c.      If there is a person going through the naturalization process commits fraud/deception or if person joins a totalitarian organization less than five years after citizenship is awarded

CH4 Qs

Q.         What are some powers denied by the constitution? Answer on both a national and state level.

A.         -Denied powers of National Government: Not allowed to tax exports, cannot interefere w/ the ability of states to carry out their responsibilities,

-Denied powers of the State Government: can’t make treaties with other countries, cannot coin money, must have congressional approval to collect duties  on exports or imports and to make agreements with other states

Q.         What is a policy?

A.         -A stated course of action.

Q.         How does federalism affect public policy making?

A.         -It affects how and where new policies are made in the United States.

            -It introduces limits on government policy making.

What is the process of admitting a new state?

Congress must first pass an enabling act, which, after being signed by the president, allows the people of a territory to write a constitution. Once approved, the state can be admitted into the union and is equal to the other states.

What are inherent powers?

They are the powers the national government automatically gets because it is A government.

What relations must the government establish?

            Diplomatic.

What kind of government must the states be given?

            Republican.

What must the national government protect states against?

            Invasion and domestic violence.

Why can the government not turn Alaska into multiple states?

It must respect territorial integrity and get permission from Alaska before breaking it into states.

When can the president send troops to the states?

When national laws are being violated, federal property is being threatened, federal responsibilities are being interfered with, or if/when state governments request it.

What is the supremacy clause?

No state law or state constitution may conflict with any form of national law.

Who do state powers belong to?

State powers belong to states governments.

What amendment gives the states powers?

The tenth amendment gives states their powers.

What are some things states have done with their powers?

Regulated public school systems, established local governments, etc.

What are three expressed powers in the Constitution?

Power to make war, levy taxes, and raise a military.

Give one example of why expressed powers are important.

Expressed powers are important cause they allow the Federal Government to defend the country without specific states approval-quickly.

How does the Federal Government control trade?

It regulates trade between states so no inequalities or feuds cause a lack in another state. Also prevents states from trading with enemies of the US.

Why does the Federal Government coin money instead of individual states?

The stability of a currency is much greater with more resources, thus worth more-so by having the entire US on our currency, it allows greater wealth.

What is the clause for implied powers?

Necessary and proper

Name two examples of implied powers?

Two implied powers: power to draft people into the armed forces, development of space program

How does the regulation of nuclear power plants come under Federal jurisdiction?

The Federal Government could decide that it should regulate the safety aspect of npp thus basically controlling it. It would be of Federal interest because it is a public health and safety matter.

American Citizenship

What does it mean to be an American citizen? What responsibilities come with it?

American citizens are duty bound to practice their fundamental right – listed in the Bill of Rights. Ideally every citizen has the right to express themselves, in a non-violent way, as they please. People are expected to do what will benefit themselves often via their country, including voting for the public officials they deem best suited. All Americans over eighteen are guaranteed the right to vote.

Citizens are obligated, or privileged, to be tried in the US court system. They must follow all laws, rules, and regulations of the government or be faced with court. However, they do have the right to try and change the law, directly or indirectly. Officially to protect American interests, males are required to register with the military and serve if a draft is enacted. The idea behind this is if the government is to act by it’s citizens will, they must have willing people to work accordingly for the goals.

            The are three paths to being an American Citizen; you must be born in the US or it’s possessions, have an American parent, or gain citizenship by residence in America and certain tests.

Ch. 2 Sec. 2 Questions #2-5

2. Identify the clause of the Constitution that nationalists use to support their interpretation of federalism

-Necessary & Proper clause – explains Congress has the right to adopt any powers necessary to carry out its duties and powers

3.Explain the circumstances of the emergence of the nationalist position the Supreme court now favors

-The 1930s era of the Great Depression is where many nationalistic policies came into action. Poverty and economic downtown gripped much of America. To combat all of the internal problems, FDR started many agencies and programs to promote growth and general welfare. The court at first ruled many unconstitutional, but as the Depression grew worse, they reversed their position.

4.List three constitutional provisions that have been the basis for the tremendous growth of the national government.

            -Necessary & Proper Clause

            -War Power – ability to wage war

            -Commerce Power – regulation of commerce

5. How did the Depression of the 1930s affect the relative power of the states and national governments?

            -The Great depression adversely affected states power because it gave the national government more power via social welfare and economic growth policies. The instillation of these agencies and policies undermined the states power and increased the federal government because they made sweeping, all encompassing changes across the nation to combat the Depression.

