L1
What is government?
Answer: A system of leaders, laws, and rules that organizes and protects a community, state, or country.
Which democratic value is most important to you? Why?
Sample answer: I think equality is most important because everyone deserves the same rights, opportunities, and fair treatment.
What was the Articles of Confederation?
America’s first plan of government.
What is a constitution?
The main plan and set of rules for a government.
How many of the thirteen states had to agree to pass a law?
Nine states.
Why do communities need rules and laws?
Answer: To keep people safe, maintain order, protect rights, and make sure people are treated fairly.
Why do we have a government?
Answer: We have government to make laws, protect people and their rights, provide services, maintain order, and promote the common good.
What is a confederation?
A group of states that work together while keeping most of their own power.
What is a democracy?
A government in which citizens have a voice, usually by voting.
What is the difference between a colony and a state?
A colony is controlled by another country; a state is part of a country and has its own state government.
What might happen without government?
Answer: There could be confusion, conflict, crime, unfair treatment, and fewer services to help and protect people.
How do you create a successful country?
Answer: By creating fair laws, protecting people’s rights, choosing responsible leaders, and encouraging citizens to cooperate and participate.
What is a preamble?
The introduction to the Constitution.
Why was it difficult to pass laws?
Nine of thirteen states had to agree.
What did George Washington mean by a “half-starved, limping government”?
The government lacked the power and resources to work effectively.
How does government protect our rights?
Answer: It creates and enforces laws, while courts make sure those laws follow the Constitution. The Bill of Rights lists many freedoms protected by the Constitution.
What is the purpose of the Constitution?
Answer: The Constitution explains how the government is organized, gives it certain powers, limits those powers, and protects the rights of the people. U.S. Courts
What do the words “We the People” mean?
The government gets its power from the people.
What is the rule of law?
Everyone must follow the law, including government leaders.
What new plan of government replaced the Articles?
The United States Constitution.
How are popular sovereignty and the Constitution connected?
Answer: Popular sovereignty means that the government receives its power from the people. The Constitution begins with “We the People” to show this idea.
Why are “We the People” written in large letters?
To emphasize that the people are the source of government power.
How was the Constitution intended to improve the government?
It created a stronger national government that could solve problems and enforce laws.
Under the Articles, which had more power: the states or the national government.
The states.
Name one group that was not represented at the Convention.
Women, Black people, Indigenous peoples, or poor people.