Articles of Con.
What was the main purpose of the Articles of Confederation?
To serve as the first governing document of the United States, creating a confederation of states.
What was the Virginia Plan’s proposal for representation in Congress?
Representation based on state population.
What is the primary role of the legislative branch under Article I of the Constitution?
To make laws.
Which amendment guarantees freedom of speech, religion, and the press?
The First Amendment.
Which principle is defined as the idea that government’s power comes from the people?
Popular sovereignty
Name one major flaw of the Articles of Confederation.
Answer: The federal government could not levy taxes or regulate commerce.
What was the main concern of smaller states during the Constitutional Convention?
That larger states would dominate the new government because of population-based representation.
What was the main difference between Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
Federalists supported a strong central government, while Anti-Federalists wanted more power for the states.
What is the purpose of the Fourth Amendment?
To protect against unreasonable searches and seizures.
What principle ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful?
Checks and balances.
Why did the founding fathers intentionally create a weak central government under the Articles of Confederation?
They feared a strong central authority after their experience with British rule.
How did the Great Compromise resolve the debate between large and small states?
By creating a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for all states.
What is the purpose of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the Constitution?
It establishes that the Constitution and federal laws take precedence over state laws.
The right to a speedy and public trial is guaranteed by which amendment?
6th
What is federalism?
The division of power between the national and state governments.
How did the Articles of Confederation reflect the fears of a strong executive power?
There was no executive branch or president under the Articles.
What did Alexander Hamilton’s plan propose for the presidency?
How does the Constitution ensure a separation of powers between the branches of government?
By giving each branch distinct powers: legislative makes laws, executive enforces laws, and judicial interprets laws.
What does the Ninth Amendment mean?
It means that people have additional rights beyond those written in the Constitution, and these rights cannot be denied just because they aren't specifically mentioned.
Which principle of the Constitution divides power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches?
Separation of powers.
What was the process for amending the Articles of Confederation, and why was it problematic?
Amendments required the unanimous consent of all 13 states, which was nearly impossible to achieve.
Explain the significance of the Three-Fifths Compromise in the Constitutional Convention.
It allowed three-fifths of a state's enslaved population to count toward representation in Congress
What was the key argument of the Anti-Federalists against ratifying the Constitution?
They believed it gave too much power to the national government and lacked protections for individual rights.
What 2 amendments guarantees a persons right to a jury trial?
6 and 7
How does the principle of limited government operate within the Constitution?
It ensures that the government has only the powers that the Constitution gives it, and it must follow the law.