Philosophers
Thomas Hobbes came up with the idea of a social contract. Life in a state of nature is brutish and short. What is a social contract?
people give up their individual freedom to the government. In return, the government provides peace and order
Name that compromise: the two sides compromised on how to elect the president. Each state has electors roughly proportional to population. Citizens actually vote for electors bound to a particular candidate who then votes for the president.
Electoral College
Name the 7 article topics
I-Legislative, II-Executive, III-Judicial, IV-States, V- Amendment Process, VI-Supremacy, VII-Ratification
Define Republicanism
Republicanism gives the people a voice or a say in their government by exercising their right to vote. The people vote for their political representatives who make the laws on their behalf.
Who created most of the framework for the constitution?
James Madison
Who came up with the idea of natural rights?
John Locke
Name that compromise: Tariffs were only to be allowed on imports from foreign countries and not exports from the U.S.; interstate commerce would be regulated by the federal government; all commerce legislation will be passed by a two-thirds majority in the Senate
Commerce Compromise
What was added to explicitly guarantee certain rights and protections to US citizens by limiting the power of the federal government.
The Bill of Rights
Define Popular Sovereignty
The idea that the government’s authority comes from the people and reflects their will. The U.S. Constitution begins with the phrase “We the people...” and indicated the source of our government’s power
Ben Franklin
Define natural rights
These are rights people have simply because they are human beings
Name that compromise: every five slaves would be counted as three individuals in terms of representation
3/5 compromise
The Constitution is the highest law in the land. No other laws can contradict the constitution or override it.
Define both Checks and Balances
check = one branch stopping another
balance = different interests represented
Served as President of the Convention and believed in a strong federal government
General George Washington
What are the 3 natural rights listed in the Declaration of Independence?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Slave trade compromise: Northern states agreed to wait until 1808 before Congress would be able to ban the importation of slaves into the U.S. What was a consequence of this compromise.
Slave trade continued for 20 more years or the Civil War was delayed by decades.
This series of essays explained to the people why they should support the Constitution
The Federalist Papers
Give 1 example of a check
ex. President nominates new supreme court justice; Congress confirms new supreme court justice; Presidential Veto, House of Reps and Senate must both approve legislation, Courts ruling legislation or Pres actions unconstitutional,
Throw out the AOC and start building a new Constitution
What was Charles De Montesquieu's contribution?
separating the powers of government
Name that compromise: combined the New Jersey Plan and Virginia plan to create the 2 chambers of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate
The Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise
What is one way to propose an amendment to the constitution?
Congressional proposal method or State convention method
Define the following systems of government:
1. Confederacy
2. Unitary
3. Federal System
1. Confederacy: a loose union of independent states
2. Unitary System: a government that gives all key powers to the national or central government
3. Federal system: a government that divides the powers of government between the national government and the state or provincial governments
Name a founder who was NOT at the Constitutional Convention?
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry