Articles of Confederation
Quiz 1
Quiz 1
Quiz 2 Constitutional Convention (2A-C)
Quiz 2 Constitutional Convention (2A-C)
Quiz 2 Constitutional Convention (2A-C)
Sec. 2 Quiz
Sec. 2 Quiz
Getting the Constitution Ratified
The Constitution
More Constitution
Short Answer
Double Jeopardy
200
Under the Articles of Confederation, who had more power, states or the central government?
States had much more power than the central government.
200
Why is it important that George Washington stepped down as leader of the armies in 1783?
He showed he did not want to be like a King.
200
If you wanted to change the Articles, what had to happen?
All States had to agree (13 out of 13)
200
Why didn’t Rhode Island send delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
They knew the convention would lead to a stronger national government which they didn't want.
200
Big disagreements during the Constitutional Convention were about how many representatives (votes) each state would get (based on population or all states get the same?) and whether there would be a unicameral or bicameral legislature.
🦄Unicameral means ____ ______
🚲Bicameral means ____ ______
🦄Unicameral means ONE HOUSE
🚲Bicameral means TWO HOUSE
200
What was the compromise between Virginia and New Jersey known as?
The Great Compromise
200
What is federalism?
Federalism is the balance of power between state and national governments.
200
How often is the census taken? What is its purpose?
Every 10 years; determines population so we know how many representatives each state gets
200
Federalism is a system in which power is balanced between __________ and ____________ governments.
Federalism is a system in which power is balanced between state and national governments.
200
What is a change to the Constitution called?
an amendment
ANYONE- repeat this 5 times for an extra 100 points:
"A change to the Constitution is called an amendment. A change to the Constitution is called an amendment. A change to the Constitution is called an amendment. A change to the Constitution is called an amendment. A change to the Constitution is called an amendment."
200
How many states had to ratify the Constitution?
9
200
How many branches of government were there under the Articles of Confederation?
One. Congress held all of the political power, including appointing the president.
200
During and right after the Revolutionary War, did most people want a strong central government or a weak one? Why?
Weak because they were afraid a strong central government would be like the British government had been.
200
Define republic
A government where elected representatives vote on laws
200
Why was the meeting held in secret?
They didn't want the public to know that they were changing the constitution.
200
Virginia Plan wanted a _________________ legislature that would send representatives based on population
Virginia Plan: wanted a bicameral legislature based on population
VOTES BASED ON POPULATION, TWO HOUSES
200
What did the Great Compromise set up?
Bicameral legislature (two houses):
-Senate- all states get equal votes
-House of Representatives- votes based on population (more votes for more people)
200
What are reserved powers? List two examples.
Powers reserved for the States:
-driving laws
-rules for schools
-National Guard (state's militia)
200
What is one power given to the members of the House of Representatives
Power of impeachment.
All revenue bills start with the House of Representatives (anything about raising money like taxes)
200
The presiding officer (president) of the Constitutional Convention was
George Washington
200
How many amendments does the Constitution have right now?
27
200
Define "capital punishment".
Capital punishment=the death penalty
200
There are two houses in the ____ branch of gov.
Legislative
200
The writers of the Articles of Confederation established a decentralized system because they were afraid of what? (Decentralized means most government power was in the hands of states, not the central/national gov.)
They were afraid that a strong central government would abuse its power (like a king)
200
What was the name of the first set of laws to govern the US?
_______ of _______
Articles of Confederation
200
Name the group that wanted a stronger national government and two of its leaders
Nationalists
Madison and Washington
200
Who is considered to be the “father of the Constitution?”
James Madison
200
What did the Virginia Plan call for?
VOTES BASED ON POPULATION, TWO HOUSES
200
What was the compromise involving slavery? What did it say?
Three-Fifths Compromise
3/5 of slaves would count toward population.
(Every 5 male slaves would count as 3 white men)
200
What is the name for powers given specifically to the federal government?
Give two examples.
Delegated powers:
1- Declare war
2- Print money
200
What is the Vice President's special role in the Senate?
Tie Breaker
200
The main issue in getting the Constitution ratified was whether the ___________ or the ___________ would have more power. (think federalism)
States or National gov.
200
How can I tell that the United States has a federal system? (think federalism)
The US has both state and national governments.
200
Which part of government is set up to change most quickly based on the will of the people?
The Senate, Supreme Court, Presidency, or House of Representatives?
The House of Representatives (they are up for election every 2 years, so if people don't like a representative, they can be replaced after just two years)
200
Who is the "Father of the Constitution"?
James Madison
200
What important power did the central government lack under the Articles of Confederation?
The central government could not impose taxes under the Articles of Confederation.
200
What was the only branch of government under the Articles of Confederation?
Legislative
200
Who led a rebellion of Massachusetts farmers in 1786?
Why was it important?
Shay.
Proved the national government was too weak.
