Unit 2 (Chapters 4-5) Flashcards
the forerunner of the written constitution in America
Mayflower Compact
emphasized the relationship between the king and the colonies.
charters
What was America’s first national constitution?
Articles of Federation
the event during the “critical period” of American history put the fear of anarchy and insurrection in the hearts of many Americans
Shays’ Rebellion
In what city was the Constitutional Convention held?
Philadelphia
What group supported the adoption of the Constitution and wanted a stronger union of the states and a more effective central government?
Feralists
a delegate from New York who helped write the Federalist Papers
Alexander Hamilton
called for prayer during the Constitutional Convention
Benjamin Franklin
presided as chairman of the Constitutional Convention
George Washington
wrote the final draft of the Constitution
Gouverneur Morris
“Father of the Constitution”
James Madison
Who was the youngest delegate to the Consitutional Convention?
Jonathan Dayton
What plan called for a two-house legislature with representation in each house based upon state population?
Viriginia Plan
What plan called for a one-house legistlature with all states having equal representation?
New Jersey Plan
What compromise combined elements from the Virginia and New Jersey plans, creating a two-house legislature – an upper house with two seats for each state, and a lower house based on each state’s population?
Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise
Where were the two preliminary meetings held which led to the Constitutional Convention?
Mount Vernon, Annapolis
Name the three men who wrote the Federalist Papers.
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay
What day was designated by Congress to be the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in even-numbered years?
General Election Day
Who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent?
president pro tempore or president pro term
What is a proposed new law called?
bill
What city became the temporary capital of the new government after the Constitution had been ratified?
New York City
What term refers to the division of power between the national and state governments.
federalism
From whom did hte idea of separation of powers originate?
Charles de Montesquieu
What word describes the practice of drawing district boundaries so as to purposely favor the party in power?
gerrymandering
Name three leadership positions in Congress.
Speaker of the House, president of the Senate, president pro tempore
What word refers to a private meeting of politcal party members to decide on policy or to choose candidates?
caucus
What is hte greatest penalty which either house of Congress may impose upon a member?
expulsion
Describe the main elements of the process by which a bill becomes a law.
Introduction - authorship of the bill and introduction into Congress
Committe action - the bill is assigned to a committee where it is either rejected, changed, or approved as is and prepared for a vote on the house floor.
floor action - the bill is debated and voted on, resulting in either its rejection or approval by majority vote; if approved, it is passed to the other house to undergo the same process.
If both houses approve the bill, it is sent to the President, who will either sign the bill into law, ignore it, or reject it by veto.
What term refers to a temproary committee composed of members of both houses for hte purpose of working out a compromise on a bill?
conference committee
Who was one of the Presidents to be impeached?
Andrew Johnson
Who has the power to lay and collect taxes?
Congress
List some powers of Congress.
borrow money; regulate congress; declare war
Which article establised the legislative branch?
Article I
Which article established the executive branch?
Article II
Which article established the judicial branch?
Article III
Which article provides for amendments to the Constitution?
Article V
Which article describes the Constitution as the “supreme law of the land”?
Article VI
Which article set guidelines for ratification of the Constitution?
Article VII
America’s first national constitution
Articles of Confederation
The only effect way to prevent a filibuster is to invoke what?
Cloture Rule
Which group has the power to approve all presidential appointments?
Senate
Provided for the surveying and orderly sale of western lands
Land of Ordinance of 1785
gave Congress the authority to put into operation both the expressed and implied powers
“necessary and proper” clause
provided a plan of government and complete religious freedom in the western lands
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
a counting of the number of people in a specific area
census
called for a one-house legislature with all states having equal representation
New Jersey Plan
called for a two-house legislature based upon state population
Virginia Plan
the central government is subordinate to the state governments
confederacy
the congressional monitoring of the bureaucracy to make sure that the laws are being faithfully executed
oversight
the power to make laws
legislative power
the powers given explicitly to Congress by the Constitution
expressed powers
the proportional distribution of Congressional seats among the states
apportionment
the representative votes according to his personal judgement rather than the views of his consituency
trustee
rejection of a bill by the President
veto
