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46 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is a constitution? |
A nations basic law. It creates political institution and allocates power |
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Define the Decleration Of Independence |
Written in 1776, declared that America was independent of Britain |
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What was reason for the road to revoluton |
Colonist faced tax increase after French and Indian War, Colonists lacked direct representation in Parliament, and colonial leaders formed the continental congress to address abuses of the English Crown |
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What are natural rights? |
Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on government |
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What is consent of the governed? |
The government derives its authority by sanction of the people |
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What is limited government? |
Puts certain restrictions on government to protect natural rights |
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What was missing in Jefferson's draft of the Deceleration of independence |
Sanctity of Property |
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How did the American Colonies win Independence? |
In 1783, the American Colonies prevailed in their war against England |
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What changed did the "Conservative" Revolution make? |
It restored the rights the colonist felt they had lost. There was not a major change of lifestyles |
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What is was the Articles of Confederation? |
It was the first document to govern the 13 former states/colonies. Congress has few powers, there was no president or national court system, and states had all government power |
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With the Articles of Confederation, what changes were made in the States? |
Voting laws increased political power amoung a new middle class, middle class of farmers & craft workers couterbalanced power of professionals/wealth merchants, and ideas of equlaity spread and democracy took hold |
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What caused economic turmoil? |
Postwar depression left farmers unable to pay debts |
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Who was sympathetic to farmers and passed laws that favored debtors over creditors? |
State Legislatures |
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What was the Shay Rebellion? |
A series of armed attacks on courthouses to prevent judges from forecolsing on farm |
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What spurred the birth of the constitution? |
Shay's Rebellion |
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What was the Annapolis Meeting? |
An attempt to discuss changes to the Articles of Confederation in September 1786 |
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Why is it called the "Aborted Annapolis Meeting"? |
Only 12 delegates from 5 states attended |
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What did the aborted annapolis meeting call for? |
A meeting in May 1787 to further discuss changes (the Constitutional Convention) |
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How man y attended the Philadelphia Convention? |
55 men from 12 of 13 states (most were wealthy planters and merchants, college graduates with some political experience, and coastal residence from larger cities) |
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What is human nature? |
People are self-interested; government should check and contain the natural self-interest of the people |
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how was political conflict defined during the Philadelphia Convention? |
Wealth (property) distribution is the source of political distribution is the source of political conflict; factions arise from unequal distribution of wealth |
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What are objects of government? |
Property must be protected against tyranny of faction |
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What is nature of government? |
The secret of good government is "balanced government" because as long as no faction could seize complete control, tyranny can be avoided |
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What were critical issues at the convention? |
Equality Issues, Economic issues, and individual rights issues |
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What equality issues were there at the convention? |
Equality and representation of the states (New jersey plan which led to the Connecticut Compromise), slavery (3/5 compromise), and equality in voting (voting qualifications given to state) |
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What economic issues was there at the convention? |
States had tarrifs on other state's products, paper money was basically worthless, and Congress could not raise money |
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What actions were taken at the convention to deal with the economic issues? |
Powers of congress were strengthened and powers of states were weakened |
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What are the powers of congress? |
Levy taxes, borrow money, coin money and regulate its value, regulate interstate and foreign commerce |
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What prohibitions were on the states? |
States cannot coin money or issue paper money |
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What was the point of limiting majority control |
It kept most of the government beyond the control of the masses |
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What was the point of separating powers? |
Branches are relatively independent of others so no single branch could control the others |
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Why were checks and balances created? |
So each branch would need consent of the others for many actions |
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Why was a federal system established? |
Federalism divides power between national and state governements |
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How does the legislative branch check the executive branch? |
Approves presidential nominations, controls budget, can pass laws over president veto, and can impeach president |
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How does the executive branch check the legislative branch? |
The president can veto congressional legislation |
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How does the judicial branch check the the executive branch? |
Can declare presidential acts unconstitutional |
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how does the executive branch check the judicial branch? |
President nominates judges and enforces judicial opinions |
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How does the judicial branch check the legislative branch? |
Court can declare laws unconstitutional |
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How does the legislative branch check the judicial branch? |
Senate confirms presidential nominations and can impeach judges |
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What is a republic? |
A form of government in which people select representatives to govern and make laws |
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What was the compromise between federalist and anti-federalist? |
Bill of Rights |
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How many states had to ratify the constitution? |
9/13 states |
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What was the first state to ratify the constitution? What was the last? |
Delaware (Dec 1787) and New Hampshire (Jun 1788) |
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What are the 4 ways the constitution can be amended? |
1) Congress propose amndmt. by 2/3 vote > state leg. ratify amndmt by 3/4 vote of states 2) Congress propose amndmt. by 2/3 vote > state convt. ratify amndmt by 3/4 vote of states 3) Nat. Convnt. propose amndmt requested by 3/4 states > state leg. ratify amndmt by 3/4 vote of states 4) Nat. Convnt. propose amndmt requested by 3/4 states > state convt. ratify amndmt by 3/4 vote of states |
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What are the informal process of constitutional change? |
Judicial Interpretation, Changing political practice, technology, and increasing demands on policymakers |
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What is the importance of flexibility in the constitution? |
So it can adapt as it needs to over time as things change |
