Constitutional Foundations of the US Govt

Question 1

What year did the Articles of Confederation serve as the system of govt?

Answer 1

1781-1787 (6 Years)

Question 2

The govt under the Articles of Confederation consisted of a ___________ legislature that was clearly subordinate to the states.

Answer 2

unicameral (one house)

Question 3

Under AoC, how many votes did each state have in Congress?

Answer 3

1 –regardless of size\population of state

Question 4

What were 3 weaknesses of the AoC?

Answer 4

1. Inability to regulate interstate and foreign trade
2. Lack of a chief executive and a nat’l court system
3. Rule that amendments must be approved by unanimous consnet

Question 5

What rebellion showed that AoC type of government couldn’t maintain control?

Answer 5

Shays’ rebellion; Revolutionary War vet Daniel SHays led rebellion of farmers against the tax collectors and banks that were seizing their property

Question 6

What is one of the most important concepts that resulted from Hobbes and Locke?

Answer 6

The idea of a social contract; an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, for example by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection.

Question 7

Define social contract

Answer 7

an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, for example by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection.

Question 8

What period influenced the framers?

Answer 8

The Enlightenment Period (Around the 17th century)

Question 9

Locke influenced Thomas Jefferson that individuals…

Answer 9

should expect the govt to provide the people protection of life, liberty, and property and right of revolution

Question 10

What of Montesquieu’s is included in the constitution?

Answer 10

Separation of powers, and checks and balances

Question 11

The authors of the Constitution sought to prevent what 2 things?

Answer 11

Monarchy and mobs

Question 12

What 2 critical address the fear of monarchy and mobs?

Answer 12

1. Federalism

2. Separation of Powers

Question 13

In what amendment is federalism defined?

Answer 13

10th Amendment

This amendment states: Thosse powers not delegated to the US by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to th States, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Question 14

In what Articles are the principle of separation of powers codified in?

Answer 14

Articles I, II, and III.

Question 15

What are the 3 branches of govt?

Answer 15

1. Executive (President)
2. Legislative (Congress)
3. Judicial (Supreme Court)

Question 16

What is an example of how the legislative branch can check the executive branch?

Answer 16

Legislative can check Executive by refusing to confirm appointments

Question 17

What is an example of how the executive branch can check the legislative branch?

Answer 17

Executive can veto a bill

Question 18

What is an example of how the judiciary branch can check both the executive and legislative branch?

Answer 18

Judiciary branch can declare laws unconstitutional

Question 19

The Constitution embodies 3 important principles. What are they?

Answer 19

1. Establishment of a representative government (Republic)
2. Popular Sovereignty
3. Enforcement of govt w/ limits (Rule of Law)

Question 20

What is popular sovereignty?

Answer 20

Idea that govt derives its power from the people; it is expressed in the Preamble which opens with the words, “We the People.”

Question 21

Where specifically in the Constitution is the idea of popular sovereignty expressed?

Answer 21

In the Preamble where it states “we the people”

Question 22

What is rule of law?

Answer 22

Enforcing a government with LIMITS.

the legal principle that law should govern a nation, as opposed to arbitrary decisions by individual government officials.

Question 23

Who wrote the Bill of Rights?

Answer 23

James Madison

Question 24

The Federalist Papers were signed by “Publius.” General consensus says that the papers were written by what 3 Federalist?

Answer 24

1. Alexander Hamilton
2. James Madison
3. John Jay