Constitution Test Flashcards
What does the legislative branch do?
Makes the laws
What does the executive branch do?
Enforces the laws
What does the judicial branch do?
Interpret the laws
What are the five flaws of the articles of confederation?
Offered a unicameral house
No executive branch
No judicial branch
Congress was chosen by the state and given only one vote
9 votes needed to pass a law
Amending the articles would take unanimous votes
Congress could not tax states
Congress could not regulate instate or foreign trade
After the American Revolution, the debt was…?
$160 million
When Congress printed paper money with European loans…?
Inflation shot up
Army officers were furious because they were not paid or given land
Army officers were not given the right to vote
Farms were seized to pay off debt (in Massachusetts)
Who was a former Continental Army officer who marched to protest?
Daniel Shay
How did Shay die?
In poverty
What were the goals in Massachusetts?
The state could not impose direct taxes
Court costs were lower
Personal items could not be seized by property foreclosure
What did the Ordinance of 1785 do and how?
Created a basic system for surveying land out west
Government stated that most families of four could live on a farm
Each township to be divided into 36 sections, 1 allocated for education
When population reached 60,000, a Constitution was formally written and the residents petitioned Congress for entrance into the union
What did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 do and how?
Outlined the process of how most territories would become states
Territories must be organized
Congress appointed the governor and judges
Once 5,000 moles lived there, a temporary constitution was written
Where did the constitutional convention take place?
In Philadelphia
When did the constitutional convention take place?
May to September 1787
For the constitutional convention, how many delegates attended from each state?
55 except Rhode Island
Who wrote the New Jersey plan?
James Madison
Four points about the Virginia plan
Bicameral legislature
Send people in proportion of the state’s size
Have executive and judicial branch
Congress right to vote
Who wrote the New Jersey plan?
William Patterson
Four points for the New Jersey plan
Unicameral legislature
Each state sent two representatives
Had executive and judicial branches
Congress had right to tax
What was the Great Compromise
Combined New Jersey plan and Virginia plan
Three points on Great Compromise
Bicameral legislature
The House represented Virginia plan
Senate represented New Jersey plan
Who was the father of the Constitution?
James Madison
Why was James Madison known as the father of the Constitution?
Spent a year studying a new form of government
Attended every convention
Took all the notes
When was the constitution finished and ratified?
September 19, 1787
June 21, 1788
Nine states are needed for ratification. Who was the ninth state?
New Hampshire
Which state was ratified in 1790?
Rhode Island
What was the legislative branch divided into?
House of Representatives and Senate
What were eight things that Article I Section 8 allowed?
Forming money Creating a military Declaring war on other countries Regulate and interstate foreign commerce Impose taxes Elastic clause The ability to impeach an officer Power to amend the constitution
What is the elastic cause?
Authority to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper
What are the three requirements of the House of Representatives?
25+ years of age
Resident and citizen of US for 7+ years
Elected every 2 years
Who is the head of the house?
Speaker chosen by representatives by majority party
How many members for the House of Representatives?
435
What does each member of the House represent?
Areas known as congressional districts
In how many years does the Census Bureau count the population of states?
10 years to count estimated districts per state
What are two jobs only the House can perform?
Start laws that make people pay taxes
Decide if government official should be out on trial before Senate, or impeachment
What are the term limits for the House and the senate?
No term limit
What are three requirements of a Senate?
30+ years old
Resident and citizen for 9+ years
Resident of the state they are elected
How many members of the Senate?
100
Who is the president of the senate?
Vice President
What are three jobs only Senators can perform?
Yes or no to any treaties the president makes
Yes or no to any people the president recommends for jobs
Can hold trial for a government official who commits a crime against the country
Who is/are the leader/leaders of the executive branch?
The President
What is the president?
Commander in chief, chief of military
How does a Vice President become president?
If president is unable to serve
Which article is the powers of the president written in?
Article 2
Which two officials are elected by the entire country?
President and Vice President
Three requirements of president and Vice President
35+ years old
Natural born US citizen
Must have lived a consecutive 14 years in US
Before when cold a president serve as many terms as he would like?
1951
Which amendment limits a president to two terms?
22nd
What are the duties of the president?
National security powers
Legislative powers
Administrative powers
Judicial powers
