Bill of Rights
What does the 1st Amendment do?
Protects the freedom of religion, speech, press, petition, assembly
What branch of government is discussed in Article I of Constitution?
The Legislative Branch - House of Reps. and the Senate
Who was our first president and what precedent did they establish when leaving office?
George Washington
Two-term precedent
What is Federalism?
division of power between a central government and local government
What did the Naturalization Act do? What president supported its passage?
It increased number of years to qualify for U.S. citizenship from 5 to 14.
John Adams
What does the 2nd Amendment do?
Protects the right to keep and bear arms
What branch of government is discussed in Article II of Constitution?
The Executive Branch - President/Cabinet
Who was our first Vice President? Who was our second Vice President?
First: John Adams
Second: Thomas Jefferson
What is Popular Sovereignty?
The principles that power comes from the people
What did the Alien Act do? What president supported its passage?
It authorized the President to deport any aliens considered dangerous and to detain enemy citizens in time of war
John Adams
What does the 8th Amendment do?
Protection against cruel and unusual punishment
What branch of government is discussed in Article III of Constitution?
The Judicial Branch - The Supreme Court
Who was our 2nd President and what election did he win?
John Adams
Election of 1796
What is Separation of Powers?
The idea that powers are divided between separate branches of government
What did the Sedition Act do? What president supported its passage?
It made it illegal for newspaper editors to criticize either the President or Congress and imposed heavy penalties (fined or imprisoned) for editors who violated the laws
John Adams
What does the 4th Amendment do?
protects against unreasonable searches or seizures
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
Gives Congress all powers "Necessary and Proper" to carry out their "enumerated powers".
"Allows congress the ability to make laws or to act where the constitution doesn't give it authority to act"
Article I, Section 8
Who was our third president and what elections did he win?
Thomas Jefferson
Elections of 1800 and 1804
What are Checks and Balances?
The principle that powers of each branch are checked and balanced by the other branches
What did the Embargo Act of 1807 do? What was its impact? Who supported its passage?
Prohibited U.S. merchant ships from trading with other countries (hoped it would hurt France and Britain economically)
However, the act hurt the U.S. economy especially those in the North
Thomas Jefferson
What does the 5th Amendment do?
right to due process, no double jeopardy, can’t testify against oneself (self-incrimination)
What is the Supremacy Clause?
the Constitution and federal laws take priority over any conflicting rules of state law.
Who was our 4th President and what elections did he win?
James Madison
Elections of 1808 and 1812
What is Judicial Review? What Supreme Court case established this principle?
The authority of Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional – NOT in the Constitution but will become an important role of the Supreme Court in 1803 with the ruling of Marbury v. Madison
What did the Judiciary Act of 1789 do?
Established the Supreme Court with one Chief Justice and 5 Associate Justices, created 13 district courts and 3 circuit courts of appeal