Early Influences
Constitutional Convention
Key Principles
Constitution
Constitution & Principles
100
Which Enlightenment philosopher is most often given credit for influencing the Declaration of Independence?
John Locke
100
Describe the Virginia Plan presented for the legislature.
“Large-State” Plan; called for a bicameral legislature with proportional representation (based on population)
100
Define popular sovereignty.
The people are the source of any and all government power.
100
Identify where in the Constitution each of the 3 branches are outlined.
Article 1 - Legislative Branch
Article 2 - Executive Branch
Article 3 - Judicial Branch
100
What part of the Constitution is the source of the reserved powers of the states?
10th amendment
200
How did the beliefs of Montesquieu influence the American government?
Montesquieu’s writings inspired the inclusion of the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances system in US government.
200
Describe the New Jersey Plan presented for the legislature.
“Small-State” Plan: called for a unicameral legislature with equal representation
200
Define federalism.
Sharing of power between a national government and state governments.
200
What is outlined in Article 6 of the Constitution?
Supremacy Clause
200
What does the Supremacy Clause outline as the "supreme law of the land"?
The Constitution and federal law
300
What is the Social Contract Theory?
Belief that the government was created to protect people's natural rights and if the government didn't protect those rights the people should overthrow them and replace them with a new government
300
Explain how the Three-Fifths Compromise benefited the Southern states.
Southern states with slaves benefited from being able to count (even part) of their slave population in the overall population to gain more seats in the House of Representatives.
300
How is limited government achieved through rule of law?
Rule of law, which states the government must follow the laws just like other citizens, helps to achieve limited government by setting limitations on the actions of government officials.
300
What is outlined in Article 5 of the Constitution?
Formal amendment process
300
Explain how the “We the People,” at the beginning of the Preamble displays popular sovereignty.
“We the People” at the beginning of the Constitution shows popular sovereignty because it is showing that the people are the ones with the power and authority in the US government
400
How did the Social Contract Theory influence the foundation of the American government?
Social Contract Theory stated that if government isn’t protecting the people's natural rights, the people should overthrow the government → which inspired the colonists to rebel against the British (Brits weren’t securing 3 natural rights, so colonists had right to overthrow)
400
Explain how the Great Compromise pleased ALL states.
Created a bicameral legislature with both equal representation (in the Senate), which benefited small states, and proportional representation (in the House) which benefitted large states
400
Explain the relationship between checks and balances & separation of powers.
Because the powers of the national government are separated into 3 co-equal branches, the Framers gave each branch powers which “check” or limit, the powers of the other branches in order to create a balance of power between the areas of the national government.
400
What is outlined in Article 7 of the Constitution?
Process for ratification (formal approval of the Constitution)
400
Explain how the principle of federalism relates to the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.
Despite both the national & state governments sharing power (federalism), the Supremacy clause in the Constitution states the Constitution & federal law is “supreme” to state law.
500
What is the difference between parliamentary and presidential democracies?
500
Why was Congress given the power to regulate interstate trade with the Commerce Clause?
Congress needed to regulate trade in order to avoid trade disputes (conflict) between states.
500
Explain the significance of the power of judicial review in the checks and balances system.
The ability of the Courts to review the constitutionality of laws and executive actions (judicial review) serves as the Judicial branch’s major “check” of power on the other 2 branches. (legislative with laws, executive with actions)
500
What is outlined in Article 4 of the Constitution?
Relationships between the states
500
Explain how the principle of federalism relates to the amendment process for the Constitution.
The amendment process requires cooperation from both the national legislature (Congress) and the states in order to pass an amendment