AP Govt FRQ Practice

Article of Confederation Weaknesses (7 things)

-no power to tax

-no fed military

-no strong, central govt

-unable to handle state disputes

-required all 13 states to agree to amend something

-no one to enforce laws

-regardless of pop. states have 1 vote

What did Constitution fix (4)

-ability to tax

-federal military

-3 branches, congress makes laws, prez. executes laws, judicial handles disputes

-Congress is bicameral (House of Rep and Senate)

What is the Great Compromise

Made during Constitutional Convention, created a bicameral legislature, House of Representatives (state pop.) Senate (2 per state)

The three-fifths Compromise

3/5 of enslaved pop. counted for determining rep. in House of Rep and number of electoral votes. Gabe power to Southern states but also imposed higher tax burdens on them

Electoral College

instead of popular vote or directly by Congress, Electoral college, a combination of pop vote. and state-based rep is used to elect president.

Supremacy Clause (Article 6)

declares us constitution and federal laws as “supreme law of the land” which overrides state laws

necessary and proper clause (article 1, section 8)

grants congress power to make all laws necessary and proper, expanded federal authority

Commerce Clause (Article 1 section 8)

empowers Congress to regulate interstate and foreign commerce

Due Process Clause (5th and 14th Amendment)

life, liberty, and property without process of law the govt. cant take it, there must be fair and legal procedures

Equal protection clause (14th Amendment)

states cannot deny any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the law, there must be fairness and no discrimination

full faith and credit clause (article 4)

requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states