Civics Test 2: Constitution

9/23-

constitutional convention

• purpose: to get rid of AOC

• who: 55 delegates

• what: draft new constitution

• where: Philadelphia (in secret)

• who: 55 delegates (no RI)

structure of constitution

• preamble = 6 goals of gov.

• 7 articles

• 27 amendments (1st ten = Bill of Rights)

article one

legislative branch

article two

executive branch

article three

judicial branch

article four

relationship between states

article five

amendment process

article six

supremacy clause (states that the constitution and national gov. are superior to state gov.)

article seven

ratification process

“a bundle of compromises”

legislative branch @ constitutional convention

first problem to solve at convention

how many representatives should each state have?

new jersey plan

• equal representation

• backed by smaller-populated states

• proposed by William Paterson

virginia plan

• proportional representation

• backed by larger-populated states

• proposed by James Madison

Connecticut Plan

• compromise proposed by Roger Sherman

• also referred to as “Great Compromise”

• results in bicameral legislature branch: House of Representatives & Senate

• Senate = NJ plan, HOR = VA plan

problem two

should slaves count toward state population?

positions on slave issue

north/free states: slaves should not count toward state population

south/slave states: slaves should count toward state population

3/5 Compromise

• solve slave debate

• had slaves count for 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation purposes

HOR term of office

2 years

HOR minimum age

25

HOR citizenship requirement

7 years of citizenship

HOR residency requirement

live in state

how HOR people are chosen

voted in by the people

term limit

none

senate term of office

6 years, staggered (1/3 of body up for re-election every 2 years)

senate minimum age

30

senate citizenship requirement

9 years of citizenship

senate residency requirement

live in state

how senate people are chosen

originally by state legislatures, now chosen by the people (17th amendment)

senate term limit

none

president term of office

4 years

president minimum age

35

president citizenship requirement

natural-born citizen

president residency requirement

14 years in US

how presidents are chosen

electoral college

president term limit

2 years

supreme court term of office

life with good behavior

supreme court minimum age

none

supreme court citizenship requirement

none

supreme court residency requirement

none

how supreme court justices are chosen

chosen by president, approved by the senate

supreme court term limit

none