Constitutional Convention
What were the Articles of Confederation?
First National Government of the U.S.A
What are the three parts of the constitution?
Preamble, Articles, Amendments
What is an expressed power?
Something that is written down specifically
What are the three branches of government?
Legislative, executive, and Judicial
What is the first amendment?
Freedom of speech, religion, the press, and to assemble.
Name at least two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Each state has 1 vote in Congress, regardless of size
Congress no power to tax
No National Court System
Amendments required unanimous vote
No national court system
Amendments required a unanimous vote
States printed their own currency
What is the purpose of the preamble?
Describes the purpose of the constituiton
What is the electoral college?
a body of representatives empowered to formally select a candidate for a specific office, most often the head of state.
What is the legislative branch and what is it made up of?
The part of government that makes the laws. Congress is made up of the Senate and House of Representatives
What is the bill of rights?
The first 10 amendments
Name 3 writers/framers of the constitution? Who wrote most of the Constitution?
George Washington, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison,
What is Federalism?
Government based on a Federal System (Federalism) - Power is shared by the Federal/National government and the individual state governments
What is an implied power?
A power of the federal government that is not explicitly stated in the Constitution but is understood to be necessary to carry out its enumerated powers
What is checks and balances and what is its purpose?
Checks and balances is a system where each branch of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) has some power to control or limit the actions of the others.
To make sure no one branch becomes too powerful
What is the 19th amendment?
What was Shays Rebellion and what did it show about the current government?
Daniel Shay leads a group of poor farmers who are in debt and need their back pay. Did not have a stable army/militia to put it down. Showed the weaknesses in the governemnt.
What three articles create our three branches of government? Why are they put in this way?
Articles 1.2.3
1. Congress
2. President
3. Judicial
To show the most important to least important
What is the difference between a popular and electoral vote. Which one decides who won?
Popular: The votes from the people/general public
Electoral: votes from the electoral college (governmental representatives)
Electoral decides who wins
What are two ways congress can check the president?
Congress can override a President’s veto by 2/3 vote
Congress can impeach and remove the President or Supreme Court Justices
Congress has to approve all treaties
Congress has to approve all presidential appointments including Supreme Court Justices
What is the 4th amendment?
Protection from illegal search and seizure (police must have a proper warrant)
What was the Great Compromise vs. The 3/5ths Compromise?
Great Compromise
Solves debate between large and small states
Senate – 2 per state
House of Representatives - based on population
3/5ths
Placated the Southern states
Counts enslaved men & women as 3/5 of a person
for state population
What are the six goals/ideas for the government written in the preamble?
1. Perfect Union - Federal System
2. Establish Justice
3. Insure Domestic Tranquility
4. Provide for the common defense
5. Promote general welfare
6. Secure The Blessings of Liberty
How many electors are in the electoral college?
How many votes are needed to win the presidency?
538, 270
How can the supreme court check both congress and the president?
Supreme Court may declare acts of Congress or the President unconstitutional
What is the 13th amendment?
Abolished Slavery