FRQ practice

Name __________________________________

1) In the Federalist paper number 10, James Madison expressed concern over the possibility that both majority and minority factions would have too much power over government, and he presented ways of minimizing the danger.  The United States Constitution established a democratic government but also contained several provisions that limited majority rule.  Throughout the next two centuries, the role of majority rule in the United States government and politics continues to change.

a) Identify the part of the national government that was originally most closely tied to citizens and explain how it was tied to citizens.

b) Explain two ways the United States Constitution limited majority rule.

2) The Constitution was an attempt to address problems of decentralization that were experienced under the Articles of Confederation.

a) List three problems of decentralized power that existed under the Articles of Confederation.  For each problem you listed, identify one solution that the Constitution provided to address the problem.

3) The United States Constitution has endured for more than two centuries as the framework of our government. However, the meaning of the Constitution has been changed both by formal and informal methods.

a. Identify two formal methods for adding amendments to the Constitution.

b. Describe two informal methods that have been used to change the meaning of the Constitution. Provide ONE specific example for each informal method you described.