The Constitution Unit Flashcards
What were the problems with the Articles of Confederation?
The government was too weak to keep order
What event proved the Articles of Cenfederation were not working?
Shays Rebellion
How did Magna Carta influence the Constitution?
Limited kings power
How did Ancient Greece influence the Constitution?
Created the first Democracy
How did Ancient Rome influence the Constitution?
Created the first Republic
How did John Locke influence the Constitution?
Believed in natural rights (life, liberty, and property) (Contract Theory)
How did Jean Jacques Rousseau influence the Constitution?
People should be willing the give up some freedom for the needs of the greater good (Social Contract)
How did Baron De Montesquieu influence the Constitution?
Government powers should be limited (Checks and Balances)
What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
To revise the Articles of Confederation
Who was the president of the Constitutional Convention?
George Washington
When was the Constitutional Convention held?
1787
Where was the Constitutional Convention held?
Philidelphia
Who is the “father of the Constitution”?
James Madison
What was the Virginia Plan?
of reps a state could send to Congress depended on its population
What was the New Jersey Plan?
Each state had an equal vote in Congress
What was the 3/5 Compromise?
Compromise saying a slave would count as 3/5 of a person
What is a Federalist?
A supporter of the Constitution
What is an Anti-Federalist?
An opponent of the Constitution
Why didn’t Anti-Federalists like the Constitution?
Believed it didn’t list any rights of the people
How many parts of the Constitution are there?
3 parts. The Preamble, The Articles (I, II, III) and The Bill of Rights
What are the 3 branches of the U.S. government and what is the main responsibility of each?
Legislative Branch - To make laws (Article I), Executive Branch - To enforce laws (Article II), Judicial Branch - Interprets the laws (Article III)
How many members are in the House of Representatives?
435
What are the qualifications for Representatives? (3 Qualifications)
U.S. citizen 7 years, Resident of District, 25 years old or older
How do you determine how many Representatives a state gets?
Population of a state
How long does a Representative serve?
2 years
What are the specific powers of the House of Representatives? (2 powers)
Can choose a president if there is no majority in the electoral college, can impeach government officials
Who and what is the Speaker of the House?
The leader of the House of Representatives, John Boehner
How many members are in the Senate?
100
What are the qualifications for Senators? (3 Qualifications)
U.S. citizen 9 years, Resident of state representing, 30 years old