Chapter 3 Studying Flashcards
what did state constitutions have in common
a bicameral legislature, governor, state courts and judges
why did the continental congress adopt the articles
the colonial governments were revoked and they needed a governing document to run the country during wartime
accomplishments of the articles
allowed the country and government to survive during war, allowed the country to expand, and allowed the country to expand without slavery
weaknesses of the articles
it was very hard to pass laws (9/13 states had to approve), it was almost impossible to amend (unanimous), the national government could not enforce laws, national government could not collect taxes, and there was no real national defense
shay’s rebellion
a rebellion of farmers in massachusettes which displayed how weak the government was and how it was unfit to defend the country
compromises made at the constitutional convention
congress regulates trade, leave slave trade alone for twenty years, Electoral college elected president and vice president
what is the constitution
a document that sets up the structure and function of the government, the supreme law of the country, and the symbol of the US
article IV
relationship between the states and the federal government and the relationship between the states
article V
how to amend the constitution
article VI
constitutional supremacy
article VII
ratification
how does one amend the constitution
the amendment must be proposed by at least 2/3 of congress of 2/3 of a national convention (which has never been done), and then it must be ratified by either 3/4 of state legislatures or 3/4 of special state conventions (which has only happened once)
how does the constitution display popular sovereignty
“We the people” and it sets up and preserves election systems, making the government an expression of the will of the people
legislative branch checks over executive branch
impeachment of president, override presidential veto, reject executive appointments, refuse treaty approval
judicial branch checks over legislative branch
declare acts of legislature as unconstitutional
executive branch checks over legislative branch
veto legislation
legislative branch checks over judicial branch
impeach judges and refuse the appointment of other judges
was the virginia plan unicameral or bicameral
bicameral
was the new jersey plan unicameral or bicameral
unicameral
how many votes did the states have in the new jersey plan
one each
what are the three parts of the constitution
preamble, articles, bill of rights/other amendments
what is the other name of the necessary and proper clause
elastic clause
what does the necessary and proper clause do
allows the government to do things not explicitly stated in the constitution (implied powers)
how does the constitution limit government power
checks and balances, bill of rights, preserves states powers
bill of rights
the first ten amendments of the constitution
what article is the supremacy clause in
VI
what article is the necessary and proper clause in
I
what is the main idea of federalist 10
how to mitigate the influence of powerful special interests
what is the full faith and credit clause
states that states must respect other states’ actions
what article is the full faith and credit clause in
IV
implied powers
powers not explicitly stated but still allowed for the national government in the constitution
strict interpretation
one believes that the constitution only grants congress the ability to do what is written
what does the preamble state
the goals and intent of the constitution
loose interpretation
congress has the ability to do things even if the constitution doesn’t explicitly say
northwest ordinance of 1787
established new territories around the great lakes and made a process for adding new territories (slavery was outlawed in these new territories)
did the articles lay a unicameral or a bicameral legislature
unicameral
what are all the weaknesses of the articles
no executive or judicial branch, cannot tax or enforce laws, a unanimous vote was required to amend the articles, states had more power than congress
ordinance of 1785
congress created a system for surveying and selling western lands
main members of the anti-federalists
patrick henry, samuel adams, george clinton, thomas jefferson
what are the five principles of the constitution
popular sovereignty, rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism
what were the main ideas of federalist 51
since the central government will have a lot of power, that power must be divided, checks and balances, separation of powers, majority rule with minority rights
what does the phrase “compound republic” refer to
federalism
egalitarianism
equality among all
what part of the constitution protects against factions
first amendment
how to stop factions
create a republic because there are elected representatives who vote for us and the large population makes it hard for factions to gain a majority and it is less likely for factious individuals to be elected
