Democratic Ideals Quiz

Articles of Confederation

The very 1st US Constitution in effect from 1781 to 1789, which established a loose confederation of sovereign states with a very weak national government

What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

No federal government (Shay’s Rebellion exposed this weakness), no national power to tax, no national currency and states had their own currency, one legislature branch, unicameral legislature (equality of states and every state had veto power)

How is the US Constitution different from Articles of Confederation?

The US Constitution had 3 branches instead of one and created a bicameral legislature (Great Compromise) with House of Reps (based on population which appeases larger states) and Senate (2 per state which appeases smaller states)

US Constitution Article I

Initiated the legislature branch and congress was given explicit power to tax and make laws and Section 8 gave the “necessary and proper” clause

US Constitution Article II

Initiated the executive branch and veto power for Congress

US Constitution Article III

Initiated the judicial branch and created the Supreme Court/federal courts that were able to interpret and apply laws as well as maritime law

US Constitution Article IV

Full Faith and Credit Clause; states have to give full faith and credit to the laws of other states

US Constitution Article V

Amendment provisions; change Constitution with 2/3 of House/Senate or ¾ (38) of the states

US Constitution Article VI

Supremacy Clause; US Constitution is the highest power and states can not override federal rule

US Constitution Article VII

Ratification; 9 of 13 states need to ratify to overthrow Articles

Brutus No. 1

Essay that argues against the ratification of the U.S. Constitution because a large, centralized national government will threaten state sovereignty and individual liberties

Federalist 10

Paper written by James Madison that argues that a large, diverse republic is the best defense against the dangerous power of political factions due to it being inevitable to get rid of factions

Federalist 51

Essay written by James Madison in 1788 defending the Constitution’s internal structure of separation of powers and checks and balances and states that laws are needed to keep the unpredictable nature of humans in check

Popular sovereignty

The foundational democratic principle that the government power and authority comes from the consent of the people

Limited government

Democratic ideal where the government power is restricted in order to protect individual liberties

Social Contract

An implicit (implied) agreement where people give up some of their individual freedom in exchange for social order, security, and the protection of their remaining rights by the government

Natural Rights

Fundamental, inherit rights that all people possess simply by being human, rather than rights granted by a government or law

Separtion of Powers

Democratic ideal that power should be divided between branches of government to prevent abuse of power

• James Madison borrows this idea from Montesquieu when drafting the Constitution to create an legislative, executive, and judicial branch