| FRQ* |
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| Explain in detail how Donald Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election. Ensure that you include a discussion of his campaign strategy, the key issues of the race, and political forces that affected the outcome. |
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| Donald Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election through a combination of targeted campaign strategies, focus on key issues, and favorable political forces. His campaign emphasized outreach to working-class voters, utilizing populist messaging to resonate with concerns about inflation, immigration, and crime. He relied heavily on social media to bypass traditional media outlets and targeted swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Key issues in the race included economic growth, border security, and concerns about urban safety, which aligned with his messaging. Political forces like partisan polarization and demographic shifts further contributed to his victory, alongside a divided opposition and strategic turnout in battleground states. |
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| Explain in detail the provisions made by the Constitutional Convention to protect the less populous states. |
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| The Constitutional Convention included several provisions to protect less populous states. The Great Compromise created a bicameral legislature, where the Senate provided equal representation for all states, regardless of size, while the House of Representatives was based on population. The Electoral College ensured that smaller states had a disproportionate influence in presidential elections. Additionally, clauses like the Commerce Clause protected states’ rights in trade matters, and the three-fifths compromise balanced representation by including enslaved populations partially in calculations. |
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| Read the following quote from Brutus and provide supporting details regarding his complaints about the federal government under articles I and II. Brutus Letter XVI April 10 1788. “John Dewitt” Letter III Nov 5 1787 Anti-Federalist Papers.” |
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| Brutus’s concerns centered on the excessive power granted to the federal government under Articles I and II. He criticized the broad taxation authority of Congress (Article I, Section 8), fearing it would diminish state sovereignty. Brutus also expressed alarm over the unilateral powers of the executive, such as control over the military and veto authority (Article II), which he believed could lead to an unchecked central authority and potential tyranny. |
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| Considering the original constitution as written in 1787, how did the founders ensure that those with political and economic power retained it? Provide 2 political examples and 2 economic samples and connect it to the source |
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| The 1787 Constitution safeguarded the power of political and economic elites through mechanisms like the Senate, which allowed state legislatures to appoint senators, and the Electoral College, which empowered elites to influence presidential elections. Economically, the Constitution protected property rights and required Congressional approval for taxation, ensuring that economic elites maintained control over financial matters. These provisions were designed to prevent excessive democratic influence and ensure stability in governance. |
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| MCQ |
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| Use the picture to answer the following question: Which of the following is best associated with this picture? |
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| - Land Ordinance of 1785 |
| - Northwest Ordinance of 1787 |
| - Fugitive Slave Clause |
| - 3/5 Compromise |
| - None of the above |
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| In the case of a 50/50 split in the Senate, party control of the body is determined by |
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| - Senate Majority Leader |
| - President of Senate Pro Tempore |
| - Whichever party wins more states in the Senate in that particular election year |
| - The Vice President |
| - None of the above |
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| Which of the following could be used to criticize the electoral College |
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| - Election of 2008 |
| - Election of 1996 |
| - Election of 2004 |
| - Election of 2016 |
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| ”Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience” - Mitt Romney, 2007 |
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| Which of the following constitutional topics was this quote about? |
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| - Full Faith and Credit Clause |
| - Privileges and Immunities Clause |
| - Religious Tests |
| - Extradition |
| - None of the Above |
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| Joe Biden tells a Republican member of the Senate that he would like to see him introduce legislation to end the Affordable Care Act because if it passes both houses of Congress, Biden will definitely sign it into law. This falls under which of the roles of the President? |
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| - Head of State |
| - Head of Government |
| - Commander in Chief |
| - Secretary of State |
| - None of the above |
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| The Senate introducing an appropriations bill would violate which of the following American constitutional principles |
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| - Separation of Powers |
| - Checks and Balances |
| - Republicanism |
| - Popular Sovereignty |
| - None of the above |
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| A constitutional amendment can be created by 2/3 of states calling for a national convention and 3/4 of state legislatures voting to approve. This is an example of which of the following constitutional principles? |
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| - Republicanism and Federalism |
| - Popular Sovereignty and Checks and Balances |
| - Checks and Balances and Republicanism |
| - Separation of Powers and Federalism |
| - None of the above |
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| Use the source to answer the next question |
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| To oppose popular Prejudices, to censure the Proceedings and expose the Improprieties of States, is an unpleasant Task—but it must be done. |
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| Our affairs seem to lead to some crisis—some Revolution—something that I cannot foresee, or conjecture. I am uneasy and apprehensive—more so, than during the War—Then we had a fixed Object, and tho the means and time of attaining it were often problematical, yet I did firmly believe that we should ultimately succeed, because I was convinced that Justice was with us. The Case is now altered—we are going and doing wrong, and therefore I look forward to Evils and Calamities, but without being able to guess at the Instrument nature or measure of them. |
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| Which of the following events will be the manifestation of Jay’s concerns? |
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| - Shays’ Rebellion |
| - The British not giving up forts in the west |
| - Constitutional Convention of 1787 |
| - Land Ordinance of 1787 |
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| Use the source to answer the next question |
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| IT HAS been already observed that the federal government ought to possess the power of providing for the support of the national forces; in which proposition was intended to be included the expense of raising troops, of building and equipping fleets, and all other expenses in any wise connected with military arrangements and operations. But these are not the only objects to which the jurisdiction of the Union, in respect to revenue, must necessarily be empowered to extend. It must embrace a provision for the support of the national civil list; for the payment of the national debts contracted, or that may be contracted; and, in general, for all those matters which will call for disbursements out of the national treasury. |
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| Considering the source, which of the following would Hamilton agree with? |
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| - Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 |
| - Article 1 Section 8 Clause 3 |
| - Article 1 section 8 Clause 5 |
| - Article 1 section 8 Clause 6 |
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| Use the source to answer the next questions |
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| The great art, therefore, in forming a good constitution, appears to be this, so to frame it, as that those to whom the power is committed shall be subject to the same feelings, and aim at the same objects as the people do, who transfer to them their authority. There is no possible way to effect this but by an equal, full and fair representation; this, therefore, is the great desideratum in politics. However fair an appearance any government may make, though it may possess a thousand plausible articles and be decorated with ever so many ornaments, yet if it is deficient in this essential principle of a full and just representation of the people, it will be only like a painted sepulcher—For, without this it cannot be a free government; let the administration of it be good or ill, it still will be a government, not according to the will of the people, but according to the will of a few. |
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| Considering the source, which of the following would Brutus be most likely to support? |
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| - The Senate |
| - The Electoral College |
| - The Virginia Plan |
| - The 3/5 Compromise |
| - Necessary and Proper Clause |
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| Sabrina gets married in New Jersey and then moves to Idaho. The fact that Idaho may acknowledge Sabrina’s marital status is reflected in which of the following? |
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| - Full Faith and Credit Clause |
| - Privileges and Immunities Clause |
| - Scope of Judicial Power |
| - Bill of Attainder |
| - None of the above |
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| Sabrina is also a fisherman on the Delaware River. However, the state of Pennsylvania recently passed legislation banning out of state fisherman from landing their watercraft on public land in Pennsylvania. Sabrina files a lawsuit claiming that the state has violated which of the following? |
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| - Full Faith and Credit Clause |
| - Privileges and Immunities Clause |
| - Scope of Judicial Power |
| - Bill of Attainder |
| - None of the above |
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| Government shutdown due to insufficient funding is created from the inability to pass which of the following |
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| - Bill of Attainder |
| - Full Faith and Credit Bill |
| - Budget Bill |
| - Balanced Budget |
| - None of the above |