American Government Unit 1

Why did the authors of Constitution fear the “tyranny of government”

Didn’t want strong, controlling gov that ruled everyone and gov to abuse power

Basic problems of Articles of Confederation

Federal gov had almost no power, each state like own country w/ own money, no power to tax, states didn’t get along/threatened war

Original purpose of Constitutional convention?

Fix articles of confederation and eventually scrap it to write new constitution 

How George Washington was import to Constitutional convention?

His support made people trust new constitution, trusted convention chaired by him, not wanting power

How James Madison was import to Constitutional convention?

Comes up with idea of 3 branches for shared power so no corruption

Why did the authors of the constitution make it difficult/complicated for government to do anything

To prevent tyrannical gov/dictator

Conflict at Constitutional convention

Big states wanted number in Congress to be based on population, small states didn’t want it bc then they’d have less power

Compromise to solve conflict between states with small and big populations

Idea of having 2 separate parts of Congress to solve problem, house of representatives based on population, senate has equal number from each state (Small states wanted)

Conflict between northern/southern states

Southern states wanted slaved to count in population, north didn’t

Compromise for northern/southern states conflict

3/5 law where slaves count as 3/5 a person

Purpose of Preamble

Form better union, belief of what gov should should do

1st belief of Constitution (“To form a more perfect Union”)the 

create fair legal system

2nd belief of the Constitution (“establish justice”)

Have fair legal system

3rd belief of the Constitution (“insure domestic tranqulity”)

Peace in the country

4th belief of the Constitution (“provide common defense”)

Defend states against foreign attack

5th belief of the Constitution (“promote general welfare”)

Support peoples well being

6th belief of the Constitution (“secure blessings of liberty to ourselves/our posterity”)

Make future generations free

Purpose of Article 1 of constitution

Explain the legislative branch and what they can/can’t do

Purpose of Article 2 of constitution

Explain the executive branch and powers/duties of president and VP

Purpose of Article 3 of constitution

Explain Judicial branch and supreme court duties

Purpose of Article 4 of constitution

Give “full faith", states must give everyone same privileged, and congress can add news states but states can’t change boundaries unless it wants to

Guarantee clause (article 4)

Federal government ensures that states run as Republic and not dictaors

How article 5 “amends” the constitution/process for making constitutional amendment

Amendment proposed by senate/HOR, pass 2/3 of house/senate, state legislative and congress need a ¾ vote to ratify or “convetion of states”

Supremacy clause (Article 6)

Federal law conflicted with state late and must prevail, state courts bound by supreme law and conflict w/ them/fed gov makes them apply federal law

Purpose of article 7

Explain what’s needed for constitution to become law of land, constitutional ratification required for constitution to take affect

Popular sovereignty

People used to rule w/ kings, but now gov there to do what the people want them to do (people rule)

What does it mean that the constitution fundamentally changed the world

Our constitution changed places around the world so no king leads, have gov like ours

Separation of powers

3 branches of gov divide powers

federalist 51

Gov structure should use checks/balances to prevent 1 branch from having too much power

Basic idea of check and balances

Diving gov and giving them specific things to over see

What did trump do to get impeached?

Pressured Ukraine to further investigate Joe Biden’s son so he had info against Biden in next election

What does president have to do to get impeached

Break laws and abuse power

What does HOR do in impeachment

File the impeachment papers/charge them

What does senate do in impeachment

Has trial and is like the jury, votes and 2/3 vote yes then the president is kicked out

Why Andrew Johnson impeached

Fired someone when there was a law saying her wasn’t allowed to

Why Bill Clinton impeached

accused of sexual harassment, questioned, and lied under oath

Result of HOR vote on impeachment

approved 2 articles of impeachment, voted 230 to 197 to charge for abuse of power, 229 to 198 to charge w/ obstruction of congress

Basic arguments of republicans in defense of trump

Argued Ukraine ended up getting US military aid and never announced an investigation on Biden’s son

What are the ways legislative Branch checks executive branch

Impeach president, override president veto, confirm president appointments, approve treaty, control money

What are the ways legislative Branch checks judicial branch

impeach judge, Congress must approve nominees to court

How does executive branch (president) check legislative branch (HOR/senate)

President veto bills, VP cast deciding vote if tie in Senate, president can make Congress come back to work if on vaca

How does executive branch (president) check judicial branch

president appoints judges and pardons criminals

What are the ways judicial branch can check other 2 branches

court can declare laws unconstitutional (get rid of them)