Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution REVIEW

Limited Government

A system in which the power of the government is limited, not absolute. Rule of law & consent of the governed help keep it this way.

Representative Government

A system of government in which people elect delegates to make laws and conduct government.

Separation of Powers

The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. Helps limit government.

Articles

Seven main divisions of the body of the Constitution; laid out procedures for the government

amendment

A change to the Constitution & helps it to change as the nation changes; established through Article 5

checks and balances

the system where each branch of government exercises some control over the others

federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

judicial review

the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional; power to interpret the constitution; elevated its power

Popular Sovereignty

Rule by the people; U.S. Constitution based on this

Ratify

to approve

Articles of Confederation

main purpose of Congress was foreign affairs & defense; a unicameral Congress, one vote per state, one delegate from each state, NO executive branch

Shays Rebellion

caused by economic depression & led many Americans to call for a stronger national government

Preamble

Introduction to the U.S. Constitution, listed the goals and established the purpose of government

3/4 of state legislatures

Constitutional Amendments may be ratified by...

ratify another amendment

How an amendment to the constitution can be changed is by looking at amendment 21, the repeal of prohibition

Connecticut Compromise

Suggested two houses of Congress: the House of Representatives, in which representation is based on a state's share of the U.S. population, and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives.

Federalists

supporters of the Constitution and argued that the lack of a strong national government under the Articles of Confederation were perhaps its biggest weakness

Anti-Federalists

opposed ratification of Constitution; concerned about lack of Bill of Rights & taking power away from states

Article 4

privileges and immunities - obligates states to give this to one another's citizens; states must treat each other fairly

Executive Branch

executes and enforces laws; established by Article 2 of the Constitution

Legislative Branch

makes laws; established by Article 1 of the Constitution & created the voice of the people

Judicial Branch

Interprets the laws (are they constitutional?); established by Article 3 of the Constitution

Declaration of Independence

Set forth the principles the new nation would be based on; human liberty & consent of the governed; Thomas Jefferson wrote it

Supremacy Clause

established by Article 6 of the Constitution, saying federal laws passed by Congress are supreme; its laws are superior to state laws

Necessary and Proper Clause

constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers; otherwise known as the elastic clause since it allows Congress to stretch its powers

Federalist Papers

Written by Hamilton, Jay, & Madison to support ratification of the U.S. Constitution

11th Amendment (1795)

limits on suits against the states; if a suit is between a state and a citizen of another state, it is to be held in the SC and be initiated by the state

16th Amendment (1913)

Congress is given the power to tax incomes

17th Amendment (1913)

Direct election of senators

18th Amendment (1919)

Prohibition of alcohol

19th Amendment (1920)

Gave women the right to vote

21st Amendment (1933)

Repeal of Prohibition

24th Amendment (1964)

Abolishes poll taxes

27th Amendment (1992)

congressional pay raises are not begun until the next election

Magna Carta, Petition of Rights, English Bill of Rights

established idea of placing limits on government