Constitution and Early Nationhood Test Vocab

Articles of Confederation

First national constitution of the united states that created a weak national government, which proved to be ineffective

Shay's Rebellion

Protest to perceive the unjust economic policies and political corruption of the Massachusetts's state legislature

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

chartered a government for the Northwest Territory, provided a method for admitting new states to the Union from the territory, and listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory.

Consitution

the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government

Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

3/5 Compromise

3/5th of the slaves would be counted as people in representation

Trade Compromise

Congress couldn't tax exports and couldn't end slave trade for 20 years

Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist

those who favored the Constitution (strong national government) vs. those who opposed the Constitution (threat to individual rights)

Ratification

Formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty

federalism

a political system in which power is divided between national and state gov.

separation of power

government principle in which power is divided among different branches

Checks and Balances

a system in which each branch of government is able to check, or restrain, the power of the others

legislative

makes laws, approves presidential appointments, has 2 senators from each state, contains house; senate, congress

How does a bill become a law?

It has to be passed by both houses, voted on, and the president has to sign off on it

Executive Branch

Enforces laws, signs laws, vetoes laws, pardons people, appoints federal judges.

Cabinet

responsible for the day to day enforcement and administration of federal laws

judicial

decides if all laws are constitutional, appointed by the president, a judge can also overturn rulings by other judges

supreme court

Interprets the laws, decides if law is relevant to a particular set of facts, rules how law is applied

veto

power of the chief executive to reject laws passed by the legislature

Process of Amending the Constitution

Amendment proposed by 2/3 of both houses of Congress
Amendment ratified by 3/4 vote of all state legislatures

Bill of rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

first amendment

5 freedoms: speech, press, religion, assembly, petition

Not protected by the first amendment

Defamation, obscenity, seditious speech

Political Parties in the 1790s

Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans

Washington's Farewell Address

Warned Americans not to get involved in European affairs, not to make permanent alliances, not to form political parties and to avoid sectionalism.

House of Representatives Qualifications

25 years old, citizen for 7 years, resident of state

House of Representatives how elected

Every 2 years
People directly vote
Accountable to the people

House of Representatives Powers

Revenue bills must start in the house

House of Reps. Power checked? Can check other branches powers?

Can impeach pres./justices

Senate Qualifications

30 years of age, 9 year US citizen, Inhabitant of state represented.

SENATE: How Often Elected

state legislatures choose senators
-every 6 years
-stable
-1/3 senate turns over

House of Representatives powers

Sole power to try impediment
2/3 confirm treaty advice/ consent: judges, ambassadors

House of Rep. Power checked? Check other branches power?

-can try ( and convict) on impeachments
-check pres. and treaties and appointments

President qualifications

35 years old, 14 years resident, natural born citizen

President how often elected

Every 4 years
Elected college

President Powers

-commander and chief
-upholds laws/ const. appointments/s.c
Can pardon/ veto

President power checked?

Appoints justices
Can veto

Supreme Court Qualifications

None
Usually lawyers

Supreme Court members how elected

appointed by president
(can by senate)
Life time

Supreme court powers

Find state + fed laws
Unconstitutional
(judicial review)

Supreme Court Powers check?

can be impeached
Find laws/ executive order unconstitutional

Loose or strict construction: Hamilton

He believed that the constitution should be loosened and believed that a national bank was necessary

Loose or strict construction: Jefferson

He believed that the constitution should be strict and that boundaries shall be kept

Urban vs. Rural: Hamilton

He believed urbanism should be supported due to it's ability to give inventors outlets for their genius and to give people entrepreneur opportunities

Urban vs. Rural: Jefferson

He believed a rural lifestyle is needed to grow the future of a republic for a nurtured farm like and low density living and that farmers embody American virtue

The Virtue of the People: Hamilton

He believed the nature of the people were selfish and sinful and were filled with greed rather than virtue

The Virtue of the People: Jefferson

He believed that people make mistakes, but trusting one another is quite reliable and humans have room to correct themselves

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

Quartering of soldiers

4th amendment

unreasonable searches and seizures

5th amendment

due process of law

6th amendment

the right to a fair trail

7th amendment

trail by jury in civil cases

8th amendment

cruel and unusable punishments

9th amendment

Non-Enumerated Rights

10th Amendment

states rights

National Powers

-declare war

-admit new states

-establish post offices

-coin money

(ONLY 4!)

state powers

-establish and maintain schools
-make marriage laws
-provide for public safety
-establish local governments (ONLY 4!)

Shared laws between Nation and State

Maintain law and order
Levy taxes
Borrow money
Charter banks
Establish courts
Provide for public welfare

What is a landmark case

A U.S. Supreme Court case that marks a significant change in the interpretation of the Constitution.

electoral college

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

How many members are in senate

100

How many members in House of Rep.

435 members

How many cabinet departments are there

15