unit 1: constitution Flashcards
what are some weaknesses of the articles of confederation?
lack of unity, unable to tax, could not regulate trade, difficult to make amendments, no army
what was Shay’s rebellion?
farmers in debt didn’t want to lose jobs, uprising, articles weren’t strong enough to deal with this
what was the Virginia Plan?
Madison - Strong National Government, favored states with large pops, house of reps (proportional repersentation)
what was the New Jersey Plan?
equal votes per state (senate)
what was the Great Compromise (also known as Connecticut Plan)?
Big vs. Small state (2 houses)
what was the 3/5ths Compromise?
north vs. south
what does it mean to be a republic?
there is not direct representation in the democracy, we elect officials who make decisions on our behalf
what is federalism?
government power shared between national and state governments
what is an enumerated power?
powers listed in constitution for fed gov
what is a concurrent power?
powers shared by fed and state gov
what is a reserved power?
powers left for the state gov
what are the age requirements for hor vs. senate?
25, 30
what is the term length for hor?
2 years, no limit on number of terms
what is the term length for senate?
6 years, no limit on number of terms, only 1/3 of senate up for reelection every 2 years
who is the leader of the senate?
vice president
who impeaches?
hor
who acts as a jury and decides whether guilty after impeachment?
senate
how long is the term for federal judges?
for life
what is in the supreme court’s original jurisdiction?
involves other countries, ambassadors, or multiple states
what is the supreme court’s appellate jurisdiciton?
all other cases tried in lower courts first
what is the full faith and credit clause?
states must honor official acts, records, or judgments of other states
what do you need to propose a new amendment?
2/3 state legislatures or 2/3 house and senate
what do you need to ratify a amendment?
3/4 state legislatures
what is in article VI?
the supremacy clause
what does the supremacy clause state?
constitution is the supreme law of the land
what civil liberties are directly in the Constitution?
habeas corpus (brought before judge), no ex post facto law (no retroactive law), no religious test for qualification to office, no bill of attainder (not allowed to declare person guilty without trial)
what is in the first article?
legislative branch
what is in the second article?
executive branch
what is in the third article?
judicial branch
what is in article IV?
state relations, this includes the full faith and credit
what is in article V?
Amend the constitution
what does Madison explain in federalist #10?
warns against factions (groups of people with a common interest) in a popular government, we can not remove these factions, but a large republic can deal with this problem by having representatives that won’t listen to bad factions (tyranny of the majority).
why is a large republic better than a small republic?
pluralism: more factions competing
what does Madison argue in federalist #51?
separation of powers is necessary to protect the people from a corrupt government
why is the judicial branch the only branch voted on by the other branches?
life term of judges means we must select good people
why does Madison fear a concentration of powers?
If branches are not independent, they will have little incentive to check the power of each other. This could lead to tyranny
which branch will always be the most powerful in a republic?
legislative- Madison says this is fine though because we have a bicameral legislature that has checks within itself.
which power is raising taxes, chartering banks, and borrowing money?
concurrent
which power is declaring war, establishing and maintaining armed forces, foreign policy, coin money?
enumerated
which power is establishing post offices?
enumerated
which power is interstate commerce?
enumerated
which power is intrastate commerce?
reserved
which power is establishing and maintaining schools?
reserved
which power is conducting elections?
reserved
