AMSTUD Chapter 1 - Constitution

based on the given study guide (Pollock)

What were the primary challenges to the US in the critical period?

1. Governance under the Articles of Confederation

2. Domestic insurrection (No military)

3. Unstable economy

4. Foreign policy (trade relation and foreign powers)

What was the issue with the Articles of Confederation?

The central government was made weak and only had a legislative branch and they could not tax anyone.

Where was the Constitutional Convention called to meet?

Philadelphia

What year was the Constitutional Convention?

1787

Who drafted the Constitution?

James Madison

What are the three parts of government created by the Constitution?

Judicial, Legislative, Executive

What is the date that the Constituion was finished (being written)?

Sep. 17, 1787

The lower house of Congress is called the ______ and is based on _____.

House of Representatives, State Population

How many members are there in the House of Representatives?

435

The upper house of the Congress is called the ______ and is based on _____.

Senate, the same amount of representation for each state

How many Electoral College votes are there?

538

How many Electoral College votes does Washington D.C. get?

3

Slaves were to constitute _____ of a person for the purposes of ______ and ______.

3/5, taxation and representation

What are the three major ways slavery was addressed in the Constitution?

1. 3/5 Compromise

2. Slave Trade Clause (slave trade can not be banned before 1808)

3. Fugitive Slave Clause (slaves escaped into other states must be returned)

Federal Republic

A union of partially-governed states where the power lies within the people

What is the Bill of Rights and why was it created?

First ten amendments to the Constitution, created because the original Constitution did not protect many rights colonists had fought for

The Congress, whenever ___ of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to the Constitution.

2/3

Or, on the application of the legislatures of ____ of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments.

2/3

When ratified by the legislatures of ____ of the several states, or by conventions in ____ thereof…

3/4

No amendment which may be made prior to the year ____ shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article…

1808

Seperation of Powers

Execute the laws, make the laws, interpret the laws

Checks & Balances

Judiciary can review decisions of the President and Legislators, President can veto legislation, Congressional approval for some presidential appointees

Judicial Review

the power to interpret the Constitution.

Federation

Some powers are reserved for the states and some for the national government.

Popular Soveirgnty

Power resides in the hands of the people

Limited government

Government can only do what the people give it power to do

How is popular soveirgnty commonly expressed in amendments?

Concerning voting rights

Term of office for House of Representatives

2 years

Minimum age for House of Representatives

25 years

In the original Constitution, senators were…

…elected by state legislatures.

Term of office in the Senate

6 years

Minimum age in the Senate

30 years

One of the powers granted to _____ by the Constitution is the power to tax.

Congress

The check on executive power reserved for only the Senate

Ratifying treaties, approving presidential nominations, conducting impeachment trials

Appointment of a Federal Judge lasts…

their lifetime (under good behavior)

Judicial Review

power of the courts to declare laws or acts unconstitutional

What is the basic structure of the federal court system?

Supreme Court → Court of Appeals → District Courts

The three steps of impeachment of a public official are:

1. House of Representatives has the power and must have a majority to approve

2. Senate holds the trial while the SCOTUS Chief Justice presides

3. 2/3 of Senate votes to convict

Which branch does this power belong to?

Funding the government and its programs

Legislative

Which branch does this power belong to?

Refusing to enfore court decisions

Executive

Which branch does this power belong to?

Changing the number of justices on the Supreme Court

Legislative

Which branch does this power belong to?

Vetoing congressional laws

Executive

Which branch does this power belong to?

Declaring presidential laws unconstitutional

Judicial

Which branch does this power belong to?

Nominating judges

Executive

Which branch does this power belong to?

Declaring laws unconstitutional

Judicial

Which branch does this power belong to?

Approving presidential nominations

Legislative

Which branch does this power belong to?

Pardoning those convicted of federal crimes

Executive

Which branch does this power belong to?

Proposing amendments to the constitution

Legislative

Which branch does this power belong to?

Passing laws over a presidential veto

Legislative

Which branch does this power belong to?

Impeaching and removing from office

Legislative

Gerrymandering

Creating districts to alter how some votes are counted

Federalists

supported the Constitution

The three years of the progress on the Constitution’s ratification

1787 - written (signed)

1788 - ratified (sealed)

1789 - implemented (delivered)

Arguments against the “necessary and proper” clause

Anti-federalists thought it would make the government too powerful