U.S. CONSTITUTION Flashcards
What is established in Article I?
the legislative branch
What is established in Article II, and what is its key qualities in the Constitution?
the executive branch; vague, up to interpretation, and short
What is established in Article III?
the judicial branch
What is in Article IV?
“Full Faith and Credit” clause, where states must honor the laws and proceedings of other states
What are in articles V-VII?
- rules on admitting new states into the union
- how to add amendments
- prohibition on religious tests for holding office
- procedures for ratifying the constitution
What are informal methods of amending the Constitution?
- SCOTUS reinterpreting the Constitution through court cases
- executive orders
- Congress passing resolutions
What was the strongest branch of government under the Articles of Confederation and why?
The legislative branch. The executive branch was virtually nonexistent (only presided over Congress and had one year terms), and the judicial branch did not exist.
What were some weaknesses of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation?
- They rarely made quorum; thus, they could not effectively do anything.
- They had no power to tax.
- They relied on the states for funding.
What powers did the states have under the Articles of Confederation?
- They had the power to coin their own money.
- They had the power to impose tariffs on other states.
- They had the power to create their own treaties.
What major event incentivized a revision of the Articles?
Shay’s Rebellion
What was in the Virginia Plan?
a proposal to apportion congressional representation according to state population
What was in the New Jersey plan?
a proposal to apportion congressional representation equally among states
What was in the Connecticut Plan/Great Compromise?
a creation of a bicameral legislature, with the lower house’s representation determined by population and the upper house’s representation equally apportioned
Did small states or large states get the better deal in the Connecticut Plan?
The small states got the better deal because Senate has unique powers that the House of Representatives does not; thus, a disproportionate amount of power is given to the small states.
