know definitions of...
enumerated powers
powers specifically listed in the constitution
What was the purpose of the Philadelphia convention?
The purpose of the Convention was to search for ways to improve the Articles of Confederation. At the end of the meeting, the delegates would submit a plan for Congress to approve. The members of Congress invited each states to send delegates, and the role of them was to advise.
federalists
the people who supported ratifying the Constitution
What are the powers of the Supreme Court, and how can you be selected for this position?
The Supreme Court justices are appointed for life to keep them out of politics and can only be removed by impeachment, Supreme Court has original jurisdiction on cases involving ambassadors or states and has pellet jurisdiction on all lower cases. They also have the power to check other branches by declaring laws unconstitutional.
What are the ways the Supreme Court interprets the constitution and what are problems with these ways of interpretation?
1) The plain meaning of the words in the Constituiton. The problem with this way of interpretation is that there was disagreement on what words meant.
2) The intentions of the farmers. We should look at the intentions of the people who wrote the Constitution. The problem is that it is extremely difficult to figure out what the framers intended on some issues and there was different opinions among the farmers.
3) Fundamental principles. The constitution is based on fundamental principles of government (natural rights, constitutionalism, and republican government)
4) Todays social values and needs. This method says that the justices should use todays social values in interpreting the Constitution
the problem with 3 and 4 is that these approaches might give the justices too much freedom to decide cases according to their own political ideas.
general welfare clause
to provide for the common good, and common defense
What was the Virginia plan and what kind of representation did it favor, and how did the Great Compromise solve this problem?
The Virginia Plan proposed a strong national government with a house of reps and a senate. Proportional representation was favored. The Great Compromise said Congress would have a House of reps, based on proportional representation, and a senate, based on equal representation.
anti federalists
people who opposed ratifying the Constitution
What was the compromise the federalists agreed to in order to get Anti - Federalists support for the constitution?
The Bill of Rights
tariffs
tax placed on imported goods
What was the New Jersey Plan and what kind of representation did it favor, and how did the Great Compromise solve this problem?
The New Jersey plan favored a weak national government and called for only one house of Congress. each state would have equal representation, and it proposed executive and judicial branches of government. The Great Compromise said Congress would have a House of reps, based on proportional representation, and a senate, based on equal representation.
federalist system
the soveirgn people decide how to delegate their authortiy
How many states have to ratify the constitution, and what does it mean that the constitution is the supreme law of the land?
9 States, and it was that it is the highest law of the land is that no other law is higher and no one can disobey it.
electoral college
Each state has electors equal to the number of senators and representatives it had in congress, they would decide how to select persons to serve as their electors in colleg . The candidate who received the most votes in the electoral college would become president
What issue divided the North and South and how was this problem solved?
The issue that divided these states was slavery, (south supported it and did not) and the founders solved this by the fugitive slave clause and the 3/5ths a person clause- states would decide how many reps a state would send to the House of reps and the numbers would be determined by counting free persons, indentured slaves, and 3/5ths of all other persons. Another issue was tariffs, the northern states believed that tariffs were necessary for their businesses to prosper and the south argued tariffs would increase the cost of manufactured goods. The problem was solved by giving congress power to place tariffs on imports and the power to control interstate trade.
unitary system
one in which a central government controls the state and local governments
How were the first political parties formed?
Political parties formed due to difference in opinions. The framers believed that political parties were factions, and the farmers thought that factions might fight to promote the interests of their own members. In such case, government would not protect equally the rights and interests of all the people. The Federalist Party favored a strong national government and had a broad view of the meaning of the words in the constitution The Republican Party believed in small local government with narrow view of interpreting the Constitution.
fugitive slave clause
states that a person who escaped from slavery to a state where slavery was prohibited
What are the powers of the president and how can you be selected for this position?
The president's powers are carry out and enforce laws made by congress, make treaties with other nations, appoint certain officials, act as commander of chief in the armed forces, and veto laws passed by congress, they get these positions because they are devoted to the public good, and are elected by the electoral college
confederation system
the states are independent and have control of anything that affects their citizens
What is the case of Marbury v Madison and what's the importance of the power it gave to the supreme court?
The case of Marbury v Madison states that when John Adams was leaving his presidency, hd appointed people to office. One person who did not receive an appointment was William Marbury, yet he believed he was entitled for the job. He took hi case directly to Supreme Court. The court ruled that Marbury did have a right to the job but the part of judiciary Act that gave Marbury the right to bring his case directly to Supreme Court was unconstitutional. By declaring it unconstitutional, the US Supreme Court assumed the power of judicial review, which is the power of the courts to decide whether laws and actions of government are allowed under the Constitution.