Plans/Compromises of the Constitutional Convention
What did the Great Compromise address?
We will have bicameral congress (house based on population/senate based on =)
What is a PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY
People vote on laws and representatives.
Group that opposed the ratification of the constitution
Anti-federalists
Explain Federalist #10
Faction is inevitable so construct a large government to control it
What is a federalist?
Alexander Hamilton
Wealthy Merchants, Landowners
Strong National Government >
Weak State Governments
Government by the elite
No Bill of Rights necessary
What was the Virginia Plan?
Virginia wanted representation to be based on population because they had a larger population.
What is a PLURALIST DEMOCRACY?
Interest Groups influence policy making
stated the colonists rationale to protect their natural rights by instituting a new government
DOI
Explain Brutus #1.
The government is too big and can't reach all of the people
Tyranny
What is an Anti-Federalist?
Thomas Jefferson
Laborers, Small Farmers
Called Democratic-Republicans
Weak National Government < Strong State Governments
Government of the common man
Protection for Individual liberties necessary
Explain the three-fifths compromise.
When counting the population for representation in the House of Representatives, only 3 of every 5 slaves would be counted
What is an ELITE DEMOCRACY?
Power concentrated with few and often wealthy
Document that created strong states governments and a weak, ineffective central government
AOC
What are 5 key features of The Articles of Confederation?
No power to tax people directly
No power to regulate commerce
No power to create and maintain an army
No President
No National Court
What are checks and balances?
Powers each branch has to check the power of another branch
Explain the compromise on the importation of slaves.
Congress could not interfere with the slave trade for a set amount of years.
What is a Confederate Government?
The national government and the states are co-equal powers. States are like loose groups of friends. Not usually successful.
Exposed the division between the governments and their citizens and highlighted the need for a national military
Shays Rebellion
Explain Federalist #51.
The tyranny of the majority must be limited by the government to protect the rights of the minority. Seperation of Powers/Checks and balances
What is the separation of powers?
Power is shared among 3 branches to prevent 1 branch from having too much power
They wanted = representation bc they were a smaller state unlike Virginia.
What is a direct vs indirect democracy. Which one does the USA have?
Direct - people vote on laws themselves
Indirect - people vote on representatives to vote on laws.
Who wrote the AOC?
The First Continental Congress
What is the constitution?
The supreme law of the land
Theory suggests that citizens give consent to be governed and give up some of their rights to be governed.
Social Contract Theory