Convention Basics
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
What is to fix the Articles of Confederation?
What is a bicameral legislature?
What is a two-house legislature?
How did the Great Compromise solve the issue between large and small states?
What is it created two houses: one based on population and one equal?
What are enumerated powers?
What are powers given to the federal government?
Why did delegates create a new Constitution instead of fixing the Articles?
What is the Articles were too weak?
Where was the Constitutional Convention held?
What is Philadelphia?
How many senators does each state get?
What is 2 senators?
Why was the Three-Fifths Compromise created?
What is to settle disagreement over counting enslaved people?
What are reserved powers?
What are powers kept by the states?
Why were people afraid of a strong national government?
What is fear of tyranny like Britain?
Who was chosen to lead the Convention?
Who is George Washington?
What does the House of Representatives base representation on?
What is population?
Why did Northern and Southern states disagree about slavery?
What is the North didn’t want the South to gain power, while the South wanted more representation?
What is separation of powers?
What is government divided into 3 branches?
Why did Anti-Federalists want a Bill of Rights?
What is to protect individual rights?
Why were the meetings kept secret?
What is to allow honest discussion?
What plan proposed representation based on population?
What is the Virginia Plan?
Why was compromise important at the Convention?
What is it allowed states to agree and stay united?
Give one example of checks and balances.
What is
-the override a presidential veto?
- veto laws passed by Congress?
- declare laws unconstitutional?
How did the Bill of Rights help get the Constitution approved?
What is it convinced states to support ratification?
What major problem did the Articles of Confederation have?
What is it was too weak to govern effectively?
What plan proposed equal representation for each state?
What is the New Jersey Plan?
Do you think the Three-Fifths Compromise was fair? (justify/explain)
What is not fair because enslaved people were not treated equally?
How does the Constitution prevent one branch from becoming too powerful?
What is separation of powers plus checks and balances?
Which idea from the Constitution is most important today? Explain.
What is
- Checks and Balances
“Checks and balances is the most important because it prevents any one branch from having too much power and protects people from unfair decisions.”
- Separation of Powers
“Separation of powers is most important because it divides the government into three branches so no single group controls everything.”
- Bill of Rights
“The Bill of Rights is most important because it protects our freedoms like speech, religion, and press.”
-Federalism (State vs Federal Power)
“Federalism is important because it allows states to have their own powers while still being part of one country.”