Articles of Confederation/US Consitution

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35 Terms

1

What is the role of Congress?

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

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2

What is the House of Representatives?

Lower house of Congress with representation based on population

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3

What is the Senate?

Upper house of Congress with equal representation

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4

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

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5

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)

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6

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

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7

Define federalism.

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

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8

What is a Federalist?

Those who supported the Constitution, wanted a strong central government

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9

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

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10

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

Giving the the government too much power

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11

Define ratification.

To agree, to sign, to approve

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12

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 

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13

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.

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14

Why was the Constitutional Convention called?

To revise the Articles of Confederation

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15

Who were the key players in the Constitutional Convention?

Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington

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16

Define popular sovereignty.

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

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17

Define limited government

Government powers are restricted to protect individual rights

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18

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.

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19

Explain checks and balances

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

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20

Explain judicial review

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

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21

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.

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22

What is the Northwest Ordinance?

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

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23

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)

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24

What is the VIrginia Plan?

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

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25

What is the NJ plan?

1 House Legislature (unicameral), Equal representation in Congress

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26

Explain the Great Compromise

Congress=2 house legislature

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

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27

Explain the â…— 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)

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28

What is the Bill of Rights?

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

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29

What is the Preamble?

Goals of the Constitution

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30

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.

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31

Explain the electoral college

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

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32

What is the elastic clause?

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

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33

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

Members of the House of Representatives

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34

What was the purpose of the Federalists Papers?

To urge the people to ratify the Constitution

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35

How can a presidential veto of a bill be overridden?

Two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress

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