| 1.
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Identify the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and explain
how our current Constitution was intended to remedy each. (I)
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| 2.
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Explain the founders' application of the principles of federalism,
separation of power, republicanism, and constitutional protections of
civil liberties in terms of their fear of potential governmental abuse
of authority. (I)
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| 3.
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Describe the founders' reasons for creating a republican rather than a
more purely democratic form of government. (I)
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| 4.
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Explain the importance of Marbury v. Madison and the constitutional
role of the courts. (I)
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| 5.
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Describe the increased frequency with which the post World War II
Court has employed its authority of judicial review to reinterpret the
Constitution, and identify and explain the political controversy which
has followed. (I)
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| 6.
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Describe the constitutional and political limitations on the Court's
powers. (I)
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| 7.
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Explain how the bicameral organization of Congress is rooted in
compromise between the large and small states at the Constitutional
Convention. (II)
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| 8.
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Identify the vast array of legislative and economic powers which are
explicitly granted to the Congress in Article I. (II)
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| 9.
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Explain how the Court's ruling in McCullock v. Maryland broadly
expanded Congress's authority. (II)
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| 10.
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Identify the explicit limitations on Congress's power included in
Article I. (II)
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| 11.
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Explain the evolution of writs of habeas corpus as the tool the courts
chose to nationalize the Bill of Rights. (II)
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| 12.
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Explain the process of presidential election, including the role of:
political parties, winner-take-all state elections, and the electoral
college. (II)
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| 13.
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Compare and contrast the vast difference between the foreign affairs
and domestic powers granted to the president in Article II. (II)
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| 14.
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Describe the modern struggle between the President and the Congress
over the distribution of the "war powers", and explain the Court's
position on this controversy. (II)
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| 15.
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Explain the constitutional restrictions on the relationships between
states, and between states and citizens of other states. (II)
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| 16.
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Explain the procedures for amending the Constitution. (II)
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| 17.
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Explain how the Bill of Rights was born of the politics of
ratification in 1790. (III)
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| 18.
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Provide a constitutional definition of civil liberties. (III)
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| 19.
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Explain how the 19th century Court created, and then preserved, a
"dual citizenship" interpretation of the Bill of Rights. (III)
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| 20.
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Describe the ruling which establishes the constitutional separation
between church and state. (III)
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| 21.
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Explain the difference between constitutional protection of religious
belief and practice. (III)
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| 22.
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Describe the emphasis which the Court has placed on limiting any
governmental regulation of "political speech." (III)
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| 23.
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Identify and explain the "constitutional" limitations on speech. (III)
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| 24.
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Define the exclusionary rule, and describe its role in nationalizing
the Bill of Rights. (III)
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| 25.
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Define the difference between substantive and procedural due process.
(III)
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| 26.
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Explain how the doctrine of substantive due process has expanded the
scope of the Supreme Court's power. (III)
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| 27.
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Define eminent domain. (III)
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| 28.
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Describe the constitutional conflict over the definition and
consequences of "regulatory takings." (III)
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| 29.
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Define civil rights. (IV)
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| 30.
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Describe the constitutional consequences of the Court's redefinition
of equality in Brown v. the Board of Education. (IV)
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| 31.
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Define affirmative action. (IV)
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| 32.
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Explain the rationale behind affirmative action programs which benefit
the "victims" of historic discrimination. (IV)
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| 33.
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Describe the constitutional controversy surrounding affirmative
action. (IV)
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