Civics EOC Practice- The Constitution (Chapter 5)

Led the Constitutional Convention

George Washington

What groups of people were not allowed to attend the Constitutional Convention?

Native Americans, African Americans, and women

Were the conversations of the Constitutional Convention open to the public?

No, they were very secretive. The delegates made sure that the windows were closed, despite the summer heat, and the doors were guarded.

Did the people of the new United States feel confident after the war was over? Why or why not?

No. The United States had run up a large debt in trying to pay for the war for independence, and according to the Articles of Confederation, they could not collect taxes to pay off this debt. However, the states could tax and the people were running out of money because of this.

Anti-federalists

People who opposed the constitution

Federalists

People who supported the constitution

Where did the delegates of the Constitutional Convention meet?

Philadelphia at Independence Hall

Enumerated powers

Powers that are directly granted to the national government by the constitution.

Concurrrent powers

Powers that are shared by the state and national, or federal, government.

What was the only state that did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention & Why?

Rhode Island. They opposed a stronger central government.

The Great Compromise author

Roger Sherman

The Northwest Ordinance

Set up government for the Northwest Territory. It also provided a plan for admitting new states to the Union.

Articles of Confederation legislature

The Confederation Congress

What was created to gain the people's support of the constitution?

The Federalists Papers

What document officially ended the fighting between the British and the states in which the result granted the states their independence?

The Treaty of Paris

The delegates of the Constitutional Convention came up with a number of ideas on how to shape the government. What plan did James Madison come up with?

The Virginia Plan

What was the final result of the Constitutional Convention?

The delegates decided that they needed to start over, a new constitution. They decided that the Articles of Confederation were too weak to deal with the nation's many problems.

What was another important compromise between the southern and northern states in regards to the presidency?

The electoral college was created.

Define popular sovereignty

The idea that the power lies with the people

Who liked the Virginia Plan? Why?

The large states because they would have more votes in congress.

Who did NOT like the New Jersey Plan?

The larger states. They wanted states with more people to have more power.

Define rule of law

The principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern.

Why did the colonies decide to make a confederal government?

The second continental congress realized that 13 individual states could not fight the British, so they had to unite to form a single strong army.

Who did not like the Virginia Plan? Why?

The smaller states. They felt that their needs would go over looked because they had less influence on the government.

What was the argument over slavery before this compromise was put into place?

The southern states wanted to count slaves in their population so they could have more representatives in the House of Representatives. The northern states said that slaves were considered property and could not vote.

What compromise was created to fix the issue on slavery?

The three-fifths compromise

The American Revolution

The war that gave the United States their freedom from the British

What did the framers of our government feel that separation of powers would prevent?

They felt that it would prevent one branch of government from gaining too much power over another.

The people's reaction to Shays's Rebellion

They started to call for stronger national government.

The preamble states six purposes of the government. What is the second purpose?

To "establish justice"- to make sure that all citizens are treated equally.

The preamble states six purposes of the government. What is the first purpose?

To "form a more perfect union"- to unite the states so they can act as a single nation, for the good of all.

The preamble states six purposes of the government. What is the third purpose?

To "insure domestic tranquility"- to provide peace and order, keeping citizens and property from harm.

The preamble states six purposes of the government. What is the forth purpose?

To "provide for the common defense"- to be ready militarily to protect the country and its citizens from attack.

The preamble states six purposes of the government. What is the fifth purpose?

To "provide for the general welfare"- to help people live happy, healthy, and prosperous lives.

The preamble states six purposes of the government. What is the sixth purpose?

To" secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity"- to guarantee the basic rights of all Americans, including future generations.

Define the word amendment

any changes in the constitution

How do the citizens of the United States exercise popular sovereignty?

by voting for officials to represent them in government

Article VI (6) of the constitution outlines

declares the constitution the "supreme law of the land"

Article VII (7) of the constitution outlines

describes how the constitution was to be ratified

Article V (5) of the constitution outlines

describes when and how the constitution can be changed

Enumerated powers are also called ___________.

expressed powers

the preamble can also be referred to as the ________________ to the constitution.

introduction

The colonists had hated strong British rule, as a result, the Confederation Congress/Articles of Confederation had _____________ power.

little

The seven articles are also know as the ______________ of the constitution.

main portion

Reserved powers

powers the constitution does not give to the federal government; powers set aside for the states

First constitution of the United States of America

the Articles of Confederation

The first ten amendments to the constitution are called what?

the Bill of Rights

What was the compromise that made the anti-federalists become supports of the constitution?

the Bill of Rights

Article 2 of the Constitution creates

the Executive branch

Article 3 of the Constitution creates

the Judicial branch

Article 1 to the Constitution creates

the Legislative branch

What were the two ordinances that the confederation congress passed?

the Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance

Limited government and rule of law are protected in what official government document?

the constitution

Article II (2) of the constitution outlines

the executive branch, or law-enforcing part of the government that headed by the President and the Vice President

Article III (3) of the constitution outlines

the judicial branch, or the court part of the government. This branch interprets the laws and sees that they are fairly applied.

