Constitution (Part 1 & 2)

Athenian Democracy

Introduced the idea that citizens should participate directly in government.

1st major democracy in history.

No separation of powers

Solon's reform

Citizen suffrage - Political participation for free male citizens.

Free speech - Citizens have the right to express their opinions.

Accountability - Elected officials could be held responsible for their actions

Aristotle

Believed government should work towards the common good

Common good

Government should purse what is best for the people as a whole, rather than benefiting only individuals or a small group

Constitution (Aristotle)

A certain ordering of the inhabitants of the city-state...A constitution establishes the rules and organization of government that people are expected to follow

Polity (Aristotle)

Government in which many people rule for the common good

Common Interest / One person rules

Monarchy

Common Interest / Few people rule

Artistocracy

Common Interest / Many people rule

Polity

Private Interest / One person rules

Tyranny

Private Interest / Few people rule

Oligarchy

Private Interest / Many people rule

Democracy

What was a key belief of the Roman Republic regarding government power?

Government power should not be concentrated in one place.

What ideas developed during the Roman Republic influenced modern government?

Separation of powers and checks and balances.

What was the role of the Consuls in the Roman Republic?

Executive power.

What responsibilities did the Senate have in the Roman Republic?

Advisory, administrative, and judicial responsibilities.

What powers did the Assemblies hold in the Roman Republic?

Legislative powers.

Roman Republics unwritten constitution

Separation of powers

Checks and balances (different parts of government could limit one another)

Who influenced American ideas about government and individual rights?

John Locke

What did John Locke state?

People are naturally free and equal.

According to John Locke, are people naturally subject to monarchy?

No

What are the natural rights that John Locke believed exist before government?

Life, Liberty, and property (Rights do not come from the Government. The Government's job is to protect the rights people already have.)

Social Contract

An agreement between the people and their government

Social Contract broken

Right to revolt

(Government fails to protect natural rights ->

Government breaks the social contract ->

People have the right to revolt/change the Government)

English Common Law

A system of laws and legal traditions that helped protect fundamental rights

Ex: Personal liberty, Rule of law, Trial by jury, and due process

French and Indian War

British went heavily into debt after the war

British attempted to recover the money by taxing the American colonies

Stamp Act

Tax on printed and legal materials (Colonies were angry because they believed Britain was taxing them without giving them representation in Parliament)

Quartering Act

an act passed by the British that allowed British troops to live in the homes of the colonists

Townshend Acts

Imposed taxes on imported goods and expanded British authority

British Writs of assistance

General search warrant that allowed officials to search property without specific evidence or a specific location/item to search for...colonies viewed these searches as violations o their rights and privacy

First Continental Congress

Colonists representatives met in Philadelphia to discuss their grievances against Britain and make demands of the crown

Lexington and Concord

The first military clashes of the American Revolution

Tensions between Britain and the colonies had reached the point of armed conflict

Articles of Confederation?

What type of legislative structure was established?

Created America's first national government.

Congress was unicameral (and weak) = one legislative chamber.

What was the status of state sovereignty under the Articles of Confederation?

How strong was the executive branch under the Articles of Confederation?

States retained most of their own sovereignty and power.

The national government had a weak executive.

What challenge did Congress face under the Articles of Confederation?

Difficulty raising enough revenue, and provide for national defense.

What was a major criticism of the Articles of Confederation?

The national government was too weak, while the states had too much power.

What event was prompted by the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation eventually led to the Constitutional Convention.

Constitutional Convention

Convened in Philadelphia in 1787.

Original purpose: Revise the Articles of Confederation.

What actually happened: The delegates decided to create an entirely new constitution

Federalist

A strong national government; greater centralized power.

Anti-Federalists

A weaker national government; stronger state government.

They feared that a strong national government could become too powerful and resemble the government they had just fought against.

Compromise between the Anti-Federalists and Federalists?

