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A Confederation of States
The Constitutional Convention
A More Perfect Union
Ratifying the Constitution
Key Terms
100
List two ways state governments were different from colonial governments.
allowed more people to vote gave more power to state legislatures had bill of rights
100
This wee little Virginian became known as the "father of the Constitution" for taking detailed notes and coming up with many ideas in today's Constitution.
James Madison
100
What two important ideas did John Locke declare about government in 1690?
1. All people had natural rights to life, liberty, and property. 2. He suggested that government is an agreement between the ruler and the ruled.
100
Why did the Federalists want to approve the Constitution?
It gave the government the power to function effective and still protected individual states (federalism, separation of powers).
100
To bring charges against the President or another high ranking official.
Impeach
200
What were three (3) problems that the federal government faced under the Articles of Confederation?
could not regulate trade between states and countries could not tax could not enforce laws had to ask states for money no president no system of courts
200
This plan proposed a government with three branches, and votes in the 2 house legislative branch would be based on population.
Virginia Plan
200
How did Montesquieu believe the power of government should be separated?
He believed it should be separated into 3 branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
200
Why did people like Patrick Henry and George Mason oppose the Constitution?
The felt it made the federal government too strong and the states too weak. Gave president too much power. Did not have a bill of rights.
200
A nation in which voters elect representatives to govern them.
Republic
300
Under the Articles of Confederation the federal government could coin money, why was this not successful?
The money had little value so the states just printed their own.
300
This plan, geared towards helping small states, had 3 branches of government, but its proposed a one house legislature with each state having one vote.
New Jersey Plan
300
Describe a power of the national government, a power of the state government, and a shared power.
All answers will vary.
300
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a series of essays supporting the Constitution. What were they called?
The Federalist Papers.
300
The division of power between the states and the national government.
Federalism
400
This ordinance set up a system for surveying and settling the Northwest Territory and divided it into townships with 36 sections.
The Land Ordinance of 1785.
400
How did the Great Compromise by Roger "The Shermanator" Sherman satisfy both the large states and the small states?
Large states: votes in House of Representatives based on population. Small states: each state has two votes in Senate regardless of population.
400
Name each branch of the federal government the primary responsibility of each.
Executive-carry out laws Legislative-pass laws Judicial-interpret laws to see if they are fair
400
What does it mean to change the Constitution?
To amend the Constitution and it is fairly difficult.
400
What it means to execute.
To carry out.
500
This set up a government for the Northwest Territory, guaranteed basic rights to settlers, outlawed slavery and set up a system to allow territories to become states and expand the nation.
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
500
Describe the 3/5 compromise and the stance of both the north and south in counting slaves as population.
Compromise that allowed 3/5 of slave population to count towards votes in the House of Representatives. North: slaves should not count as population because they do not have any rights/can't vote. South: slaves should count regardless of whether or not they could vote.
500
Give an 1 example of how each branch can check the other two under the system of checks and balances.
Exec: leg, veto laws; jud, appoint judges Leg: exec, override veto; jud, approve judges Jud: exec, declare actions of exec unconstitutional; leg, declare laws unconstitutional
500
This number of states was necessary for the Constitution to be ratified.
Nine of the 13 states
500
An alliance of independent states.
Confederation