American Politics Today - Essentials (3rd Ed)

STUDY GUIDE|^53

KEY TERMS

enumerated powers (p. 47)

implied powers (p. 47)

CRITICAL THINKING AND DISCUSSION

Should the Constitution be a “living document” that evolves
with the values and norms of our society, or should interpre-
tation of the Constitution follow more closely the original
intentions of the framers?

PRACTICE QUIZ QUESTIONS

13. Which route for proposing a constitutional amend-
    ment has been used for all successful amendments to
    date?
    a) approval by two-thirds of the members of Congress
    b) approval by a national convention
    c) approval by two-thirds of the state legislatures
    d) approval by the Supreme Court
    e) approval by the president


14. After an amendment is successfully proposed, what
    step must occur in order for it to become part of the
    Constitution?
    a) signature by the president
    b) approval by a popular vote

c) ratifi cation by three-fourths of the states

d) nullifi cation by all 50 state legislatures

e) a national referendum vote

15. Which part of government often defi nes the boundar-
    ies of implied powers?
    a) the president
    b) the Supreme Court
    c) the bureaucracy
    d) the Congress
    e) the people

S PRACTICE ONLINE

“Big Think” video exercise: The Challenge of Constitu-

tional Interpretation

SUGGESTED READING

Balkin, Jack M., ed. The Constitution in 2020. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2009.
Currie, David P. The Constitution of the United States: A Primer for
the People, 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
Dahl, Robert A. How Democratic Is the American Constitution?
New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2001.
Davis, Sue. Corwin and Peltason’s Understanding the Constitution,
17th ed. Boston: Wadsworth Publishing, 2007.
Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, and John Jay. The Federalist
Papers. 1788. Reprint, 2nd ed., edited by Roy P. Fairfi eld.
Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1981.

Ketcham, Ralph. The Anti-Federalist Papers and the

Constitutional Convention Debates. New York: Signet Classics,

2003.

Kurland, Philip B., and Ralph Lerner, eds. The Founders’

Constitution. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987.

Rossiter, Clinton. 1787: The Grand Convention. New York:

Macmillan, 1966.

Sunstein, Cass R. Designing Democracy: What Constitutions Do.

New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.

Wood, Gordon S. The Creation of the American Republic.

New York: Norton, 1969.