history unit 4 Study Guide -A New Government is Created

Minimum age to run for senate

30

Minimum age to run for president

35

Length of term for the president

4 years

Authors of the Federalists Papers

John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison

Judicial branch-- checks on legislative

can declare acts of congress unconstitutional

Judicial branch-- checks on executive

can declare executive actions unconstitutional

Legislative branch-- checks on executive branch

can override presidential veto, confirms executive appointments, ratifies treaties, can declare war, appropriates money, can impeach and remove president

Executive branch-- checks on Legislative

able to propose laws & veto laws, can call special sessions of Congress, makes appointments, negotiates foreign treaties

Electoral college

chosen set of electors who elect a candidate to certain offices

⅗ Compromise

compromise between NJ & Virginia plan- counted slaves as ⅗ of a person, Northern states couldn't help free slaves or pass any laws helping them for 20 years

The Great Compromise

compromise between NJ and VA plan, established a bicameral legislature, allowed all states equal representation, by Madison & Patterson

Elastic Clause

congress can make all laws that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out its duties

John Dickinson

congress drafted the Articles under his name, lawyer from Pennsylvania, at the constitutional convention

Constitutional Convention

created an entirely new system of government after shays rebellion

Bill of Rights

created by James Madison, modeled after Virginia's Bill of Rights, avoided statements about equality, ten amendments guaranteed individual rights

Legislative branch-- checks on Judicial branch

creates lower federal courts, can impeach and remove judges, can propose amendments, to overrule judicial decisions, approves appointments of federal judges

Separation of Powers

division of state's government into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial

Articles of Confederation

formed by the continental congress, first system of government, said the following: congress implemented and enforced laws, executive power was shared by committees, each state had one vote in Congress, minor issues were passed by simple majority, major issues required 9 votes

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

government power was limited, congress had a limited role, unable to create a unified nation, lack of national court system

Branch who has the power to regulate trade

legislative branch (congress)

Bicameral

legislature with two houses

House of Representatives

makes and passes laws

Ratification process

new rules decided to be by special conventions in each state, not by state legislatures; required approval of only 9 states

Why antifederalists criticized the Constitution

no Bill of Rights meant the new national government would be too powerful and threaten individual liberties

Writ of Habeas Corpus (when can it be suspended?)

used to detain a criminal before a trial, guarenties free trial, can be suspended under rebellion or invasion

Alexander Hamilton

⅓ authors of the Federalist Papers, advocated a powerful central government to the Constitution, conservative, favored a balance of aristocracy, monarchy, and republicanism

John Jay

⅓ authors of the Federalist Papers, legislature

Executive Branch

President carries out laws

Northwest territory

"the articles created a method to settle and govern the northwest territory"

Minimum age to run for House

25

Length of term for a representative

2 years

Length of term for senator

6 years

Branch with sole power to impeach

House of representatives (legislative branch)

Checks and Balances

Madison argued a strong national government & a system of C&B would strengthen liberty

Power/Responsibilities of President

Military, treaties, and appointments, and filling vaccines, implement and enforce laws written by congress

Typical traits of state constitutions

Popular sovereignty, limited government, civil rights and liberties, separation of powers, checks and balances

Executive branch-- checks on Judicial

appoints federal judges, can grant pardons to federal offenders

Supremacy Clause

establishes that the federal constitution and federal law take precedence over state laws

James Madison

father of the constitution, ⅓ author of the Federalist Papers, from Virginia, lawyer/statesman/diplomat/founding father, favored a large republic, favored a system of checks and balances, proposed Virginia Plan

Federalists

favored the Constitution, stressed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, led by Madison and Hamilton, along with John Jay; published a series of essays called The Federalist, pushed for fast approval

Double Jeopardy

inability to take someone to court for something twice

Preamble

introduction of the Constitution, states the purpose and intentions of the Constitution, "we the people"

Census

official count or survey of a population

Unicameral legislature

one house legislature with either a weak governor or none at all

Anti-federalists

opponents of ratification, feared loss of liberties and distrusted absence of a bill of rights, Sam Adams, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, included many farmers, distrusted lawyers, merchants, and wealthy

Suffrage

right to vote in political elections (19th amendment, suffragettes)

Length of term for a judge

serve until death

Accomplishments under the Articles of Confederation

successfully managed western land, protected states and celebrated their rights, crucial role in running the Revolutionary war effort

Federal system

the federal government and state governments share power

Popular Sovereignty

the people are the only source of the government's power