Article I (one) of the constitution outlines

the legislative branch, or congress

Article IV (4) of the constitution outlines

the relationship between the states and the national government.

Define separation of powers

the split of authority among the legislative, executive and legislative branches of government.

Describe how the rules of the Articles of Confederation were too rigid.

1- Congress could not pass laws without the approval of 9 out of the 13 states. 2- The Articles could not be changed without the agreement of all 13 states

Describe how the lack of power was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

1- Congress had no power to collect taxes 2- Congress had no power to regulate trade 3- Congress had no power to enforce its laws

The three weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

1- Lack of power and money 2- Lack of central power 3- Rules too rigid

Describe how the lack of central power was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

1- No single leader, or group, directed government policy 2- no national court system existed

List two ways the executive branch can check the two other branches of government.

1- The president can veto legislation 2- The president can appoint judges to the Supreme Court

List two ways the judicial branch can check the two other branches of government.

1- They can declare acts of legislature unconstitutional 2- They can declare presidential acts unconstitutional

List five ways the legislative branch can check the two other

1- They can impeach the president 2- They can impeach judges 3- They can override a presidential veto 4- They can reject the appointments of judges 5- They can refuse to approve treaties between two or more countries

What were some limits on the Articles of Confederation?

1- When Congress passed laws, they had no way to enforce them on the people. (no state governors) 2- Did not have the power to tax the people. The Confederation Congress could ask the states for money, but states had the right to say no. 3- The Confederation Congress could not make the states do anything.

The three examples of concurrent powers

1- collecting taxes 2- borrowing money 3- setting up courts and prisons

What are the five basic principles of government?

1- popular sovereignty 2- limited government and the rule of law 3- separation of powers 4- checks and balances 5- federalism

What are the two steps needed to amend the constitution?

1- proposal 2- ratification

Three examples of reserved powers

1- regulating trade between states 2-setting up schools 3- making rules for marriage and divorce

What fraction of the states must approve an amendment before it can be ratified?

3/4 of the states

The supremacy clause

A clause stating that the Constitution and other laws and other laws and treaties made by the national government are "the supreme law of the land".

An amendement that is officially part of the constitution is called what?

A formal amendement

Define limited government

A government that can only do what the people allow them to do.

Confederation

A group of individual state governments that unite for a common purpose.

Ordinances

A law usually of a city or country.

The Virginia Plan

A plan for strong national government.It had a... -President -Courts -Congress with two houses there were based on population

What did federalists believe in?

A strong national government

Define checks and balances

A system in which each branch of government is able to check, or restrain, the powers of others.

Shays's Rebellion

An uprising of Massachusetts farmers who did not want to lose their farms because of debt caused by heavy state taxes after the American Revolution.

What enlightenment thinker influenced the founding fathers to create the three branches of government, or separation of powers?

Baron de Montesquieu

The oldest and one of the most respected delegates at the Constitutional Convention

Benjamin Franklin

The Great Compromise

Congress would have two houses. One based off of population (House of Representatives) and the other would have two representatives no matter the population (Senate).

How did voting take place at the Constitutional Convention?

Each state would have one vote, no matter how many delegates represent each state. Also, a simple majority-in this case, seven votes- would decide any issue.

The Federalists Papers

Essays that were written to defend the constitution

The three-fifths compromise

Every five enslaved people would equal three free people in the count for the House of Representatives.

Once all of the compromises were made between the delegates of all of the states, the Constitution was ready to be ratified. But, the country was divided into two groups of people. Who were they?

Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Who were the influential men that were Federalists?

-Alexander Hamilton -James Madison -John Jay

The New Jersey Plan

-There would be a one house congress -Each state would have one vote in congress -Congress could set taxes and regulate trade -No President, but a committee named by Congress would carry out laws

What were some of the anti-federalists complaints about the constitution?

-destroy the liberties won in the American Revolution -A national government that would destroy state rights

What are the three main parts to the constitution?

-the Preamble -the seven articles -the twenty-seven amendments

What powers did the confederation congress have?

It controlled the army and had the power to deal with foreign countries on behalf of the states.

The Ordinance of 1785

It set up a plan for surveying western lands and described how western lands were to be sold. (1 mile by 1 mile squares)

What was the most important/influential portion of the Northwest Ordinance?

It stated that slavery or involuntary servitude will NOT be allowed in this new region.

What is the preamble?

It states the goals and purposes of the government.

What was another important compromise between the southern and northern states during this time period in regards to slavery?

It was agreed that congress, who was concerned about slavery, could not ban the slave trade until the year 1808. This was about 20 years in the future.

Explain an informal amendment.

unofficial changes to the constitution