Topic 4 Lesson 3-5 Quiz Flashcards
What effect did individual state constitutions and the Articles of Confederation have on the Founding Fathers?
Each colony represented its own legislative. They didn’t want the same thing that England did to the people to happen again so they made the President Chief of the military and made a court system independent of the President and legislative.
How did John Locke’s Ideas influence the constitution?
Locke said that people had all rights to life, liberty, and property. The law must be enforced to protect the people and if it doesn’t, the people have a right to rebel. Also to have free business activity.
How did Montesquieu’s idea of separation of powers keep one person or group of people from gaining too much power?
He said that the powers should be clearly defined and divided up. He said that the legislature would pass the laws, the executive branch would carry out the laws, and the judicial branch would decide whether the Constitution or laws were being violated.
What was the purpose of the Federalist papers?
To explain and defend the Constitution
Patrick Henry was specifically concerned about too much power being in whose hands?
The President
Why did the Antifederalists believe that it was important for the Constitution to include a bill of rights?
Without the basic liberties such as freedom of religion and speech spelled out, they could be easily ignored or denied by the government.
Why did the Federalists think it dangerous to leave too much power to the states?
Federalists thought that it produced a dangerously weak central government.
What principle did the three branches of government (as described in Articles I–III of the Constitution) illustrate?
Legislative Branch (Congress) - Can override President’s veto, approves treaties and presidential appointments, can impeach and remove President and other high officials, creates lower federal courts, appropriates money, prints and coins money, raises and supports armed forces, can declare war, regulates foreign and interstate trade
Executive Branch (President) - Proposes laws, can veto laws, negotiates foreign treaties, serves as commander in chief of the armed forces, appoints federal judges ambassadors, and other high officials, can great pardons to federal offenders
Judicial Branch (Supreme Court and other federal courts ) - Can declare laws unconstitutional, can declare executive actions unconstitutional
How does the Constitution reflect the principle of federalism (the division of power between the federal government and the States)?
The Federal government have the power to coin money, declare war, and regulate trade between the States. The States have the power to regulate trade within their own borders, make rules for state elections, and establish schools.
What does the term “judicial review” mean?
Early on, the Court asserted the right to declare whether acts of the President or laws passed by Congress are unconstitutional, that is, not allowed under the Constitution. This power if called judicial review. The need for judicial review was first discussed in the Federalists Papers, and the Supreme Court has argued that the power is implicit in the Constitution, but it was not established until the 1803 Marbury vs Madison which gave the Supreme Court the power of judicial review.
Which part of the federal government has the sole power to introduce an appropriations bill that sets aside money for government programs?
Only the House (the legislative branch)
What does the principle of separation of powers make possible in American government?
To further limit government power
