HOW DID THE CONSTITUTION GUARD AGAINST TYRANNY

DBQ DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
SECTION

QUESTION 1: A “compound” is something
made of two or more pieces. What are the two
pieces that make up Madison’s compound
government?

Answer:
 The central or federal government
 The state government’s

QUESTION 2: What word ending in “ism” is
another word for this kind of compound
government?

Answer:
 Federalism
 Division of power between central and state governments

QUESTION 3: How does this compound
government provide “double security” to the
people?

Answer:
 The national and state governments will check each
others powers.
 Within each level of government there will be separate
branches to divide power even further.

QUESTION 4: Using the chart above, can you
see a pattern in the types of power the
Constitution reserved for the State
governments?

Answer:
 State governments have power over more local or
individual issues
 State governments have a better understanding about
what communities in their states need

QUESTION 5: How does federalism guard
against tyranny?

Answer:
 By dividing power between the state and national
governments, and then sub dividing that power with in
different sections of each government.
 This prevents either part of government from gaining
too much power.

QUESTION 1: What is the main idea of the
Madison quote?

Answer:
 If one person or group controls all parts of government
you will have tyranny (cruel and oppressive rule)

QUESTION 2: Does Madison say it is possible
to have tyranny in a democracy? Explain.

Answer:
 Yes . If power is gathered together (accumulated) then
tyranny can still exist even in an elective government.

QUESTION 3: What is the primary job of each
branch?

Answer:
 Legislative=make laws
 Executive=enforces laws
 Judicial=interprets laws

QUESTION 4: What would James Madison say
about allowing a person elected to the House of
Representatives to serve at the same time on
the Supreme Court? Explain his thinking.

Answer:
 This gives too much power to one person which will
lead to tyranny (oppressive rule).
 People who make laws must be separated from those
who interpret (decide if laws are legal)

QUESTION 5: How does the separation of
powers guard against tyranny?

Answer:
 In ensures that each group or branch has a limited role
or power. This prevents one group from taking power
and abusing it.

QUESTION 1: What is the main idea in the
Madison quote?

Answer:
 Each branch should not be able to work independently
of the other two branches.
 Each branch should have some oversight or a check on
the other two branches.

QUESTION 2: What is one way the legislature
can check the power of the chief executive?

Answer:
 Can impeach the president

QUESTION 3: What is one way the President
can check the power of the Supreme Court?

Answer:
 Nominate judges to the Supreme Court

QUESTION 4: What is one way the Supreme
Court can check the Senate (Legislature)?

Answer:
 Declare laws unconstitutional

QUESTION 5: According to this document how
did the framers of the Constitution guard
against tyranny?

Answer:
 The framers gave each branch of government powers
over the opposite two branches of government
 By each branch restricting the powers of the other two
branches this prevents anyone group (or branch) from
becoming to powerful.

QUESTION 1: On what basis-area, population,
or wealth-was the number of representatives in
the House determined?

Answer:
 Population (1:30,000)

QUESTION 2: Which states had the smallest
representation in the House of
Representatives? How many?

Answer:
 Rhode Island=1
 Delaware=1

QUESTION 3: Which state had the most
Representatives? How many?

Answer:
 Virginia=10

QUESTION 4: Who would have been happier
with their representation in the House, small
states or large states? Why?

Answer:
 Large states
 With a greater population they were entitled to more
representatives in the House giving them a larger
influence in the making of laws.

QUESTION 5: Who would have been happier
with their representation in the Senate, small
states or large states? Why?

Answer:
 Small states
 Each state was given the same amount of
representatives regardless of population. This would
ensure all states would have an equal say unlike the
House.

QUESTION 6: How did the small state-large
state compromise guard against tyranny
(oppressive rule)?

Answer:
 The Senate ensured that large states cold not use their
greater population to take absolute control over the
process of making laws.
 The makeup of the House ensured that larger states
could not be controlled by a small minority.

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