Midterm 1 Flashcards
What was the Virginia Plan?
A plan formulated by three independent branches including legislature, executive, and judiciary- pitched by Govenor Randolph at the Constitutional Convention.
What is a Bicameral Legislature?
A legislative body that has two separate chambers or houses, often with equal authority to pass or amend legislation.
What were the key features of the Virginia plan?
Bicameral legislator or with broad powers, National executive, national judiciary, Council of revision, limits on the legislators control of salaries, guarantee to each state of its territory and a republican government, requirement that state officers take an oath to support the articles of union, ratification procedure ratification procedure under which the new constitution would be submitted.
What was the Missouri compromise of 1820?
A national compromise settled over the debate of free states and slave states. Where Missouri entered the union as a slave state and slavery was forever prohibited in the remaining territory of the Louisiana purchase.
What was the New Jersey Plan?
It was a plan made to counter the virginia plan. In attempts to preserve the basic structure of the government under the articles of confederation but added new powers to regulate trade and raise revenues and allowed congress to create executive and judicial branches.
What were the key features of the New Jersey Plan?
Equal state vote remained
Congress granted new powers to regulate foreign and interstate trade and to raise revenues Bubby taxing imports, requiring stamps on paper, and collecting postage
National executive in charge of military operations.
National Judiciary executive a point a “supreme tribunal” who had life terms
Supremacy of federal law passed by congress and treaties would be authorized to use the force of confederacy against any state or persons who opposed national laws or treaties
Who were the anti-federalists?
People who opposed the constitution.
Who were the Federalists?
Supporters of the ratification of the constitution of 1787
What were the federalist papers?
85 essays defending the Constitution and published under publius in NYC papers.
Who was Publius?
The pseudonym that Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay used in order to publish the federalist papers.
What is checks and balances?
Each branch of government has a certain amount of power over the other so no one branch becomes too powerful.
If president vetos a bill he puts a check but congress can put a check on him and pass it if they get 2/3 the vote.
What are the separation of powers?
Dividing governmental power into three basic types- making laws, executing the laws, and adjudicating controversies that arise under the laws. Legislative, executive, and judicial.
What are the Bill of Rights?
The first amendments to the US Constitution.
What is nullification?
The idea that a state can refuse to acknowledge of enforce federal laws within it’s boundaries.
What is majority faction?
Defined by James Madison in the federalist 10 as a majority of the people brought together by a common passion or interests that are opposing to the rights of other citizens or to the permanent interests of the community.
What is popular sovereignty?
Principle that all political power derives from the people. First embraced by the U.S. “We the people….” In the preamble of the Constitution “governments are instituted among men, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed.” The Declaration of Independence
What is deliberation?
Reasoning on the merits of public policy, searching for the public interest or common good. Aristotle said, who has the power to take part in the deliberative or judicial administration of any state is a citizen”
What are natural rights?
“Parentheses life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” As in the declaration of independence the rights to which all people are entitled by their very nature is human beings.
What is Prudence according to the declaration of independence?
Having good judgment and wisdom in government and politics. for example George Washington was not well educated but had wisdom and practical affairs. Did declaration did not want people to change because of the light in transient causes but more so for a long train of abuses.
What is rule of law?
The principle that rulers should govern through law and not Arbitrarily. That all persons should be equally treated before the law and that individual rights are the foundation of the law and not the creation of the law. It is placed to keep political people in power from tyranny
What are the articles of Confederation?
It was the first national Constitution for the united states. It created a single branch of government which was Congress where we each state had one vote. It had a weak central authority because delegates feared powerful national government. States had all the power.
What were the key features of the articles of Confederation?
State sovereignty states retained all powers not expressly delegated to the national authorities in these firm league of friendship.
National purposes the Confederation had three broad purposes common defense, security of their liberties, mutual welfare.
A single governing institution which was Congress.
Delegates representing the states.
Equal state vote regardless of population.
Limited power Congress could not own authority raise taxes or military.
Super majority requirement.
Amendments changes to the articles required a unanimous consent of 13 state legislators
What was the Constitutional convention?
It was the gathering where the Constitution was written and delegates from 12 states except Road Island met in Philadelphia.
