Glencoe Social Studies U.S. Government: Democracy in Action

Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 6
Unit 7
Unit 8
Unit 9

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4

Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7

Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

Chapter 11
Chapter 12

Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15

Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19

Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22

Chapter 23
Chapter 24

Chapter 25
Chapter 26

• Chapter Overview

• Student Web Activities

• Self-Check Quizzes

• Interactive Tutor

• Chapter Overview

• Student Web Activities

• Student Web Activities

• Student Web Activities

• Self-Check Quizzes

• Interactive Tutor

U.S. Government: Democracy in Action 2002

Glencoe Social Studies U.S. Government: Democracy in Action

Chapter 4: The Federal System
"American Federalism"

Introduction
In this chapter you have studied the division of powers between the state and national governments, the evolution of American federalism, and how federalism impacts politics. This activity takes a closer look at the formation of the United States system of government and how it has been able to adapt to the changing needs of society.

Destination Title: Liberty and Limits

Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window.
Need help using your browser for this activity? Click here for tips.

Directions
Start at the Liberty and Limits Web site.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "The Ideas."
There are four topics presented under this heading (If Men Were Angels . . ., The Nation and the States, Government and the Individual, and Federalism Re-Examined). Read through each topic, taking notes as you go.

After you have read through the information, answer the following questions.

1. What did James Madison say was the "great difficulty" in framing a government that is to be administered by men over men?

2. At the Constitutional Convention, how did the Framers satisfy the need to have a government that could control the governed? How did they solve the problem of getting the government to control itself?

3. Under the heading "Federalism Re-Examined," how does the author describe the likely reaction of the Framers if they could see what government is like today?

4. What factors have contributed to the many changes that have taken place in the role of the federal government?

5. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay were leading Federalists strongly in favor of the new Constitution. Choose one of these men and conduct additional research. Then write a one-page biographical sketch on a separate sheet of paper.