u2 history test - pellegrino

articles of confederation

the first constitution of the United States, establishing a weak central government

weaknesses of articles of confederation

-no federal leader to lead the country

-no national taxes

-no federal court system

-lack of strong federal government

-limited military = no protection

shays rebellion

a farmer-led revolt in massachusetts protesting high taxes & debts

founding father who supported shays rebellion

thomas jefferson

significance of shay's rebellion

showed the weakness of the articles of confederating and the need for a stronger national govt.

constitutional convention

a meeting held in philadelphia to revise the articles of confederation

why was the constitutional convention called

revise the articles

what was decided in the constitutional convention

create a new constitution w/ a stronger federal govt.

judicial branch

interpret laws

executive branch

enforce laws

legislative branch

makes laws

what vote determines who is president

electoral

how many electoral votes are needed to win presidency

270

federalism

a system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

new jersey plan

proposal that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.

virginia plan

proposal to create a strong national government

great compromise

agreement providing a dual system of congressional representation

state rights

powers kept by the states

federal power

powers of the national govt

presidency compromise

president elected by the electoral college instead of direct vote

southern states

wanted slaves counted for representation

northern states

wanted slaes counted for taxes

3/5 compromise

each enslaved person counted as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation

preamble

introduction to the constiution

what does the preamble contain

goals of constiution which were justice, peace, defense, welfare, and liberty

why was "we the people" important

shows that govt power comes from the people

pardon

forgivness for a crime

reprieve

delay/stop of a punishment

impeachment process

house of representatives chargers --> senate holds trial --> removal if found guilty

three presidents that have been impeaches

1. andrew johnson

2. bill clinton

3. donald trump

which president resigned before impeachment

richard nixton

loose construction

a broad interpretation of the Constitution, meaning that Congress has powers beyond those specifically given in the Constitution

strict construction

follow the constitution exactly as written

which government position serves as the president of the senate

vice president

which amendment established the voting age as 18

26th amendment

first step in presidential election

primaries and caucuses

second step in the presidential election

national conventions

third step in the presidential election

general election

fourth step in the presidential election

electoral college vote

what group of people wanted the bill of rights included in the constitution

anti federalists

what group of people didn't think the bill of rights was necessary

federalists

3 components of the constitution

1. preamble

2. articles

3. amendment

purposes that guided the framers of the constitution

create a fair, balanced govt to protect rights

3 topics that reached a compromise

1. representation - great compromise

2. slavery - 3/5th compromise

3. presidency - electoral college

congress is a ____

bicameral

___ + ___ = congress

house of representatives + electoral college

is the presidential election a direct or indirect vote

indirect

how is the representation determined

population in the house

how many seats in the senate? how many/state?

seats: 100

states: 2 per state

requirements to be president

35 years old, natural-born citizen, US resident for 14 years

judicial review

allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws

checks and balances

used to keep the government from getting too powerful in one branch

limits of checks and balances

- president can veto laws

- congress can override laws

- courts can declare laws unconstitutional

when is election day in the US

tuesday after the first monday in november

how does a bill become a law (3 steps)

1. bill introduced and approved

2. sent to president

3. president signs or vetoes