U.S. Constitution and Government Principles: Key Concepts and Amendments

Articles in the Constitution

7

Preamble

An introduction stating the purpose of government

First state to ratify the Constitution

Delaware

Articles of Confederation

Too weak central government

Shays Rebellion

A rebellion that showed the weakness of the Articles

Land Ordinance of 1785

established a standardized system for surveying and selling land in the western territories of the United States

Northwest Ordinance

first organized territory of the United States, the Northwest Territory, which included land north of the Ohio River.

New Jersey Plan

Favored small states

Virginia Plan

Favored large states

Great Compromise

Final compromise also known as the Connecticut Compromise creating the Senate and HOR

3/5 Compromise

Determined how slaves counted for representation

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution

Federalist Papers

Famous writings created by the Federalists

Who wrote the Federalist Papers?

James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay

Bill of Rights

What the Anti-Federalists wanted added to the Constitution, first 10 amendments

1st Amendment

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

No quartering of soldiers

4th Amendment

No "unreasonable" searches and seizures without a warrant

5th Amendment

The Right to Remain Silent/Double Jeopardy, right to due process, compensation for property taken

6th Amendment

The right to a Speedy, public trial, impartial jury, be informed of charges, and a lawyer

7th Amendment

Right to jury in civil trials.

8th Amendment

No excessive bail, No cruel or unusual punishments.

9th Amendment

Citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution

10th Amendment

Powers not given to federal government go to people and States

Five principles of the Constitution

Popular Sovereignty, Limited Government, Separation of Powers, Federalism, Checks and Balances

Term for a Senator

6 years

Senators per State

2

Term for a House of Representatives member

2 years

Leader of the House

Speaker of House Mike Johnson

Types of bills

Public, Private

Filibuster

Yapping for a long time in hopes to prevent a bill being passed

Cloture

Ends a filibuster by setting rules to the debate

Expressed Powers

Powers clearly listed in the Constitution

Implied Powers

Not listed powers but needed to carry out expressed powers

Elastic Clause

Allows flexibility in lawmaking

Electoral College

A body that elects the President and Vice President of the United States.

Magic number to win

270 electoral votes needed for a candidate to win the presidency.

Electoral tie

What happens if neither political candidate gets the required number of electoral votes.

Electors determination

The number of electors from each state is based on 2 senators plus the number of House of Representatives.

Total electors

538

Roles of the President

Commander-in-Chief, Chief Executive, Chief Legislator, Chief Diplomat, Chief of State, Chief of Party, Chief Administrator, and Chief Guardian of the Economy

Cabinet

The group of top advisors who work directly under the President.

Number of Cabinet departments

15

Newest Cabinet department

Department of Homeland Security.

Presidential Succession Act

The law that outlines the order of succession to the presidency.

Constitutional qualifications for President

Must be at least 35 years old, a natural born citizen, and a resident for 14 years.

Executive Order

A rule issued by the President that has the force of law.

Pardon

The President's formal forgiveness of someone for a crime.

Ambassador

A representative to another country.

Electors

People chosen to vote in the Electoral College.

Supreme Court justices

9 justices, lifetime appointment, nominated by the president, approved by the Senate

Current Chief Justice's name

John G Roberts.

Supreme Court term length

lifetime

Civil case

A legal case where the outcome is determined by whether someone is liable or not (greater than 50%).

Criminal case

A legal case where the outcome is determined by whether someone is guilty or not (95%+).

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to be the first to hear a case.

Presumed

The assumption that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

Judicial Review

The Supreme Court's power to declare laws unconstitutional.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between the national and state governments.

Concurrent Powers

Powers that are shared by both federal and state governments.

Reserved Powers

Powers that are reserved specifically for the states.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution for the government.

Supremacy Clause

A clause stating that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the others.

Separation of Powers

The division of government into three branches to limit power.

Limited Government

The principle that government only has powers granted to it by the Constitution.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the government can only operate with the consent of the governed.

Constitutional Convention

The 1787 meeting in Philadelphia where delegates wrote the Constitution.

Confederation

An alliance with a weak central government.

Civil War groupings

13, 14, 15

Electoral Process and Voting Rights groupings

17, 19, 23, 24, 26

Prohibition groupings

18, 21

Dissenting Opinion

Legal opinion written by a judge who disagrees with the majority's decision in an appellate case.

Concurrent Opinion

Judicial opinion that agrees with the final outcome of a court case but for reasons different from the majority opinion.

Last state to ratify

Rhode Island

When was the constitution written?

1787

Why did Shay's rebellion happen?

Economic distress, with farmers protesting high taxes and the government's failure to provide debt relief after the Revolutionary War

5 principals of government

Popular sovereignty, limited gov, seperation of powers, federalism, checks and balances

Which branch interprets the constitution?

Judicial

Which branch enforces the constitution?

Executive

Who votes if neither party gets over 270 electoral votes

HOR votes

How many cabinet departments are there?

15

What does the census determine

Number of HOR electoral votes each state gets based on population (every 10 years)

Who decides if a president should be removed from office

Senate

Who impeaches a President?

HOR

Majority Government

Republic

Who creates laws?

Legislative

Writ of Certiorari

Order to review a lower court case

Stare Decisis

Let the decision stand