Describe voter eligibility at the time the Constitution was adopted and assess how democratic this new government was. Describe the amendments to the U.S
Constitution that have made the United States more democratic and that are not part of the Bill of Rights.
What will be an ideal response?
An ideal response will:
1) Explain that the states determine voter eligibility.
2) Describe the franchise at the time the Constitution was ratified as being restricted to white, male landowners.
3) Explain how five post-BillofRights amendments have expanded suffrage, thereby making the United States more democratic.Specifically, the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) prohibited race-based voter discrimination, the Nineteenth Amendment (1920) guaranteed women the right to vote, the Twenty-third Amendment (1961) expanded the right to vote in presidential elections to the residents of the District of Columbia, the Twenty-fourth Amendment expanded the franchise to the poor by eliminating poll taxes, and the Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971) lowered the voting age to 18 .
4) Note that the Seventeenth Amendment also made the United States more democratic by allowing for the direct election of U.S. senators.
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Republicans dominated presidential elections in the 1970s and 1980s
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
The goal of the Pendleton Act and the Hatch Act was to ______.
a. increase presidential control over the executive branch of government b. reduce political influence over federal government employees c. increase political participation by federal government employees d. increase congressional control over federal government employees e. increase party influence over federal government employees
The U.S. Senate was created as a slower, more deliberative body in which legislation is forced to proceed at a more thoughtful pace. What is a primary reason for this design?
A) to prevent the U.S. House of Representatives from originating any bills B) to protect against radical shifts in government that result from swift changes in popular opinion C) to protect legislation from a presidential veto D) to make sure that the legislation is enforceable E) the arrangement was not by design, but evolved over time
Constitutionally, what is the only role given to the vice president?
a. preside over the House of Representatives b. preside over the Senate c. implement executive orders d. formulate foreign policy