Founding Of The Nation And The US Political System

Question 0

What did The Constitution establish?

Answer 0

The US government as it exists today, and attempted to protect citizens’ freedoms through the Bill of Rights

Question 1

What were the Articles of Confederation created for?

Answer 1

A wartime document

• It was too limited to serve as the basis of government

Question 2

What does a confederation mean?

Answer 2

A grouping together of states

Question 3

What three main issues did the Articles of Confederation attempt to resolve?

Answer 3

1. Raising and command Army to battle Great Britian
2. Fund war efforts / print and borrow money from other countries
   * have a common currency throughout the states*
3. Resolve territorial disputes - borders of states and who was gonna get the west

Question 4

When the people saw that the Articles were very limited and there was value in having a union between the states, what did they begin to look at?

Answer 4

Having a stronger governing document - The Constitution

Question 5

What do the First ten amendments of the Constitution do?

Answer 5

Focus on protecting citizens’ freedoms and rights under the law

• Bill of Rights •

Question 6

What are the three branches of US government?

Answer 6

1. Legislative
2. Executive
3. Judicial

Question 7

What does the Legislative Branch make up?

Answer 7

Congress

It is a Bicameral Legislature

Question 8

What does Bicameral mean?

Answer 8

2 houses

Question 9

Why do we have a Bicameral Legislature?

What was the result of the debate?

Answer 9

1. Populous states said work things based on population
2. Less-populous states said have a set number of representatives for each states

*** A compromise doing both

• Senate - 2 representatives per state
• House of Representatives - Representatives based of population of that state

Question 10

The House of Representatives (Congress) is based of off what?

Answer 10

Based on Population

Question 11

The Senate (Congress) is based of off what?

Answer 11

2 representatives per state

Question 12

What is the Executive Branch made up of?

Answer 12

The President and his cabinet

Question 13

What is the Judicial Branch made up of?

Answer 13

The Supreme Court and all the lower courts

Question 14

What is the purpose of the Legislative Branch?

*** Congress
• House of Representatives
• Senate

Answer 14

Make the Laws

Question 15

What is the purpose of the Executive Branch?

Answer 15

Enforce the laws

Question 16

What is the purpose of the Judicial Branch ?

Answer 16

Interpret the law

Question 17

What happens when a bill is passed in the Legislature
[Congress]
- House of Representatives
- Senate

Answer 17

1. It is sent to the

Executive Branch (President and his cabinet)

*** If he signs it, it becomes law

Question 18

What is veto power?

Answer 18

The President has the power to veto a bill from Legislature and send it back to

(Congress)

• House of Representatives
• Senate

Question 19

How much of the majority does the

Congress need to pass a bill on to the Executive Branch?

Answer 19

just over 50%

Simple majority

Question 20

Once a bill is vetoed by the President and sent back to Congress, how much of the majority needs to sign the bill for it to be passed and override the Veto?

Answer 20

2/3 majority

Question 21

Explain the idea of Checks and Balances

Answer 21

Each branch has a power over another, so that none of them can become too strong.

This was introduced with the Founding Fathers of the Constitution

Question 22

What is the Legislature’s check over the Executive Branch?

Answer 22

If they feel the President is doing a poor job, they can impeach him

Question 23

What is the President’s (Executive Branch) check over the Legislative?

Answer 23

Veto Power

Question 24

What is the Executive’s check over the Judicial Branch?

Answer 24

The president appoints the Supreme Court justices

Question 25

What is the Legislative’s check over the judicial branch?

Answer 25

They must ratify the appointment of the Supreme Court justices

Question 26

What is the check that the Judicial has over the Legislative and the Executive?

Answer 26

If a law is passed by both the Legislative and the President, the Supreme Court (judicial) has the power to throw out a law if they do not believe it is Constitutional

Question 27

When was the power of the Judicial branch to declare a law unconstitutional ?

Answer 27

Was decided in a very important Supreme Court decision known as

• Marbury vs. Madison

Question 28

What did Marbury vs. Madison set up?

Answer 28

Judicial Review

Question 29

What is Judicial Review?

Answer 29

Ability for the Supreme Court to declare a law unconstitutional

Question 30

Jefferson’s people formed what Political Party?

Answer 30

Antifederalists

Question 31

Hamilton’s people formed what political party?

Answer 31

Federalists

Question 32

What did the Federalists (Hamilton) favor?

Answer 32

A strong federal government

Strong central government that would have a lot of power over the states

Question 33

What did the Antifederalists (Jackson) favor?

Answer 33

Favored state’s rights and state power

Wanted to limit federal government

Question 34

Antifederalists were generally from what area?

Answer 34

The south

Question 35

What did the Antifederalists want to decide on their own without the federal government?

Answer 35

Laws on Slaves

not have the government create legislation against slavery

Question 36

The Democratic party was ran under who? And was against whom?

Answer 36

Andrew Jackson

Went against the Whigs

Question 37

Why is it hard to draw direct parallels in terms of

ideology / political stance

thru the different partieS?

Answer 37

They have changed their policies and ideas so much over time