Minnesota STATE HEARING QUESTIONS 2013–2014 Unit Four: How Have the Values and Principles Embodied in the Constitution Shaped American Institutions and Practices? Evaluate the argument in Federalist 62* that the United States needs both a House of Representatives and a Senate because large assemblies have the propensity to yield to the “single, impulse of sudden, violent passions and be seduced by factious leaders into intemperate, pernicious resolutions.” Why do you think the Constitution provides that Bills for raising revenue shall originate in the “all House of Representatives” and that the House have the sole Power of Impeachment”? “shall In your opinion has the Senate properly used or has it abused its power to review treaties and confirm nominations? What evidence can you offer to support your position? Federalist 62 in Mary E. Webster, ed. (Bellevue, WA: Merril Press, 1999), 253. The Federalist Papers in Modern Language, How does the use of committees in Congress promote or undermine the principles of representation, majority rule, and limited government? Evaluate the claim that on the floor of the Senate or House may finally determine the success or “votes failure of a proposal, but the important decisions that determine its ultimate fate have normally already been made in the committee that considered it.”* Some scholars contend that there are now too many committees and subcommittees in Congress and that they have become legislatures.”** Do you agree or disagree? Why? “little Robert A. Heineman, Steven A. Peterson, and Thomas H. Rasmussen, Second Edition (New York: American Government, McGraw Hill, 1995), 158. ** Roger Davidson and Walter J. Oleszek, Third Edition (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Congress and Its Members, Press, 1996), 1960.
Minnesota STATE HEARING QUESTIONS 2013–2014 Unit Four: How Have the Values and Principles Embodied in the Constitution Shaped American Institutions and Practices? Evaluate the argument in Federalist 62* that the United States needs both a House of Representatives and a Senate because “single, large assemblies have the propensity to yield to the impulse of sudden, violent passions and be seduced by factious leaders into intemperate, pernicious resolutions.” Why do you think the Constitution provides that “all Bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives” and that the House “shall have the sole Power of Impeachment”? In your opinion has the Senate properly used or has it abused its power to review treaties and confirm nominations? What evidence can you offer to support your position? Federalist 62 in The Federalist Papers in Modern Language, Mary E. Webster, ed. (Bellevue, WA: Merril Press, 1999), 253. How does the use of committees in Congress promote or undermine the principles of representation, majority rule, and limited government? Evaluate the claim that “votes on the floor of the Senate or House may finally determine the success or failure of a proposal, but the important decisions that determine its ultimate fate have normally already been made in the committee that considered it.”* Some scholars contend that there are now too many committees and subcommittees in Congress and that they have become “little legislatures.”** Do you agree or disagree? Why? Robert A. Heineman, Steven A. Peterson, and Thomas H. Rasmussen, American Government, Second Edition (New York: McGraw Hill, 1995), 158. ** Roger Davidson and Walter J. Oleszek, Congress and Its Members, Third Edition (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1996), 1960.
2013-Minnesota-State-Hearing-Questions-consolidated.docx