AP GOV UNIT 2

Question 1

Articles of Confederation

Answer 1

The first constitution of the United States was created to form a perpetual union and firm league of friendship among the 13 og states. It was adopted in the Second Continental Congress on November 15 1777, and sent to the states for ratification.

Question 2

Confederation

Answer 2

A formal contract or agreement between or among two or more parties or states. The Mayflower Compact of 1620 was such a formal agreement.

Question 2

Shays Rebellion

Answer 2

An armed revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and mortgage foreclosures. The rebellion fueled support for amending the Articles of Confederation.

Question 3

Federal System

Answer 3

A form of government in which power is divided and shared between a central government and state and local governments.

Question 3

Civil Discourse

Answer 3

Reasoned discussion as opposed to emotional display.

Question 4

National Government

Answer 4

The organization having central political authority in a nation; the representative unit of political organization.

Question 5

Proportional Representation

Answer 5

In the context of the American government, the electoral system in which the number of representatives for a state is based on the number of people living in the state. Proportional representation is used to determine the number of each state’s representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Question 6

Great Compromise

Answer 6

A plan accepted at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787 called for a Congress for two houses; in the upper house, or Senate, representation of the states would be equal, with each state having two senators; in the lower house, or House of Representatives, representation would be apportioned according to the population of each state, so that states with more people would have more representatives. Also called the Connecticut Compromise.

Question 7

3/5ths Compromise

Answer 7

Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution, later eliminated by the 14th Amendment. The clause provided that each slave should be counted as 3/5ths of a person in determining the number of representatives a state might send to the house of rep. It also determined the amount of direct taxes Congress might levy on a state.

Question 8

Deliberative Body

Answer 8

Thoroughly debate issues and avoid hast whilst making decisions.

Question 9

Electoral College

Answer 9

The group of presidential electors who cast the official votes for president and vice president after a presidential election. Each state has a number of electors equal to the total of its members in the Senate and House of Representatives. The functioning of the Electoral College is provided for in Article II of the U.S. Constitution and amended by the 12th and 23rd amendments.

Question 10

Enumerated Powers

Answer 10

The rights and responsibilities of the U.S. government are specifically provided for and listed in the Constitution.

Question 11

Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 11

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to make all laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers specifically delegated to it by the Constitution. AKA the elastic clause bc of vagueness of the phrase necessary and proper.

Question 12

Separated Powers

Answer 12

The division of the powers of government among the different branches. Separating powers is a primary strategy for promoting constitutional, or limited government by ensuring that no one individual or branch has excessive power that can be abused. See checks and balances.

Question 13

Shared Powers

Answer 13

Legislative powers not completely separated between the branches of government.