Chapter 2 - Constitution & the founding

Question 1

what are the 85 articles that Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay called?

Answer 1

The Federalist Papers

Question 2

what were some tensions at the constitutional convention?

Answer 2

slave states vs nonslave states, large states vs small states, and
national powers

Question 3

what are Antifederalists?

Answer 3

the national government would gain too much power, against ratification of the constitution, an “unbalanced” constitution

Question 4

what is the bill of rights?

Answer 4

set of amendments to the Constitution after ratification for individual liberties

Question 5

define the Virginia Plan (large)

Answer 5

favored those states with more population, which suffered under the Articles of Confederation…. created the House of Representatives

Question 6

Define the New Jersey Plan (small)

Answer 6

Called for equal representation for all states, one vote per state under the Articles of Confederation…. created the Senate

Question 7

what is the Great Compromise?

Answer 7

Compromised between small and large states…. proposed by Connecticut, between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan

Question 8

what court case made the Constitution do an important check on it in the 1800s?

Answer 8

Marbury v. Madison (judicial review)

Question 9

what is a reserved power?

Answer 9

The 10th Amendment says that powers are not given to the government by the Constitution, reserved to the state or the people

Question 10

what is the Electoral College made of?

Answer 10

The compromise between the legislative & executive powers…. delegates who wanted popular votes and delegates who wanted the legislature to pick

Question 11

How many of the original 13 states were required to ratify the Constitution for it to go into effect in 1788?

Answer 11

9…… under the Articles of Confederation all 13 had to consent

Question 12

what is pluralism?

Answer 12

Having a variety of parties and interests will strengthen the government so no group gains too much control

Question 13

what are federalists?

Answer 13

favored the Constitution as is, and shared power with a strong central government, pro-ratification, critical to democracy

Question 14

what was the point of the Federalist Papers?

Answer 14

To dispel the fear of a monarchy and to defend the Constitution (W/O)

Question 15

steps to amend the Constitution

Answer 15

Congress proposes amendment by 2/3 vote, then by at least 3/4 of the state legislature

Question 16

what was the 3/5 Compromise?

Answer 16

Kept slave states from leaving the new union

Question 17

what was the supremacy clause?

Answer 17

if laws conflicted between levels of government the national laws were supreme

Question 18

what is the commerce clause?

Answer 18

Allows Congress to write legislation in policy areas it traditionally had not been able to address

Question 19

what is the executive clause?

Answer 19

ambiguity so presidents can expand powers

Question 20

what is the necessary and proper (elastic) clause?

Answer 20

Congress has the power to pass all laws related to its expressed (enumerated) power, Article I

Question 21

what are enumerated powers?

Answer 21

Granted powers to Congress, President, and the Supreme Court in the first 3 articles

Question 22

how did the Shays’s Rebellion lead to the drafting of the Consitution?

Answer 22

Under the Articles of Confederation, leaders could not build a political system that addressed sovereignty, coining money, and taxing power.

Question 23

Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” advocates for?

Answer 23

Republicanism (elected leaders represent the people’s interest)

Question 24

What were John Locke’s ideas for government?

Answer 24

Natural rights and consent of the governed is where government legitimacy comes from

Question 25

What were Thomas Hobbes’s ideas for government?

Answer 25

Life is “nasty, brutish, and short” and government is necessary to prevent anarchy

Question 26

What were Baron de Montesquieu’s ideas for government?

Answer 26

Functions of government should be spread across branches (did not say “separate powers”)

Question 27

What is popular sovereignty?

Answer 27

government derives legitimacy from the people like leaders are regularly elected and held responsible for their decisions

Question 28

what is fedarlist # 10?

Answer 28

about factions and how to dispel it

Question 29

what is federalist # 51?

Answer 29

about checks & balance and federalism

Question 30

bill of rights where ratified when?

Answer 30

1791