gov unit 2 quiz 2

what are the articles of confederation

the first governing “constitution” as a new nation after the revolution

• loose organization of states

• state sovereignty”

• firm league of friendship”

what were the goals of the articles of confederation

defense, security of liberties, mutual and general welfare

what was the structure of the government/articles of confederation

congress was unicameral and made up of delegates from the states that were chosen yearly by whatever means the state decided

• each state had one vote

• no executive or judicial branches

• there was a presiding officer

what were the articles of confederation’s weaknesses

economic and security

what was the economic articles of confederation weaknesses

no power to tax, debt from the revolution, no power to regulate trade between states

what was the security articles of confederation weaknesses

no power to make states obey the articles or laws, articles could only be changed by a unanimous consent of states, shay’s rebellion and other violent episodes

what was the constitutional convention

it was a debate held in philly in the summer of 1787 to fix the articles

• all states but rhode island went

• delegates are known today as framers or the constitution/founding fathers

• it was a new generation of American politics because it was dominated by new, young leaders (ben franklin drove the average age by like 20 years)

what was George Washington’s role at the constitutional convention

elected presider

what was James Madison’s role at the constitutional convention

he was the father of the constitution

• kept notes from which we have most of our information about the proceedings

what was the goal of the constitutional convention

to REVISE the articles of confederation

explain the virgina plan (every bullet point)

• basis of discussion

• supported by the large states

• three branches

• bicameral legislature (congress)

• representation based on population

• house popularly elected

• senate chose by the house (nominated by the state legislatures)

• national executive judiciary chosen by the congress and can be removed by congress

• council of revision make up of executive and judicial branches with veto power over acts of congress (which could be over ridden)

• national government can veto state laws

explain the new jersey plan (every bullet point)

• supported by the small states

• unicameral legislature (congress)

• states equally represented (1 vote)

• add power to tax and regulate trade to existing congress of the confederation

• federal (plural) executive chosen by congress and could be removed by majority of states

• single federal “supreme” judiciary, appointed by the executive

main idea was the amend the articles not replace them

what were the three compromises that saved the constitution

• the great (Connecticut) compromise

• the 3/5 compromise

• the commerce + slave trade compromise

what was the great compromise

it created:

• bicameral legislature (congress)

• house of reps (lower house)

• proportional representation

• reps popularly elected (by the people)

• senate (upper house)

• states represented equally

• senators chosen by the state legislatures

what was the 3/5 compromise

slaves would count as 3/5 of a person in the population totals (they would also count in tax totals)

what was the commerce and slave trade compromise

congress could not tax exports from states and they could not act on slave trade for at least 20 years

who were federalists

supporters of the constitution

• expressed and stressed the weaknesses of the articles

what were the federalist papers

written under the title publius is the clearest arguments laid out for supporting the constitution

• john jay got sick after writing 5

• james madison wrote 29

• hamilton wrote the other 51

who were the anti feds

people who opposed the constitution

• against the ratification process (saw it as illegal)

• thought that it constitution would rob states of sovereignty and would lead to national tyranny

• issues with the necessary and proper clause/supremacy clause

• some thought constitution would be a way for large states to dominate small ones

• opposed the lack of a bill of rights

why were people against the bill of rights

• many states had them

• the framers wanted a simple document

• there were already protections of liberties in the existing document

what was happening with the states while ratifying the constitution

• nine states were needed to ratify

• Delaware was first

• rhode island was last

• very close votes in some states legislatures

• new government convened for the first time in spring of 1789

• new york was the temporary capital

• geroge washington unanimously elected as president and john adams as vp

explain the constitution

• sets out the basic principles upon which government and us was built

• lays out the basic framework and procedures of our government

• sets out the limits within which the government must conduct itself

parts of the constitution

• preamble (intro)

• 7 articles

• 27 amendments (first 10 bill of rights)

articles of the constitution

1. legislative

2. executive

3. judicial

4. relationship among states, full faith and credit clause, privileges and immunities clause

5. amendment process

6. supremacy clause, no religious test for holding office

7. ratification process

what are the six basic principles

• popular sovereignty

• limited government

• separation of powers

• checks and balances

• judicial review

• federalism

what is popular sovereignty

• power in the hands of the people

• people are the only source of any and all governmental power

• government can only govern with the consent of the governed (social contract theory)

what is limited government

• government can only do those things that the people have given them the power to do

• first principle stated backwards

• government must obey the law

• often called the constitutionalism/rule of law

what is separation of powers

• makes our system a presidential rather than a parliamentary one

• designed to limit government power

• legislative power- congress

• executive power- the president and bureaucracy

• judicial power- the supreme court and the lower courts

what is checks and balances

• complex system in which each branch is subject to a number of restraints (checks) by the other branches

• divided government and federalism provide additional checks

what is judicial review

• one aspect of the principle of checks and balances

• power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of governmental action

what is federalism

• division of power among a central government and several regional governments

• mostly defined by supreme court cases

what is the amendment process

• formal amendment- changes or additions that become part of the written language of the constitution itself

• article v- 4 methods (1 method used 1 time, 1 method used 26 times)

• one restriction- cannot take away a states equal senate representation

• does not need presidential approval because it is not a law

• approximately 15000 resolutions calling or amendment since 1789, btu only 27 have been ratifies (VERY difficult process)