Articles of Confederation
Which level of government had the most power under the Articles?
The states
Why did states with higher populations support the Virginia Plan?
Since representation was based on population, they would have more power in Congress due to their larger population.
What is the Constitution?
The document which set up and outlined the structure and powers of the US government.
The principle that the government cannot have absolute power.
Limited government
Which type of government system was created at the Constitutional Convention: confederal, federal, or unitary?
Federal since powers are shared by the national and state governments.
How many states had to agree in order to pass a new law?
9/13
Which part of Congress today is based on proportional representation?
House of Representatives
What was the name of the essays written by Federalists to support the ratification of the US Constitution?
Federalist Papers
Rule of law
For what purpose did the Constitutional Convention originally meet?
To rework the Articles of Confederation
Name the event that led to the call for a Constitutional Convention.
Shay's Rebellion
What compromises were made concerning the slave trade and fugitive slaves?
That the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade could not be banned until 1808 (twenty years later), and that fugitive slaves must be returned to their owners.
The fact that the Constitution created three independent branches of government follows which principle?
Separation of powers
The principle that people have inalienable rights that the government is supposed to protect.
Individual rights/freedom
How many states had to approve the US Constitution for it to go into effect?
How did they get enough states for it to go into effect?
9 out of 13 states
The Federalists promised they would add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution.
Which branches of government was the Articles of Confederation missing?
Executive and judicial branches
What were the terms of the Great Compromise?
A bicameral legislature where the House of Representatives is based on population and the Senate is based on equal representation.
Which parts of the Great Compromise would have appealed to the larger populated states and which to the smaller populated states?
Larger: representation based on population
Smaller: equal representation
The idea that the government gets its power from the people and that people make decisions within their government.
Popular sovereignty
List 2 ideas about Federalists and 2 ideas about Anti-Federalists.
Federalists: Wanted a strong central government; wrote the Federalist Papers; wanted to ratify the Constitution; checks and balances prevented abuse of power
Anti-Federalists: Wanted a weak central government; wrote the Anti-Federalist Papers; did not want to ratify the Constitution; wanted to add a Bill of Rights; checks and balances would not prevent abuse of power
List 2 things the federal government could not do under the Articles of Confederation.
No power to collect taxes, No power to raise a military, Could not enforce laws, Could not strike down state laws, Could not adjudicate conflicts between states, Could not regulate currency, Could not regulate trade
Describe the ideas regarding representation in the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
Virginia Plan: Bicameral house with representation based on population in both houses
New Jersey Plan: Unicameral house based on equal representation
Provide the way the Constitution fixed the following issues of the Articles of Confederation:
1. The federal government could not raise taxes.
2. Changes to the AoC required unanimous approval.
1. The Constitution gave the right to raise taxes to Congress.
2. The Constitution created an amendment process that did not require unanimous approval.
What are checks and balances?
Powers that each branch of government has to prevent the other branches from having to much power.
Example: Presidents can veto bills from Congress; Congress has to approve treaties made with other nations; the Supreme Court can say laws and presidential actions are unconstitutional.
Which Article of the Constitution does each idea apply to?
1. Describes the amendment process to change the Constitution
2. Describes the relations between the states
3. Outlines the powers of the Legislative Branch
4. Stated that the Constitution was the highest law in the land
5. Outlines the powers of the Judicial Branch
1. Article V: Describes the amendment process to change the Constitution
2. Article IV: Describes the relations between the states
3. Article I: Outlines the powers of the Legislative Branch
4. Article VI: Stated that the Constitution was the highest law in the land
5. Article III: Outlines the powers of the Judicial Branch