AP Gov - Chapter 2: The Constitution

What was the first document to govern the states?

The Articles of Confederation

How many articles were in the Articles of Confederation?

13

How long did the Articles of Confederation last and when?

ten years -- 1777-1787

Who adopted the Articles of Confederation?

Second Continental Congress

What were some flaws with the Articles of Confederation?

1. national guard was poor

2. taxes were optional and states refused to pay

3. joining the military was purely optional so basically no military

4. each state had it's own currency, so it was all super disconnected

5. there was no independent executive or judiciary

6. states controlled trade

7. national gov was internally weak because the goal was to avoid tyranny

What did the Articles of Confederation create?

a "loose league of friendship"

What kind of government did the Articles of Confederation vs. the constitution create? **

A unicameral (one house) vs. a bicameral (two house)

What was the convention called that helped to end the articles of confederation?

The Annapolis convention

When was the Annapolis convention called?

1786

Why was the Annapolis convention called?

to address trade and navigation disputes

How many representatives come to the Annapolis convention?

5 of 13

What was the result of the Annapolis convention?

they called for another meeting in Philadelphia, hoping for better results

What was Shay's Rebellion?

A popular uprising against gov of Massacusetts.

Who led Shay's Rebellion?

Daniel Shays

What did Shay's Rebellion show?

the weakness of the Articles and it led to many agreeing to replace the Articles

What caused Shay's Rebellion?

Farmers were angry about their national debt so they went to the army and revolted

How many people died in Shay's Rebellion?

4

When was the constitutional convention?

May 1787

How many delegates attended the Constitutional Convention and from how many states?

55 delegates, from 12 of 13 states. Rhode Island did not attend

Where was the Constitutional Convention held?

Philadelphia

Who are the key figures for the Constitutional Convention?

James Madison - father of the constitution

George Washington - president of convention

Alexander Hamilton - leading proponent of a strong national of gov

Who were the delegates?

They were all men, white, educated, elites, that had political experience, and 1/3 owned slaves, and they were all young (except Benjamin Franklin who was 81)

Who is the representative for Boulder County for House? **

Joe Neguse

What is the definition of constitution?

doc that sets fundamental principles of gov an establishes the institution of gov

What is the definition of republic?

gov ruled by representatives of the people

What was James' Madison's goal?

to create a republic that lasted

What was the government's goal?

to create a strong fiscal and military state while simultaneously protecting individual liberty

What were the civil liberties in the Articles of Confederation?

Writ of habeas corpus, bills of attainer, expost factor laws

What was the writ of habeas corpus and is it legal in the constitution?

the right of people detained by the gov to know the changes against them and yes

What was the bill of attainer and is it legal in the constitution?

when the legislature declares someone guilty w/ out trial and no

What was the expost factor laws and is it legal in the constitution?

laws punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed, and no

Where are individual rights protected?

In the bill of rights, not AoC

How many articles in the Constitution are there? **

7 articles

How many amendments in the Constitution are there?

**

27

What was the Virginia plan known as?

The large state plan

What was the Virginia plan and who created it?

It was a plan that had 3 branches of gov w/ bicameral legislature. It benefited because they had more rep in both chambers. The lower house would be elected directly by the people. The upper house would be nominated by state legislatures and chosen by the lower house. James Madison created it.

What was the New Jersey plan known?

The small state plan

Who created the New Jersey plan and what is it?

William Patterson, and it was a unicameral legislature w/ each state got one vote

What was the great compromise plan known as?

The Connecticut compromise

What was the great compromise?

It had bicameral legislature. The lower house would be elected directly by citizens; reps based on the population of states. The upper house would be selected by state legislatures w/ 2 per state

What is the lower house?

House of Representatives

What is the upper house?

Senate

Which amendment changed how out senate worked?

the 17th in 1913

Who are CO's two senators? **

John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennett

How many reps does CO have in house of reps? **

8

What do you add to get the electoral college votes? **

house of reps and senate so CO has 10 electoral college votes

How many reps are in the house of reps? **

435

What was the 3/5 compromise?

an agreement to count slaves as 3/5 of a person in calculating a state's reps

When was slave trade restricted?

1808

What were some compromises made about the pres?

there would be one person in charge, they would have a four year term (arguments for 7), they added impeachment (for treason, bribery, and other crimes and misdemeanors)

What are the three presidents that have been impeached?

Andrew Johnson, Donald Trump, and Bill Clinton

How many votes from congress have to be given to remove the president from office?

67/100 --> 2/3

What was one of the great contradictions?

slavery

What's the point of having three branches of gov?

checks and balances

Define federalism ******

the sharing of power between national gov and the states

Where did we get the idea of checks and balances and the separation of power from? **

french philosopher Montesquieu

What's the biggest responsibility of the Legislative branch?

to make laws

What does clause 17 of article one say? **

enumerated/expressed powers = authority specifically granted to a branch of gov in constitution (borrow money, tax, regulate interstate commerce)

What is the necessary and proper clause?

article one, section 8, clause 18, granting congress necessary power to carry out enumerated powers

What are the implied powers?

Authority to the federal government that goes beyond expressed powers

What is the executive's branch #1 responsibility? **

enforcing laws passed by congress

What else can the executive branch do?

they can veto, they have a commander in chief, they oversee execution of law by bureaucracy, and treaty making

How is the executive branch chosen?

by the electoral college -- indirectly by the people

Who was the state of the union originally to?

congress

What is the judicial branch?

a system of federal courts -- responsible for hearing and deciding cases through fed courts

What is the highest court in land?

The supreme court

Who determines the lower court structure?

congress

What is the supremacy clause?

constitution and all national treaties and laws should be the supreme law of the land

What does judicial review mean?

the ability to overturn a law/executive action -- isn't explicit in the constitution

What does the judicial branch do?

They interpret the laws and handle disputes between states and national gov, between 2 or more states, and between citizens of diff states