Articles of Confederation/US Consitution

What is the role of Congress?

Legislative (law-making) power in a bicameral legislature 2 houses: House of Representatives and the Senate

What is the House of Representatives?

Lower house of Congress with representation based on population

What is the Senate?

Upper house of Congress with equal representation

What is the role of the Supreme Court?

ensuring the American people the promise of equal justice under law and, thereby, also functions as guardian and interpreter of the Constitution

What is the role of the Presidential Cabinet?

To advise the president on various issues, it is part of the unwritten constitution (also includes things like political parties & judicial review)

Why did the authors of the US Constitution create a bicameral legislature?

They needed to come to compromise between the large and small states about representation

Define federalism.

The Constitution delegates certain powers to national government but reserves other powers for the states

What is a Federalist?

Those who supported the Constitution, wanted a strong central government

What is an Anti-Federalist?

Didn’t support the Constitution= thought it gave too much power to the national govt and left the states weak, also gave president too much power, wanted a bill of rights added

What was a major concern between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists when ratifying the Constitution?

Giving the the government too much power

Define ratification.

To agree, to sign, to approve

List the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Inability of the govt to collect taxes, no power to regulate interstate or foreign trade, no power to enforce laws, approval from 9 states was needed to enact laws, amendments of the articles required the consent of all 13 states, no executive branch, no national court system 

List the strengths of the Articles of Confederation.

Could declare war, could coin and borrow money, deal with foreign countries and sign treaties and operate post offices.

Why was the Constitutional Convention called?

To revise the Articles of Confederation

Who were the key players in the Constitutional Convention?

Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington

Define popular sovereignty.

 The people establish a government and are the source of its power

Define limited government

Government powers are restricted to protect individual rights

Define separation of powers.

The power to govern is divided among executive, legislative, and judicial branches to prevent the concentration and abuse of power by any one branch.

Explain checks and balances

Each branch of government has the authority to check, or restrain, some powers of the other two branches

Explain judicial review

Has the power to strike down laws and other government actions as invalid under the Constitution

What are the steps for amending the Constitution?  

An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one, by a convention called for that purpose. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures, or three-fourths of conventions called in each State for ratification.

What is the Northwest Ordinance?

When a territory had 60,000 residents it could apply to become a US state.

What was Shay’s Rebellion?

Showed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and led to the creation of the Constitutional Convention ( helped convince leaders that a strong central govt was needed)

What is the VIrginia Plan?

2 House Legislature (bicameral), representation to Congress based on population

What is the NJ plan?

1 House Legislature (unicameral), Equal representation in Congress

Explain the Great Compromise

Congress=2 house legislature

House of representatives (based on population) & Senate (2 people from each state)

Explain the ⅗ Compromise.

Three-fifths of the slaves in a state would count towards a state’s total population (ex. 5,000 slaves only 3,000 would be counted)

What is the Bill of Rights?

Gave all Americans basic rights, not to be taken away by the government

What is the Preamble?

Goals of the Constitution

What are the Qualifications to be a US President? 

Be a natural-born citizen of the United States. Be at least 35 years old. Have been a resident of the United States for 14 years.

Explain the electoral college

The method by which the president is elected.  It is an indirect election. 

What is the elastic clause?

Article 1- Section 8= allows things that are in the Constitution to be stretched into related issues

According to the US Constitution, which group is directly elected by the people?

Members of the House of Representatives

What was the purpose of the Federalists Papers?

To urge the people to ratify the Constitution

How can a presidential veto of a bill be overridden?

Two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress