POSI 2310 Topic 1.2 Constitutional Democracy

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

What provisions of the Constitution serve to limit the power of the judicial branch of the federal government?

-Congress can restrict the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction in some instances. -The president can appoint federal judges with the consent of the Senate. -Congress can impeach and remove judges from office.

Which of the following statements describe the terms democracy and republic as understood by the framers of the Constitution? -Democracy and republic are interchangeable terms. -In a democracy the power of the majority is unlimited. -The separation of powers is a characteristic of republican government. -The government of a republic responds to the needs of the majority while protecting the minority.

-In a democracy the power of the majority is unlimited. -The separation of powers is a characteristic of republican government. -The government of a republic responds to the needs of the majority while protecting the minority.

Which of the following were features of the Virginia Plan for national government? -The upper house would elect the lower house. -States would control defense and interstate trade. -States with the largest populations would have the most representatives. -It would have a bicameral legislature.

-States with the largest populations would have the most representatives. -It would have a bicameral legislature.

Identify the events that led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution

-The Annapolis Convention did not have enough participants to revise the Articles of Confederation. -Madison and Hamilton encouraged delegates at the Annapolis Convention to meet again to revise the Articles of Confederation. -Shay's rebellion had shown the weakness of the national government under the Articles of Confederation.

Which of the following statements about Shay's Rebellion are correct? -The primary purpose of the rebellion was to prevent land foreclosures -The rebellion was led by a former captain in the American army -The rebellion was carried out by a militia armed with muskets -Shay's followers were a large group of farmers

-The primary purpose of the rebellion was to prevent land foreclosures -The rebellion was led by a former captain in the American army -Shay's followers were a large group of farmers

Goals of the framers of the Constitution included

-dividing power between the national government and the states -preserving the states as governing entities -creating a national government that could meet the nation's defense needs

What tax policies did the South fear as the negotiations began that eventually resulted in the Three-Fifths Compromise?

-heavy taxes on agricultural goods exported from the U.S. -a tax of any kind on the importation of slaves -heavy taxes on manufactured goods imported from Europe

Which of the following are constitutional grants of power to the national government? -raising an army -declaring war against another nation -taxation -establishing a system of public schools

-raising an army -declaring war against another nation -taxation

In the framers' view, a republican government...

-reduces the likelihood of reckless, hasty actions. -adds constraints that protect the rights of individuals. -prevents tyranny of the majority.

Which of the following were actions of the British government after the French and Indian War (1754-1763) that colonists found objectionable? -taxation without representation -levying a tax on newspapers -repealing the Townshend Act -repealing the Stamp Act

-taxation without representation -levying a tax on newspapers

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)

A key concern for the group known as the _____ was that the proposed Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights.

Anti-Federalists

The system chosen by the framers to select the president is the _____?

Electoral College

True or False: The Virginia Plan favored the states with smaller populations.

False

How did Jefferson propose to put his vision of a popular government into practice?

He had no clear idea about how to accomplish this.

The proposal that tended to favor the less-populated states was called the _____?

New Jersey plan

When the states drafted new constitutions after the start of the Revolutionary War, _____ did not have separation of powers. Its negative experience, in which the all-powerful legislature ignored basic rights and freedoms, proved the necessity of separation.

Pennsylvania

Constitution

The fundamental law that defines how a government will legitimately operate.

New Jersey Plan

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.

How did Madison view factions?

They are natural divisions, but no faction should gain full power.

Who was the principal writer of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

What was the central question that led to establishing judicial review?

Who was to decide whether officials were operating within the limits of their constitutional powers?

The Great Compromise created _____?

a bicameral legislature with a lower house based on population and an upper house based on equal representation of the states

Even if passed by two-third of both houses of Congress, a constitutional amendment still must be _____ by three-quarters of the states.

approved

Andrew Jackson believed the public should...

be more fully involved in government.

Great Compromise

bicameral legislature

Southern delegates to the Philadelphia convention were determined to _____?

block any attempt to end slavery

The principle of _____ and _____ is designed to prevent a branch of the government from exceeding its constitutional powers.

checks and balances

A dilemma that confronted the framers is that the threat to liberty is inherent in government because of its _____ power.

coercive

The goal of the First Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia in 1774, was to ______?

develop policy requirements for an improved relationship with Britain

The Three-Fifths Compromise stated that _____ would be counted for the purposes if representation and appointment, but only partially.

enslaved people

The U.S. president's term of service is...

four years.

Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote The Federalist Papers...

in support of the Constitution

Inalienable (natural) rights

including those of life, liberty, and property, which are threatened by individuals who steal, kill, and otherwise act without regard for others.

A government that is subject to strict legal limits on the uses of power so as to not threaten people's liberty is a _______?

limited government

The Bill of Rights...

limited the power of the national government.

Another term for "inalienable rights" is _____ rights

natural

As defined by the framers, who or what limits the majority's power in a democracy?

nothing and no one

Representative Government

one in which the people would govern through the selection of their representatives.

Limited Government

one that is subject to strict legal limits on the uses of power, so that it would not threaten people's liberty.

Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the judicial branch's power of judicial _____.

review.

The Philadelphia Convention was called to _____?

revise the Articles of Confederation

The House and Senate (which together form the Congress)...

share the lawmaking function in the United States.

Which of the following issues divided the northern and southern states at the constitutional convention? -the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court -the structure of Congress -the Bill of Rights -slavery

slavery

Historical evidence suggests that a majority of wealthier Americans _____ ratification of the Constitution.

supported

Which British policy was the main source of dispute for the American colonists?

taxation without representation

The Articles of Confederation gave the most power to _____?

the individual states

Who or what has the power to pardon persons convicted in the courts?

the president

Who or what is responsible for executing court decisions?

the president

Executive power is vested in

the president.

When did North Carolina and Rhode Island ratify the Constitution?

they ratified only after the other 11 states had done so

Amending the Articles of Confederation required _____ states to approve of the amendment.

thirteen

Why does our Constitution contain check and balances?

to prevent the arbitrary use of power

The framers tried to balance the need to give people a voice in their government against the need to prevent _____?

tyranny of the majority