Constitution Unit Flashcards
New Jersey Plan
Unicameral congress and each state gets one vote
Connecticut Plan
“The Great Compromise” chose a bicameral congress
House of Representatives
(Lower house) based on population. 435 Representatives
Senate
(Upper house) each state gets two senators with one vote a piece/100 total
Executive Branch
The Presidency
President chosen by Electoral College
What powers does the Executive Branch have?
Veto
Pardon
Appoint federal judges and heads of the executive department
Electoral College
A group of people called electors who meet and elect the President/Vice President
Electoral College Numbers
538 Electors
100 Senate
435 House of Representatives
3 Washington D.C.
3/5’s Compromise
Counted 3/5’s of a state’s slave population.
Individual Rights
Opponents of the Constitution demanded a Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights
1st 10 Amendments (additions) to the Constitution that protected citizens rights.
Who wrote the Bill of Rights?
James Madison
When was the Constitution signed?
1787
When did all states approve the Constitution?
1790
When was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
1791
Who were the first and last states to approve the Constitution?
1st- Delaware
Last- Rhode Island
First Amendment
Religious and Political Freedom
Second Amendment
Right to Bear Arms
Third Amendment
Quarter of Soldiers
Fourth Amendment
Search and Seizure
Fifth Amendment
Life, Liberty, and Property
Sixth Amendment
Rights of the Accused
Seventh Amendment
Right to Jury Trial
Eighth Amendment
Bail & Punishment
Ninth Amendment
All Other Rights
Tenth Amendment
Rights of States and the People
Federalists
Favored a strong national government
James Madison, John Jay, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington
Federalist Papers
Series of newspaper essays explaining the Constitution.
Written by Hamilton and Madison
Anti-Federalists
Favored states’ rights/ weak national government
Patrick Henry, Sam Adams
Federalism
National and state government share power with the national being supreme
Separation of Powers
Divided powers among 3 branches of government
Checks and Balances
Power of one branch to act as a check on the other two branches
Federal Government Powers
a. Coin money/ regulate trade
b. Admit new states/ post office
c. Maintain armed forces
d. Declare war/ make peace
Shared Powers
a. Tax/ build roads
b. Borrow money/ establish courts
c. Take property for public use
State Powers
a. Conduct elections
b. Provide for schools
c. Ratify amendments
Legislative Branch (Congress) Powers
Makes the laws
Legislative Branch (Congress) Checks
a. Both houses must approve a bill
b. President can veto a bill
c. President can influence public opinion
d. Supreme Court can rule law unconstitutional
Executive Branch Powers
a. Carries out law
b. Can veto bills
c. Make treaties
d. Appoints top officials
e. Can pardon criminals
Executive Branch Checks
a. Congress can impeach (2/3’s needed)
b. Congress approves federal judges
c. Congress approves treaties (2/3’s)
d. Congress can override veto by 2/3’s
Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) Powers
a. Interprets the law
Amending the Constitution
Must be approved by 3/4’s of state legislature or state conventions
Compromise
Each side yields some of its demands
Veto
Reject legislation
Pardon
Forgive criminals of crimes
amendment
Addition
Virginia Plan
Go from a unicameral congress to a bicameral congress and number of representatives is based on population- rejected
Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) Checks
a. Congress can impeach judges
b. Congress can reject judges
c. Congress can propose amendments
d. President can pardon criminals
