Constitution Flashcards
Patrick Henry
A member of the Virginia House of Burgesses that called for resistance to the Stamp Act. He said “If this be treason, make the most of it!” Also he said “Give me liberty or give me death!” He was an antofederalist
John Adams
He was in England as an ambassador.
Thomas Jefferson
He was in France as an ambassador
The Virginia Plan (The Large State’s Plan)
Presented by James Madison
Two houses of congress:
A larger house based on the number of people in each state
A smaller house with members elected by the. members of the larger house
Larger states will have more power in both houses of congress
Rejected
The New Jersey Plan (The Small States’ Plan)
Presented by William Paterson
One House of Congress
Larger and smaller states will have equal power in Congress.
Rejected
The Great Compromise
Presented by Roger Sherman
Two houses of Congress:
The size of the House of Representatives based the number of people in each state.
The Senate contains two representatives from each state
Larger States will have more power in one house of Congress, but all states will have equal power in the other house of Congress
Accepted
Elastic Clause
Congress can take action on issues not spelled in the Constitutuion
Veto
An ability of the Executive Branch
To Reject a proposed bill
Anti federalist
Someone against the Constitution
Federalist
Someone in favor of the Consttution
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Amendment
A change or addition to the Constitution
Unicameral
1 house legislature
Bicameral
2 house legislature
Electoral Collage
The electoral votes are based on a state population
The Federalist Papers
It was essays written by Madison, Hamilton, Jay to encourage Americans to vote for the Constitution
What happens when a senate vote ends in a tie?
The Vice President is the tie breaker
How was the Constitution ratified?
It had to pass 9 of the 13 states
How can the Constitution be changed?
We add amendments
Why was some delegates opposed to the original Constitution?
There was not a Bill of Rights
Daniel Shays
He couldn’t pay is debt and was thrown in jail and that was the spark that ended the articles of confederation
For how long did n the delegates agree that the president should serve?
For a four year term unlimited
Roger Sherman
Came up with the Great Compromise and was from Connecticut
James Wilson
One of the most involved delegates from Scotland
William Paterson
From New Jersey and proposed the New Jersey Plan which favored the smaller states and a one house legislature.
Gouvener Morris
Gave a lot of the style of writing and had one leg and charmed the ladies
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
To revise the Articles of Confederation
Why didn’t Patrick Henry attend the Constitutional Convention?
He was afraid that America would loose the rights that it fought for. In other words, the government would turn back into what they fought against.
What prominent politicians who helped write the Declaration of Independence were not Present at the Constitutional Convention?
Thomas Jefferson (France) John Adams (England) Patrick Henry
What state refused to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
Rhode Island
What did the delegates decide to do to make it easier for the members of the Convention ton change their minds and voice opinions?
They shut the windows
According to the Virginia Plan, how would the number of seats in both houses of Congress be determined?
By the state’s population
How were the slaves counted for representation and taxation purposes?
The 3/5’s policy counted every five slaves as three people and were taxed as three people.
What idea was expresses in the Preamble’s “We the People…”?
The goal of the Constitution
Why were some delegates opposed to the original Constitution?
It did not have a Bill of Rights that old state the rights of the people
What was the profession of more than half the delegates to the convention?
Lawyer
Why was Benjamin Franklin’s prescience at the Constitutional Convention important despite his poor health?
His presence made people think that the convention was more important
Did the delegates take any action regarding when slave trade should end?
They were supposed to stop in twenty years (1808) but they didn’t do anything
How was the Constitution to be ratified?
If 9 out of the 13 states vote “yea” for the Constitution
How many states (of the 13) were needed to ratify the Constitution?
9 states
Of the 55 men who attended the Convention, how many signed the Constitution?
39
Impeach
To accuse a government official of performing misconduct in office
Preamble
The intro to the Constitution that describes the goal of the Constitution (what it was written for).
Checks and Balances
A system of limitations acting on each branch so no one branch becomes too powerful.
Legislative: proposes a law
Executive: vetoes or signs the bill
Judicial: determines if the bill is unconstitutional or constitutional
James Madison
He took notes at the Constitutional Convention and and was the father of the constitution
Articles of Confederation
It was like the Constitution but it didn’t work well. It only had one branch (legislative)
George Washington
Was the first American president, commander of the Continental Army, president of the Constitutional Convention, and gentleman planter.
Alexander Hamilton
One of the writers of the Federalist Papers
