Unit #4 – Articles of Confederation → Constitution Notecards

Articles of Confederation vs. Constitution (why Articles failed)

Articles: weak national government, one-house Congress, no executive or judicial branches, no power to tax or raise an army; Constitution: strong federal government, three branches, checks and balances, can tax, regulate trade, and raise an army.

Whose rebellion exposed weaknesses of the Articles?

Shays’ Rebellion showed the government could not raise money or an army.

Which two states first met to fix the Articles?

Virginia and Maryland.

What does the Constitution do?

Sets up the government, creates three branches, limits power, and protects rights.

Federal vs. State vs. Concurrent powers

Federal: national only (war, money); State: state only (schools, elections); Concurrent: shared (taxes, laws).

How can the Constitution be amended? (fractions)

Proposed by two-thirds of Congress or the states; ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Great Compromise

Created a two-house Congress.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Enslaved people counted as three-fifths of a person for representation.

Commerce Clause

Congress controls trade between states and with other nations.

End of slavery compromise

Ban on slavery delayed until 1808.

Electoral College

Chooses the president.

What does Congress do?

Makes laws, controls the budget, declares war, and checks the other branches.

House of Representatives – key facts

Elected every two years; must be 25, citizen for 7 years, state resident; based on population; Speaker chosen by House; powers include revenue bills, impeachment, and choosing president in a tie.

Senate – key facts

Two senators per state; must be 30, citizen for 9 years, state resident; six-year terms; VP is President of the Senate; powers include approving treaties, confirming appointments, and impeachment trials.

President – qualifications, term, powers

Must be 35 and a natural-born citizen; four-year term; powers include vetoing or signing laws, enforcing laws, Commander-in-Chief, and foreign relations.

Elastic Clause (Article I, Section 8)

Allows Congress to make “necessary and proper” laws for flexibility.

War Powers Act of 1973

Created after the Vietnam War; allows the president to deploy troops for 60 days without Congress.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing voting districts to benefit a political party.

Amendments 1–10 (Bill of Rights)

Religion, speech, press, assembly; bear arms; no quartering soldiers; limits on search and seizure; rights of the accused; speedy jury trial; civil jury trial; no cruel punishment; other rights exist; powers reserved to states.

Amendments 11–27 (summary)

States protected from lawsuits; separate VP ballot; end slavery; equal protection; no race voting limits; income tax; direct election of senators; prohibition; women vote; term dates changed; end prohibition; presidential term limits; DC votes; no poll taxes; presidential succession; voting age 18; delayed congressional pay raises.