Leaders and Compromises
Who are the three main leaders of the Constitutional Convention?
George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin.
What is a federal system of government?
A system that divides power between national and state governments.
Name the five freedoms protected by the First Amendment.
Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, and Speech (RAPPS).
Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
To protect citizens’ rights and limit government power.
How are the state and federal governments similar?
Both have three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial.
Who is known as the “Father of the Constitution”?
James Madison.
How does the Constitution balance power between federal and state governments?
It gives each level shared and separate powers to keep balance.
Which freedom allows you to attend church of your choice?
Freedom of religion.
Which group of people refused to approve the Constitution without a Bill of Rights?
The Anti-Federalists.
What do both levels of government have to help guide laws?
A constitution.
What problem did the Great Compromise solve?
How states would be represented in Congress
What happens if a state law conflicts with a federal law?
The federal law must be followed because it is the “supreme law of the land.”
A student writes an article criticizing school lunches. Which freedoms protect this?
Freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
Which amendment protects people from unreasonable searches?
The Fourth Amendment.
Who leads the executive branch at each level?
The President (federal) and the Governor (state)
How did the Great Compromise make representation fair?
It created two houses—House based on population, Senate with equal votes.
Which problem did the Articles of Confederation show that led to a new Constitution?
States had too much power, so the national government was too weak.
Why did the writers of the Constitution include the First Amendment?
To protect individual freedoms and prevent government abuse.
Scenario: A law says citizens can’t criticize the president. Which amendment protects them?
The First Amendment.
How do the roles of President and Governor differ?
The President leads the nation; the Governor leads a single state.
Scenario: Your class votes for Student Council. Should every class get one vote or votes by size? How is this like the Great Compromise?
Both ideas are fair; the Compromise combined them—equal and population-based representation.
Scenario: Georgia passes a law banning a federal holiday. What would the Constitution say about it?
The law would be unconstitutional—federal law overrules state law.
Scenario: A city bans all protests. Which First Amendment freedom does this violate?
Freedom of assembly.
How does the Bill of Rights limit government power?
It clearly states what the government cannot do, protecting personal freedoms.
Scenario: The state raises sales tax. Which level of government does this power belong to?
State government—it controls local taxation.