7th SS - Chapter 4.4 - 4.5 Notes

Question 1

Supporters of the Constitution are called ___________.

Answer 1

Federalists

Question 2

Those who opposed the Constitution were called ____________

Answer 2

Antifederalists

Question 3

Name the three Federalists who wrote a series of essays explaining and defending the Constitution.

Answer 3

1. James Madison
2. Alexander Hamilton
3. John Jay

Question 4

Why were the Antifederalist against the Constitution?

Answer 4

1. It made the national government too strong and left the states too weak
2. It gave the President too much power

Question 5

Who was a leading Antifederalist?

Answer 5

Patrick Henry and George Mason

Question 6

Why was there a need for a Bill of Rights?

Answer 6

to spell out (protect) the basic liberties of the people

Question 7

What was the chief objection to the Constitution?

Answer 7

It had no bill or list of rights

Question 8

Who was one of the strongest supporters of the Bill of Rights?

Answer 8

George Mason

Question 9

Which was the first state to ratify the Constitution? When did they ratify it?

Answer 9

Delaware, December 7, 1787

Question 10

Which state was considered the first key “battleground”?

Answer 10

Massachusetts

Question 11

What did Massachusetts do in February 1788?

Answer 11

They became the 6th state to ratify the Constitution

Question 12

Which was the ninth state to ratify?

Answer 12

New Hampshire

Question 13

Which two large states did not ratify until after June 21, 1788?

Answer 13

New York and Virginia

Question 14

Which was the last state to ratify and what date?

Answer 14

Rhode Island on May 29, 1790

Question 15

Is the process for amending the Constitution easy or difficult? Why?

Answer 15

The process for amending the Constitution is fairly difficult. The reason for this the framers of the Constitution did not want people to make changes lightly.

Question 16

In 1789, how many amendments were proposed by Congress and who wrote them?

Answer 16

12 amendments written by James Madison

Question 17

The first ten amendments to the Constitution were called?

Answer 17

Bill of Rights

Question 18

Did the Bill of Rights give American rights?

Answer 18

No

Question 19

What according to James Madison, did the rights list?

Answer 19

According to James Madison, the rights listed are natural rights that belong to all human beings.

Question 20

What does the third amendment say?

Answer 20

It forbids the government to quarter troops in citizens’ homes without their consent.

Question 21

The Federalists argued that in order for the Union to last, the national government needed what?

Answer 21

To have the powers denied it under the Articles of Confederation including the power to enforce laws.

Question 22

The Antifederalists agreed that the Articles of Confederation were not strong enough. However, they felt what?

Answer 22

That the Constitutional Convention had gone too far.

Question 23

How many states had to ratify the Constitution?

Answer 23

9

Question 24

After the ratification of the Constitution, who was elected the first President and Vice President of the United States?

Answer 24

George Washington (President) and John Adams (Vice President)

Question 25

What was the first task of the new congress?

Answer 25

adding a bill of rights to the Constitution

Question 26

What does the First Amendment protect?

Answer 26

Freedom of religion, speech and the press

Question 27

What does the Fourth Amendment protect?

Answer 27

The citizens from unreasonable searches of their homes or seizure of their property

Question 28

What are the six goals of the Constitution?

Answer 28

1. To form a more perfect union 2. To establish Justice 3. To insure domestic tranquility 4. To provide for the common defense 5. To promote the general welfare 6. To secure the blessings of liberty

Question 29

How many sections is the main body of the Constitution divided?

Answer 29

7

Question 30

What do the first three articles describe?

Answer 30

the three branches of the national government - legislative, executive, and judicial

Question 31

Article VI states what about the Constitution?

Answer 31

states that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land."

Question 32

How many total amendments have there been?

Answer 32

27

Question 33

What are the seven basic principles of the Constitution?

Answer 33

1. Popular Sovereignty 2. Limited Government 3. Separation of Powers 4. Checks and Balances 5. Federalism 6. Republicanism 7. Individual Rights

Question 34

Congress makes __________. The president carries out __________. The judicial branch judges whether actions violates __________ and whether laws violate the Constitution.

Answer 34

passes laws; laws; the laws

Question 35

Currently, the House of Representatives has ________ members.

Answer 35

435

Question 36

How long are members of House elected for?

Answer 36

two year terms

Question 37

What is the leader of the House called?

Answer 37

Speaker

Question 38

How many Senators are elected from each state?

Answer 38

two

Question 39

How long do Senators serve?

Answer 39

six year terms

Question 40

Why are only a third of senators elected every two years?

Answer 40

there is always a majority of experienced senators

Question 41

Who is the president of the Senate?

Answer 41

The Vice President of the United States

Question 42

All laws start as proposals called what?

Answer 42

bills

Question 43

Who must sign a bill for it to become a law?

Answer 43

President

Question 44

What is the elastic clause and what does it do?

Answer 44

Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 states that Congress can "make all laws which shall be necessary and proper" for carrying out its duties. It is knows as the elastic clause because it enables Congress to stretch its powers to deal with the changing needs of the nation.

Question 45

What two terms are used to express the different viewpoints about the elastic clause?

Answer 45

1. strict constructionists - think that Congress should strictly construe, or narrowly interpret, the elastic clause. 2. loose constructionists - think that Congress should loosely construe or broadly interpret

Question 46

Why does Congress on committees?

Answer 46

Much of the work in Congress in done through committees. Each committee deals with a specific topic, such as defense, education or science

Question 47

What is a joint committee?

Answer 47

a committee made up of both Senate and House members

Question 48

Which branch did the framers think would be the most important?

Answer 48

Congress

Question 49

Who represents all Americans?

Answer 49

President

Question 50

What are the duties of the President?

Answer 50

1. Proposes laws 2. Can veto laws 3. Negotiates foreign treaties 4. Serves as commander in chief of the armed forces 5. Appoint Federal judges, ambassadors, and other high officials 6. Can grant pardons to federal offenders 7. Is the living symbol of the nation

Question 51

Which amendment, passed in 1951, restricts the president to no more than two complete terms?

Answer 51

22nd Amendment

Question 52

The President is elected by the Electoral College --- the number of a states electors equals _______.

Answer 52

The number of Senators and Representatives they have

Question 53

Can a candidate win the popular vote and loss the election? Why or why not?

Answer 53

Yes, because of the "winner take all" nature of the electoral college

Question 54

Where do most of federal cases begin?

Answer 54

district courts

Question 55

What is the next level of courts above the district courts?

Answer 55

appellate courts

Question 56

The Supreme Court is made up of _________ and ________ Associate justices.

Answer 56

Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices

Question 57

Which court is at the top of the American judicial system?

Answer 57

Supreme Court

Question 58

Who appoints the justices?

Answer 58

President

Question 59

What is judicial review?

Answer 59

The right of the court to declare whether acts of the President or laws passed by Congress are constitutional

Question 60

How did the framers prevent one of the branches from becoming too powerful?

Answer 60

they set up a system of checks and balances

Question 61

What is Congress most extreme checks?

Answer 61

Its power to remove the President from office - impeach

Question 62

Which amendment was written to help insure that the states keep powers not granted to the federal government?

Answer 62

10th Amendment

Question 63

What are the states obligations to the citizens?

Answer 63

1. Maintain law and order 2. Enforce criminal law, 3. Protect property 4. Regulate business 5. Supervise public education 6. Provide public health 7. Welfare programs 8. Build and maintain highways 9. Operate state parks and forests 10. Regulate use of state-owed land

Question 64

What part of the Constitution outlines the goals of the document?

Answer 64

Preamble - opening statement