American Government

Front 1

When did the First Continental Congress meet?

Back 1

September 1774

Front 2

When did the Second Continental Congress meet?

Back 2

May 1775 after the battles of Lexington and Concord

Front 3

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

Back 3

July 4, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress

Front 4

Under the Articles of Confederation adopted by the Second Continental Congress, the national government consisted of a _______ legislature.

Back 4

unicameral

Front 5

Under the Articles, Congress lacked powers to _______

Back 5

tax; regulate interstate and foreign trade; raise an army on its own

Front 6

The need for a stronger national government was aired in 1786 at the _______ _______.

Back 6

Annapolis Convention

Front 7

_______ _______ , a revolt of debtor farmers in western Massachusetts, made the shortcomings of the Articles clear.

Back 7

Shay's Rebellion

Front 8

The _______ _________ was a proposal by James Madison and supported by the large states. It called for a bicameral (two-house) legislature.

Back 8

Virginia Plan

Front 9

The ______ ________ _________ was supported by the small states and kept the one-house legislature with powers expanded to include raising revenue and regulating commerce.

Back 9

New Jersey Plan

Front 10

The ________ __________ provided that seats in the House of Representatives be according to state population and elected directly by the people and each state be allowed two seats in the Senate chosen by their legislatures.

Back 10

Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise

Front 11

________ means the division of power between the national government and the states.

Back 11

Federalism

Front 12

The longest article in the Constitution which vests legislative power in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Describes the organization and powers given and denied to Congress.

Back 12

Article I

Front 13

Specific powers given to Congress

Back 13

enumerated or delegated

Front 14

Clause which allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.

Back 14

necessary and proper clause or elastic clause

Front 15

This article deals with the executive branch and describes the election of the president and vice president, the qualifications for holding the office, and the procedures if a president can no longer serve.

Back 15

Article II

Front 16

This article established the Supreme Court and authorizes Congress to establish lower federal courts. Also the right to trial by jury.

Back 16

Article III

Front 17

This article requires that the legislative and judicial actions of one state be honored by other states.

Back 17

Article IV

Front 18

This article describes the process for amending the Constitution.

Back 18

Article V

Front 19

This article describes the supremacy clause: the Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties entered into by the U.S. are the supreme law of the land.

Back 19

Article VI

Front 20

This article states that the approval by conventions of nine of the states was required to ratify the Constitution

Back 20

Article VII

Front 21

Those who favored the strong national government provided for in the Constitution

Back 21

Federalists

Front 22

Those who believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the central government and left the states with too little

Back 22

Antifederalists

Front 23

A type of government in which the power is divided between the national government and other governmental units

Back 23

Federalism