Unit 1: Chapter 2 (1.4–1.6) Flashcards
What is a bicameral? Is it in the Virginia or New Jersey Plan? Where does it show up in government now?
A two-house legislature; Virginia Plan; Congress (Senate and House of Representatives)
Who wrote the Bill of Rights? When was it ratified?
James Madison; 1791
What was the Constitutional Convention?
The gathering of many knowledgeable politicians, initially to fix the Articles of Confederation, but eventually to create a new blueprint for government: the Constitution
What is an Electoral College? Where is it found in government?
States decide how electors are chosen and have the same number of electors as representatives in Congress; presidential elections
What was the Great Compromise?
A compromise made between the Virginia and New Jersey Plan, where a House of Representatives was decided by population and a Senate had two representatives from each state
What was the New Jersey Plan? Who made it?
Plan for government that assured sovereignty of states, and limited and defined powers of national legislature; New Jersey Governor William Patterson
What was the Virginia Plan? Who made it?
Plan for government that had three branches of government, a bicameral legislature, supremacy of national government, and separation of powers; Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph
What was a key distinction between the Virginia and New Jersey Plan?
Virginia favored a strong national government, and New Jersey encouraged more power among the states than the national government
What is ratification?
Formal consent by the states for the Constitution and any amendments or laws following
What was the 3/5ths Compromise?
North and South Compromise that only counts three of every five enslaved people to determine representation in the House for states with slaves
What is in Article V of the Constitution?
The amendment process
What is the 2-step amendment process set up in the Constitution?
Stage one: proposal from either 2/3 of the House and Senate, or with 2/3 vote at a convention initiated by the states and called by Congress; Stage two: ratification
What is the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (2015)?
Education law that states are free to determine their own standards for educational achievement, while still upholding protections for disadvantaged students, with federal Department of Education approving each plan
What were the Articles of Confederation?
Document that laid out the first form of government for the new nation; failed, but gave a basis for improvement
What was Shays’ Rebellion?
A farmers’ rebellion against losing their farms to mortgage foreclosures and failure to pay the high state taxes
Why was Shays’ Rebellion significant?
It proved an executive was necessary so there was an ability to raise a militia to shut down such rebellions, where there was none before
What was No Child Left Behind (NCLB) (2002)?
Educational law that called for improvements in teaching methods, testing to measure progress, and sanctions for underperforming schools; failed due to unrealistic standards and received widespread criticism
What was Race to the Top?
Educational law that offered incentives, rather than sanctions of NCLB, for states to adopt new national standards or develop their own that require students to be college and career ready at graduation
What is the USA PATRIOT Act (2001)?
Law that covered intelligence gathering and sharing by executive branch agencies, points of criminal procedure, and border protection; allowed government agencies to share information about suspects and to tap into phones
Why was the USA PATRIOT Act significant?
It overextended the powers of government and encroached on civil liberties given in the Fourth Amendment; Americans lost some privacy
What are checks and balances?
Each branch can limit others
Why are checks and balances important?
Keeps branches of government from taking too much power
What was Federalist No. 51? Who wrote it?
Federalist paper that upholds separation of powers; written by James Madison
What is separation of powers?
Dilution of power among the three branches by assigning the legislative, executive, and judicial branches distinct responsibilities
Why is separation of powers important?
It prevents any one branch from gaining too much power
What are stakeholders?
People or groups who will be affected by the policies established in legislation
What is advice and consent?
Provides that the Senate can suggest appointees and must formally approve most presidential appointments
Why is advice and consent important?
It is a check on the president (executive branch) by Congress (legislative branch)
What is impeachment? Who can be impeached?
A formal accusation of wrongdoing by the House of Representatives; the president, a federal judge, or another official of wrongdoing
Why is impeachment important?
It is a check by Congress (legislative branch) on the other branches of government
What is a pocket veto? What is its significance?
A bill received by the president at the end of a legislative session that the president refuses to sign, and thus effectively kills the bill; it is a check by the executive branch on the legislative branch
What is the two-thirds override? What does it pertain to? Why is it important?
If a president vetoes a bill, Congress, each house acting separately, can overcome the veto with 2/3 (supermajority) of each house in agreement; check by legislative branch on executive branch
What is a veto? Why is it important?
Rejection of a bill; check by the president (executive branch) on the Congress (legislative branch)
Where did the Virginia and New Jersey Plans originate?
The Constitutional Convension
Which plan at the Constitutional Convention included a three-branch system? What are the three branches?
Virginia Plan; legislative, executive, and judicial.
What did the New Jersey Plan assert about the powers of the national legislature?
Defined and limited powers, aiming to give the national legislature only specific powers, as opposed to broader authority
Fill in the blank: The ratification of the Constitution took place between _______ and _______.
1787; 1790
Footnote: This period marks the time frame in which states voted to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
What was Article VII of the Constitution?
It required nine states to ratify for it to become effective.
What were the 3 major failings of the Articles of Confederation?
Unity (not all the states could agree on things, have national currency or court system, or regulate interstate commerce), taxation (Congress could not tax people directly), and militia (national government could not raise or maintain an army)
Which is the best example of political negotiation at the Constitutional Convention?
The creation of the House and Senate (The Great Compromise led to the establishment of a bicameral legislature)
What does Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution define?
The presidential selection process (how electors are appointed and the process for electing the president)
What is the greatest distinction between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution?
A strong (and existent) executive branch is outlined in the Constitution
True or False: The Virginia Plan allowed for the importation of slaves for 20 years after ratification.
False
It was the Constitution that allowed the importation of slaves for a limited time, not specifically the Virginia Plan.
What is the most common reason to impeach a president?
Abuse of power/breaking the law
