The Framers' Fears
What document failed before the Constitution?
The Articles of Confederation
What does popular sovereignty mean?
Power comes from the people, the government’s authority is based on their consent.
What did the Federalists support?
A strong national government and ratification of the Constitution.
What is the Bill of Rights?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution.
What are the three branches?
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
What event showed the Articles of Confederation were too weak?
Shays’ Rebellion exposed the need for a stronger government.
Define separation of powers.
Division of government into three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial.
Why did Anti-Federalists oppose the Constitution?
They feared loss of state power and threats to individual liberty. (They wanted a Bill of Rights)
This amendment ensures that citizens cannot be forced to house soldiers during peacetime, reflecting colonial grievances.
3rd Amendment
Which branch can veto laws?
The Executive Branch (President)
This fear of a single powerful leader led to limits on presidential power.
What is fear of monarchy/tyranny?
Define checks and balances.
Each branch has powers to limit the others (Ex.- veto, impeachment, judicial review).
This series of essays, written to support ratification, explained how the Constitution would prevent tyranny.
The Federalist Papers
This amendment requires that rights not specifically listed in the Constitution still be protected.
Ninth Amendment
Which branch declares laws unconstitutional?
The Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)
To guard against uninformed popular rule, the Framers created this indirect method of choosing the president.
The Electoral College
What is federalism?
Power shared between national and state governments.
What compromise was made to get both sides to agree?
The promise to add a Bill of Rights.
What all does the first amendment protect (5)?
It guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
This specific presidential power can be overridden, but only with a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.
Veto power
Fear of tyranny led to this requirement that laws pass through two legislative chambers.
Bicameralism
What is judicial review?
Courts can declare laws or actions unconstitutional, limiting government power
What was the main reason why the federalists didn't like the bill of rights?
They worried that listing some rights might imply that any rights not listed weren’t protected.
This amendment protects against self-incrimination
What is the 5th Amendment? (pleading the fifth)
This branch checks the executive by confirming appointments and ratifying treaties
Legislative Branch