C2

1. Polling team: script writer or graphics guru
2.  For the graphics guru, I would be good at gathering the information needed to help the team. I would be able to present the information in a manner that is understandable to both the polling team and the media team as a whole. For the script writer, I would be able to write a variety of questions, both partial and impartial, that will help the media team understand the interests of the electorate.

C1

1.
Economic left/right: -5.12
Social libertarian/ authoritarian: -4.46

2. For some of the questions, I was between agree and disagree, which made it harder to pick an answer.

B9

A system of government where power is shared between the state and national government is a:

a. unitary system

b. federal system

c. confederation

d. none of the above

B7

A.
1. Both the national and state governments check each other, so one branch won’t become too powerful.
2. A unitary government would make it much easier to manage the states. It would be easier to pass laws without much conflict. The states would be more united if they were under a unitary government.

 

B. 

1. The national government has the right to declare war. The states are united and one country, so they should declare war as one country, instead of certain states declaring war.

2. The states have the power to establish local governments. The state would have a better idea of local concerns that should be dealt with when forming the governments.

3. Both the state and national government can make and enforce laws. Laws should reflect each state’s individual and local concerns, while also having national laws that reflect the concerns of the whole country.

C.

1. Supremacy of the national government over the states. The supremacy clause, which is in article VI, is most important to this principle.

2. The second principle is that the national government has certain implied powers that go beyond its enumerated powers.  The elastic clause, which is the last paragraph of article I of the constitution, refers to the national government’s implied powers.

D. 

1. The full faith and credit clause requires each state to recognize the official documents and civil judgments that have been carried out by the courts of other states. Congress permits states to disregard gay marriages, even if they are legal in other states.

2. The privileges and immunities clause gives citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other states. An exception would be higher college tuition for out of state students.

 

B6

a.       An amendment can be formally proposed if there is a 2/3 vote in both houses of congress. It can be formally ratified by state legislatures by a vote of 3/4 of the states.

b.      Judicial interpretation is an informal method of changing the constitution. This gives the courts the right to decide whether actions by the executive and legislative branches are constitutional or not. An example would be the court case of Brown v. Board of Education. The Supreme Court decided that segregation was unconstitutional, and allowed the integration of public schools. Changing political practice is another informal method of changing the constitution. When a political practice is changed, it causes the constitution to have new meaning. An example would the formation of political parties. When the constitution was created, there were no political parties, and there were no stated powers in the constitution for parties. Once they developed in the 1800s, parties played a major role in making laws.

c.       The informal method is an easier and faster process than the formal method of changing the constitution. It is more convenient when there are needs that are urgent or demanding. 

B3

The National Security Agency is prohibited from creating surveillance programs that violate privacy rights, unless authorization is given. This includes the surveillance of emails, phone calls, and any data that can be found electronically.  

B2

1. When it is time to separate from our government, and become independent, it is important to say why we want independence.
2. The intended audience is King George III and the British parliament. It was written to explain why the colonies wanted to separate from the government and gain their independence.
3. The colonies decided to separate because they believed their rights had been taken away; King George had given them no power. He was also passing laws they believed to be unfair.