Poli Sci Chapter 2

British colonists in North America in the late seventeenth century were greatly influenced by this man.

John Locke

The agreement that citizens will consent to be governed if government protects their natural rights.

the social contract

According to the Great Compromise, how would representation in Congress be apportioned?

Representation in the House would be based on population, and every state would have two senators.

How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention resolve their disagreement regarding slavery?

Sixty percent of a state’s slave population would be counted for both representation and taxation.

Were written partially to encourage New York to ratify the Constitution.

Federalist Papers

What objection did the colonists have to the Stamp Act?

tax without representation

How many states must ratify an amendment before it becomes law?

three-fourths

The first ten amendments to the Constitution that protect individual freedoms.

Bill of Rights

Promise signed in 1215 by King John to refrain from actions that harmed the people of England.

Magna Carta

An agreement between a people and their government.

social contract

Passed by parliament in 1774 to punish Boston for leading resistance to British rule.

Coercive Acts

Parliament removed the King and invited his daughter and her husband to rule the nation.

Glorious Revolution

An agreement authored by the pilgrims to govern themselves according to the laws they created.

Mayflower Compact

Tax passed in 1765 that required paper goods have revenue stamps placed on them.

Stamp Act

Massachusetts incident that showed the grave weakness of the Articles.

Shay’s Rebellion

When did the Constitutional Convention convene?

1787

Suggested by Roger Sherman, the new Congress would consist of two chambers.

Great Compromise

Which of the following was NOT an author of the Federalist Papers?

Thomas Jefferson

Allowed counting 60% of a state’s slave population for federal taxation

Three-fifths Compromise

Which Civil War amendment ended slavery?

Thirteenth

Which amendment(s) extended suffrage in the United States?

Nineteenth and twenty-sixth

The 1689 document that listed the liberties and protections held by the people.

English Bill of Rights

The people, not a monarch, hold power and elect representatives to govern.

Republic

Issue that some felt could be dealt with after ratification of the Constitution.

slavery

What was one key tenet of American political thought that was influential in the decision to declare independence?

All people possessed the rights to life, liberty, and property.

Name one action by the British that convinced the colonists that they needed to declare their independence.

The British imposed numerous taxes.

Give one reason people opposed ratification of the Constitution.

Some thought it made the government too powerful.

List one weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

The Articles of Confederation did not have a common currency.

What is the first step in the amendment process?

Amendment is proposed by two-thirds in both the House and the Senate

What is the second step in the amendment process?

Amendment is ratified by three-fourths of the states.

What is the difference between formal amendment and an informal amendment change?

Formal amendments are a change in the writing of the Constitution and informal amendments are a change in the meaning of the Constitution.

Identify the five ways the Constitution has been changed informally over the years.

Basic legislation, executive actions, court decisions, party practices, and custom and tradition.

Basic legislation

congress passes laws that change the meaning of the Constitution

Executive actions

acts of president change (executive orders)

Court decisions

Supreme Courts interpretation changes the meaning of the Constitution

Party Practices

the existence of political parties change the meaning of the Constitution

Custom and Tradition

unwritten rules have changed the meaning of the Constitution

The Virginia Plan

Called for a bicameral legislature based on population

The New Jersey Plan

Called for a unicameral legislature based on equal representation

How many states have to accept the new Constitution for ratification to occur?

Nine out of thirteen

Those who supported ratification of the Constitution

Federalists

Those who apposed ratification of the Constitution

Anti-federalists

Collection of essays written in support of the Constitution

The Federalist Papers

The people are the source of all political power

Popular Sovereignty

Courts power to determine whether acts are constiutional

Judicial review

Government is NOT all powerful

Limited government

Citizens have basic rights, freedom, and liberties

Individual rights

Checks and Balances

Each branch of government limits the power of the others

Enumerated powers

explicitly given to federal government (Article I, Sec. 8)

Reserved powers

those not delegated to national or constitutionally prohibited

Article I

Creates the legislative branch

Article II

Establishes the Executive Branch

Article III

creates the Judicial Branch

Article IV

defines the relationship between the states

Article V

outlines the process for amending the Constitution

Article VI

addresses the supremacy of federal law

Article VII

details the process for ratifying the Constitution