"Quest" Social Studies Quiz Study

The Road to the Constitution

How many Articles are in the Constitution?

7 Articles

What Does Article 1 of Constitution Cover?

Article 1 outlines lawmaking powers of legislative branch.

What does Article 2 cover?

Sets out executive branch (lead by president or vice) also lists presidents powers.

What does Article 3 cover?

Judicial Branch, this branch interprets laws and makes sure they’re safely applied.

How many total amendments are there?

27 Amendments

What is the Preamble?

Introduction, states goals of government and it states the 6 purposes of government.

When was the Constitution written?

September 17, 1787

What was the first state to ratify the constitution?

Deleware

What were Articles of Confederation and why were they a failure.

It was the first attempt to a National Government, the Articles failed due to lack of power in Central Government.

What rebellion showed the weakness of the Articles?

Shay’s Rebellion

Why did Shay’s Rebellion happen?

After war farmers were forced to pay heavy taxes.

What Ordinances were created under the Articles? (Describe)

1. Northwest Ordinance created a government for NW, it also banned slavery there.

2. Ordinance of 1785 set plan for surveying western land also how it is sold. It divided land into townships.

What was difference between New Jersey and the Virginia Plan?

Virginia plan was bicameral congress (2 chambers) while the New Jersey plan was unicameral (1 chamber).

What was the final compromise and what was it called. (include nickname)

It was called The Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise)

Why were enslaved people such a huge issue? What did they do to solve this issue?

In some states enslaved people made a huge part of their population so they made the 3/5 Compromise meaning 5 enslaved people had the value of 3 free.

Who were federalists and anti-federalists?

Anti-federalists were a group who opposed ratification of constitution, federalist were those who supported the plan.

What does Ratification mean?

the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid.

What famous writing was created by the Federalists?

The Federalist Papers… written to promote ratification of US constitution.

Who are some who wrote the Federalist Papers?

Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.

What did the anti-federalists want added to the Constitution.

They wanted to add a Bill of Rights.

What were five principles of the Constitution?

Popular Sovereignty, Limited Government and Rule of Law, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Federalism.

Whose job is it to interpret the Constitution?

Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)

Qualifications for being President?

1. At least 35 years old

2. Citizen since birth

3. Lived in US for at least 14 years.

Qualifications for Senator

1. Live in state they represent.

2. At least 30 years old

3. Citizen for at least 9 years.

Qualification for Member of House

1. At least 25 years old

2. Citizen for at least 7 years

3. Live in state they represent.

Define Federalism

Under Federalism power is shared between national government and state.

Define Concurrent Powers

Powers that both levels of government carry out. (Collecting taxes, borrowing money, and setting up courts ext.)

Define Reserved Powers

Powers constitution doesn’t give to national government but they are set aside for the states ( Regulate trade between state borders, set up schools, ext.)

Define Supremacy Clause

Statement in constitution telling states that the constitution and other laws and treaties made by national government “shall be supreme law of the land.”

Checks and Balances

One branch has the power to to check or limit, powers of the other 2. It makes sure one branch doesn’t get to powerful.

Define Separation of Powers

Framers decided to divide government into 3 parts to prevent abuse of power.

Limited Government

Framers wanted a strong government but not one so strong it can challenge their personal liberties and rights so they made the government only able to do what the people allow it to.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that the power of the government lies within the people.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting of delegates in PA in summer of 1787. They were met to revise articles but ended up drafting the constitution.

Confederation

First national government of the US

Social Contract

An agreement between the governed and the government stating rules of powers of both.

Uni/bicameral

Bicameral: 2 chambers

Unicameral: 1 chamber