enlightenment
What is the relationship between the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment?
The Scientific Revolution (16th-17th centuries) acted as the foundation for the Enlightenment (18th century)
"Father of the Constitution"
James Madison, for his preeminent contributions to its formation.
What are the three branches of government and their primary roles?
how power is distributed
Power is distributed through a three-stage process—generation, transmission, and distribution
How are Supreme Court justices selected and confirmed?
They are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
How did Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Thomas Hobbes differ in their view of the "social contract"?
Hobbes argued for an absolute, irrevocable surrender of rights to a sovereign to ensure safety, whereas Locke argued for a limited government that protects natural rights, authorizing revolution if that trust is broken.
Presiding Officer
George Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention.
Why did the Framers divide the government into three separate branches?
The Framers divided the US government into three separate branches—the legislative, executive, and judicial—to prevent the concentration of power
how leaders are chosen
involving popular votes for local, state, and congressional officials, while the President is elected via the Electoral College.
How long is a Supreme Court term?
Justices serve "during good behaviour," which generally means for life or until they choose to retire.
What was the main focus of the "philosophes" in France?
The main focus of the 18th-century French philosophes was to apply reason, rational criticism, and scientific thought
Convention Location
Philadelphia, 1787.
Where is the federal government headquartered?
Washington, D.C.
What is the main difference between a direct democracy and a representative republic?
The main difference is how citizens exercise power: in a direct democracy, citizens vote on laws and policies directly, while in a representative republic, citizens elect representatives to create and vote on laws on their behalf.
How did the Supreme Court get the power of judicial review?
The Supreme Court acquired the power of judicial review through the landmark 1803 case Marbury v. Madison
What were the central ideas of progress, deism, and tolerance?
Progress, deism, and tolerance were core pillars of the 18th-century Enlightenment, emphasizing that humanity could improve itself through reason, scientific observation, and rational thought
First Words
"We the People...".
Which branch is responsible for interpreting the meaning of laws?
The judicial branch
How does an absolute monarchy differ from a constitutional monarchy?
An absolute monarchy gives a monarch supreme, unchecked authority, while a constitutional monarchy limits the monarch's power through a constitution and elected parliament
What is the difference between a strict and loose constructionist?
A strict constructionist interprets the Constitution literally, while a loose constructionist interprets it more broadly.
How did Enlightenment thought contribute to the rise of secularism?
Enlightenment thought fostered the rise of secularism by prioritizing reason, empirical observation, and individualism over religious dogma, leading to the gradual separation of church and state.
Number of Amendments:
27.
What is the "separation of powers," and how does it prevent tyranny?
to prevent any single group from exercising absolute power. It prevents tyranny by requiring these branches to share power, creating checks and balances that stop one branch from encroaching on another and protecting individual.
What distinguishes an oligarchy from an autocracy?
The primary distinction between an autocracy and an oligarchy is the number of people who hold power
How many cases does the Supreme Court hear?
While 5,000–7,000 cases are filed each term, the Court hears oral arguments in only about 80 cases