1.5 Main Things Flashcards
What was the Constitutional Convention?
Stated purpose: “for the sole and expressed purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation
Political negotiation and compromise significantly impacted the development of the Constitution
Virginia Plan
To have a bicameral legislature in which both houses are apportioned based on population
Favored large states
Stronger National Government
New Jersey Plan
To have a unicameral legislature in which all states are equal
Favored Small states
Merely wanted to amend Articles of Confederation
Great Compromise (CT Compromise)
Established a bicameral legislature
House: Population; Senate: 2 per state
Grand Committee
Negotiated the Great Compromise
Convinced the large states to agree to the bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate by requiring that all revenue bills originate in the House
Electoral College
Compromise between those who wanted Congress to vote for the president and those who wanted citizens to directly elect the president
Three-fifths compromise Southern Impact
Lead to more Southern Presidents being elected some Southern states had more slaves than citizens.
Compromise on importation of slaves
Congress could not ban the importation of slaves for 20 years from the ratification of the Constitution
Why did South Agree to Slave Compromise?
Southern states agreed to end the importation of slaves after 20 years if northern states returned fugitive slaves
What are the ways the Constitution can be Amended?
2/3 vote in both Houses of Congress to propose & ¾ of state legislatures ratify
2/3 of the states request a national convention to propose & ¾ of state conventions ratify
How does debate over the role of the central government, the powers of state governments, and rights of people remain modern day issues?
Debates about government surveillance resulting from the federal government’s response to the 9/11 attacks
The debate about the role of the federal government in public school education
