Our First Government
What was the first Government of the United States?
Articles of Confederation
Who is most closely associated with writing the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
The idea that government gets its authority from the people is called:
Federalism
Popular Sovereignty
Constitutionalism
Rule of Law
Popular Sovereignty
What problem was the Constitutional Convention primarily trying to solve?
The weaknesses of the AOC and problems with the national government.
Which amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition?
First Amendment
Name two major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Congress could not tax
There was no Executive Branch
No national court system
Congress couldn't enforce laws
No strong government
Who is known as the "Father of the Constitution" and played a major role in designing this document?
James Madison
What principle means that government officials are not above the law?
Rule of Law
Why does the Constitution divide the federal government into three branches?
To divide government power and prevent too much power from being concentrated in one place.
Which amendment protects people from unreasonable search and seizures?
Fourth Amendment
Why did the Founders intentionally create a weak national government under the Articles?
They feared centralized power because of their experiences with British rule.
Which Founding Father argued strongly for a stronger national government and later became the first Secretary of the Treasury?
Alexander Hamilton
A country divides power between a national government and state governments.
Which principle is being demonstrated?
Federalism
Congress passes a law and the President signs it. The Supreme Court later determines that the law violates the Constitution.
Which principle is demonstrated by the Court's ability to review the law?
Judicial Review, checks and balances, constitutionalism
A student is accused of a crime and is not allowed to have a lawyer.
Which amendment is most directly connected to this situation?
Sixth Amendment
The national government under the AOC needed money to operate, but Congress could not directly tax the states, why was this a problem?
The national government had difficulty raising money to pay debts, fund the government, pay soldiers, and meet its responsibilities.
Hamilton, Madison, and Washington all had different roles in creating the new government. What was one important contribution made by one of them?
Bank, Federalist Papers, Constitution, expansion of federal power, first president
A government is limited by a written constitution that establishes what government can and can't do.
Which principle is this?
Constitutionalism
What compromise created a two-house Congress with representation based on population in one house and equal representation for each state in the other?
Great Compromise
A person is accused of a crime and the government needs to prove the person guilty rather than requiring the person to prove their innocence.
Which constitutional principle or right is most closely connected to this situation?
Due process and protections for the accused--Fifth amendment