9/11: Constitution Readings

Question 1

Second constitutional congress, at which revolution was not a concern

Answer 1

May 10 1775

Question 2

Thomas Paine’s crucial piece

Answer 2

Common Sense

Question 3

The trust put by the people in the government to do things for them

Answer 3

Social contract

Question 4

What did the declaration of independence purposely avoid mentioning?

Answer 4

Slavery

Question 5

The first governing document of the USA, 1777

Answer 5

Articles of confederation

Question 6

Reasons why the AOC was weak

Answer 6

• Little central govt
• no power to tax / regulate commerce
• unable to fund itself

Question 7

Factors leading to the Constitutional Convention

Answer 7

• Discontent with the AOC
• Republicanist outlook
• Shays’s rebellion

Question 8

Farmers took over the courts to prevent foreclosures in Massachusetts

Answer 8

Shays’s rebellion

Question 9

Godfather of the constitution - “we should start over”

Answer 9

Madison

Question 10

What were the convention’s delegates NOT?

Answer 10

Black, female, or native american

Question 11

Bicameral legislature, bigger states get more power

Answer 11

Virginia Plan

Question 12

Unicameral legislature, states get equal power

Answer 12

New Jersey Plan

Question 13

Combination: bicameral legislature, each house with either equal or proportional representation

Answer 13

The Great Compromise

Question 14

Compromise as not to inflame the public over slavery as an issue while already rewriting the law

Answer 14

3/5ths compromise

Question 15

Constitutional convention accomplishments

Answer 15

• republican form of government
• federalism (distributed powers)
• checks and balances

Question 16

How many states were needed to approve the constitution

Answer 16

9/13, 11/13 approved

Question 17

Added to quell the fears of anti-federalists who wanted their rights stated directly

Answer 17

Bill of rights

Question 18

Three ways amendments can be added:

Answer 18

• Article V
• Judicial review
• President’s signing statement

Question 19

States that sent framers to the convention

Answer 19

All but Rhode Island

Question 20

Number of framers

Answer 20

55 (39 signed)

Question 21

The constitution is high stakes - although its success will be great for humanity, if it fails, we’re done for

Answer 21

Brutus sentiment

Question 22

When the people give up power to a larger body…

Answer 22

…they may never regain it (Brutus)

Question 23

Brutus’ primary concerns in the written law

Answer 23

necessary and proper clause, “supreme law of the land”

Question 24

A single central government…

Answer 24

…is not a confederation (brutus)

Question 25

The full size USA would be too big…

Answer 25

…for the reps to know what the people want (brutus)

Question 26

Greek and roman democracies…

Answer 26

…devolved into tyrannies (Brutus)

Question 27

Reps gain soverieignty…

Answer 27

…if they cannot understand the people’s will (brutus)

Question 28

Who is “Brutus” believed to be?

Answer 28

NY state judge Robert Yates

Question 29

Federalist paper 51 is addressed to…

Answer 29

the people of ny state

Question 30

To stop the government from controlling the people…

Answer 30

…you must make the government control itself (publius)

Question 31

Publius’s primary suggestion

Answer 31

Separation of powers, checks and balances

Question 32

A bigger society…

Answer 32

…should have less trouble controlling itself (Publius)

Question 33

Perfect checks and balances…

Answer 33

…are impossible (publius)

Question 34

In a complex society…

Answer 34

…the minority interests are safe (publius)

Question 35

Who is Publius?

Answer 35

Hamilton and Madison