Ch. 3 Building the Constitution
How many votes did each state get in congress under the Articles?
1
How many representatives does each state get in the Senate?
2
What are the requirements to change the Constitution?
2/3 of the members of Congress and 3/4 of the states must agree to change the Constitution.
How long did it take to produce the constitution?
4 months
How any delegates attended the convention?
55
What were the Federalist Papers?
85 persuasive articles that supported the Constitution
What was the 3/5 compromise?
A debate about slaves being able to vote.
Confederation
A group of individuals united together for a purpose.
Bicameral
A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses
Enlightenment
A movement of the 1700s that promoted knowledge and science.
What didn't the anti-federalists want?
A president that was just like a king, strong national government, and increased powers of the federal government
Checks and Balances
A system that balances the powers of the three branches of government.
What laws is Congress supposed to make?
All laws that fulfill its jobs which are stated in the constitution.
When can congress override the president?
By overriding a veto when 2/3 of congress vote for the bill.
Courts the Supreme Court hears
Cases involving the Constitution, laws passed by congress, and disputes between states.
Cons of the Articles of Confederation
Congress couldn't enforce its laws, collect taxes, or change the Articles with ease (a unanimous vote was required)
When was the Bill of Rights ratified?
December 15, 1791
The New Jersey Plan
Each state got one vote in congress.
How many representatives does each state get in the House of Representatives?
Each state has a different amount of representatives based on population
The Virginia Plan
Each state's amount of representatives in congress was based on population.
The Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments
Who was the president of the constitutional convention?
George Washington
A government was wanted in the US that...
Has enough power to do its job, doesn't give anyone too much power, considers the needs of all states, lets people have a say, and protects individual rights.
How does the president have a say in the Supreme Court?
He appoints Supreme Court justices, and the Senate then approves them.
How can the President check Congress?
He can veto a bill
Why was the 3/5 compromise controversial?
If slaves were allowed to vote, the South would gain great power in the House of Representatives, but would be very weak if they weren't allowed to vote.
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
It didn't't give the central government enough power to tax, enforce the laws it made, and regulate trade.
Who was the father of the constitution?
James Madison
Who were some Federalists?
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and John Adams
The ideas of which philosophers were used primarily in the Constitution?
John Locke and Montesquieu.
Why were delegates reluctant to establish a ruler?
King George III's rule.
When did the Constitutional Convention begin?
May 1787
When did Rhode Island ratify the Constitution?
May 1790
Were slaves represented fairly in Congress?
No; their interests weren't represented and their votes only counted for 3/5 of a person.
What powers did the states gain under the constitution?
Pass and enforce laws, regulate domestic trade, and establish local government, schools, and institutions.
Who were some Anti-Federalists?
Patrick Henry, Edmund Randolph, Eldridge Gerry, George Mason, and Samuel Adams
What did federalists want?
Ratification, or a strong central government
Shay's Rebellion
Rebellion led by Daniel Shays in Massachusetts in the 1780s because farmers' land was being taken away from them to pay off debts.
How did states get a say in national affairs?
Representatives were sent from each state to the "Congress of the Confederation"
Which state didn't send delegates to the constitutional convention?
Rhode Island
Popular Sovereignty
Rule by the people
When was the Constitution ratified?
September 17, 1787
Why couldn't anyone agree on what kind of government was needed for the US?
States had different needs, sizes, and opinions.
Pros of the Articles of Confederation
States kept their power, there was no central government, and congress could create a military to protect the states.
What powers did the federal government gain under the constitution?
Tax, regulate trade, control currency, raise an army, declare war, and pass appropriate laws.
What did America prove through its government?
That a nation can create a government through discussion, not war.
The first attempt at governmental contract
The Articles of Confederation
Executive Branch
The Executive branch, or the president, is responsible for carrying out the laws.
Judicial Branch
The Judicial branch, or the Supreme Court, is responsible for interpreting the laws.
Legislative Branch
The Legislative branch, or Congress, is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate and is responsible for making laws.
What was the solution to the great compromise?
The legislative branch was made up of two houses
The Constitutional compromise between the New Jersey and Virginia plans.
The legislature was divided into two houses: the Senate, where each state gets 2 votes, and the House of Representatives, where the number of votes depends on population.
What do the first three articles of the Constitution describe?
The powers and responsibilities of each branch of government.
Powers of the Executive Branch
The president serves as commander in chief of the army and conducts foreign relations.
Federalism
The system of shared powers between the federal and state governments.
What was the new idea that the Founding Fathers came up with that led to the constitution?
There were three branches, the legislative, executive, and judicial, instead of one legislative branch.
How was each state independent under the Articles?
They had their own governments.
What did the Anti-Federalists want?
They opposed ratification, wanted to keep the power primarily in the states by a Bill of Rights, and print their own money.
Why did the federalists win the battle for the constitution?
They promised to favor amendments to protect basic liberties
How does the Supreme Court limit congress?
They rule on the constitutionality of presidential acts.
How were disputes between the Federal and State governments supposed to be solved?
They were to be solved by the Federal Court on the basis of the Constitution.
Powers of Congress
collect taxes, coin money, regulate trade, raise and support armies, and declare war.
Northwest Territory
lands north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River
ordinance
law
Ratify
to approve
