First gov system of US (1776-1789): Placed power in hands of state govs. Required 9 out of the 13 states to vote to approve any measure and a unanimous vote to amend the articles themselves
Each state only had one vote in congress socitizens of small states had a lot more political power than those in larger states \n
First governing system for the US
Loosley linked the states
Fed gov had no power to tax or implement individual states
The power delegated from people
Power granted to state governments
Limited Powers for the federal government
Created infighting between gov and everyday people
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Shay’s Rebellion: Uprising of Rev War veterans who were not paid for their military service as they were promised. Fed gov could not collect enough money from taxation. Led by veteran Daniel Shays. The fed gov could not raise money to pay the veterans or to create an army to control the rebellion.
Fed gov could not tax citizens directly, and could only request money from states so the states rarely donated funds and the gov could not pay its debts or fund projects
Federal gov could not regulate international or interstate trade so individual states could make their own trade agreements with foreign nations
The federal gov could not raise an army, only request soldiers from the states so states could refuse to send soldiers, not allowing the fed army to create an effective military
No judicial branch, so no effective way to resolve disputes between states, like competing claims for the same territory
Passing laws required the approval of nine out of the thirteen states and amending the articles required all thirteen so it was difficult to make laws and fix the article
\n Confederation Congress metMay-Sept. 1787 to create a new Constitution
James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington
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Challenges: create a stronger federal gov so it can get things done (taxes, military) but not so strong it becomes tyrannical like Great Britain’s govt
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New constitution published in newspapers
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Federalists and Anti-Federalists began writing essays to support their ideas about the Constitution & challenge the other side
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Republic | Pure Democracy | |
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Dealing w/ factions | More parties = no majority to oppress minority | Most people agree on ideologies. Minority suppressed. |
Structure of government | Local and state governments will ensure that politicians accurately represent their constituents.Different branches of government - checks and balances | Everybody participates in government |
<<^^Anti-Federalists^^: Patrick Henry and others against the constitution<<
* Wanted something closer to AoC, states w/ more power
* Feared the “single executive” would become too powerful, like a king
* Needed bill of rights to protect rights of states & citizens
* Wanted as many people as possible to have a voice in govt. To keep elites from having too much power
* Series of essays written under false names like “Brutus”
* Intro to Brutus No.1
* Written by ANTI-FEDERALISTS in response to federalists’ papers
* Written under pseudonyms
* What is the proper role of the gov?
* How large and how powerful should the central gov be \n
As American leaders realized the Articles of Confederation were ineffective for running a large country, federalists and anti-federalists proposed different forms constructing the US. Federalists favored a strong central government that had power over the states. Anti-federalists preferred to keep the AoC due to the freedom it gave the states. As the debates between the two groups continued, the government became more divisive.
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Virginia Plan | Three branches, bicameral legislature, the supremacy of national government, separation of powers, proportional representation |
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New Jersey Plan | The sovereignty of states, limited and defined powers of a national legislature, representation is equal for all states |
Great Compromise | House membership is apportioned by population; each state is given two senators |
Three-fifths compromise and importantation of slaves | Only three of every five enslaved persons could be counted to determine representation \n Congress could not stop the importation of slaves 20 years after ratification |
Electoral College | States decide how their electors are chosen, with each state having the same number of electros as they have representatives in congress . |
\n As a result of the ⅗ compromise, the number of representatives in the House of Representatives from slaveholding states increased.
Great compromise of 1787 proposed a Senate with equal representation for each state and a House of Representatives with membership established according to the population of each state.
Executive
Judicial
hear disputes, interpret laws
Supreme Court
nine justices total
President nominates someone for a vacancy and the senate votes to confirm the nominee
lifetime appointment
federal courts around the country
Purpose: evaluates laws, make sure they are in line with the constitution
There are many lower courts that are the biggest part of the Judiciary
Judicial Review: Use of courts to protect liberties & properly put policies into place
A court can refuse to enforce a poorly-written law or the SCOTUS can declare a law unconstitutional
Citizens can use the court system to challenge unfair government actions, appeal court cases that were carried out improperly or question public policies
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Legislative
the branch that most represents the people, turning public opinion into laws, through the work of legislators (lawmakers)
AKA Congress
House of Representatives (number of reps determined by state population. In total there are 435 members)
Senate (only two senators allowed per state - 100 total)
This system was enforced thanks to the Great (Connecticut) Compromise
Article I sets up how the legislative branch works
Access Point: the ways people and special interest groups can voice their opinions and influence policy
Legislature works in Capitol Hill in DC where they make laws, determine how to fund the government, and shape foreign policy
Committees: Groups of 10-40 legislators who meet to discuss, debate, and oversee certain topics of law/policymaking
House committee examples: Agriculture, Budget, Veteran’s affairs
Senate committee examples: Armed Services, Budget, Foreign Relations, Veteran’s Affairs
Legislative access points: ways stakeholders can have their voices heard and influence decisions made by congress
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First ten amendments of the US Constitution
Amendment I: Freedom of speech, press, assembly, assembly
Amendment II: The right to bear arms
Amendment III: Prevents government from forcing homeowners to allow soldiers to use their homes (no quartering of troops)
Amendment IV: Prevents the government from unreasonable search and seizure of the individual of their private property
Amendment V: Indictment, double jeopardy, protection against self-incrimination, due process
Amendment VI: Speedy and public trial impartial jury in criminal cases, cross-examination of adverse witnesses, calling
Amendment VII: Extends the right to a jury trial in federal civil cases
Amendment VIII: bars excessive bail and fines and also prevents cruel and unusual punishment
Amendment IX: States that things not mentioned in the constitution are valid (listing rights in the Constitution doesn’t deny others)
Amendment X: the Federal Government only has those powers delegated in the Constitution. If it isn’t listed, it belongs to the states or to the people (delegated and reserved)
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Article I | The Legislative Branch |
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Article II | The Executive Branch |
Article III | The Judiciary |
Article IV | Relations Among States |
Article V | Amendment Process |
Article VI | National Supremacy |
Article VII | Ratification Process |
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Came out of Enlightenment thinking, where people wanted more freedoms to criticize their government in both speech and writing, freedom to practice the religion they wanted to, and wanted to be sure everyone had a fair trial if they got into legal trouble.
Amendment Process
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infrastructure: a system of public works; like roads, bridges, phone poles, water pipes
Federal investigation: lead-up to a possible court case at the federal level
Subsidies: a sum of money provided for specific use by official or government action
Stakeholders: People or groups who will be affected by policies
Bill: a legislative proposal. A law in its infancy
Veto: An official power or right to refuse to accept or allow something; a thumbs-down
Pocket veto: when the president refuses to sign a bill and the bill “dies,” never becoming law.
Tangible: something that is real and can be seen or felt by all
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Term | Definition | Example |
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Verdict Synonyms: Decision, ruling | An official judgment made in court \n | At traffic court, I received a guilty verdict speeding 75 mph on MLK Blvd. |
Majority | The largest part of a group of people or things | The majority of justices voted that the law was unconstitutional. |
Dissent \n Dissenting | To disagree with a decision made by other judges in a court case \n Disagreeing with or having different opinions from the official opinion | While 7 justices agreed and wrote the majority opinion, 2 justices dissented \n The dissenting justices interpreted the Constitution differently from the majority. |
Rule \n Use withIn favor Against | To decide one way or the other in a court case | The judge against Roe vs Wade |
Overturn | To reverse, undo, or get rid of a previous law or court ruling | The Supreme case overturned Roe vs Wade |
McCulloch V Maryland -1819
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US v Lopez - 1995
US v Darby
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