CPS_AmerGov_3FAF_CS6_23-24

Which concept was at the center of the Anti-Federalist position as expressed in the 'Anti-Federalist Papers'?

• Standing army

• Limited government

• Checks and balances

• Strong central government

Why did the Federalists want to include the Necessary and Proper Clause in the Constitution?

• To give citizens more opportunities to select government officials

• To allow the national government the power to effectively run the country

• To provide a guarantee of sovereignty to individual states

• To protect the individual liberties of all citizens

Answer explanation

The Necessary and Proper Clause is also known as the Elastic Clause. Anti-Federalists argued this would allow the Federal government to abuse their power.

The following statements reflect positions taken by which group of people?

1. The supremacy clause places too

much power in the national government.

2. 2. The inclusion of the bill of rights is

   necessary to protect against government

   intrusion.

3. 3. The powers of the national government

   should be clearly defined and limited relative

   to the powers of the state governments.

 

• Anti-Federalists

• Federalists

Prior to the ratification of the US Constitution, Federalists and Anti-Federalists argued over the basic principles and limits in the role of the government. The quotations shown reflect those arguments. Use your knowledge of Federalists v. Anti-Federalists to identify which group held each of the positions shown.

In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allowed to each subdivided among distinct and separate departments. Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself.

• Anti-Federalist

• Federalist

Based on their arguments during the ratification debate, which statement describes what the Anti-Federalists would have thought about the Force Bill?

• Anti-Federalists would have sided with Congress and President Jackson because they opposed trading with other countries.

• Anti-Federalists would have sided with South Carolina because they opposed having an overly powerful federal government.

• Anti-Federalists would have sided with Congress and President Jackson because they supported increased power for state governments.

• Anti-Federalists would have sided with South Carolina because they supported the principle of absolute power.

What was an Anti-Federalist concern about the US Constitution that was addressed by this amendment?

• The Constitution would produce state courts that were more powerful than federal courts.

• The Constitution failed to adequately protect the civil liberties of individuals.

• The Constitution would reduce the power of the federal government.

• The Constitution failed to give sufficient powers to the executive branch.

Which viewpoint does this excerpt demonstrate? If the new Constitution be examined with accuracy and candor [honesty], it will be found that the change which it proposes consists much less in the addition of NEW POWERS to the Union, than the invigoration of its ORIGINAL POWERS. . . . The powers relating to war and peace, armies and fleets, treaties and finance, with the other more considerable powers, are all vested in the existing Congress by the articles of Confederation. The proposed change does not enlarge these powers/ it only substitutes a more effectual mode of administering them.

• The Federalist viewpoint that federal law should be supreme to state law when they conflict

• The Anti-Federalist viewpoint that a powerful national government poses a threat to the civil liberties of individual citizens

• The Anti-Federalist viewpoint that the Constitution should grant state governments the power to overturn laws at the national level

• The Federalist viewpoint that the Constitution will address the weaknesses of the prior system of government