Chapter 2

Question 1

a form of colonialism that seeks to remove Native peoples from land and replace them with a new settler population (unauthorized taking of the land)

Answer 1

settler colonialism

Question 2

America’s first written constitution; served as the basis for America’s national government until 1789
-The colonists established a weak central government, reflecting their fear that a strong government would infringe upon individual liberty.

Answer 2

Articles of Confederation

Question 3

a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government

Answer 3

confederation

Question 4

a framework for the Constitution that called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state

Answer 4

Virginia Plan

Question 5

a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses

Answer 5

bicameral legislature

Question 6

a framework for the Constitution that called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population

Answer 6

New Jersey Plan

Question 7

a legislative assembly having only one chamber or house

Answer 7

unicameral legislature

Question 8

the agreement reached at 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 Representatives to population

Answer 8

Great Compromise

Question 9

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of apportioning congressional seats only three-fifths of enslaved people would be counted

Answer 9

Three-Fifths Compromise

Question 10

the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people

Answer 10

Bill or Rights

Question 11

the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision-making

Answer 11

separation of powers

Question 12

a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional governments

Answer 12

federalism

Question 13

specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8) and to the president (Article II)

Answer 13

expressed powers

Question 14

the concluding paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution (also known as the “necessary and proper clause”), which provides Congress with the authority to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its enumerated powers

Answer 14

elastic clause

Question 15

the power of the courts to review actions of the legislative and executive branches and, if necessary, declare them invalid or unconstitutional

Answer 15

judicial review

Question 16

Article VI of the Constitution, which 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 or any subdivision

Answer 16

supremacy clause

Question 17

a change added to a bill, law, or constitution; the process of making such change through constitutional procedure

Answer 17

amendment

Question 18

mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches

ex:)
-presidential veto power over congressional legislation
-Senate’s power to approve presidential appointments
-the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review of congressional enactments

Answer 18

checks and balances

Question 19

-favored a strong national government
-federal control over economy
-clear property rights
-governments by elites
-supported the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787

Answer 19

Federalists

Question 20

-those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government
-clearly articulated rights (not just property)
-Government by leaders with the economic interests of the people
-were opponents of the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787

Answer 20

Antifederalists

Question 21

a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay a collection of 85 articles and essays supporting ratification of the Constitution

Answer 21

Federalist Papers

Question 22

oppressive government that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority

Answer 22

tyranny

Question 23

a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution

Answer 23

limited government

Question 24

What were some of the major points of disagreement between Federalist and Antifederalists during ratification of the Constitution?

Answer 24

-how to prevent tyranny
-how much representation the people should have in government
-limits on the power of government

Question 25

The AntiFederalist had a lasting impact on the Constitution by making a persuasive case for the inclusion of

Answer 25

The Bill of Rights

Question 26

How does the Constitution limit the power of the national government?

Answer 26

The Constitution includes two key principles-federalism and the separation of powers.

Question 27

What motivated the colonists’ desire for a stronger central government leading the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 27

The desire of the colonist to pursue westward expansion against the wishes of King George III and native peoples

Question 28

During the Constitutional Convention, the delegates disagreed over how representation should be determined, resulting in

Answer 28

a bicameral legislature in which one chamber would be apportioned based on state population and in the other states would receive equal representation.

Question 29

The Supreme Court has a key role in constitutional revision through the power of —— —– in which it interprets the Constitution as it reviews cases. Constitutional revision can come in different forms.

Answer 29

judicial review

Question 30

The president —— work
indirectly to modify the
Constitution by appointing
Supreme Court justices.

Answer 30

The president can work indirectly to modify the Constitution by appointing Supreme Court justices.

Question 31

How are the various successful constitutional amendments similar?

Answer 31

Many tend to
-be concerned with the structure of the government.
-detail the framework within which the government will operate: who votes, how the government is organized, and how the government is funded.

Question 32

Section 8 of Article I (the elastic clause) allows Congress to:

Answer 32

• Collect taxes
• Borrow money
• Regulate commerce
• Declare war
• Maintain an army and navy
  “Elastic clause” – a.k.a. “the necessary and proper clause”

Question 33

The U.S Constitution was enacted in

Answer 33

1789

Question 34

Which economic forces within the colonies were at play in spurring the colonists to call for an end to British rule?

Answer 34

The profits gained through the enslavement of Africans were critical to the early development of the colonial economy and made it possible to imagine a future without the British.

Question 35

Legislation has been sponsored in Congress to raise the federal minimum wage.

Answer 35

elastic clause
supremacy clause

Question 36

The —— clause and —— clause grant powers to the national government beyond those expressly outlined in the Constitution, and this often becomes a source of conflict that must be resolved by the judiciary.

Answer 36

The elastic clause and supremacy clause grant powers to the national government beyond those expressly outlined in the Constitution, and this often becomes a source of conflict that must be resolved by the judiciary.

Question 37

the House of Representatives was designed to be ———————–, whereas the Senate was designed to —————- in the House.

Answer 37

the House of Representatives was designed to be directly responsible to the people, whereas the Senate was designed to guard against the potential for excessive democracy in the House.

Question 38

A state law passed that removes
photo ID requirements for
voting and extends
no excuse absentee voting.
Would be an example of

Answer 38

Tenth Amendment: reserves certain rights for the states or people.

Question 39

State laws banning same-sex marriage were overturned after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.

Answer 39

supremacy clause

Question 40

It created an executive branch of government.
The national government is granted the authority to maintain an army and navy.

Answer 40

The Constitution

Question 41

To guard against possible misuse of power by the national government, the framers incorporated into the Constitution the principles of the ————– and ———-, as well as ————.

Answer 41

separation of powers and federalism, as well as a Bill of Rights.

Question 42

Chosen for six year terms.
-ratify treaties.
-The Constitution grants the Senate the power to “approve and consent” presidential appointments.

Answer 42

Senate

Question 43

-With its two-year terms and direct elections, members of the House of Representatives were meant to be directly responsive to the people.
-write revenue bills.

Answer 43

House

Question 44

———————– must pass a law before it goes to the president to be signed. The bicameral legislature comprises the House of Representatives and the Senate. The legislative branch is not independent of the other two branches of government because the Constitution set up a system of checks and balances.

Answer 44

Both houses of Congress must pass a law before it goes to the president to be signed. The bicameral legislature comprises the House of Representatives and the Senate. The legislative branch is not independent of the other two branches of government because the Constitution set up a system of checks and balances.

Question 45

often referred to as the five freedoms. Congress is not to make any law establishing a religion or abridging free exercise of religion, speech, press, assembly, or petitioning the government for redress of grievances. Proposed 1789 Adopted 1791

Answer 45

The First Amendment

Question 46

reserves certain rights for the states or people.

Answer 46

The tenth amendment

Question 47

part of the so-called Civil War amendments. Abolished slavery.(1765)

Answer 47

Thirteenth Amendment

Question 48

Why did the philosopher Baron de Montesquieu believe in the separation of powers among various branches of government?

Answer 48

He feared that consolidating power into the hands of one branch could infringe upon individual liberties.