U.s. Constitution

Front 1

What does Article One of the U.S. Constitution address?

Back 1

the Legislative branch

Front 2

How often are the members of the House of Representatives chosen?

Back 2

every 2 years

Front 3

What principle determines how many representatives each state is entitled to in the House of Representatives?

Back 3

proportional representation based on state population

Front 4

What is the meaning and purpose of the "3/5ths" clause in Article 1, section 2, paragraph 3?

Back 4

The South was greatly outnumbered by the North in terms of population of citizens, so despite the fact that slaves did not have civil rights, the South pushed to have slaves counted in their population.
This would ensure that they had more representation in the House of Reps., which would allow them to keep slavery around.

Front 5

How did the original Constitution provide for the choice of Senators? Why?

Back 5

Senators were elected by state legislatures.
It was believed that those already in government were "better men" (i.e. more educated, could make better decisions than the average man), so they were more likely to choose the right people as senators.

Front 6

How and when did the 17th AMendment change this method of selection?

Back 6

~1912, people were given the right to elect their senators directly

Front 7

How are senators apportioned among the states? Why was this system chosen

Back 7

2 senators per state
"fair" representation of each state (smaller states have equal power)

Front 8

In what manner are the terms of senators staggered? Why?

Back 8

each term is 6 years; every two years 1/3 of the Senate is up for election
The elections are staggered so that no state has both senators running at the same time, so that the Senate stays relatively balanced (does not become overwhelmingly conservative or liberal just based on voter sentiment at the time), allows small change, which voters will more willingly agree to

Front 9

Who presides over the Senate and when may he/she vote?

Back 9

the vice president
He/she may vote when there is a tie.

Front 10

In what three different ways may a bill become a law?

Back 10

if the President signs it
if Congresss overrides the President's veto with 2/3 votes (this proves Congress' passion for the bill to be passed)
if the President does not sign or send the bill back within 10 days

Front 11

Where must all money bills originate? Why?

Back 11

in the House of Representatives
This is because the House is closest to the people --> the people then have the most direct control as possible over their taxation (this was a response to the way that Britain imposed taxes on the colonists)

Front 12

Cite several powers of Congress (Article 1, Section 8).

Back 12

to declare war
to lay + collect taxes
to make "necessary + proper" laws
to regulate commerce among states and with foreign countries
to coin money
to establish post offices and roads

Front 13

Which powers given to Congress in the Constitution were explicitly excluded in the Articles of Confederation?

Back 13

powers regarding commerce

Front 14

What is the meaning and purpose of the "necessary and proper" clause of Article 1, Sec. 8? Why is it often called the elastic clause?

Back 14

to cover anything that has not been covered (if things change, this is useful)
Congress can manipulate the clause to do things that may not fall under its jurisdiction

Front 15

Name one issue from the 1790s over which two of the republic's leaders clashed in their interpretations of the "necessary and proper" clause.

Back 15

In 1791, Hamilton used the clause to defend the constitutionality of the creation of the First Bank of the United States, the first federal bank in the new nation's history.
Madison argued that Congress lacked the constitutional authority to charter a bank.
Hamilton argued that the bank was a reasonable means of carrying out powers related to taxation and the borrowing of funds, claiming the clause applied to activities reasonably related to constitutional powers, not just those that were absolutely necessary to carry out said powers.

Front 16

What is the general theme and purpose of Article 1, Section 9?

Back 16

to limit Congress' powers

Front 17

Which item in this section refers to slaves?

Back 17

the importation of slaves cannot be ended until after 1808

Front 18

Which component of the nation's new federal system does Article 1, Section 10 concern itself with?

Back 18

to state what powers states do not have because those powers belong to the federal government

Front 19

What does Article Two of the U.S. Constitution address?

Back 19

the Executive branch

Front 20

What are the repective roles of the President and Congress in the creation of treaties with foreign powers?

Back 20

if 2/3 of the Senate allow it, the President may ratify treaties

Front 21

What are the repective roles of the President and Congress in the selection of judges for the federal courts?

Back 21

the President can appoint judges with the consent of the Senate

Front 22

Under what circumstances may the President of the U.S. be impeached? To what other federal government officials does this apply?

Back 22

after conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes
the Vice President and all civil officers (cabinet secretaries, judges, etc. - appointed officials)

Front 23

Briefly describe the role of the Electoral College in the selection of a president.

Back 23

voters elect electors --> meet to elect president
No, a presidential candidate does not need to get a majority of the popular vote to win office.

Front 24

Does a presidential candidate need a majority of the popular vote to win office? Cite two elections that illustrate this.

Back 24

1876: Tilden had more popular votes, Hayes won b/c he had more electoral votes (but Reconstruction Deal played a part as well)
2000: Bush won b/c he had more electoral votes
1860: Abraham Lincoln won b/c he had more electoral votes

Front 25

What is the prescrived term in office for an elected President?

Back 25

4 years

Front 26

What amendment to the Constitution (and when) limits the number of terms a President may serve?

Back 26

22nd Amendment (1947 - after FDR)

Front 27

What does Article 3 of the U.S. Constitution address?

Back 27

the Judicial branch

Front 28

How many federal district courts are there? What purpose do they serve?

Back 28

there are 97
they have "original jurisdiction," which means they are the first courts to review a case

Front 29

How many appellate courts are there? What do they do?

Back 29

there are 13
they review earlier cases on appeal of lower courts

Front 30

What does the Supreme Court do?

Back 30

has some "original jurisdiction"; reviews a small number of cases from the lower courts

Front 31

What is the tenure of federal judges?

Back 31

lifetime

Front 32

What stipulation does the Constitution make with regard to judges' salaries?

Back 32

cannot be decreased, but can be increased

Front 33

What is appellate jurisdiction?

Back 33

a higher court can change the outcome of a lower court

Front 34

What does Article 4 of the U.S. Constitution address?

Back 34

relations among states

Front 35

What does the Constitution say about slaves in this Article? What practical considerations seemed to make it essential to include this provision in 1787?

Back 35

fugitive slave clause: fugitive slaves will be returned to their masters
slaves could not escape to the North to obtain freedom - they would be forced to return to the South

Front 36

What does Article 5 of the U.S. Constitution address?

Back 36

the creation of amendments

Front 37

Name two methods by which constitutional amendments can be introduced.

Back 37

2/3 of Congress deem it necessary to propose an amendment
2/3 of state legislatures tell Congress --> Congress calls a convention to propose an amendment

Front 38

Describe two ways in which proposed amendments may be ratified.

Back 38

legislatures of 3/4 of the states ratify it
3/4 of a convention ratifies it

Front 39

How does the process by which we create amendments to the Constitution reflect some of the basic principles of John Locke's political theory?

Back 39

social contract - people have control over the law

Front 40

What does Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution address?

Back 40

I DONT KNOW

Front 41

What is the "supreme law of the land"/"supremacy" clause?

Back 41

the Constitution, Federal statutes, and U.S. treaties are more important than all other laws --state governments are not as powerful

Front 42

What fingerprints of the "Federalist" point of view can be discerned here?

Back 42

federal government has more power than the state governments???

Front 43

What does Article 7 of the U.S. Constitution address?

Back 43

I DONT KNOW

Front 44

How was the original Constitution ratified?

Back 44

each state ratified it separately

Front 45

What political necessity ensured the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution? When were they ratified?

Back 45

the need to get 9 states to ratify the constitution - some states insisted that there be a bill of rights
December 15, 1791