Articles/Convention
What were the Articles of Confederation?
The first system of government for the U.S.
What was the Great Compromise?
The system of government that would please the big states and the small states.
Who makes the laws?
Legislative Branch
How can the legislative branch fire the president?
Impeachment
What is federalism?
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
The government wasn't allowed to tax and couldn't regulate problems between states.
House of Representatives
Who enforces the laws?
Executive
What is the supreme Court's main check power?
Judicial Review
What is the Bill of Rights?
What was Shays' Rebellion?
An uprising of Massachusetts farmers that led to the downfall of the Articles
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Who legitimizes the laws?
Judicial
How does the president prevent laws he or she doesn't like?
Veto
power is divided between the 3 branches
What was the meeting called to fix the articles?
The Constitutional Convention
What was the 3/5ths compromise?
The decision to let slaves count as 3/5ths of a person so the southern states could have more reps in congress.
Who is essentially the CEO of the country?
The President
How does the congress check the president's power to choose powerful people?
They have to approve appointments
What is a change to the constitution called?
an amendment
What did the framers decided needed to happen at the convention?
They had to make a brand new constitution.
What is the elastic clause?
The government can stretch the powers of the constitution
What do we call the leaders of the Judicial Branch?
The Supreme Court
How does the president balance the judicial branch?
They appoint the justices
Why is the constitution considered a living document?
it can be amended