Exam 1: Study Guide Terms Pt 2

Question 1

National gov’t power under Articles and Constitution

Answer 1

What the govt/congress can do.
Enumerated/Expressed Powers (17) and Implied Powers (clause 18) (Elastic/ Necessary and Proper Clause) in Article 1 Section 8.
7 Articles total describing 3 branches of govt (Legislative, Executive, Judicial)

Question 2

Federalists

Answer 2

A political group (Alexander Hamilton and John Adams) that supported the adoption of the Constitution and creation of federal government.

Question 3

Antifederalists

Answer 3

A political group that opposed the adoption of the Constitution b/c of the document’s centralist tendencies and lack of Bill of Rights.

Question 4

Amending the Constitution

Answer 4

27 Amendments- 10 happened immediately (Bill of Rights)
Proposal and Ratification
Proposed: 2/3 vote in senate and house or a vote at a natl convention called by Congress at request of 2/3 state legislatures.
Ratified: 3/4 of state legislatures or 3/4 of states at special conventions.
(aka 2/3 of house + 2/3 of senate + 3/4 states ratify)

Question 5

Article 1, section 8

Answer 5

What Congress can do
Expressed & Enumerated Powers “The congress shall have the power to…” (list of 17 things)
Implied Powers in Elastic/Necessary and Proper clause (clause 18)

Question 6

Enumerated powers

Answer 6

Listed in article 1, section 8. “The congress shall have the power to…”
(Also Expressed Powers)

Question 7

Expressed powers

Answer 7

Same as Enumerated powers.

Listed in article 1, section 8. “The congress shall have the power to…”

Question 8

Necessary and proper clause

Answer 8

Art 1, Sec 8 (clause 18). Congress has the power to do what is necessary and proper to fulfill any of those listed powers. (Also called elastic clause)

Question 9

Elastic clause

Answer 9

Congress has powers that are not specifically outlined as given by this clause (also called necessary and proper). These are “Implied powers”

Question 10

Implied powers

Answer 10

Powers congress has that are not specifically outlined in art 1 sec 8 but have with the elastic clause.

Question 11

Supremacy clause

Answer 11

US Laws have supremacy over state laws.

Question 12

Religious tests

Answer 12

No religious tests are permissible in order to run for govt. Article 6 of the constitution.

Question 13

Ratification

Answer 13

The constitution was eventually ratified by all states. 9/13 states had to ratify the constitution.
Enacting/adopting a proposal to amend the constitution.

Question 14

House, Senate, President length of term

Answer 14

President (Term 4 yrs, Reelection 1 for total of 8 yrs (unless VP/etc))
House (Unlimited 2 year terms)
Senate (Unlimited 6 year terms)

Question 15

See questions for AntiFed 17

Answer 15

TBD

Question 16

Deficit

Answer 16

When the govt spends more than the income for the year.

Income - Spending < 0

Question 17

Surplus

Answer 17

When the govt spends less than the annual income

Income - Spending > 0

Question 18

National debt interest

Answer 18

The amount of interest we must pay annually on our national debt. We must pay off our debt asap before all our natl income must be spent on debt interest.

Question 19

Source of debt

Answer 19

Recession- less taxes coming in b/c unemployment raises and more \$\$ in welfare is going out.
Tax Cuts- $3 trillion
Spending increases (both Bush and Obama)- War on Iraq/Afghanistan, Stimulus Package, Presc drug benefits for seniors, stimulus package 2.

Question 20

Solutions to debt

Answer 20

GOP: Cut gov spending, stimulates econ through private sector.
Dem: Raise more $$ (increase taxes) and stimulate econ with gov spending.

Question 21

Why cutting costs is hard

Answer 21

Democrats and Republicans highly value different aspects of spending. No one agrees on what we should all cut out. GOP spend on defense and Dems on social programs.
(Survey- 50% thought if we had to cut we can maybe cut global poverty spending)

Question 22

Entitlement programs

Answer 22

Medicare/Medicaid enacted by Johnson

Question 23

Boston Massacre

Answer 23

1770 british army killed 5 civilians without orders. Shots heard around the world.
Foreshadows Revolutionary War.. woooo…

Question 24

Declaration of Independence

Answer 24

Makes logical arguments and starts with self-evident truths (everyone is equal/unalienable rights, origin of govt and role of govt (secure rights)). Why king George is a tyrant and has violated rights (27 cases).
Life Liberty Pursuit of Happiness
Claims/Asserts Independence from the British crown in a very humane/classy way.

Question 25

Unalienable rights

Answer 25

Everyone is equal by fact of creation (we have rights by being human that govt cannot control or change for us)
Life Liberty Pursuit of Happiness

Question 26

Social contract

Answer 26

Members of a society agree to form and recognize a gov’t and give that govt adequate power to ensure protection/welfare of all its individuals.

Question 27

Tyranny

Answer 27

Arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power by an oppressive individual or govt.

Question 28

Confederation

Answer 28

A league of independent states only united for the purpose of achieving common goals.

Question 29

Articles of Confederation

Answer 29

The nation’s first natl constitution. Est a natl form of govt following American Revolution. The Articles provided for a confederal form of govt in which central gov had few powers.
Each state retained many of their rights/powers as individuals.

Question 30

Shay’s Rebellion

Answer 30

A rebellion of angry farmers in western MA led by Daniel Shays. Emphasized need for a true natl government due to the (then) current limitations in place.

Question 31

Virginia Plan

Answer 31

Proposed an entirely new natl government under constitution w/ Bicameral (2-chamber) legislature (senate and house) smaller (senate) is elected by larger (house), A natl exec branch elected by legislature, and natl court system created by legislature.

Question 32

New Jersey Plan

Answer 32

Congress could regulate trade/impose taxes, each state has one vote, acts of congress is supreme law of the land, exec office of more than 1 persona would be elected by congress, exec office appoints natl supreme court.

Question 33

Great Compromise

Answer 33

Resolved small/large state controversy (also referred to as Connecticut Compromise). Each state would designate a number of delegates based on population to one chamber and each state would designate a fixed number of delegates regardless of size to another chamber.

Question 34

Three-Fifths Compromise

Answer 34

During Constitutional convention- compromise that 3/5 of all slaves were to be counted in population for basis of population for House of Reps.

Question 35

Slave importation

Answer 35

Many delegates wanted to abolish slavery so they compromised by prohibiting the importation of slaves into the US in 1808. The issue of slavery itself was not addressed, domestic slave trade was unaffected.

Question 36

Commerce clause

Answer 36

The clause in Art 1, Sec 8 that gives Congress power to regulate interstate commerce.

Question 37

Republicanism

Answer 37

Antiroyalist sentiment- suspicious of all executive authority (state and natl). Exec branch in all states was very weak b/c of this.

Question 38

Federalism

Answer 38

System of shared sovereignty between 2 levels of govt (natl and subnational). States are individual and compete for power/business/etc between each other.
Subnatl: eg States, Lander (Germany), Provinces (Canada)

Question 39

Double security

Answer 39

The natl govt is split in 3 (judicial, exec, and legislative). Legislative is split in 2 (house/senate).

Question 40

Checks and balances

Answer 40

Each of the three branches of govt are given the means to check (restrain/balance) the actions of the others.

Question 41

Separation of powers

Answer 41

Power split between Natl and State levels.

Principle est by constitution.

Question 42

Bill of Rights

Answer 42

First 10 amendments of the constitution giving americans rights of speech, press, religion, etc.