The Constitution and More Flashcards
What are the 4 things about the Atlantic Ocean Apart?
- US had financial freedom (exported more goods)
- laws and customs varied= courts/judges
- We had our own court system
- We became self governed= own constitution
How did England get involved?
Started the French/Indian War
What started the French/Indian War?
There was conflict between England and the French about the land up North in Canada. The French attacked and took over parts of the colonies.
How did England make up for their debts after the war?
Raised taxes on the colonists.
What was the Stamp Act/Townshend Acts?
Any paper document was taxed= playing cards, legal documents, newspapers, dolls, pamphlets, everyday items.
What was the Sugar Act?
taxation on imported goods that required sugar or molasses.
Why was Rum important in the Sugar Act?
Rum had molasses in it which was taxed so it increased the pricing of rum. Water was not safe to drink during this time so people didn’t have anything to drink anymore.
What happened if you smuggled sugar?
The punishment was death.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
Colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor and it equaled to $1.7 million. This equals to English tightening control.
What was the intolerable act?
Restriction against colonists after the Boston Tea Party. They closed the Boston Harbor and then the Massachusetts colony couldn’t govern themselves anymore.
What was the First Continental Congress?
Started in 1774. A meeting called by Virginia and Massachusetts between all colonies dreating an embargo to do no trading with England. England saw this as a rebellion(war).
What was the Second Continental Congress?
The colonists gathered in Philadelphia 3 weeks after the 1st shots of the war with England.
What did the Second Continental Congress make?
All 13 colonies delegated a centeral gov.
-decided on a leader= John Hancock
-voted to organize a military=Washington in command
What was the Declaration of Independence?
Happened in 1776.
-biggest contributors were Samuel Adams and Thomas Jefferson
What is the Confederal system of Gov?
Small individual states and the gov. has little influence
When was the Articles of Confederation?
1781-1789
What was the Articles of Confederation?
All the colonies were seen as independent states.
How was the states gov. during the Articles of Confederation?
Unicameral (1 house/chamber)
-centeral gov. with single branch of gov.
-single branch with representatives for each state
-law and court makers for their own state
-congress settled issues between states
What were the Powers Expressed to Congress? (Central Gov.)
- Make war & peace
- Send and receive ambassadors
- Enter into treaties
- Start and equip Navy
- Maintain an army= requesting troops from the states
- Appoint senior military officers
- Fix standards of weight and measures
- Regulate Native American affairs
- Establish post offices
- Decided certain disputes among states
Why did this Gov. not work?
We had no money and there was fear.
What were the weaknesses of the Articles?
- No Central taxation
- No ability to regulate laws
- No legal force to make people obey laws
- 9 out of 13 states had to approve the laws. (none showed)
- Could never make changes to the articles
- No Executive Branch
- No overall court
What issues did the Articles of Confederation arise?
- States began to have problems with each other
- States would negotiate with other countries
- Lead to $40 million in debt
What was Shay’s Rebellion?
Economic issues leading to upset farmers
-they forced courts to close which prevented land foreclosure
-Massachusetts court denied farmers
-Daniel Shay and 1,200 men stole weapons and started a riot
-Massachusetts militia put an end to it
What did Shay’s rebellion lead to?
A stronger central Gov.
What was the Constitutional Convention?
Trying to disband the Articles of Confederation
What was the agreement for the Constitutional Convention?
- abandon articles of confed.
- limited gov.
- representative gov.
- Three branches
- limit states power/money
- strengthen central gov.
What were the compromises?
-The Virginia Plan
-The New jersey Plan
-Connecticut Compromise/ Great Compromise
- The 3/5 Compromise
Which Compromise worked?
The Connecticut Compromise
What was the Virginia Plan?
Stated that there were 3 principles of Gov.
1. Strong National Legislature (bicameral)
2. Strong Executive branch (chosen by legislature)
3. Strong Judiciary branch (chosen by legislature)
What was the New Jersey Plan?
It was the counter proposal to the Virginia Plan.
-Keep Legislative branch unicameral
- Executive was more weak (power to elect Judiciary)
What happened to the Virginia and New Jersey Plan?
The Virginia plan had to much power for the legislature
-The New Jersey plan was rejected
What was the Connecticut Compromise?
It’s what we use now
1. Legislative Branch= Bicameral
-House of Reps.= based on population, dealt with spending and taxes
-Senate= 2 members from each state, state legislature would elect them
What was the 3/5th’s Compromise?
Didn’t know how many representatives each state could have in the House of Representatives?
