Midterm Review

Question 1

Ideals of democracy outlined in the Declaration of Independence

Answer 1

Limited government, natural rights, popular sovereignty, republicanism, and the social contract can all be found in our Declaration.

Question 2

Weaknesses/limitations of the government under the Articles of Confederation

Answer 2

Congress commanded little respect and no support from state governments anxious to maintain their power. They could not tax the citizens and they couldn’t form an army without the state’s approval, leaving them with nothing to build a better and stable country.

Question 3

1st Amendment In the Bill of Rights

Answer 3

Freedom of religion, speech, press, petition, assembly

Question 4

2nd Amendment In the Bill of Rights

Answer 4

Right to keep and bear arms

Question 5

3rd Amendment In the Bill of Rights

Answer 5

Can’t be required to quarter soldiers in homes

Question 6

4th Amendment In the Bill of Rights

Answer 6

Protects against unreasonable searches or seizures

Question 7

5th Amendment In the Bill of Rights

Answer 7

Right to due process, no double jeopardy, can’t testify against oneself

Question 8

6th Amendment In the Bill of Rights

Answer 8

Right to a speedy and public trial

Question 9

7th Amendment In the Bill of Rights

Answer 9

Right to a trial by jury in civil cases

Question 10

8th Amendment In the Bill of Rights

Answer 10

No cruel and unusual punishment

Question 11

9th Amendment In the Bill of Rights

Answer 11

Reserves power to the people

Question 12

10th Amendment In the Bill of Rights

Answer 12

Reserves power to the states

Question 13

What are the federalist papers and who wrote them

Answer 13

• A series of 85 essays was published between 1787 and 1788 that lay out the theory behind the constitution.
• Made by Alexander Hamiliton, James Madison, and John Jay.
• Popular documents are Federalist No. 51 & 10.

Question 14

Federalist No. 10

Answer 14

An essay that was written by James Madison argues the dangers of factions and that it can be solved with a large republic and republican government. (Federalist papers)

Question 15

Brutus 1

Answer 15

An essay that argues that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the constitution gave too much power to the national government. (Anti-Federalist papers)

Question 16

Limitations of the Articles of Confederation

Answer 16

• The national government could not regulate international or interstate trade.
• The national government could not tax citizens directly, only request money from the states.
• The national government could not raise an army, only request that the states send soldiers.
• Passing laws required the approval of nine states, and amending the Articles required the approval of all thirteen states.
• Each state only had one vote in Congress, regardless of its population.

Question 17

Shays’ Rebellion

Answer 17

• A popular uprising against the government of Massachusetts
• Roots were economic and political
• Fueled ammunition for those wanting to replace the structure of government
• State governments raised taxes and demanded hard money from their citizens to pay their own sizable debts

Question 18

Virginia Plan

Answer 18

Called for 3 branches of government with a two-house legislature based on population

Question 19

New Jersey Plan

Answer 19

Called for a one-house legislature based on equal representation

Question 20

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Answer 20

Called for a two-house legislature – Senate based on equal representation (2 for each state) & House of Representatives based on population

Question 21

Three-fifths compromise

Answer 21

After the great compromise, the southern states wanted to count slaves as three-fifths
of a person so that way they can gain more representation for a bigger populous.

Question 22

Number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives

Answer 22

The number of representatives in the house of representatives is by population

Question 23

Who determines the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives

Answer 23

The senate decides this number of representatives.

Question 24

Number of representatives each state has in the Senate

Answer 24

Two senates in each state

Question 25

Who decides the number of representatives each state had in the senate

Answer 25

Citizens vote

Question 26

How many states needed to ratify in the ratification process

Answer 26

9 out of 13 states

Question 27

What group supported the Constitution (federalists or anti-federalists)?

Answer 27

The federalists.

Question 28

How did the Federalists try to convince states to ratify?

Answer 28

They created essays that helped explain how the constitution and the new government would work, which are known as the Federalist Papers.

Question 29

Why did the anti-federalists oppose ratification?

Answer 29

The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the 1787 U.S. Constitution because they feared that the new national government would be too powerful and thus threaten individual liberties, given the absence of a bill of rights.as explained in Brutus 10

Question 30

Constitution amendment process

Answer 30

2 proposal methods
- Congress- can propose an amendment by a ⅔ vote in each house National Convention- can propose an amendment requested by ⅔ of the states.

2 ratification methods
- State Legislatures- can ratify an amendment by a vote of ¾ of the states
- State Conventions- can ratify an amendment by a vote of ¾ of the states.

Question 31

Federal government’s response to the 9/11 attacks

Answer 31

USA Patriot Act
- Passed by Congress
- Played a key part in a number of successful operations to protect innocent Americans from terrorist attacks

Did the increased security from the federal government take away from citizens’ freedoms?
- Keep this in mind

Question 32

Natural rights

Answer 32

Right to life, liberty, and property which can not be taken away.

Question 33

Social Contract

Answer 33

People allow their government to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society.

Question 34

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 34

The idea of the government’s right to rule comes from the people.

Question 35

Republicanism

Answer 35

The government’s authority comes from the people.

Question 36

Participatory Democracy

Answer 36

The idea is that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government.

Question 37

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 37

The idea of a democracy emphasizes the role of groups in the policy-making process.

Question 38

Elite Democracy

Answer 38

The idea of democracy that elites have a bigger influence over others in the policymaking process.

Question 39

Separation of Powers

Answer 39

Powers are divided between separate branches of government(judicial, executive, legislative).

Question 40

Checks and Balances

Answer 40

The powers of each branch are checked and balanced by the other branches.

Question 41

Federalism

Answer 41

Division of powers between a central government and local government.

Question 42

Federalist

Answer 42

Those who supported the constitution and wanted a stronger government.

Question 43

Anti-Federalist

Answer 43

Those who opposed the constitution believed that the federal government had way too much power over the states if the constitution were to come to be.