U1 - Constitution

What was the Articles of Confederation?

The Articles of Confederation was the U.S.'s first form of government, uniting the states as a confederation under one governing authority.

How did each state participate in the Confederation Congress?

Each state had one vote in the Confederation Congress, sending delegations of up to 7 men who voted as one unit.

What was required for national legislation to pass under the Articles of Confederation?

National legislation required 9 out of 13 votes to pass.

What was needed to amend the Articles of Confederation?

Amending or altering the Articles required unanimous consent from all 13 states.

What powers were granted to Congress under the Articles of Confederation?

Congress could engage in international diplomacy, declare war, and acquire territory.

What protections were provided under the Articles of Confederation?

The Articles provided for extradition, protection of religion and speech, encouraged commerce between states, and required states to provide fair public governance.

What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation regarding state power?

The Articles gave more power to the states than to the central government, leading to various inefficiencies.

What was required for a national law to be enacted under the Articles of Confederation?

At least 9 states had to agree to enact a national law.

What was one of the financial problems faced by the national government under the Articles?

The national government could not impose taxes and relied on voluntary assistance from states.

What was Shay's Rebellion?

Shay's Rebellion was an uprising led by Daniel Shays in 1787 in Massachusetts, where poor farmers protested against mortgage foreclosures and high taxes.

What was the outcome of Shay's Rebellion?

Massachusetts sent its own militia to defeat the insurgents, highlighting the lack of a national military power.

What was the purpose of the meeting in Philadelphia in May 1787?

The meeting aimed to amend the Articles of Confederation to address its weaknesses.

What was the Virginia Plan?

Proposed by Edmund Randolph, the Virginia Plan called for a bicameral legislature with three branches of government and greater national supremacy over state governments.

What was the New Jersey Plan?

Proposed by William Patterson, the New Jersey Plan ensured state sovereignty with a national government of limited powers and one vote per state in the legislature.

What was the Great Compromise?

Created by Roger Sherman, the Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature that satisfied both small and large states.

What was the structure of the legislature established by the Great Compromise?

It consisted of an upper house (Senate) with equal representation (2 members per state) and a lower house (House of Representatives) based on state population.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

The Three-Fifths Compromise determined that only 3 out of every 5 slaves would count for representation in the House of Representatives.

What agreement was made regarding the slave trade in the Constitution?

It was agreed that Congress could not stop the slave trade for 20 years.

What clause was added to the Constitution regarding fugitives and runaway slaves?

An extradition clause that addressed how states should handle fugitives and runaway slaves.

What is the Electoral College?

A system where each state has a number of electors equal to its number of representatives in Congress, who are voted for by the people and then vote for the president.

What does the Commerce Compromise allow the government to do?

Impose a tariff on imports but not on exports.

What does Article I of the Constitution define?

The powers and functions of Congress.

How often are House members elected?

Every 2 years.

Who originally elected senators before the 17th Amendment?

State legislatures.

What does Article II of the Constitution define?

The powers and functions of the President.

What does Article III of the Constitution define?

The powers and functions of the judiciary.

What jurisdiction do federal courts have according to Article III?

Jurisdiction over cases involving federal law, disputes between states, and concerns with government officials.

How are federal judges appointed?

Appointed by the President with Senate approval, serving during 'good behavior' (interpreted as for life).

What does Article IV define?

Relations among the states.

What is the 'Full Faith and Credit Clause'?

Requires states to be open about their laws and encourages respect for each other's laws.

What does Article V outline?

The process for amending the Constitution.

What is required for a constitutional amendment to be proposed?

A 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress or proposal from 2/3 of states.

What is required for a constitutional amendment to be ratified?

Ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures or 3/4 of state ratifying conventions.

What does Article VI establish?

The supremacy clause, stating that all states must follow the Constitution.

What is outlined in Article VII?

The ratification process of the Constitution, requiring 9 out of 13 states to ratify.

What type of government did the Constitution create?

A representative republic that limits government.

What is federalism?

A system where both national and state governments share power, with national government having authority over its own sphere.

What does the Necessary and Proper Clause provide?

Flexibility for the government to address unforeseen situations.

What issue was not accounted for regarding electors' votes?

An elector's vote from a small state is disproportionately more influential than one from a large state.

What was the argument regarding the Bill of Rights?

Some believed it was necessary to list rights, while others, including Madison, argued that it could lead to the government taking away unlisted rights.

What was Madison's view on the necessity of a Bill of Rights?

He believed that nations with bills of rights had abused rights and that the Constitution did not entitle the federal government to take any rights in the first place.

What assurance led reluctant states to ratify the Constitution?

The assurance that a Bill of Rights would be added.

What does the First Amendment guarantee?

Freedom of speech, religion, press, petition, and assembly.

What right is protected by the Second Amendment?

The right to bear arms.

What does the Third Amendment prohibit?

The quartering of troops in private homes without consent.

What protections does the Fourth Amendment provide?

Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

What rights are included in the Fifth Amendment?

Indictment, protection against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and due process.

What guarantees does the Sixth Amendment provide?

The right to a speedy and public trial by peers, cross-examination of witnesses, the right to call favorable witnesses, the right to counsel, and to be informed of the crime accused.

What is the focus of the Seventh Amendment?

Lawsuits and the right to a jury trial.

What does the Eighth Amendment prohibit?

Cruel and unusual punishment, as well as excessive fines and bail.

What does the Ninth Amendment state about rights?

Listing rights in the Constitution does not deny other rights not listed.

What powers are addressed in the Tenth Amendment?

Delegated and reserved powers of the states and the people.

What significant changes occurred in U.S. laws after 9/11?

Modification of laws and defense operations to create policies to destroy threats.

What is the USA Patriot Act?

Legislation that allowed government agencies to share information about suspects and widened authority on tapping suspects' phones.

What was one major consequence of the USA Patriot Act?

Increased government surveillance and monitoring of emails.

What did the USA Freedom Act of 2015 accomplish?

It upheld certain parts of the Patriot Act but removed the collection of phone and internet data and set limits on data collection.

What is the primary jurisdiction of education according to the Tenth Amendment?

Education generally falls into state jurisdiction.

What was the No Child Left Behind Act aimed at?

Improving teaching methods, testing to measure progress, and imposing sanctions on underperforming schools.

What criticism did the No Child Left Behind Act face?

Nearly 80% of schools did not meet the standards set by the Act.

What are the three branches of government?

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

What role does the legislative branch play in lawmaking?

It makes the laws, reflecting the people's will.

How does the executive branch interact with laws?

It enforces the laws passed by Congress.

What is the purpose of judicial review?

To protect liberties and check the other branches by refusing to enforce bad laws or admitting unlawfully obtained evidence.

What is the principle of checks and balances?

Each branch can limit the powers of the others to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

What is a pocket veto?

When the president does not sign a bill within 10 days at the end of a legislative session, effectively killing the bill.