Constitution Flashcards
What is a republic?
- a state where supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives
- has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.
What was the Articles of Confederation?
- the original constitution of the US
- ratified in 1781
- replaced by the US Constitution in 1789
What were the checks and balances?
no branch of the government could become too powerful
What is federalism?
states share power with a national government.
What is a veto?
- blocks a decision
- The President can veto some bills that pass his desk
What is an amemdment?
a change made to an original
What is a bill?
a document , proposal for a new law
What is a law?
rules and legal systems
What is the seperation of powers?
It divides governmental authority into three branches
What is the 3/5 Compromise?
- the agreement between Southern and Northern states reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia
- only three-fifths of the slave population was counted for the purpose of taxation and representation in Congress. Counting slaves as part of the population rather than as property would give the Southern states more political clout
What is the Great Compromise?
- agreement that large and small states reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787
- defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution.
What is the Elastic Clause?
statement in the U.S. Constitution granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper
Which state did not attend the Philadelphia Convention?
Rhode Island
What are the major elements of the first three Articles of the Constitution?
Article One - establishes the Congress , divided Congress into a Senate and a House of Representatives because they were afraid of placing too much authority in any one institution
Article Two - establishes an executive department headed by a president and vice president. The article further describes the powers of the offices, the manner of election, and the qualifications for office
Article Three - federal judicial power be placed in a Supreme Court and in other courts as directed by Congressional
What purpose does the Electoral College serve?
cast votes for the election of the president and vice president
