Chapter 2: Constitution - AP Governemnt

Constitutional Structure

the parts of the constitution

- mission statement, foundational structure, core bodies, operating procedures

popular sovereignty

a government by the people for the people

parliament

the national government in the two-tiered colonial government

coercive acts

Caused by the Boston Tea Party:

1. closed the Port of Boston

2. imposed martial law

3. shutdown colonial assembly

Chronological order of the taxing from the coercive acts

1. sugar act

2. stamp act

3. declaratory acts

4. townshend duties

Boston Tea Party

led to the creation of the first continental congress and then the deceleration of independence

Second Continental Congress

it allowed congress to function as an individual government

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

WAR was the only option for liberty

Article of Confederation (taxing)

they did not have the ability to tax, some of it is structured principles

(9/13 states were needed to form a law, 13/13 states to amend the amendment, if the national government approved of the law/policy, the states had to pay for it)

Shay’s Rebellion

convinced our nation’s leaders that our national government was not strong enough

Dual Sovereignty

shared power between national and state governments

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

his and Locke’s philosophies both influenced the people that created the deceleration of independence (some of their ideas are even mentioned and/or borrowed)

John Locke

he proposed the social contract theory and unalienable rights

Supremacy Clause

the constitution is the supreme law of the land, national law is supreme over any conflicting state law

Bi-Cameral Congress

the result of the Connecticut Compromise (The Great Compromise)

3/5ths Compromise

about slavery and representation in congress

Connecticut Compromise

created a bi-cameral congress

Marbury vs. Madison

established judicial review, the supreme court’s ability for judicial review

What are the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

1. state controlled trade

2. national government couldn’t tax so they weren’t making revenue

3. state issued money

4. states controlled taxes and tariffs

How did the AOC support states? (what were the strengths of the AOC)

it allowed the states to preserve identities and gave states power

How did the Constitution address the weaknesses of the AOC?

1. gave national government control of interstates trade

2. national government now taxed so they made revenue

3. national government had a monetary system

Article I

The Legislative Branch

Article II

The Executive Branch

Article III

The Judicial Branch

Article IV

state-to-state relations (federalism)

Article V

The Amendment Process

Article VI

Supremacy of the Constitution

Article VII

The Constitutional Ratification Process