SS Topic 4

Constitution

a document that sets out the laws, principals, organization, and processes of our government

Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution

Articles of Confederation

the first American constitution, passed in 1777, which created a loose alliance of 13 independent states

Cede

to give up

Currency

money

Northwest Ordinance

a 1787 law that set up a government for the Northwest Territory

Shays’ Rebellion

a 1786 revolt in Massachusetts led by farmers in reaction to high taxes

Privatize

to put private individuals or companies in charge of something

Depression

a period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises

Constitutional Convention

the gathering of state representatives on May 25, 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation

Virginia Plan

the plan at the Constitutional Convention that called for a strong national government with three branches and a two-chamber legislature

New Jersey Plan

the plan at the Constitutional Convention, favored by smaller states, that called for 3 branches of government with a single-chamber legislature

Compromise

a settlement or peaceful situation in which each side gives up some of its demands in order to reach an agreement or peaceful situation

Great Compromise

a plan at the Constitutional Convention that settled the differences between large and small states

Three-fifths Compromise

an agreement at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the enslaved residents in any state be counted in its population

Legacy

something received from a predecessor or from the past

Ethical

following accepted standards for conduct or behavior

Republic

a system of government where citizens choose representatives to govern them

Dictatorship

a government in which one person or small group of people holds complete authority

Magna Carta

A British document signed in 1215 that contained 2 basic ideas- Monarchs themselves had to obey the laws, and citizens have basic rights

English Bill of Rights

a 1689 document that guaranteed the rights of English citizens

Separation of power

a principle by which the powers of government are divided among separate branches

Ratify

to approve

Federalists

a supporter of a strong federal government; a member of the party led by Alexander Hamilton that favored a strong federal government

Antifederalists

an opponent of a strong federal government

Federalists Paper

a series of essays by Federalist James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in support of ratifying the constitution

Amend

to change

Popular sovereignty

government by consent of the governed

Bill

a proposed law

Veto

to reject, as in when the President rejects a law passed by Congress

Override

to overrule, as when Congress overrules a presidential veto

Impeach

to bring charges of serious wrongdoing against a public official

Bill of rights

a list of key individual rights and freedoms

Civil

related to lawsuits involving the private rights of individuals

Constitutional initiative

the power of citizens to call for votes to change state constitutions

Infrastructure

a system of transit lines, highways, bridges, and tunnels

Local government

a government on the county, parish, city, town, village, or district level.

Citizen

a person who owes loyalty to a particular nation and is entitled to all its rights and protections

Naturalize

to grant citizenship to a person who has met official requirements for becoming a citizen

Immigrant

a person who enters another country in order to settle there

Resident alien

a person living in a country where he or she is not not a citizen

Civic virtue

the willingness to work for the good of the nation or community even at great sacrifice

Patriotism

a feeling of love and devotion to one’s country

Jury duty

to responsibility of every citizen to serve on a jury when called

A document that sets out the laws, principles, organization, and process of a government is known as

a constitution

Territories in the West would split up into__________, plots of land sold at $640 a piece under the ________________

townships, Land Ordinance of 1785

The first “ constitution “ of the United States, which created more of a loose alliance, was the

Articles of Confederation

A period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises is

a depression

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress could

declare war.

Since the demand for farm goods went down after the war, a farmer led a revolt against courthouses in Massachusetts. This is known as

Shays’ Rebellion

The purpose of the Articles of Confederation was to

unite the colonies under one national government

The states were in charge of

enforcing the laws that Congress passed under the Articles of Confederation.

Congress privatized much of the Northwest Territory by

selling pieces of land to settlers.

Shays’ Rebellion involved a group of farmers who were angry about losing their farms due to

low crop prices and high state taxes.

The laws that Congress passed relating to the Northwest Territory were considered a success was that the laws granted ________________________________ to settlers.

essential rights and civil liberties

The _______________________ was called in Philadelphia in May 1787

Constitutional Convention

The intended purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to

revise the Articles of Confederation

The most prominent delegate at the Constitutional Convention (Father of the Convention) was

James Madison

The ________ Plan proposed: a two-house legislature, state representation based on population, three branches of government, and an executive branch to carry out laws

Virginia

Delegates were against the _________________ because it was too similar to the Articles of Confederation

New Jersey Plan

_____ states needed to ratify the Constitution for it to go into effect

Nine

The main subject of debate among delegates to the Convention was how the _____________ would be structured

legislature

The Great Compromise was so important because it created a _____________ everyone could accept.

legislative system

The ________________ determined how enslaved people would be counted in the population.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Some delegates refused to sign the Constitution because they thought that it gave too much power to the _________ government.

national

The men who laid the groundwork for the United States are known as the

Founding Fathers

A government in which citizens rule themselves through elected representatives is known as a

Republic

_____________ and ______________ were two valuable virtues needed for a government to work

Independence, Public Service

The Enlightenment philosopher, __________, inspired the Constitutional delegates by his theory on natural rights

John Locke

The Enlightenment philosopher who inspired the delegates to create three branches of government was

Baron de Montesquieu

The essential idea in the Magna Carta that influenced the U.S. government is that

people have basic rights

The ________________ influenced the U.S. government with its emphasis on elections and fair trials.

English Bill of Rights

The effect that individual state constitutions and the Articles of Confederation had on the Founding Fathers:

the documents provided experience with formal government systems.

John Locke’s ideas influenced the Constitution in several ways, including his idea that government is

an agreement between the ruler and the ruled.

Montesquieu’s idea of __________________ kept one person or group of people from gaining too much power by dividing power among three branches of government.

separation of powers

The ___________ argued that the Bill of Rights was needed in the Constitution

Antifederalists

The first state to ratify the Constitution was

Delaware

There are ____ state representatives in Congress today

435

The _______________________________________________________ is believed to be under which federalism principle of the Constitution

division of power between the federal government and the states

There are ____ senators who serve in Congress today

100

Each state representative serves a _______ term

two-year

Each senator serves a ______ term

six-year

The leader of the House of Representatives is the

Speaker of the House

The leader of the Senate is the

Vice President

Laws that start as proposals are known as

Bills

Congress may:

make money, declare war, direct foreign policy

The President may:

direct foreign policy, appoint ambassadors, suggest new laws

The Commander in Chief of our armed forces is

the President

One presidential term is __ years

4

Despite the results of the popular vote, the ____________ actually selects the President

Electoral College

If a court case cannot be resolved in a district or appellate court, the case will go to the ______________ to explain and defend the Constitution.

Supreme Court

The purpose of _____________ was to explain and defend the Constitution.

the Federalists

__________ was specifically concerned about too much power resting with the President.

Patrick Henry

The Antifederalists believed that it was important for the Constitution to include a bill of rights because they feared that a _______________________ would ignore basic rights.

strong central government

What finally persuaded the delegates to the Virginia Convention to ratify the Constitution was that they believed

a bill of rights would be added to the Constitution.

The Federalists think it is dangerous to leave too much power to the states because

an imbalance of power would make it too difficult for the central government to function.

____________________________ are known as Amendments

Changes made to the Constitution

The First Amendment of the Constitution allows

Freedom of speech and religion

The Thirteenth Amendment

saw the end of slavery

The three branches of government as described in Articles I–III of the Constitution

illustrate the principle of separation of powers.