U.S. Constitutional History and Key Principles Quizlet

What was the first attempt at workable government in the United States?

The Articles of Confederation

What was the basic problem with the government under the Articles of Confederation?

Unfair taxation

How did the Articles of Confederation limit Congress' lawmaking power?

No tax to regulate commerce.

What is interstate commerce?

Trading between the states.

Where did the Constitutional Convention meet?

Philadelphia

What 2 Virginians played important roles at the Constitutional Convention?

George Washington and James Madison

What position did George Washington hold at the Constitutional Convention?

President of the Convention

Who wrote the 'Virginia Plan'?

James Madison

Who led the debate and kept a written record of the Constitutional Convention?

James Madison

Who is considered the 'Father of the Constitution'?

James Madison

What is federalism?

The distribution of power between a central national government and its political subdivisions.

What is another name for federalism?

Division of power.

What is another name for national law?

Federal law.

What does it mean to say that federal law is the supreme law of the land?

It means that federal law is stronger than state law.

What clause of the Constitution says that federal law is the supreme law of the land?

Supremacy Clause.

What type of national legislature did Madison's 'Virginia Plan' propose?

A legislature with two houses, where representation was based on population.

What did the 'New Jersey Plan' say about representation in the national legislature?

Each state would possess one vote in Congress, preserving the principle of state equality.

How did the Great Compromise solve the big state/small state disagreement about representation in the national legislature?

It created a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in one house and equal representation in the other.

What was the 3/5 Compromise?

It counted each slave as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes.

Define the term separation of powers.

The division of power among different branches of government.

What 3 branches of government did the Constitution create?

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

What is the name of the legislative branch of the federal government?

Congress.

What official leads the executive branch?

The President.

What court leads the judicial branch?

The Supreme Court.

Define checks and balances system.

A system by which each branch of government can check or limit the actions of the other branches.

How many states had to ratify (approve) the Constitution before it could take effect?

Nine states.

Who were the Federalists?

Supporters of a strong national government.

Who were the Anti-Federalists?

Opponents of a strong national government.

Who were the two leading Federalists in Virginia?

George Washington and James Madison.

Why did the Anti-Federalists fear a powerful national government?

They feared it would destroy the rights of individuals and the rights of states.

Who were the 2 leading Anti-Federalists in Virginia?

George Mason and Patrick Henry.

What group wanted a Bill of Rights included in the Constitution?

The Anti-Federalists.

Who took responsibility for drafting a Bill of Rights?

James Madison.

What 2 documents did Madison use to write the Bill of Rights?

Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.

Who wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights?

George Mason.

Who wrote the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom?

Thomas Jefferson.

What is the Bill of Rights?

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

What is a constitutional amendment?

A formal change or addition to the U.S. Constitution.

What rights are guaranteed by the First Amendment?

The freedom of religion, speech, the press, the right to assemble peacefully, and the right to petition the government.

What does freedom of assembly mean?

The right of people to gather peacefully to express, promote, pursue, and defend their collective ideas.

What does the right of petition mean?

The right to appeal to the government to address grievances.

Define free markets.

Business and trade conducted with minimal government intervention.