Essay Questions
1. The legislative branch of the American government is bicameral. In a minimum of at least two well-written paragraphs, define and discuss the advantages of a bicameral legislature, including how and why this came about. Reference should be made to the Great Compromise.
2. Twenty-seven amendments have been added to the U.S. Constitution. Obviously, all are important, in their own way. However, you will select three amendments, and in a minimum of three paragraphs, you will discuss why you believe each of these amendments is of primary importance either to you, as an individual, or to the nation.
3. You have studied the legislative branch of government and the wide range of powers held by the House of Representatives and the Senate. List five powers or duties of one or both houses of Congress and discuss each of the five, in a few descriptive sentences.
4. You have studied the legislative branch of government and the wide range of powers held by the House of Representatives and the Senate. List five powers or duties of one or both houses of Congress and discuss each of the five, in a few descriptive sentences.
5. You have studied the judicial branch of government, with emphasis on the Supreme Court, and the rulings they have made which have had wide-ranging effects on everyone in America. You will select two Supreme Court cases, which you believe have impacted American history and society. For each of the cases you will:
A. Describe the background of each of the two cases - the reason a case was brought to the Supreme Court.
B. Describe the constitutional issue(s) - the specific area of the constitution involved in the case.
C. Describe the decision reached by the Supreme Court.
6. Major factors in the system of American government are the political parties and their roles and functions within the system. In a minimum of three well-written paragraphs, discuss the roles and functions/purpose of the political parties as they currently operate within the system.
7. The annual federal budget is the plan for obtaining and expending revenue of the federal government. In a minimum of two paragraphs, describe the source(s) of government revenue and the types of expenditures in the typical federal budget.