Lesson 1
Shay’s Rebellion
Made some people think that the national government could not keep order or protect them
Gouverneur Morris
Chosen to write the final version of the preamble
Ratify
To approve
Why did the writers of the Constitution add checks and balances to the federal government?
To keep any one branch from controlling the government
What are checks and balances?
Checks and balances or systems that keep one branch from becoming too powerful or miss using its authority.
Who had to share the power to govern under the federal system?
Edmund Randolf
What powers does the legislative branch have in the national government?
Power to impeach the president, and approve appointments of Supreme Court justices.
Why were the first 10 amendments added to the constitution?
To protect the rights of people
Why are checks and balances important?
Making sure one branch doesn’t get more power than the other
How can Congress pass a law that the president has voted?
Impeachment
What question did the delegates at the constitutional convention try to resolve?
The relationship between the states and the national government
What powers does the executive branch have in the national government?
Power to veto bills
What rights are guaranteed to citizens under the first amendment to the constitution of the United States?
1. People have the right to follow any religion or none
2. the government can’t establish or support any religion
3. it protects freedom of speech
4. freedom of the press
5. freedom to petition the government
6. the right to assemble, or gather together.
How do checks and balances help each branch of the federal government make more thoughtful decisions?
Each branch is encouraged to make more thoughtful decisions because it’s powers can be checked by other branches
List three things state governments do
1. Build highways and banks
2. Oversee public schools
3. Tax us
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
Fix the Articles of Confederation, also decided how representation in Congress should be divided among the states
What powers does the judicial branch have in the national government?
Decides whether laws follow the constitution
Edmund Randolph
1. Asked the delegates to do away with the articles of confederation and write a new plan of government
2. One issue that the delegates discussed was the relationship between the states and the national government.
Roger Sherman
1. His committee of delegates presented a new plan
2. The idea became the Connecticut compromise
Who is the head of a local government?
Mayor
What agreement did the delegates at the constitutional convention finally reach under the great compromise?
Representation was based on population, and would be able to propose tax bills.
James Madison
1. From Virginia
2. Argued that the country needed a stronger national government.
William Paterson
1. Accused the Virginia Plan of striking at the existence of lesser states
2. Offered the New Jersey plan
Gouverneur Morris
1. Called slavery the curse of heaven on the states wear it prevailed
2. Same delegates were afraid that if the constitution outlawed slavery.
What is one of the citizens most important responsibilities?
Voting