Chapter 12 Study Guide

State Government

1. What is a federal system and how is it unequal?

2. What limitations does the U.S. Constitution place on State powers?
3. What does the 10th Amendment of the U.S. establish?
4. Explain the Supremacy Clause(where it’s found, what it does, when has it been
used)
5. What is the danger of the “necessary and proper” clause?
6. Which government do you think people like best, state or federal? Why?
7. What is one method the Federal government uses to get involved in State affairs?
Hint: It’s tied to money.
8. What does Article IV make states do?
9. Define unicameral and apportion.
10. How is a state governor’s veto power greater than the U.S. President’s?
11. Create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast state and federal powers.
12. What problems were being addressed in the Supreme Court case Baker v. Carr
and the case Reynolds v. Sims? What was the court’s ultimate decision?
13. Memorize the following facts about the State of Alabama:
a. Alabama has had 6 Constitutions.
b. The last Constitution was ratified in 1901.
c. President of the Alabama Constitutional Convention of 1901 was John B.
Knox of Anniston.
d. County delegates to the Convention were John Thomas Martin
(Jacksonville); William Wallace Whiteside(Anniston).
e. Article 1 of the Alabama Constitution deals with individual rights and has
36 sections.
f. Alabama Constitution Article 1 section 2 reads “That all political power is
inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their
authority, and instituted for their benefit: and that, therefore, they have at
all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to change their form of
government in such a manner as they may deem expedient.
g. Article III distributes government power to 3 branches; legislative,
executive, and judicial
h. Alabama may have no more than 35 Senators and no more than 105
members of the House of Representatives.
i. Under Article IV section 56: Members of the legislature shall, inb all
cases, except treason, felony, violation of their oath of office, and breach
of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the
session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the
same; and for any speech or debate in either house shall not be questioned
in any other place.
j. Article V gives the executive branch (Governor)it’s power
k. Article VI gives the Court it’s power
l. Under Article VI section 182 idiots are prohibited from voting.
m. There are 799 amendments to the Alabama Constitution.