The Constitution was eventually ratified after compromises, including the promise to add a Bill of Rights

Virginia plan

Bicameral legislature - 2 chambers

Representation based on population

Benefits large states

New Jersey Plan

Unicameral legislature - 1 chamber

Equal representation for each state

Benefits small states

Connecticut Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature with the house of representatives (representation based on population) and Senate (each state gets the same number of senators)

North South Compromise

Regional differences between the North and South Created major disagreements

Commerce/Taxation Compromise

Congress could tax imports.

Congress could not tax exports

Slave Trade Compromise

Congress could not prohibit the international slave trade until 1808

3/5ths compromise

Enslaved people were counted as 3/5th of a person

The bill of rights

The 1st 10 Amendments to the Constitution were added shortly after ratification.

Purpose of the Bill of Rights

Purpose: To address Anti-Federalist concerns about the power of the national government.

What does the Bill of Rights protect?

Civil liberties → Freedoms protected from government interference.

Civil Rights → Protections ensuring equal treatment and participation.

The Bill of Rights was added to help protect individual freedoms and limit government power

Popular sovereignty (Constitutional Principle)

Power comes from the people

Republic Government (Constitutional Principle)

People elected representatives to govern for them

Separation of Powers (Constitutional Principle)

Government power is divided into 3 branches

Checks and Balances (Constitutional Principle)

Each branch can check/limit the power of the other branches

Federalism (Constitutional Principle)

Power is shared between the national and state government

Article 1 (Legislative Branch)

Congress has 2 chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Congress can collect taxes, spend money, regulating commerce, declare wars, raise/support the military, and create federal courts

House of Representatives

2-year term.

435 voting members.

Representation based on population; must be 25+ years old; seats are reapportioned every 10 years after the census.

Speaker is 2nd in presidential succession

What is the term length for a U.S. Senator?

6-year terms.

How many senators are there per state?

2 senators per state.

What is the total number of U.S. senators?

100 senators total.

What is the minimum age requirement to be a U.S. Senator?

Must be 30+ years old.

How often are U.S. Senate elections held?

Elections are staggered → about 1/3 elected every 2 years.

Who is the President of the Senate?

Vice President.

What position is 3rd in presidential succession?

President pro tempore.

What is the main role of the President as defined in Article II?

Enforces Laws

How long is a President's term?

4 years

How is the President elected?

Through the Electoral College

What does the 22nd Amendment (1951) state about presidential terms?

President is limited to 2 elected terms

What is the minimum age requirement to be President?

35 years old

What is a requirement regarding citizenship to be President?

Must be a natural-born U.S. citizen

How long must a President have lived in the U.S.?

14 years

What does Article III of the U.S. Constitution create?

The Supreme Court.

Who creates the lower federal courts?

Congress.

Who appoints federal judges?

The President.

Who confirms federal judges?

The Senate.

What is the term length for federal judges?

Life terms unless they resign, retire, or are removed through impeachment and conviction.

How many justices are currently on the Supreme Court?

9 justices.

What does the Supreme Court do?

Court of last resort.

Final interpreter of the Constitution and federal law.

Has judicial review.

Judicial review

Power to declare government actions unconstitutional.

Established in Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Arctic IV

How states work with each other and the federal government.

Extradition → Returning accused criminals to the state where they are charged.

Explains admission of new states.

Republican Government

Full Faith & Credit (Arctic IV)

States must recognize other states' public records, laws/acts, and court decisions.

Privileges & Immunities (Arctic IV)

States generally cannot discriminate against citizens from other states regarding fundamental rights.

What is Article VI of the Constitution known for?

It establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

What does the Supremacy Clause state?

The Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land.

What must government officials do regarding the Constitution?

They must take an oath to support the Constitution.

Is a religious test required for public office according to Article VI?

No, a religious test cannot be required for public office.

Article VII

How the constitution become official

Require 9 of the original 13 states to ratify it