Background to American Gov

Question 1

When was the constitution written?

Answer 1

1787

Question 2

What does democracy mean?

Answer 2

A form of government in which the people are the ultimate authority

Question 3

Who is disqualified from voting?

Answer 3

Those under 18, clinically insane, felons and those under the supervision of another citizen.

Question 4

What year were African-American men given the right to vote?

Answer 4

1870

Question 5

What year were women given the right to vote?

Answer 5

1920

Question 6

What type of democracy is the U.S. and what does it mean?

Answer 6

We are a representative democracy, meaning citizens elect officials to represent them

Question 7

How is a representative democracy different than a direct democracy?

Answer 7

In a direct democracy, citizens vote directly on policy (example, referenda)

Question 8

What is elite theory?

Answer 8

People of the elite theory believe that no matter how the vote turns out, a small number of people will do what they want to do - essentially that their vote doesn’t matter

Question 9

The framers of the constitution held a form of elitist theory, why?

Answer 9

They believed that only men who owned a certain amount of property should vote

Question 10

What 2 concepts of government arise in the Mayflower Compact?

Answer 10

Government by consent and a willingness to live under rule of law

Question 11

Before the revolutionary war, how did colonists learn to govern themselves?

Answer 11

Britain had a global empire and avoided strict enforcement of parliamentary laws in what is known as salutary neglect

Question 12

What led to the end of salutary neglect?

Answer 12

After the French and Indian war, Britain wanted the colonies to be more obedient and better contributors to the empire

Question 13

Who were Tories?

Answer 13

British loyalists living in America

Question 14

What were the philosophical roots of the Revolutionary war?

Answer 14

American leaders drew upon Greek and Roman ideas and knew of the democracy that existed in ancient Athens

Question 15

Who was John Salisbury?

Answer 15

12th century Englishman who argued that law was given by God and that if a monarch placed himself above the law, the people should revolt

Question 16

What principles from the Magna Carta were important to

Answer 16

The government could not levy taxes without council approval, a person could only be imprisoned after a trial by jury, the king himself was under the law

Question 17

What influence did John Locke have on the framers of the Constitution?

Answer 17

Locke’s Second Treatise on Civil Government stated that government officials were accountable to the law, the purpose of the law was to promote the good of the people, people need to have a say in taxation, “life, liberty and property” are human rights, people have the right to overthrow government

Question 18

what was accomplished at the first continental congress?

Answer 18

Colonists argued whether or not independence should be sought. The congress appealed to Britain to repeal the tax laws and called for a boycott of British goods.

Question 19

What was accomplished at the second continental congress?

Answer 19

The Declaration of Independence was signed.

Question 20

What were the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 20

the result of the pre-independence government call for a constitution. They were fully ratified in 1781.

Question 21

What year did America win the Revolutionary war?

Answer 21

1781

Question 22

What was the three-fifths compromise?

Answer 22

for purposes of representation, whether or not to count slaves as people. Every 5 slaves counted for 3 people.

Question 23

What does strong executive mean?

Answer 23

The central figure would have great power, but be easily checked.

Question 24

How is a state’s representation in the electoral college counted?

Answer 24

Equivalent to the number of the state’s senate and house members

Question 25

How was the constitution ratified?

Answer 25

Once nine states ratified, it would go into effect in those nine states. Those who had not ratified, would not be a part of the new nation.

Question 26

What were the federalist papers?

Answer 26

Papers written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the alias of Publics arguing for the ratification of the constitution in New York.

Question 27

What is the significance of Federalist Paper #10?

Answer 27

Written by James Madison, Paper No. 10 deals with factions, or interest groups. Madison argued that a strong central government would be more adept at controlling special interest groups.

Question 28

What did Madison argue in Federalist Paper No. 51?

Answer 28

The constitution would protect the interests of the minority groups.

Question 29

How can the constitution be amended?

Answer 29

Two ways. 1) 3/4ths of the state legislatures vote in favor of a proposed amendment 2) states call constitutional conventions and then 3/4hs of them vote in favor. Note: congress can propose an amendment by 2/3 vote in both chambers, but states must ratify w/ supermajority

Question 30

How long does a proposed amendment have to be ratified?

Answer 30

Typically, 7 years