- ⅓ people in Southern states were slaves
- Fight between the South and the North on the decision if slaves were to be counted as representation or tax
-3/5ths of the slave population counted for 1. Representation & 2. Taxes
Who were the Federalists?
They accepted the New Constitution
- more cities, knowledged, and coastal region people
-promised to add the Bill Of Rights after it was accepted
Who were the AntiFederalists?
Disliked the New Constitution
-more farmers, land owned people
-feared the goc. would become too powerful
-took power from the states
-the new constitution lacked a Bill Of Rights
What is Section 1?
The preamble
What is Article 1 Section 2?
The House Of Representatives
1. Must be 25 YEARS OLD
2. US citizen for 7 YEARS
3. UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF ELECTIONS
4. Term is 2 years
5. Each state has a representative= based on state population
6. Has a leader called the speaker of the house
What is Article 1 Section 3?
The Senate
1. Defines the Senate (upper house of the Congress)
2. Must be 30 YEARS OLD
3. UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF ELECTIONS
4. Must be a CTIZEN 9 YEARS.
5. Will serve for six years each
6. Each state gets two Senators.
7. Vice-President breaks tie votes.
What is Article 1 Section 4?
Legislative Branch does Elections
1. Says that each state establishes its own methods for electing members of the Congress.
2. Requires, that Congress must meet at least once per year.
What is Article 1 Section 5?
The Duty of members
1. Congress must have a minimum number of members present in order to meet.
2. Fines for members who do not show up= expelled.
3. Each house must keep a journal to record proceedings and votes.
4. Neither house can adjourn without the permission of the other.
What is Article 1 Section 6?
Rules for members
1. Members of Congress will be paid
2. They can’t be arrested while to and from Congress
3. Cannot be in any other office in the Gov.
What is Article 1 Section 7?
Process of laws
1. say how bills become law
2. All bills must pass both houses of Congress
3. If the bills pass both houses they are sent to the President.
4. If President vetoes a bill
→it is sent back to Congress
→ 2/3 majority= the bill becomes law
- Called: “overriding a veto”
What is Article 1 Section 8?
Powers of Congress
1. Gives congress the powers to establish and maintain the army and navy
2. Expressed Duties= establish post offices, create courts, regulate turmoil between the states, declare war, raise money
What is Article 1 Section 9?
The cant’s for the Legislative Branch (Congress)
1. can’t suspend the right to remain silent amendment and laws
2. Can’t pass laws that make things illegal and starting them in the past (yesterday/last week)
3. no law favors of states
4. can’t spend money without permission
What is Article 1 Section 10?
State Restrictions
1. states can’t make their own money, declare war, or tax goods from other goods
What are the Presidents Requirements?
- Must be 35 YEARS OLD
- 2 TERMS ONLY
- SERVE 4 YEAR TERMS
- Must be a natural born citizen
What does the president do?
What are the 2 main duties of the Executive Branch?
They accept or decline bills and enforce law
What are the requirements for a Representative?
25 years old and 7 years being a US citizen
What is the role of Congress when it comes to making laws?
They create them
What is the Duty of the Judicial Branch when it comes to a law?
They decide if it is Constitutional
How is the House of Representatives made up?
The population (each state)
Which Article is the Judicial Branch?
Article 3
Which Article is the Executive Branch?
Article 2
Requirements for a Senator
30 years old and 9 years as a US citizen
How is the Senate made up?
2 representatives
How many chambers does a Legislative Branch get?
2
What does it mean when a Supreme Court has an appellate jurisdiction?
The Judges review a lower court decision
What is Article 4?
State Rights
What is Article 5?
Changes to the Constitution
What is Article 6?
Concerns the United States
What is Article 7?
Agreement of Constitution
How many terms can a House or Senate have?
UNLIMITED
What is the 1st Amendment?
We obtain the right to have freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and the ability to petition the gov.
What is the 2nd Amendment?
The people have the right to bear arms
What is the 3rd Amendment?
In peace homeowners can’t be forced to let the army into their homes. But, during war a law can be enforced.
What is the 4th Amendment?
People can’t have their houses searched without a warrant.
What is the 5th Amendment?
People have the right to remain silent, can’t be accused as guilty until their is a jury, no double jeopardy, court case, gov. can’t take your land.
What is the 6th Amendment?
The right to a jury, public trial, a lawyer, fair and speedy trial, time to prepare, and know who is accusing you
What is the 7th Amendment?
The right to have a jury trial in court. Jury’s decision is final.
What is the 8th Amendment?
Punishment for crimes that are cruel or unusual.
What is the 9th Amendment?
People have the right to have freedom outside of the constitution