200
_______ was elected president of the meeting
George Washington
200
New Jersey Plan also wanted 3 branches but wanted ________________ votes in a unicameral leg.
NJ Plan: wanted equal votes in a unicameral legislature
(EQUAL VOTES, ONE HOUSE)
200
What clause allows the Constitution to stretch and adapt to today?
Elastic Clause
200
Collecting taxes is an example of what kind of power?
Concurrent power
(both state and national gov can do it)
200
What is one special power given to members of the Senate.
Only the Senate can remove a president from office.
200
The Founding Fathers were afraid of concentrated political power in the central government. In order to make sure no single branch of the government became too powerful, they created the system of ______ and ______.
checks and balances
200
What is the only way to change an existing amendment to the Constitution?
The only way to change an amendment is to ratify a new amendment.
(For example, the 18th amendment bans alcohol. The only way to get rid of that amendment was to pass the 21st amendment.)
200
Because it is the most responsive to the will of the people, all revenue bills ($$ spending laws) originate in the ______________?
House of Representatives
200
What is done every ten years to determine seats in the house?
Census (population count)
200
What rebellion convinced Congress to call a convention to revise (fix) the Articles of Confederation?
Shays Rebellion
200
What power did Congress lack that limited their ability to function?
They could not TAX
200
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
To fix the Articles of Confederation
200
What did the New Jersey Plan want?
EQUAL VOTES, ONE HOUSE
200
The Preamble of the Constitution starts with the words: "___ ___ ______" and tells why the Constitution was written.
"We the people"
200
Which Enlightenment philosopher wrote about separation of powers?
Montesquieu
200
What amendment set a Two-Term limit to the presidency?
22nd
Think:
Two-Term
Twenty-Two
200
We all know that the Three-Fifths compromise had to do with counting slaves, but why did southern states want slaves to be counted in the population?
More people means more representation in the House of Representatives.
200
What action would be necessary if the government wanted to deny a person the right to trial by a jury? (hint: this right is guaranteed by the 6th amendment)
You would have to ratify a new constitutional amendment. (The only way to change or get rid of an existing amendment is to ratify a new amendment)
200
Why do revenue bills originate in the House of Reps?
Having elections every two years makes the house of reps closer to the will of the people
200
How many seats in the House of Reps?
435
200
For 1000 points: List all FIVE freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment
Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Assembly (gathering to protest), and Freedom of Petition (basically you can complain to the government)
Possible mnemonic:
"Rude students provoke all period."
Religion, speech, press, assembly, petition
200
How many states were needed to pass laws under the Articles?
9 out of 13
200
Where was the Constitutional Convention held?
Philadelphia
200
The __________ of the Constitution starts with the words "We the people"
Preamble
200
List two examples of checks and balances.
-President can veto.
-Supreme court can overturn a law.
-Congress can impeach a president.
-President appoints Supreme Court Justices
200
What are the two basic qualifications to run for president?
35 years old, born in the USA
200
Anti-federalists were suspicious of the power of the government to infringe on the rights of individuals. What document was added to the Constitution to protect the rights of individual people?
The Bill of Rights
200
What is the main reason the federal judges (such as supreme court justices) hold office for life? (Why can they stay a judge until they die or retire?)
So they don't have to worry about political interference when making their decisions. (They don't have to worry about not getting reelected if people disagree with their decisions.)
200
"Congress shall have power... to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper"
What is the name of this clause and what does it mean?
We call this the "elastic clause". It means that the Framers understood that the Constitution wouldn't be perfect or spell out every single law that the US would ever need. They knew that the new government would need to be flexible enough to adapt and stretch over time.
200
How old to run for Senate? How old to run for House of Reps?
Senate= 30 years
House= 25 years
200
For 1200 points, put these three documents in correct chronological order from first to last:
-Declaration of Independence
-U.S. Constitution
-Articles of Confederation
1. Declaration of Independence
2. Articles of Confederation
3. U.S. Constitution
700
Why do some people have a problem with the electoral college system? (Liberals complain about this a lot!)
A person who did not win the largest percentage of the popular vote can still become president.
700
Are Bill of Rights protections absolute? ("Absolute" means those rights can't be limited at all.)
Protections in the Bill of Rights are not absolute. For example, your right to free speech does not mean that you can say whatever you want in school- you are not allowed to disrupt the learning environment. Words that incite violence or tell lies to damage people's reputations are not protected by the first amendment.
700
Who votes in the Senate when there is a tie?
Vice President
700
1400 points: Name two compromises made at the Constitutional Convention and describe each.
Great Compromise: Small states wanted every state to get the same number of reps in Congress. Big population states wanted representation to be based on population. The Great Compromise said 1 house would be all-states-get-the-same and the other house would be based on population.
Three-Fifths Compromise: Southern states wanted slaves to count toward representation, northern states said that wasn't fair. They compromised that a slave would count as 3/5ths of a person.