The Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin
Separation of 13 colonies from Great Britain
Founding document of USA
Rights in the Declaration of Independence
Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness
Government was to protect the rights of the citizens.
1st Issue and Solution in the Constitutional Convention
States representation
~ The House of Representatives and The Senates
The Great Compromise
July 16, 1787
Bicameral
Established The House of Representatives & The Senate
The House of Representatives
Based of population
The Senates
2 Senators per state elected by state legislator.
2nd Issue and Solution in the Constitutional Convention
Slaves being counted
~ 3/5 Compromise
3rd Issue and Solution in the Constitutional Convention
Chief of executive being selected
~ Electoral College
Virginia plan
constitutional convention may 29, 1787
Proposed legislative, executive and judicial
Divide legislature into the senate and House of Representatives
Based on population
Articles of confederation
November 15, 1777
Government subordinate to the states
âSovereignty, freedom, and independenceâ
National government had no judiciary or independent executive
Congress canât levy taxes- ask for money
Must have power to carry responsibility
Edited by Virginia plan
New Jersey plan
constitutional convention June 15, 1787
Called for a stronger national government
Unicameral legislature with equal representation
More power to states not government
William Patterson
13th amendment
passed January 31, 1865
Ratified December 6, 1865
Abolished slavery
14th amendment
Ratified July 9, 1868
State shall not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property. nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Apportionment
Civil war debt
16th amendment
Ratified February 3, 1913
Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes
17th amendment
Ratified April 8, 1913
Allowing the people select senators
Writers on the federalist papers
Hamilton, Madison, John j
1st amendment
Freedom of speech/ expression
Freedom of press
Freedom of religion
Freedom of assembly
2nd amendment
right of the people to keep and bear Arms
Federalist
supports of the constitution
Favored a strong national government
Anti federalist
Opposed ratification of the constitution
Feared a strong government
Believed power would be abused
Article I
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States
prohibits the states from making treaties with other nations
grants to Congress 17 enumerated
Article II
Executive Branch
Establishing office for President and Vice President
Article III
The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.
Article IV
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.
Article V
âNo state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.â
Article VI
makes national law supreme over state law when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
Article VII
States the number of states needed to ratify the Constitution, as well as lists the names of the Constitution's signers.
Judicial Review
The power of courts to decide whether a governmental institution has acted within its constitutional powers and, if not, to declare its action null and void.
Purpose of Checks and Balances
divides authority into: Legislative, executive, and judicial powers
no one person/ group would seize power and control over the American government.
Legislative Branch
House and Senate
The Congress
Makes laws, declares war, controls taxing and spending
can check the executive branch by passing laws over the veto by a 2/3 votes in each house.
Judicial Branch
deciding the meaning of laws, how to apply laws to real situations, whether a law breaks the rules of the Constitution.
can check both the the legislative and executive branch by declaring laws unconstitutional.
Executive Branch
Includes the president
carries out and enforces laws
can check the legislative branch by vetoing laws.
Unitary System
A governmental system in which the national government alone has ultimate authority.
sovereignty is vested solely in the national government
no constitutional need for a second legislative chamber based on geographic states
Confederal System
a system of government in which sovereign states delegate power to a central government for specific purposes.
Federal System
1787
states and nation, separate yet indivisible.
the division of sovereignty between a national government (national) and state (local) governments.
divides the responsibilities of government between the nation and the states
no constitutional need for a second legislative chamber based on geographic subdivisions states
Implied Powers
powers that are not listed in the Constitution but that are related to the exercise of listed powers. (Suggest)
Inherent Powers
powers of a state or branch of government that are not expressly written in a Constitution. (Natural)
Reserved Powers
Powers reserved and granted to the STATES under the tenth amendment to the Constitution.
Concurrent Powers
Powers that the national government and the states both have.
lend and borrow money
Taxation
Law enforcement
Chapter banks
Transportation
Extradition
The transfer of someone accused of a crime from one country or state to another for prosecution or punishment.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
laid down the rules by which territories would be settled and the producers by which territories could become states
Delegated powers
Powers given to the federal government
Exclusive powers
Powers executive to federal government
These powers were intended to establish a government strong enough to forge a union that was secure in its defense and stable in its economy.
taxation
regulation of commerce
the authority to provide for the national defense.
Enumerated (expressed) powers
Selective Incorporation
The process by which rights contained in the Bill of Rights become applicable through the Fourteenth Amendment to actions by the state governments. (for example, freedom of speech)
Purpose of Selective Incorporation
Protecting American citizens from state laws that could infringe on their rights; as defined in the Bill of Rights
1937 case of Palko v. Connecticut
determined which parts of the Bill of Rights would protect individuals against states as well as the national government.
Rights applied to states through selective incorporation.
first amendment
Second Amendment
Fourth amendment
Fifth amendment
Sixth amendment
Eighth amendment
Total Incorporation
A doctrine that Supreme Court has never adopted
applies the Bill of Rights to the state level.
Due Process
14th amendment clause stating that no state may deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law
McDonald v. Chicago
through selective incorporation, applied the same standard to state and local governments in striking down a Chicago ordinance that banned handgun possession.
Establishment Clause
First amendment provision:
government may not favor one religion over another
prohibits the reciting of prayers in public schools.
prohibiting Congress from passing laws respecting the establishment of religion.
Free Exercise Clause
First Amendment Provision
Free to hold religious beliefs; NOT free to ACT on beliefs
prohibits the government from interfering with the practice of religion.
Lemon Test
3 part test
determines whether a law relating to religion is valid under the establishment clause
4th amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, but upon probable cause,
5th amendment
No person shall be held to answer for a capital or infamous crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases of War or public danger.
6th amendment
The accused has the right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, and the Assistance of Counsel for their defence.
Libel
The publication of false material that damages a personâs reputation.
8th Amendment
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Exclusionary Rule
1960
illegally obtained evidence was almost never admissible in court.
prohibited from using evidence in trials obtained by unconstitutional means
(for example, illegal search and seizure).
Good Faith Exception
Only exception in the Exclusionary Rule
inadmissible evidence can be used in trial if police honestly believed they were following proper procedures, as when they obtain a search warrant that later turns out to have been faulty.
Prior Restraints
a form of censorship that restricts freedom of the press.
covered in first amendment
The groups and interests that support a party are collectively referred
Party Coalitions
Libel
The publication of false material that damages a personâs reputation.
Written
Slander
Spoken falsehoods that damage a personâs reputation.
Spoken
Right to Privacy Case
Griswold v. Connecticut
Right to Privacy
a womanâs right to choose an abortion
consensual relations among same-sex adults.
Basis for Roe v. Wade
The Right of Privacy
Civil Rights
The right of every person to equal protection under the laws and equal access to societyâs opportunities and public facilities.
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Blacks held to be not citizens of the U.S. Slaves' status as \n property of owners is confirmed; slaves must be returned to their owners. Missouri \n Compromise ruled unconstitutional. Placed country on a seemingly inevitable path to Civil \n War.
Poll Tax
Many southern states passed poll taxes, requiring voters to pay a fee to vote. Poor freedmen could rarely afford to vote.
Literacy Test
States passed literacy tests that required voters to read and explain part of the Constitution. Since most freedmen had little education, such tests kept them from voting.
Grandfather Clause
if a voter's father or grandfather could vote on January 1, 1867, then the voter did not have to take a literacy test. (No African Americans could vote before 1868.)