Ch. 4 Sections 3 & 4 Notes

Ch. 4 Sec. 3: Relations Among the States

1.     Interstate Relations

a.     Must give full faith and credit to the laws, records, and court decisions of other state

                                               i.     Civil law – relates to disputes within groups/states/individuals

                                              ii.     This often applies to state-run/private institutions such as schools and universities – they can charge a higher price or not let them attend

b.     Give one another’s citizens all the privileges and immunities of its own citizens

                                               i.     This means they can’t unreasonably discriminate against other states’ residents

                                              ii.     However, they can do certain things like preventing voting or running for public position until a certain amount of time has passed

c.      Must extradite all criminals and fugitives who flee across state lines to escape justice

                                               i.     Prevents criminals from simply fleeing to a different state and not having done any crimes there, be free without punishment

d.     Interstate Compacts

                                               i.     Agreements made by states to settle interstate disputes without force, often dealing with land ect. that is in between states

                                              ii.     Deals with conservation, pollution, fishery, oil ect

e.     Lawsuits between states

                                               i.     When states are unable to solve a disagreement with a compact, they take each other to court

2.     Admission of New States

a.     Congress admits new states

                                               i.     Enabling act – enables people of the territory to make a constitution then Congress decides on it

b.     Conditions for Admission

                                               i.     Can require changes to the constitution

                                              ii.     Can be circumvented by changing the states constitution then after it is admitted, amending it immediately

c.      Equality of States

                                               i.     All states are equal once admitted to the union

Ch. 4 Sec. 4: Federalism and Political Life

1.     Federalism and Public Policy

a.     Policy – a stated course of action

                                               i.     Federalism Affects policy making

1.     How & where policies are made

2.     Introduces limits on government policy-making

3.     Sunset laws – require periodic checks of government agencies to see if they are still needed

                                              ii.     States/Cities often serve as guinea pigs for bigger federal change

1.     California passed air pollution laws, Congress later passed air pollution laws

                                            iii.     Policy at national level

1.     Forcing states to change policy/laws (albeit indirectly) ex. African American cause in 1960s

b.     Federalism and Political Parties

                                               i.     Each political party has the opportunity to win some elections somewhere in the system

                                              ii.     Prevents only one party from controlling the government

2.     Political Participation

a.     Many Opportunities

                                               i.     Federalism makes many levels of government increasing # of people needed to run it

                                              ii.     Allows change at many levels because there is place provided to vote on issues or influence them

                                            iii.     Working with interest groups – can petition the local government, increase support for a certain issue

b.     Increasing Chances of Success

                                               i.     Attack smaller area of politics allows people to influence their direct representatives

c.      Federalism’s Professional Politicians

                                               i.      Since 1960s more public policy has been introduces by government officials

                                              ii.     Theoretically: Expertise in certain area = better policy

3.     Differences Among States

a.     Federalism allows difference on a local/state level allowing for specialization/internal affairs control

                                               i.     Tax level, criminal law, laws

National & State Government

1.     Division of Powers – Federalism between state & fed

a.     Delegated Powers - 3 types of powers

                                               i.     Expressed

1.     Directly stated in Constitution

2.     Power to levy taxes

3.     To coin money

4.     To make war

5.     Raise and army

6.     Regulate commerce between states

                                              ii.     Implied

1.     Basis for Implied powers – ‘Necessary and Proper’ Clause – for unforeseen issues

2.     Power to draft people into armed forces

3.     Regulate nuclear power plants

4.     Development of space program

                                            iii.     Inherent

1.     Regulate immigration

2.     Establish diplomatic relations

                                            iv.     State Government Powers – Reserved Powers

1.     All powers not delegated by the Constitution to US or individuals

2.     Requirement of licenses

3.     Regulate public schools

4.     Establish local governments

                                              v.     The Supremacy Clause

1.     Makes US Fed supreme over actions of states

2.     State law/constitution cannot conflict w/ Federal law

                                            vi.     Concurrent Powers

1.     State & Federal powers

2.     Collect taxes

3.     Define crimes

4.     Maintain courts

                                           vii.     Denied Powers

1.     Denied to all levels of government

2.     Cannot tax exports

3.     Cannot grant titles of nobility

                                         viii.     Obligations to States

1.     Must guarantee republican governments to states

2.     Must protect states from invasion/domestic violence

3.     Must send federal troops if needed

a.     This has been done in response to protests & riots

4.     Must defend federal property  - mail system

5.     Stop officials/states from disobeying federal government

6.     Duty to respect states lands – the creation of a new state from an old state land without permission from state

                                            ix.     Obligations of the States

1.     Conduct & pay for all elections, including federal ones

2.     Play a key role in the amendment process

b.     Supreme Court (as Umpire)

                                               i.     Supreme court interprets constitution and applies it to conflicts between National & State governments