Ch. 3-1
A detailed, written plan for government
What is constitution?
Leader of the Constitutional Convention
Number of total amendments to the Constitution AND what are the first 10 called
27 total amendments
First 10 are Bill of Rights
The Constitution has 5 principles, name them
What is popular sovereignty, limited govt and rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism
Date of the Constitution (month, day, year)
What is September 17, 1787?
America's first constitution
What are the Articles of Confederation?
City and building of Constitutional Convention
What is Philadelphia and Independence Hall?
Father of the Constitution
Who was James Madison?
No one is above the law, even your President
What is rule of law?
Explain the elastic clause
Congress has the power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper to carry out its duties.
1787 law that set up a government for the Northwest Territory and a plan for admitting new states to the Union
What is the Northwest Ordinance?
Explain the Great Compromise AND who created it.
What is a mix of the Virginia and New Jersey plans. 3 Branches of govt. Legislative will be bicameral. Senate will have 2 from each state. House will be based on population of the state.
Who is Roger Sherman?
State your Preamble. AND explain the parts with examples.
Honestly, if this group didn't get this answer then I have to leave the profession
The split of authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches....ALSO name the main function of each branch
What is separation of powers?
Legis-make laws, Exec--carry out laws, Judicial--interpret laws
Our Founding Fathers got the idea of separation of powers from this Enlightenment thinker
Who is Montesquieu?
A Massachusetts uprising in which farmers did not want to lose their farms because of debt caused by heavy state laws....also give more details we discussed in class
What is Shay's Rebellion?
Daniel Shay/veteran/promised pay but not given pay. Goes back to farm/heavy taxes/govt. threatens to take away the farm. Farmers go to federal arsenal..Washington says change is needed
Explain the 3/5ths Compromise AND what was not followed that should have been in years to come
For every 5.0020 0 slaves about 3,000 would be counted towards the population count. Pleased the South because got more for popul. count in House. Appeased the North because South didn't have as many seats in the House. What should have occurred was meeting to discuss it in 20 years.
Give the roles and duties for Articles I, II, III
What is article I/legislature/House and Senate/law making authority Examples: declare war, coin money, tax, approves treatiesetc.
What is article II/executive/Pres and VP/ enforces laws/ makes treaties/appoints fed. judges, ambassadors
What is Article III/judicial/ can call acts of Exec and Legis. unconstitutional
A system in which each branch of government is able to limit or restrain the power of the others.
ALSO give at least 3 examples of this concept
What is checks and balances?
Answers may vary
Article VI states this clause...name and explain it
What is the supremacy clause?
This states that the Constitution and other laws made by the national government are the Supreme Law of the Land
Give at least 4 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
What is: only 1 branch of govt./Legislative
Congress had no power to regulate trade, no power to enforce laws, taxes are optional. No executive or federal judicial. Congress couldn't pass laws unless 9 out of 13 states agreed. Couldn't make changes to constitution unless all 13 agreed.
What was the difference between a Federalist and an Anti-Federalists?
AND name at least 2 Federalists and 2 Anti-Federalists
Federalist wants a strong national government and supports the Constitution. Anti-Federalists refuse to sign/ratify it unless a Bill of Rights will be added at a later date
Federalists--Madison, Jay, Hamiliton
Anti-Federalists--Sam Adams, Henry, Monroe
Explain how to propose and ratify an amendment to the Constitution. Remember 2 ways for each one!
What is a 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress OR a constitutional convention called by Congress on petition of 2/3rds of the 50 states
Ratification: 3/4ths of the 50 states legislatures OR 3/4ths of special constitutional conventions called by the 50 states
Explain federalism....name the 3 powers and give examples for each one.
national/enumerated
shared/concurrent
reserved/state
Answers vary for each one.
Name all Articles 1-7 in order. Well name/explain/number at least 5 of them.
I--Legislative branch
II--Executive Branch
III Judicial Branch
IV Relationship between states and nat. govt
V Amendment process
VI Constitution Supreme Law of the Land
VII How Constitution was to be ratified