Checks and Balances
This branch has the power to declare war.
What is Congress?
Concern that states would lose their sovereignty, and people who prefer a confederation over a national government.
What is the first self-evident truth stated in the Declaration of Independence?
The first ten amendments are also called this.
What is the Bill of Rights?
What year was the Constitution ratified?
1788, but it didn't take effect until 1789.
This branch has the power to settle disputes between the states.
What is the Judiciary Branch?
What is the main argument of Federalist 51?
Checks and Balances: mainly, that each branch of government must have powers that prevent other departments from encroaching on their power.
How many states were included in the unanimous declaration?
Thirteen states.
What rights do the first two amendments of the Constitution grant?
The 1) freedom of speech and the 2) right to bear arms.
How many branches does the Constitution divide the federal government into?
Three Branches.
This is the main argument of Federalist 84 by Hamilton.
This is the year that the Second Continental Congress adopted the US Constitution.
What is 1776?
What did the 22nd Amendment do?
It limited the President to only two terms.
How many articles are in the constitution?
The constitution has 7 articles.
In the American government, this has the power to declare war.
What is Congress?
This is how Federalism is defined by Madison in Federalist 39.
Federalism is the union of the States, such that the states must be equals and sovereign, and that decisions are made unanimously rather than by a majority of states.
What is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
How did the 13th and 14th amendments affect the powers of the states?
It removed slavery and citizenship from the powers of the states.
List the length of term for each office.
Representative:
Senator:
President:
Supreme Court Justice:
Representative: 2 years
Senator: 6 years
President: 4 years
Supreme Court Justice: good behavior
In the American government, this has the power to make treaties.
What is the President?
In Federalist 10, these are the reasons Madison argues that we cannot eliminate the causes of factions.
1) It is not wise or just to remove liberty, and 2) if we have the liberty to reason, we will not all have the same opinion.
What are 3 grievances that the Declaration of Independence declared as justification for establishing self-government?
1) refused to pass laws
2) dissolved representative houses
3) obstructed laws for naturalizing foreigners
4) refused to allow judiciary powers
5) put armies among the people
6) didn't acknowledge their laws
7) quartering troops
8) taxes without consent
9) depriving of a jury trial
10) plundering their seas
11) sending mercenaries
12) sending native americans against the colonies
The 17th amendment changed the Senate from having Senators appointed by states to Senators voted for by the people, taking away the voice of state governments from the federal government.
How do the Senate and the House of Representatives differ in their powers?
The Senate can try cases of impeachment, confirm appointments, and ratifies treaties whereas the House of Representatives brings charges of impeachment and initiates tax bills.