Final

Question 1

Key Terms/Concepts to study

Answer 1

Key terms/concepts to study

Question 2

Government

Answer 2

institution through which people make and enforce public policies, (what the gov’t decides to do) or laws.

Question 3

What is a State? (4 necessary elements)

Answer 3

“a body of people living in a defined territory, organized politically and with the power to make and enforce law(s) without the consent of higher authority”.

1. Population
2. Land or Territory
3. Sovereignty (absolute power within it’s own territory)
4. Government

Question 4

3 branches of the National Government. (JEL)

Answer 4

Judicial, Executive, and Legislative

Question 5

Purpose of American Gov’t (6 in Preamble)

Answer 5

1. Establish Justice
2. Form a more perfect Union or Country
3. Provide for the common defense
4. Promote general welfare=the general well being of the people.
5. Ensure Domestic Tranquility=Peace at home (USA)
6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty or Freedom

Question 6

Democracy(American concept;5)

Answer 6

the gov’t is ruled by the people. US=indirect democracy: groups of persons chosen by the people, who represent the popular will. The people are sovereign= they rule! In America: Citizens have a duty to obey the law. Duties: serving on a jury; serving as a witness when called; attending school; paying taxes; registering for the draft (men only); obeying local laws.

1. Respect for the equality of all people
2. A faith in majority rule and a respect for minority rights (opinions matter).
3. the necessity of compromise
4. the dignity of every person
5. widest possible degree of individual freedom

Question 7

Different forms/classifications of gov’t: # 1-# 3

Answer 7

1st way) Who can participate in Gov’t?
-Dictatorship: those who rule are not responsible to the will of the people (ex: Adolf Hitler)
VS.
Democracy: supreme political authority rests with the people. (USA)

2nd way) Where is the power to govern located? (pg 14)
Unitary Gov’t: all power to govern belongs to a single, central agency (ex:Great Britain)
VS.
Federal: division of power between a central gov’t and several local gov’t (ex: Australia, Canada, and the USA) look at flower pic on flash card
VS.
Confederate: an alliance of independent states (ex: Confederate states of the American Civil War)

3rd way) What is the relationship between the executive and legislative branches?
Presidential: executive and legislative branches are separate (ex: USA)
VS.
Parliamentary: has a prime minister and an official Cabinet that are part of the Legislature.

Question 8

Articles of Confederation: Strengths

Answer 8

-est. a “firm league of friendship” amongst the states
-mutual and general welfare amongst states
-Congress could:
~make war and peace
~send/receive ambassadors
~make treaties
~borrow $
~est. post offices
~raise an army or navy

Question 9

Articles of Confederation: Weaknesses

Answer 9

• Congress could regulate interstate trade
• Congress couldn’t tax
• Congress had trouble making state residents obey laws
• no executive branch
• no nat’l. et. system
• 9/13 states are needed to pass laws
• all states had to agree in order to amend the articles

Question 10

Constitutional Convention

Answer 10

Where the Constitution was created; Philadelphia: May 25, 1787. People at the convention were called the Framers of the Constitution because they helped to frame or work out the basics and some of the details of the Constitution.

Question 11

3/5th Compromise

Answer 11

Question: Should slaves count as citizens towards representation of a states’ population?
-3/5 or 60% of slaves would be counted towards representation.

Question 12

The Great Compromise or the CT Compromise

Answer 12

• the smaller house or the Senate: states would be represented equally
• the larger house or The House of Representatives: the representatives of ea. state would be based on its population.
• Congress should be composed of two houses (bicameral legislature)

Question 13

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

Answer 13

Issue: Southern states were concerned that the new Gov’t would tax them unfairly.

Decision: Congress cannot tax exports and Congress couldn’t interfere with the Slave Trade for 20 years.

Question 14

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists (examples)

Answer 14

The Constitution was printed, circulated, and heavily debated.
Federalists= favored the Constitution
Anti-Federalists= against ratification of the Constitution.
Federalists: thought that a Constitution could solve the problems of the country (Madison and Hamilton).
-The Federalists Papers: supported ratification.
Anti-Federalists: attacked the Constitution
-Didn’t like that there was no mention of God, states could print paper $ (Jefferson and Henry).

Question 15

Objections to Constitution by Anti-Feds.

Answer 15

1. the Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights
2. the states would no longer have the power to print $
3. the Nation Government would be given too much power (in the central gov’t)
4. no mention of God

Question 16

Bill of Rights (1st 10 amendments)

Answer 16

-Anti-Federalists thought that the Constitution needed to list basic rights held by all people.
Result: the first 10 amendments to the Constitution became the Bill of Rights

Question 17

6 Principles of the Constitution

the Constitution is built around SIX key principles.

Answer 17

1. Popular sovereignty: power resides in the people (“We the people”)
2. Limited Government: no gov’t is all-powerful (the RULE OF LAW= gov’t and it’s officers are always subject to and never above the law.)
3. Separation of Powers: power is distributed among 3 independent branches, which are separate and co-equal
4. Checks and Balances: ea. branch is subjected to Constitutional restraints by the other branches (page 73)
5. Judicial Review: the Courts decide whether the actions of gov’t are in accord with the Constitution. (page 71)
6. Federalism: division of power among a central gov’t and several regional gov’t (state gov’t)