Authority...
The true source of authority is...
God
What are three of the five fundamental principles of our government?
-Rule of Law
-Popular Sovereignty/ Representative Government
-Separation of Powers
-Checks and balances
-Federalism (limited government)
Which state was the first to organize itself with a constitution?
New Hampshire
What was the original goal of the Convention?
To revise the Articles of Confederation
Which article describes the executive branch?
Article II
The purpose of authority is to secure the...
common good
Which principle of government states that no one is above the law, but that the law applies equally to everyone?
Rule of law
What three components did each state government have?
-Governor
-Legislature
-Courts
What rules did the delegates agree to follow at the Convention?
-One vote per state, with simple majority deciding
-Complete secrecy
Who has the final authority in interpreting the Constitution?
The Supreme Court
to protect the natural rights of citizens
Name two examples of how English government influenced our American government
-Magna Carta (rule of law)
-common law
-Parliament (representation through a legislature)
-English Bill of Rights
-John Locke and his beliefs on natural rights & purpose of government
What made it difficult to amend the Articles of Confederation?
A unanimous vote was required to make changes (amendments)
Who helped organize the Convention, researched various forms of government, took meticulous notes, drafted much of the Bill of Rights, and later became known as Father of the Constitution?
James Madison
3/4 of the state legislatures or state conventions must approve the amendment for ratification
What results from a complete absence of authority?
Anarchy
How does the Preamble begin, and which principle of American government does this reflect?
"We the People" - popular sovereignty
What financial troubles did the young United States face after the Revolutionary War?
Congress had gone deeply into debt during the war.
State governments had also gone into debt, so they taxed their taxed their citizens heavily.
State taxed imported goods, hurting trade.
The Confederation Congress had no power to address these problems.
Which plan was proposed by James Madison, suggesting representation in Congress should be based on population?
The Virginia Plan
Which part of the Constitution addresses how to resolve conflict between national and state laws?
The Supremacy Clause - the Constitution and laws/treaties made by the national government shall be the "the supreme law of the land"
What two conditions must be met in order for authority to be legitimate?
1) It must seek the common good
2) It must be attained with morally acceptable means
In a federal system of government, which powers are shared? Define this type of power and give two examples.
Concurrent powers- powers shared by both the federal government and the states
Examples: establishing courts, enforcing laws, collecting taxes, borrowing money, and providing for the general welfare
What are two specific weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Congress had no power to collect taxes, regulate trade, or enforce laws.
No national courts existed.
No single leader directed government policy.
Rules were too rigid: Articles couldn't be changed without a unanimous vote, and 9 states had to approve a law in order for it to pass.
How did the Great Compromise resolve the debate on representation?
It called for a bicameral legislature, with one house having proportional representation (based on population), and the other house having equal representation.
The Necessary and Proper Clause (aka the "Elastic Clause")