Key Terms
Which of the following statements accurately describes the Articles of Confederation?
A) It did not create a strong federal government.
B) It included an executive branch.
C) It created strong federal courts.
D) It included many state laws.
A) It did not create a strong federal government.
What is the principle that the people who are governed must give their consent or agree to be governed by elections? It means “We the people” are the source of the government’s power.
Popular Sovereignty
Which of these was the greatest challenge for the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?
A) how to respond to the interests of foreign countries
B) how to address the concerns of farmers and ranchers
C) how to balance the interests of large and small states
D) how to get agreement between the eastern and western states
C) how to balance the interests of large and small states
What plan for representation in Congress was favored by large states?
Virginia Plan
What series of articles was written in favor of ratification of the Constitution?
The Federalist Papers
What branch of government is responsible for interpreting what the laws mean?
Judicial
Which of these powers is shared by state and national governments?
A) raising taxes
B) declaring war
C) printing money
D) negotiating treaties
A) raising taxes
Into what 2 groups were delegates at the Constitutional Convention divided?
Nationalists- Favored a strong national (federal) government and later became known as the Federalists.
Anti-Nationalists- Opposed to a strong national (federal) government wanting to keep more power with the states. Later called the Anti-Federalists.
Who is known as the “Father of the Constitution”? Why is he called this?
James Madison; He made extensive contributions to the document, and took detailed notes about the Convention.
What was the first Constitution of the United States of America?
Articles of Confederation
Who proposed the Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise at the Constitutional Convention?
Roger Sherman
What was the most important accomplishment of the United States Government under the Articles of Confederation? What was 1 thing resulting from this law?
Northwest Ordinance. Determined how new territories and states could be added. Guaranteed rights of people living in Northwest territory. Banned slavery in Northwest territory.
DOUBLE HISTORDY
What are 5 rights protected by the First Amendment?
What are the 2 chambers of Congress? How many people are in each? Who are the US Senators from Virginia?
House of Representatives and Senate.
House- 435
Senate- 100
Tim Kaine and Mark Warner
What did the Great Compromise decide?
Representation in Congress.
House- Based on population
Senate- Equal for each state
DOUBLE HISTORDY
What is the Bill of Rights?
Identify 2 powers the Constitution specifically gives to the states and 2 given to the federal government. What are shared powers? Name 1 of these
State- Schools, Marriage, Driver’s License, Elections, Trade and business within state.
Federal- Print money, admit new states, copyrights and patents, declare war and make treaties, interstate and international trade and business.
Shared power- Taxes, Provide services like roads and government assistance
What is the system of checks and balances? Describe 1 check that each branch of government has on another branch. You will describe a total of 3 ‘checks’.
Each branch of the government has a way to check or control the other 2 branches.
Executive- Nominates Supreme Court justices (Judicial) and vetoes bills (Legislative)
Legislative- Approves appointment of justices (Judicial) and overrides vetoes with 2/3 majority support in both chambers (Executive).
Judicial- Declare laws unconstitutional (Legislative) and reject treaties as unconstitutional (Executive)
What compromise did the Constitution make about the issue of slavery? Briefly describe it.
Three-Fifths (3/5) Compromise- Slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person when determining population for representation in Congress.
On what day was the Constitution signed?
September 17, 1787