Enlightenment Ideas
This Enlightenment thinker argued that people possess natural rights and that government exists to protect them.
Who is John Locke?
This was the United States' first national framework of government.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
Dividing authority among legislative, executive, and judicial branches is known as this.
What is separation of powers?
This group supported ratification of the Constitution and favored a stronger national government.
Who were the Federalists?
Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition are protected by this amendment.
What is the First Amendment?
Life, liberty, and property are examples of this idea: rights people possess simply because they are human.
What are natural rights?
Under the Articles, Congress could ask the states for money but could not directly exercise this important financial power.
What is taxation?
Dividing governmental authority between the national government and state governments is known as this.
What is federalism?
This group feared that the proposed Constitution gave the national government too much power.
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures comes from this amendment.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
This principle holds that legitimate government authority ultimately comes from the people.
What is popular sovereignty?
This 1786–1787 uprising by Massachusetts farmers helped convince many leaders that the national government was too weak.
What is Shays' Rebellion?
The president vetoes a bill passed by Congress. This constitutional principle is being demonstrated.
What are checks and balances?
In Federalist No. 10, Madison warned about these groups of citizens united by interests that might conflict with the rights of others or the common good.
What are factions?
Protection against self-incrimination and double jeopardy appears in this amendment.
What is the Fifth Amendment?
According to this Enlightenment idea, people agree to give government certain powers in exchange for protection of their rights.
What is the social contract?
Large and small states disagreed over representation until this agreement created a House based on population and a Senate with equal state representation.
What is the Great Compromise?
His statement that “ambition must be made to counteract ambition” supports a constitutional structure in which branches of government check the power of one another.
Who is James Madison?
Madison argued that this characteristic of a large republic would make it more difficult for one majority faction to dominate.
What is a greater diversity of interests and groups?
A student argues, “Just because a right isn't specifically listed in the Constitution doesn't mean people don't have it.” This amendment provides the strongest support.
What is the Ninth Amendment?
A government divides political authority among different institutions because of ideas associated with this French Enlightenment thinker.
Who is Baron de Montesquieu?
Explain the fundamental change in the role of government from the Articles to the Constitution.
What is the creation of a stronger national government?
This 1787 meeting was originally called to revise the Articles of Confederation but instead produced an entirely new framework of government.
What is the Constitutional Convention?
Anti-Federalists opposed ratification partly because the original Constitution lacked this explicit protection of individual liberties.
What is a Bill of Rights?
Police arrest someone, confiscate property, and punish the person without providing any fair legal procedure. This constitutional principle is most directly at issue.
What is due process?