Chaptah Two

Question 1

What are the three principles of the constitution?

Answer 1

It is the organizing document for our government, the supreme law of the land, and limits government action.

Question 2

What were the first few issues that caused the U.S to dislike Britain?

Answer 2

The Brits were going broke and implemented the stamp act in 1765, making everything more expensive for Americans.

Question 3

What caused the U.S to form the declaration of independence?

Answer 3

The U.S felt that the Brits were breaking the social contract so they made the declaration of independence.

Question 4

What are the two big takeaways from the articles of confederation (1781)?

Answer 4

This was the first form of government for the United States, and this created a firm league of friendship between the U.S and Great Britain.

Question 5

What were the problems with the articles of confederation (1781)?

Answer 5

No tax revenue to federal government, states were not required to listen to national government, there were trade wars between states with tariffs.

Question 6

Why did Shay’s Rebellion (1787) start?

Answer 6

The government couldn’t pay the revolutionary war soldiers pensions, which showed the vulnerability of the federal government.

Question 7

What happened at the constitutional convention(1787)?

Answer 7

Representatives from all states met in Philadelphia, and reformed the articles of confederation by creating a new government.

Question 8

What was the Virginia Plan?

Answer 8

The government would establish three branches and each states vote count would depnd on state population.

Question 9

What was the New Jersey plan?

Answer 9

They wanted small states to keep power, have the same voting power, and keep the articles of confederation.

Question 10

What was the Great Compromise?

Answer 10

This formed the house of representatives and senate and was bicameral legislature.

Question 11

How many votes are in the electoral college and how many votes does Wyoming get?

Answer 11

There are 538 total votes and Wyoming gets 3.

Question 12

What was the 3/5 compromise?

Answer 12

The states agreed to count slaves as 3/5 of a person when counting population.

Question 13

What is the main purpose of the 3 branches of government?

Answer 13

So no one person or branch becomes too powerful.

Question 14

When and how many states did it take to ratify the constitution?

Answer 14

The constitution was ratified in June 1788 and needed 9/13 states to ratify.

Question 15

What was the purpose of the federalist papers?

Answer 15

To further explain the purpose of the constitution and the way it was written.

Question 16

What was a main purpose of having governmental power at the federal level?

Answer 16

States could have a mob mentality so this would reduce this.

Question 17

What was the purpose of the Bill of Rights and how many amendments did it introduce?

Answer 17

The purpose was to ensure rights of the people since power was taken from states and it introduced the first 10 amendments to the constitution.

Question 18

What are constitutional powers?

Answer 18

Constitutional powers place limits on federal governments to enumerated powers.

Question 19

What are the allowable actions of federal government?

Answer 19

Coin money, regulate commerce, and making treaties. States have the rest of the power.

Question 20

Why is the U.S not a direct democracy and what type of government is it?

Answer 20

The U.S is not a direct democracy because the country is too big and there is risk of mob mentality and risk of a lack of rights for minorities. The U.S is a democratic republic.

Question 21

What and why were the 3 branches formed in the constitution?

Answer 21

Separation of powers, legislative, judicial, and executive branches of federal government.

Question 22

What is the role of the legislative branch?

Answer 22

To write laws and it is congress.

Question 23

What is the executive branch?

Answer 23

The president and federal agencies.

Question 24

What is the judicial branch?

Answer 24

Federal courts, they interpret laws.

Question 25

What is federalism?

Answer 25

Power is divided by federal and state governments, there are some areas where states make the decision and some where federal makes the decision.

Question 26

What is the process of amending the constitution?

Answer 26

Its a two step process that requires congress and state legislatures.

Question 27

What is the amendment proposal process?

Answer 27

Federal level, must be proposed by 2/3 of house or senate, or by convention called by congress by request of 2/3 state legislature.

Question 28

How are amendments ratified?

Answer 28

State level must ratify by either ¾ of state legislatures or ¾ of state ratifying conventions.

Question 29

Why do most amendments arise?

Answer 29

For further clarification of a thing like the right to vote.

Question 30

How is the constitution worded?

Answer 30

Very short and general, flexible, has fared well over time.

Question 31

When was the most recent amendment?

Answer 31

1992

Question 32

What were the concerns of the constitutional framers?

Answer 32

Mob mentality, protecting individuals from government, not letting one group/person gain too much power, needing state approval.

Question 33

What is a dictatorship?

Answer 33

When one person or small group, political party or ideology, possesses absolute power without constitutional limitations.

Question 34

What are the 3 C’s of dictatorship?

Answer 34

Coercion, co-options (taking over or forcing someone to switch sides), charisma.

Question 35

What are the key elements of democracy?

Answer 35

Multiple party system, fair and free elections, term limits, civil liberties, civic participation, right to fair trial, “of the people, for the people, by the people.”

Question 36

What are some key rules of the American presidential system?

Answer 36

Elected every four years, maximum two terms, holds significant but not complete power, legitimacy (social contract).

Question 37

What are some elements of the constitutional Monarch in the UK?

Answer 37

Hereditary, serves for life, opens parliament, meets with prime minister, largely ceremonial, legitimacy (through heredity).

Question 38

What are the elements of the UK Prime Minister?

Answer 38

Leader of majority party in the house of commons, unity of powers (both head of legislative and executive roles), 10 Downing St. is where P.M lives, Election at least every 5 years.