American Government and Constitutional Foundations

Flashcards reviewing the American Dream, purpose of government, Declaration of Independence, Constitutional Convention plans, Articles of the Constitution, amendments, and federalism.

According to John Locke, what is the primary purpose of government?

To preserve rights to property.

According to Thomas Jefferson, why are governments instituted among men?

To secure their rights.

What is identified as the mechanism for resolving disputes about the definition of the American Dream and the purpose of government?

Politics.

What was the political environment like during the American founding?

It was intense, experimental, and deeply divided.

According to the lecture notes, who were the five authors of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert R. Livingston of New York.

Who made up the intended audience of the Declaration of Independence?

King George III, the American colonists, and the international community.

What events contributed to the rising tensions between the American colonists and Great Britain?

British financial policies and military enforcement following the French and Indian War.

When and where was the Constitutional Convention held according to the notes?

May 25th - September 17th, 1787.

How many delegates attended the Constitutional Convention, and what was the predominant profession of these men?

55 delegates attended, and more than half were lawyers or judges.

What legislative structure was proposed under the Virginia Plan?

A bicameral legislature with proportional representation, where the lower house is elected by the people and the upper house is elected by the lower house.

Under the New Jersey Plan, how was the legislative branch structured and chosen?

A unicameral legislature with equal representation, with members chosen by state legislatures.

What served as the direct inspiration for the government proposed by Alexander Hamilton?

The British form of government.

What major issue was left unresolved by the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Hamilton Plan?

The executive branch.

Which branch of government is described in Article I of the Constitution, and what is one of its characteristics?

The legislative branch, which is made up of the House of Representatives and holds the power of impeachment.

What does the 'full faith and credit clause' of Article IV of the Constitution require?

It requires every state to respect and honor the public acts, records, and judicial rulings of every other state.

What is the meaning of the 'privileges and immunities clause' of Article IV of the Constitution?

It prevents states from discriminating against out-of-state citizens and ensures that visiting citizens receive the same fundamental rights as local residents.

What is the meaning of the supremacy clause of Article VI of the Constitution?

It means that the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the highest law of the land, overriding any conflicting state law.

According to Article VII, what were the terms for ratification of the Constitution?

Formal approval by special state conventions in nine of the thirteen states.

When was the U.S. Constitution officially ratified?

June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it.

What is the Bill of Rights, and what role does it serve?

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, which protect individual liberties and limit federal power.

Which constitutional amendments are referred to as the Civil War Amendments?

The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments.

How many times has the U.S. Constitution been amended?

27 times.

What is social contract theory?

The idea that people give up some of their absolute freedom and agree to follow moral and political rules in exchange for safety, order, and protection from a government or society.

What is police power?

The inherent authority of a government to enact laws and regulations to protect the public's health, safety, morals, and general welfare.

Which governments in the United States exercise police power?

State governments, alongside local governments through authority delegated by the states.

What are the four areas into which police power is typically divided?

Health, safety, morals, and the general welfare.

What is federalism?

A system of government where power is divided between a central national government and smaller state or regional governments.

What is dual federalism?

A system where the federal government and state governments have distinct, non-overlapping spheres of power.

What is cooperative federalism?

A system where national and state governments share power and work together to solve public problems.