The Constitutional Convention and Government Structure - 8th Grade U.S. History
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Overview of the Constitutional Convention and the structure of America under the Constitution (important terms/phrases are highlighted purple; important dates & numbers are highlighted yellow; important names are highlighted green)
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74 Terms
who presided over the Constitutional Convention (ran it)?
George Washington
who took notes on the Constitutional Convention (considered the “Father of the Constitution)?
James Madison
who offered the Great Compromise (from CT)?
Roger Sherman
who was the oldest and wisest at the Constitutional Convention?
Benjamin Franklin
what were some famous figures who did not attend the Constitutional Convention?
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Richard Henry Lee, and Patrick Henry.
what was the total number of delegates at the Constitutional Convention?
55
how many delegates ended up signing the Constitution?
39
where did the Constitutional Convention take place?
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
when was the Constitution written?
1787
when was the Constitution adopted?
1788
when was the Constitution put into effect?
1789
what was the number of years from the Declaration of Independence to the Constitutional Convention’s implementation?
13 years (1776-1789)
how long was the Revolutionary War (Treaty of Paris) from to the Constitutional Convention’s implementation?
6 years (1783-1789)
did they intend to write a new Constitution?
No, just to edit the Articles of Confederation and strengthen the federal government
were they authorized to write the new Constitution?
No
what government system were they replacing?
the Articles of Confederation
how did the states represent their own interests at the Constitutional Convention?
The larger states supported the Virginia Plan (House of Representatives), where representation was based on population. Smaller states wanted equal representation, so they supported the New Jersey Plan (Senate).
what plan did smaller states support?
New Jersey Plan
what plan did larger states support?
Virginia Plan
what was the New Jersey Plan?
a one-house legislature with equal representation and value of votes of all states in Congress (Senate)
what was the Virginia Plan?
a two-house legislature where representation of states was based on population (House of Representatives)
what was the Great Compromise?
Roger Sherman combined the New Jersey and Virginia Plan to create a bicameral legislature, where the House of Representatives provided representation based on population, and the Senate provided equal representation for all states.
what was the 3/5 Compromise?
enslaved people counted as 3/5 of a person for representation purpouses
did all of the states immediately accept the new Constitution?
No, Delaware was the first state to accept the new constitution. New Hampshire was the 9th state to accept the Constitution, which was the amount needed to pass the Constitution. Virginia then agreed under the condition that a Bill of Rights would be added. It took states a while to unite under the Constitution.
compromise
an agreement or settlement of a dispute, often with each side making concessions
ratify
to officially approve or agree; to legally bind
how many states needed to ratify the Constitution for it to pass?
9 out of 13
who proposed the New Jersey Plan?
William Patterson
who proposed the Virginia Plan?
James Madison
who proposed the Great Compromise?
Roger Sherman
how many members of the Senate are there?
100
how many senators does each state receive?
2
how long do senators serve?
6 years
how many representatives are in the House of Representatives?
435
how long do representatives serve for?
2 years
the amount of representatives per state is based on…
population
Congress can impeach…
the President and judges
how many members are on the Supreme Court?
9
appellate court is composed of ___ courts
13
the cabinet consists of the Vice President and…
15 heads of the executive departments
the Vice President can/cannot be from the same state of the president
cannot
what are three conditions to be a U.S. President?
must be a natural-born citizen, must have lived in the U.S. for 14 years, must be at least 35 years old
who can veto laws made by Congress?
the President
can Congress override vetoes?
Yes
who can impeach judges?
The House of Representatives
judges on the Supreme Court serve for…
lifetime
in additions to the House Reps, there are __ non-voting members representing D.C., Puerto Rico, and four other U.S. territories
6
who can overturn laws (declare them unconstitutional)?
the Supreme Court
who can overturn executive orders (declare them unconsitutional)?
the Supreme Court
who appoints judges?
the President
__________ ___ ____________ ensure no single person or entity can create a monopoly of power
checks and balances
district courts are composed of __ total judicial districts
94
the jurisdiction of district courts covers…
civil and criminal federal cases
how many articles are in the Constitution?
7
how many amendments are in the Constitution?
27
what is an amendment?
an edit or addition to the Constitution
what is the Electoral College?
a set of electors (538) who cast their vote for presidency; the majority (270) wins
the Constitution is considered the “Supreme Law of the Land” true/false
true
the Constitution became the “blueprint” for setting up a democracy true/false
true
what is the main role of Congress?
to create laws
what is the main role of the Executive Branch?
to implement laws
what is the main role of the Judicial Branch?
to interpret laws
when was the Treaty of Paris signed with Britain?
1783
when did the Colonies declare independence? (Declaration of Independence)
1776
many presidents have been impeached in the country’s history true/false
false
the President is removed from office when impeached true/false
false; it must be an official prosecution
who can declare war?
Congress
who can impeach the President?
the House of Representatives
what type of government is the U.S.?
bicameral
what do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
explain checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches
president can veto laws made by Congress; House of Reps can impeach the President
explain checks and balances between the executive and judicial branches
the President can nominate judges; the Supreme Court can declare presidential acts unconstitutional
explain checks and balances between the legislative and judicial branches
the House of Reps can impeach judges; the Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional
who can nominate judges?
the President