Ch.2: The founding and the Constitution Flashcards
Five sectors of society:
New England merchants southern planters royalist (hold land) shopkeepers, artisans, laborers, patents small farmers
Enforced a previous tax on molasses
sugar act of 1764
Required printed materials to have a stamp on them
stamp act
East India company decided to sell their tea directly to the colonist, which led to
the Boston tea party
Philosophical document stating that certain rights were inalienable
Political document explaining that since the king had violated those rights, the colonists had the right to separate
Addressed multiple audiences
The Declaration of Independence
America’s first written constitution; served as the basis for America’s national government until 1789.
Weak central government; no president, only a legislature
Impractical government, giving each state one vote regardless of population, and requiring all 13 to make amendments
Prevented colonies from creating treaties
Lacked an army or navy to protect citizens
No taxing authority
Articles of Confederation
A system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the rational government
confederation
Goal was to prevent the court from repossessing debt-ridden lands held by poor farmers in western Massachusetts
The rebellion revealed the weaknesses of the new central government, which lacked both the power to tax and also a national army.
Served as a focal point for those who would draft the new constitution
Shay’s Rebellion
Part of the GREAT COMPROMISE: A framework for constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state
virginia plan
Interests: the financial interests of the wealthy were better protected under the new Constitution.
Principles: the new Constitution embodied leading political theories of the time regarding liberty, equality, and democracy
The constitutional convention
a framework that is introduced by William Paterson, that called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population
New Jersey plan
The agreement reached the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in the House of representation to population
Great Compromise/conneticut
the agreement that stipulated that for the purpose of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be counted as 3/5 of a person
3/5 compromise
What was the goal of the framers?
A central government strong enough to promote commerce and protect property against infringement by the states
Prevent “excessive democracy”
Emphasize ideas that would generate public support
Restrain the federal government from impinging on liberties and property rights
Most powerful branch of new government
Two chambers: House and Senate
Each has different powers
Each is accountable to a different constituency
Different term lengths (2 yrs. House, 6 yrs. Senate)
Share some powers with the other branches
legislative branch
The framers needed an executive both to offset the potential power of the new Congress and to act with speed during times of crisis.
They also needed a unifying figure who would serve as the head of state
Executive Branch
Goal was to nationalize government power through one court that was supreme over all the others and that could stand up to the other branches
Judicial Branch
Favored a stronger central government
Federal control over the economy
Clear property rights
Government by elites
Federalist
Favored the balance of power being with the states
Clearly articulated rights (not just property)
Government by leaders who shared the economic interests of the people
Antifederalist
Three fundamental issues brought upon the federalist and antifederalist
representation
tyranny
limited government
Antifederalists wanted representatives who shared the same financial interests and backgrounds as those they represented.
Feared only the rich would be elected and would act against everyone else’s interests
Federalists thought elections would keep the legislators concerned for their constituents’ interests
Representation
Antifederalists were concerned government would be controlled by the wealthy elite.
Feared tyranny of a wealthy minority
Federalists feared the mass electorate would team up against the wealthy elite, who would always be in the minority.
Feared tyranny of an unsophisticated majority
Tyranny
Antifederalists wanted a weak central government with enumerated powers and a Bill of Rights.
Federalists saw the need for a strong central government, and divided its powers to prevent tyranny of the majority.
Limited government
Mechanism through which each branch of gov. is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches; presidential veto power over congressional legistlationl, the power of the senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments
checks and balances
the electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for presidential and vice president
electoral college
the first 10 amendments in the U.S Constitution
Bill of Rights
the division of government among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making
separation of power
a system government in which power is divided by the constitution between the government and regional government
federalism
specific powers guaranteed by the constitution to congress and to the president
expressed powers
enumerates the power of congress and provides them with the authority to make all laws necessary and proper to carry them out
elastic clause
having a legislature assembly composed of a two house system
bicameral
the power of the courts to review and if necessary declares actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional
judicial review
states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state
supremacy clause
a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John jay supporting ratification of the Constitution
federalist papers
a change added to a bill law or constitution
amendment
