Chapter 2 - The Constitution

Question 1

What was the primary objective of the American Revolution?

What was the objective of the First Continental Congress?

Answer 1

British wanted more order while Americans wanted more freedom.

To restore harmony between Great Britain and America

Question 2

Declaration of Independence

author?

intent?

inalienable rights?

Answer 2

written by Thoman Jefferson and expressed the reasons for seperating from Great Britain, such as the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness

Question 3

social contract theory

how does this relate to John Locke?

Answer 3

belief that people set up rulers for certain purposes and thus have the right to resist or remove rulers

John Locke believed political authority exists to protect natural rights and is based on the consent of those who are governed

Question 4

republic

Answer 4

government whose power is exercised by elected representatives responsible to the goverened

Question 5

confederation

Answer 5

loose association of independent states that cooperate on specific matters

Question 6

Articles of Confederation (1777)

Why did it fail?

Answer 6

compact among the 13 states which established first government

failed because of fears of a strong central government

1. congress not being able to tax
2. no independent leadership in government
3. government couldn’t regulate foreign commerce
4. articles couldn’t be ammended without unanimous vote

Question 7

Shays Rebellion

effect?

Answer 7

protest against high taxes to pay off war debt

created urgent need to maintain domestic order, which led to the Constitutional Convention

Question 8

The Virginia Plan (1787)

Answer 8

set of proposals for new government submitted to the Constitutional Convention which included seperation of the government, division of the legislature, and proportional representation

Question 9

legislative branch

Answer 9

law-making branch

Question 10

executive branch

Answer 10

law-enforcing branch

Question 11

judicial branch

Answer 11

law-interpreting branch

Question 12

New Jersey Plan

Answer 12

a counter to the Virgina Plan, it included nine resolutions that would preserve the Articles of Confederation

Question 13

The Great Compromise

who submitted it?

Answer 13

submitted by the Connecticut delegation, it proposed a bicameral legislature where the House was based on population and the Senate would represent states equally

Question 14

How was the president selected under the Constitution in 1787?

Answer 14

President was selected by the electoral college.

Every state had a number of electors equal to its representatives in congress.

Question 15

republicanism

Answer 15

form of government where power resides in the peopl and is exercised by elected representatives

Question 16

federalism

Answer 16

division of power between central and regional governments

Question 17

seperation of powers

Answer 17

division of functions among different branches to safeguard against one branch having too much power

Question 18

checks and balances

Answer 18

each branch has some control over other branches to safeguard against one branch having too much power

Question 19

extraordinary majority

Answer 19

two thirds of each chamber required to overturn president’s veto

Question 20

enumerated powers

Answer 20

powers explicitly granted to Congres by the Constitution

Question 21

implied powers

Answer 21

powers that Congress requires in order to execute its enumerated powers

Question 22

necessary and proper clause

Answer 22

gives Congress the means to execute its enumerated powers, and is the basis for Congress’s implied powers

Question 23

judicial reivew

Answer 23

power to declare government acts as invalid because the violate the constitution

Question 24

supremacy clause

Answer 24

asserts that national laws take precedence over state and local laws when they conflict

Question 25

How was slavery dealt with at the Constitutional Convention?

Answer 25

Slavery was protected with the three-fifths law and returning fugitive slaves to their masters.

Question 26

federalists

Answer 26

wanted a strong national government

Question 27

antifederalists

Answer 27

wanted to protect states from the tyranny of strong national government

Question 28

What was the primary goal of “Federalist No. 10?”

Answer 28

to demonstrate that the proposed government was not likely to be ruled by any faction (interest group)

Question 29

Bill of Rights

for and against?

Answer 29

first 10 ammendments that prevent the national government from tampering with fundamental rights

for: want to spell out their freedoms
against: you cannot list all prohibited powers

Question 30

What is the process for ammending the Constitution?

How many ammendments have been made?

Answer 30

Propose it by a 2/3 vote in the House and Senate. The ratify it by 3/4 of the states.

27 ammendments have been made.

Question 31

Marbury vs Madison (1803)

Answer 31

declared courts have the power to nulify acts when the conflict with the Constitution

Question 32

Which values did the framers of the Constitution pay more attention to?

Answer 32

valued order and freedom over equality