The Constutiton Flashcards
Federalist
Supporters of strong central government, concerned about ‘tyranny of the majority’
Federalist characteristics:
- property owners, wealthy merchants in New England and mid Atlantic states
- elitist
- advocates for central government
- pro- Britain, anti French
Anti-federalist:
Supported supremacy of the states, concerned about overpowering and distant central authority
Anti-Federalist characteristics:
- small farmers, shop keepers, laborers from western parts
- small democrats: believed in equal voting rights
- advocated strong state government
- anti- British, pro-French
Two victories for small states
Equal representation in senate and new states would be represented equally the the old ones
Main arguments for the Constitution
To prevent tyranny of the majority, they wanted a government that was strong enough to handle what was happening
Main arguments against the new constitution
A National government would be distant and inaccessible
Main powers of the legislative branch:
To make laws (congress)
Main powers of executive branch:
Carry out the laws (president)
Main powers of the Judicial branch:
Judicial review (courts)
Checks of the Executive branch:
Over legislative branch: veto power, ability to call special sessions of congress
Over judicial: appoints supreme and federal court
Checks of the Legislative Branch:
Over executive: override president veto, remove president through impeachment
Over judicial: May remove judges through impeachment
Checks over the judicial branch:
Over legislative: courts can judge legislative acts unconstitutional
Over executive: can impeach the president
Leading figures during the constitutional convention
Washington, Hamilton, Franklin, Madison
Main ideas that came from the new state constitutions
Bicameral legislative, 3 branches of government, governors were weak and had no veto power
