Gov, Fed. Papers and constitution study guide

Articles of Confederation

Initial US constitution, proved ineffective (Shays' Rebellion)

Rhode Island

State absent from Constitution talks, reluctant to revise Articles

Human Nature Consensus

Delegates agreed on self-interest, love for power, and money

Madison on Factions

Unequal property distribution is a common source of factions

Objects of Government

Government's focus: economic preservation of individual wealth

Montesquieu Influence

Advocated separation of powers and checks and balances

Connecticut Compromise

Created a two-house Congress with Senate and House of Representatives

3/5 Compromise

Representation and taxation based on free and 3/5 of enslaved persons

Universal Suffrage

Franklin supported voting rights for all men

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Debate over strong vs. weak Federal Government for economic stability

Congress Powers

Includes taxation, debt payment, money regulation, commerce, patents

States Prohibitions

States restricted from impairing contracts, making money, taxing imports

Individual Rights

Constitution protects rights, limits government, prohibits habeas corpus suspension

Bills of Attainder

Prohibits punishment without judicial trial

Ex Post Facto Laws

Prohibits retroactive laws affecting contracts

Religious Qualifications

Prohibits religious requirements for office holding

Treason Evidence Rules

Requires confession or two witnesses for conviction

Trial by Jury

Right to trial in criminal cases

Tyranny of the Majority

Madison's concern for protecting minority factions

Separation of Powers

System to prevent tyranny through checks and balances

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review; mandamus explained

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution, favored strong national government

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution, feared loss of freedom

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments guaranteeing individual rights

Ratification Process

Special conventions in states for Constitution approval

Formal Amending Process

Article 5 outlines proposal and ratification steps

Twenty-first Amendment

Repealed prohibition, ratified by state conventions

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Proposed for gender equality under the law

Informal Change to Constitution

Includes two-party system, Electoral College, and media influence

Judicial Interpretation

Informal change through court rulings

Technology and Mass Media

Influence on political practices and agendas

Demands on Policymakers

Challenges from larger government and international relations

Flexibility of Constitution

Discussion on adaptability and democratic nature

What is the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? What does it guarantee?

The purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to explain why American colonies wanted to break free from British rule. It guarantees that all people have certain rights, like life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

What is Shay’s Rebellion?

was a protest led by Daniel Shays, farmers were upset about high taxes and debt. They felt the government was not helping them , so they protested by closing down courts to stop them from taking away their farms.

What is a democracy?

Democracy is a system of government where the people have the power to make decisions about how they are governed.

What is the difference between a indirect and direct democracy?

In a direct democracy, citizens vote on laws and policies themselves. In an indirect democracy, citizens elect representatives to make those decisions for them.

What was Madison’s concern in Federalist Paper 10?

factions or groups with special interests that could harm others. He believed that if one group became too powerful it could take away the rights of others.

What was the Virginia Plan?

This plan proposed a strong national government with a legislature that had two houses.

What was the New Jersey Plan

This plan suggested a weaker national government with a legislature that had one house, where each state would have an equal number of representatives.

What was the Great Compromise?

combined the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. It created a two-house legislature: The House of Representatives and the Senate, where each state has two representatives.

List the Bill of Rights in a condensed form

1. Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition

2. Right to bear arms

3. No quartering of soldiers in private homes

4. Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures

5. Rights to due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and compensation for property taken

6. Right to a fair and speedy trial

 7. Right to a jury trial in civil cases

8. Protection against cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail

9. Rights not listed are still retained by the people

10. Powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states

In the event that no presidential candidate receives a majority of the Electoral College votes, what procedure follows according to the established rules?

The decision goes to the house of representatives, with each state delegation casting one vote

What was a primary concerns of anti-federalists regarding the proposed Constitution

It failed to address economic issues affecting large landowners and wealthy merchants

What demographic characteristics was common among the 55 delegates who began writing the new constitution?

Most were wealthy and educated, often from urban areas

According to Madison, what is a primary source of political factions?

The unequal distribution of property

Which of the following powers granted to congress allows it to directly influence the nations economic stability by generating revenue and managing public funds?

Levy taxes and pay debts

List the functions of the three branches of government.

Legislative- makes laws

Executive- carries out and enforces laws

Judicial- interprets laws and decides if they are constitutional  

Explain ex post facto law.

is a law that makes something illegal after it has already been done. This means someone cannot be punished for an action that was legal at the time it was taken.

Identify the Supremacy Clause.

Is part of the U.S. Constitution that states that federal laws and the Constitution are the highest law of the land.

Identify the 3/5 Compromise.

The 3⁄5 Compromise was an agreement made during the Constitutional Convention. It stated that for purposes of representation in Congress, each enslaved person would be counted as three-fifths of a person