Constitution Flashcards
What does the Executive Branch do?
Carries out laws (President, Vice President, cabinet, federal agencies)
What did anti-federalists argue?
A strong central government would destroy the work of the Revolution, limit democracy, and states rights (thought that the proposed Constitution contained no protection of individual rights)
What is changing the Constitution called?
Amending the Constitution
How is a President impeached?
House of Representatives votes to impeach and the President is put on trial
What were the federalists papers for?
To convince people to accept the Constitution (Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay wrote 85 essays that gave reason for the Constitution to be approved
What is article #6?
Supremacy Clause (Constitution is the law of the land)
What does the Judicial Branch do?
Interprets laws (Supreme Court and other Courts)
What were disadvantages of the Constitution?
New and untried, lacked Bill of Rights
What did people hope the new government would provide?
-Domestic Tranquility (peace and order)
-Protect the nation
-Support economy
-Protect freedoms
What is incensus?
Count of population
What is article #7?
Ratification
What was America’s first Constitution?
The Articles of Confederation
How many amendments are there total?
27
Which states were the last to ratify?
Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island (1790)
What are appellate courts?
If citizens want to appeal decisions given in district court, and ask for a higher court to review the case, the higher court is called an appellate court. They consider if the original trial was fair and legal
What is the 25th amendment?
Stated that if the President dies, Vice President replaces him. Vice President can elect new person to replace them, nomination has to be approved by both houses of Congress
What was the 7th amendment?
Trial by jury must be more than $20
How many supreme court justices are there in our government?
9 (including chief)
Who was America’s first President?
George Washington
How many states had to approve laws to be ratified?
9 out of 13
What can the national government do?
Declare war, make treaties, print/coin money, regulate interstate commerce
What promise does the President make when elected?
“Oath of office”
What is the 17th amendment?
People elect the Senators, if Senator is absent the governor can order a new election or replace the absence until an election is held
What were the 1780’s known as?
“The critical period” (will the new nation be strong enough to survive?)
What does the Legislative Branch do?
Makes laws (Congress: House of Reps, senate)
What were influential historical foundations and traditions that came from England?
-Magna Carta (1215)
-Natural Rights (1689) by John Locke
-English Bill or Rights (1689)
-England’s Parliament
-Bicameral House of Lord and House of Commons
What was the 2nd amendment?
Right to keep and bear arms
How is power separated?
Three branches (executive, judicial, legislative)
What was the first amendment?
Freedom of speech, religion, petition, press, assembly
What is the 15th amendment?
The right to vote for citizen applies to everyone, despite race, color, or previous condition of servitude
What do the federal courts do?
Protect nation, resolve disputes, if someone breaks a national law, they are tried in federal courts
Wht is the 23rd amendment?
Gave people who live in Washington D.C. the right to vote
Who was considered “The Father of the Constitution”?
James Madison (took detailed notes on every topic discussed at the convention)
-He was very well educated on democratic philosophies
What does ratification mean?
Approval
What was the Land of Ordinance of 1785? Was this a benefit or issue created by the AOC?
Reserved one section of land in each township for public education
Who holds the power to make new laws, the Senate or House of Representatives?
House of Representatives
Who drafted the Articles of Confederation?
In 1776, John Dickinson drafted the nation’s first constitution called the Articles of Confederation in Philadelphia. (submitted to states for ratification and was approved in 1781)
What are two ways to approve an amendment?
3/4 state legislatures vote, 3/4 state conventions vote
What was the first temporary capital?
NY
What is the 27th amendment?
Limited how Congress can increase how much its members are paid