Foundations
Under this first U.S. plan of government, Congress could not collect taxes and states issued their own money.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
TEKS 8.15B
The Virginia Plan favored large states by basing representation in Congress on this.
What is population?
TEKS 8.4D
Government gets its authority from the consent of the people. This is the principle expressed by "We the People."
What is popular sovereignty?
TEKS 8.15D
These supporters of ratification argued that a stronger national government would bring stability and that the Constitution guarded against tyranny.
Who are the Federalists?
TEKS 8.17A
These first ten amendments were added to the Constitution to explicitly protect individual liberties.
What is the Bill of Rights?
TEKS 8.19B
The Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights influenced American government by protecting these from government abuse.
What are individual rights or freedoms?
TEKS 8.15A
The New Jersey Plan appealed to small states because it proposed this type of representation for every state.
What is equal representation?
TEKS 8.4D
Montesquieu argued that lawmaking, law enforcement, and judging should be assigned to different branches. Name this principle.
What is separation of powers?
TEKS 8.15D; 8.15E
Hamilton, Madison, and Jay wrote this series of essays to explain the Constitution and persuade states to ratify it.
What are the Federalist Papers?
TEKS 8.15A; 8.17A
This amendment prohibits excessive bail and fines, as well as cruel and unusual punishments.
What is the Eighth Amendment?
TEKS 8.19B
This 1787 law established a process for territories to become states on equal footing with existing states.
What is the Northwest Ordinance?
TEKS 8.6A
This compromise counted three-fifths of the enslaved population when calculating representation and direct taxation.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise? It increased slaveholding states' political power without granting enslaved people voting rights.
TEKS 8.4D
Name BOTH principles: citizens elect lawmakers to represent them, and those lawmakers must obey the law.
What are republicanism and limited government, respectively?
TEKS 8.15D
Staying informed, voting, and serving on a jury are examples of these duties and responsibilities of citizens.
What are civic responsibilities or responsible citizenship?
TEKS 8.19C
Along with protection against double jeopardy and forced self-incrimination, the Fifth Amendment requires this fair legal treatment.
What is due process of law?
TEKS 8.19B
The writers of the Articles kept the national government weak because they feared repeating this feature of British rule.
What is tyranny or abuse of power by a strong central government?
TEKS 8.15B
Name BOTH parts of the Great Compromise: how representation was determined in the Senate and in the House.
What are equal representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives?
TEKS 8.4D
The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the national government, nor prohibited to the states, to the states or the people. Name the principle of dividing power between national and state governments.
What is federalism?
TEKS 8.15D
Give TWO reasons Anti-Federalists opposed the original Constitution: one about individual liberty and one about government power.
What are the lack of an explicit bill of rights and fear that the national government would become too powerful at the states' expense?
TEKS 8.17A
Colonists objected to officials searching property and seizing belongings without proper legal justification. This amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
TEKS 8.15C; 8.19B
This uprising by Massachusetts farmers over debt and taxes exposed the weakness of the national government and strengthened calls for change.
What is Shays's Rebellion?
TEKS 8.15B
Delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise one plan of government but instead wrote another. Name BOTH documents in that order.
What are the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution?
TEKS 8.4D; 8.15B
Colonists complained that the king refused to approve needed laws. Name the congressional power that checks a president's similar refusal, AND the constitutional principle it demonstrates.
What are overriding a presidential veto and checks and balances? An override requires a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress.
TEKS 8.15C; 8.15D
In the ratification debate, people could defend positions with reasons, consider opposing arguments, and seek compromise. Name this practice AND explain how the Bill of Rights addressed a major disagreement.
What is civil discourse? Adding a Bill of Rights answered Anti-Federalist demands for explicit protections of individual liberties.
TEKS 8.17A
Explain TWO ways freedom of speech and a free press strengthen a constitutional republic.
What are keeping the public informed and holding government officials accountable? Accept explaining that people can discuss public issues, criticize policies, and expose government wrongdoing.
TEKS 8.21B