Unit 2 Guided Notes

Divided the government's power into three branches:

Legislative branch, Executive branch, and Judicial branch.

Constitutional Convention:

Met to change the Articles of Confederation and kept meetings a secret all summer.

Executive branch

President represents this branch and makes sure that laws are carried out or enforced.

Explain one major weakness of the Articles of Confederation (two possible answers)

1. It lacked the power to tax, and therefore didn't have the money to protect its citizens. 2. It also had only one branch of government, Congress, so there were no checks or balances

Legislative branch

Congress is made of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is their duty to write laws of the land.

One House legislature (Confederation Congress) had the power to:

Declare war, sign treaties, settle disputes, borrow money, and print money.

True or False Delegates decided each state would have equal representation in both houses of legislature.

False because delegates decided each state would have equal representation in the Senate and representation in the House would be based on the state's population.

True or False Delegates believed in a strong central government and created only the executive branch to make and carry out laws and ensure laws were fair.

False because the delegates debated how much power to give the central government. They created 3 branches: legislative branch to make laws, executive branch to carry out laws, and the judicial branch to make sure laws were fair.

The earliest form of government in the US

First adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1777 and was ratified in 1781. It created a weak government.

Judicial branch

Headed by the Supreme Court to ensure that laws are fair.

Senators would serve a:

Six year term and be chosen by state legislatures. All states had equal representation.

What are the 5 five freedoms guaranteed by the first amendment to the Constitution

Speech, press, religion, petition, and assembly

What freedom does the primary source below present? Why is that freedom important? (picture is on end of chapter 6 page in ss binder)

The freedom to assemble. It is an important right so that people can gather in public places, demonstrate and carry signs to express their opinions without violence. It also allows people to join any group.

True

True or False Delegates kept their discussions secret because it allowed free discussion of ideas.

Representatives would serve a:

Two year term and by elected by the people. Representation would be determined by the state's population.