final exam full study guide Flashcards
(23 cards)
define federalism
mixed government with regional governments and general governments in a single political system.
EX. political party
define checks and balances
separate branches are empowered to prevent actions by other branches and are included to share power
what is the declaration of independence
It was written by continental congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. it also announced the separation of 13 north American colonies from Great Britain.
what were the articles of confederation
it was the first government of the US 1781-1788.
what were the biggest weaknesses of the articles?
- ) state governments had the most power
- ) the northwest ordinance of 1787
- ) shays rebellion
what was the northwest ordinance of 1787
- it organized land west of the app. Mtns. into territories that will become new states
- set up a process for territories to become new states
- prohibited slavery north of the Ohio river
what was shays rebellion
- Daniel Shay’s Massachusetts farmer
- He led a group of farmers to attack state arsenal
- Angry over taxes in Massachusetts
why was shays rebellion important
it was important because it exposed the weakness of the government under the articles of confederation
who was James Madison
- nickname: “father of the constitution”
- fourth president of the US
- major contribution to the ratification of the const. by writing the federalist papers
what is the ‘supreme law of the land’
the constitution
what is the electoral college
it is a set of electors who are selected to elect a candidate to a particular office
what are some examples of checks and balances
- ) the president can veto any bill passed by congress
2. ) the house of reps. has sole power of impeachment but the states senate has all power to try and impeach
why was checks and balances included in the const.
it was created and is included to make sure that no one branch of government would become too powerful
what was the great compromise
is was an agreement between the large and small states reached during the const. convention that established a two-house legislature under the US const.
(Virginia plan & new jersey plan)
2 opinions of the great comp.
bad: the smaller states argued that the larger states would have too much power over them and that each state should have equal representation, regardless of population.
good: it created two legislative bodies in the congress
what was the 3/5 compromise
it said that 3/5ths of all slaves would be counted as population of a state for representation and taxation
anti-federalists
they opposed the ratification of the 1787 const. because they feared the new national gov. would be too powerful and thus threaten individual liberties, given the absence of the bill of rights.
federalists
they wanted a strong central gov. they believed it was necessary if the states were going to band together to form a nation
who was George Washington
- nickname: “the father of our country”
- first president of the US
- commanded the continental army in the American Revolution
what was the “bill of rights”
- it was the first 10 amendments added to the const.
- it guarantees civil rights and liberties to an individual
what was the name given to the first 10 amendments
the bill of rights
what are the examples of rights protected in the bill of rights
- freedom of expression
- protection from unreasonable searches and seizures
- right to keep and bear arms
- protections for those accused of crimes (speedy, public trial; right to counsel, no double jeopardy, no self incrimination)
- protection from cruel and unusual punishment
- powers reserved for the people
what kinds of people were not protected from the bill of rights
- slaves (african americans)
- native americans
- women
