Chapter 3

Question 1

Executive Branch

Answer 1

Law-enforcing branch

Question 2

Judicial Branch

Answer 2

Law-interpreting branch

Question 3

Judicial Review

Answer 3

the ability of the courts to nullify govt acts that conflict with the Constitution

Question 4

Electoral college

Answer 4

committee composed of one member from each participating state; sole purpose is to select a president and vice-president

Question 5

Confederation

Answer 5

loose association of independent states that agree to cooperate on specified matters; states retain sovereignty (individual states are strong)

Question 6

Enumerated powers

Answer 6

powers granted to Congress by the Constitution

Question 7

Articles of Confederation

Answer 7

the joining of the 13 original states that formed the first govt in the U.S.

Question 8

Bill of Rights

Answer 8

first 10 amendments of the Constitution

Question 9

Supremacy clause

Answer 9

when the Constitution, national laws, and treaties conflict with state or local laws->the Constitution, national laws and treaty trump state and/or local laws

Question 10

Popular sovereignty

Answer 10

the power & authority of govt to rule based on the consent, power & rights of the people

Question 11

Republicanism

Answer 11

type of govt where citizens elect their representatives; indirect democracy; people rule but the people elect representatives (indirect democracy)

Question 12

Explain the ‘Virginia Plan’.

Answer 12

1. written by James Madison
2. Proposed 3 branches- legislative, executive, and judicial
3. Legislative- most powerful, would choose executive and judicial branches; represents the people; 2 houses bases on the population size of each state (House of Representatives elected by the people and the Senate was elected by the state legislatures)
4. National govt could regulate trade, could strike down laws deemed unconstitutional over state and use armed forces to enforce laws

Question 13

Explain the ‘New Jersey Plan’.

Answer 13

1. three branches
2. Legislative: appoits the executive branch and the executive branch selects the supreme court
3. one house, state would be represented equally, so all states had the same vote and same powers
4. national govt could levy taxes and import duties, regulate trade with interstate commerce clause and supremacy clause

Question 14

Explain the “Great Compromise’.

Answer 14

1. a national legislaure would be based on population and equal representation
2. Legislative branch would have TWO chambers BICAMBERLISM
3. House of Representatives= elected by the people based on population size for representatives and its members would serve for two years
4. Senate= every state reprensented equally by 2 senates and would be elected by state legisitlature