U1: Founding docs/principles

1) Who was the primary writer of the US Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

2) On what date was the US Declaration of Independence approved?

July 4th, 1776

3) What did the US Declaration of Independence accomplish?

Declared that the 13 colonies were no longer part of Great Britain and established them as a separate nation.

4) What are the four natural rights claimed in the US Declaration of Independence?

All men are created equal, Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

5) From where does a government's power to rule come according to popular sovereignty?

The consent of the people.

6) What should citizens do when a government violates their rights according to social contract theory?

It is the right of the people to alter or abolish it and institute a new government.

7) A. What is a constitution?

A written document that establishes a government and describes how the government should run.

7) B. What was the US’s first constitution?

The article of confederation

8 ) What does republicanism mean in the context of the US?

The US is a democratic-republic and republicanism means citizens elect their leaders

9) What are the only powers that a government has under the idea of limited government?

The ones given to them by the people through a constitution

10) What core American value states that all people must obey the law?

Rule of law

11) In a confederal system of government, who possesses most of the powers to govern?

State governments.

12) What is an economic weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

No national taxes to pay for military and other expenses.

13) What does it mean that the Articles of Confederation created a unicameral legislature?

One house makes all the laws

14) What event revealed the military and economic weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Shays' Rebellion.

15) What did the US Constitution established a federal system of government with duel sovereignty?

Both the national and state governments holds powers

16) According to the supremacy clause, when federal law and state law are in conflict, which is superior?

Federal law

17) Why did the founding fathers include the separation of powers in the US Constitution?

To prevent any one person or group from having all the power; to prevent a tyrannical government

LegiSLAYtive

Makes laws

Congress: House of representatives and the Senate

ExeCUNTive

Enforces laws

President, vice present and cabinet

JudiYASSS

Interprets laws and policies (is this allowed?)

Supreme Court

18) Who is involved in check and balances?

All 3 branches of the national government

19) What is the Great (Connecticut) Compromise?

The compromise that created a bicameral legislative branch

20) Why do some states have more representation in the US house of representatives than other states?

House based on population

21) How many senators does each state send to the US Senate?

Two senators, regardless of state population.

22) What is the first step in the constitutional amendment process?

1) Proposed by Congress

2) 2/3 of both Senate and HOR must approve

23) What is the second step in the constitutional amendment process?

Ratified by ¾ of state legislature (39/50)

24) Why is the constitutional amendment process intentionally difficult?

To protect people's rights and prevent government abuse.

25) What are the first three words of the US Constitution that reflect the idea of popular sovereignty?

We the People.

26) What are three reasons anti-federalists opposed the ratification of the US Constitution?

Supremacy clause issues, lack of powers enumerated for states, and absence of a bill of rights.

27) What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?

To convince anti-federalists to ratify the Constitution.

28) According to Madison in Federalist No. 10, what is the best way to control factions?

A large republican government.

29) What helps ensure that the branches of government work for the people according to Federalist No. 51?

Separation of powers and checks and balances.

30) What is the Bill of Rights?

The first ten amendments to the US Constitution added to limit the power of the federal government.

Natural rights

God Given freedoms that all Americans are entitled to as human beings

Consent of the governed/ Popular soverignty

Gov are given power by the people and government exist to serve the people

The social contract

When a gov no longer serves the people, citizens should replace it and overthrow it

A constitution

A written doc that establishes a gov and describes how the gov should run

Republicanism

citizens should elect their leaders to represent them

Rule of Law

Laws apply to everyone in America, no one is above the law

Confederal system of gov

States have most power while the national gov has little power

Federal system (dual sovereignty)

National gov is supreme over some things and state govs are superior in other things

The supremacy clause

passage in the US constitution that says national laws and treaties are superior to state laws as long as the actions taken by the national government is allowed by the constitution.

Separation of powers

The responsibilities and authority of the national gov are divided between 3 branches so that not one person or group controls the national government

Checks and balances

Each of the 3 branches of the national gov have the ability to limit the other branches

The great compromise

The national legislative branch under the US constitution would be bicameral.

3/5th compromise

agreement at the constitutional convention to count each slave as 3/5ths of a person during a census

Preamble

Intro to US constitution; explains the purpose of the American gov and illustrates the idea of popular sovereignty (we the people)

Antifederalists

Those that opposed ratification of the US Constitution (Thomas Jeff, “Brutus”, Mercy Otis warren)

The federalist papers

series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to convince states to ratify the Us constitution

Federalist No.10

Madison argued the large republic created by the US constitution would make it harder for one faction to completely dominate the nation 

Federalist No.51

Madison argues the US constitution’s separation of powers and checks and balances help ensure the branches of the federal government work for the people and not themselves.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the US constitution