| A | B |
|---|
| 1st government of U.S. Weak, no NATIONAL executive, taxes, courts system or regulation of trade. States had all the power. | Articles of Confederation |
| New territory ruled by governor, at 5,000 free males it can elect legislator, at 60,000 apply to be state. Same rights as all Americans | Northwest Ordinance of 1787 |
| In 1787 delegates met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, instead they created our current system of government. | Constitutional Convention |
| Plan for government: 3 branches of government, 2 houses of legislature, representation determined by population | Virginia Plan |
| Plan for government: 3 branches of government, 1 house of legislature, representation same for all states (1). | New Jersey Plan |
| Current system of government: 3 branches of government, 2 houses of legislature, representation in senate same for all (2), representation in House of Representatives determined by population and set to 435. | Great Compromise |
| Only a portion of a state's slave population can be counted for representation in Congress. | 3/5 Compromise |
| Changes added to the Constitution over the years. To date the total is 27. | Amendments |
| First 10 changes to the Constitution added to protect individual liberties. | Bill of Rights |
| Executive (President), Legislative (Congress--Senate & House of Representatives), Judicial (Supreme Court, District and Appellate Courts | 3 branches of government |
| Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition the government. | 1st Amendment |
| Right to bear arms. (own weapons) | 2nd Amendment |
| Forbids quartering of troops in private homes during peacetime. | 3rd Amendment |
| Protection from unlawful search and seizures of personal property. Requires a warrant or "probable cause" to search homes, etc. | 4th Amendment |
| Protects rights of citizens charged with breaking the law: charges heard by a grand jury; double jeopardy (can't be tried 2x for same crime); self-incrimination; Miranda warning; due process (trial must follow law); just compensation (government must pay fair price for land taken for public use.) | 5th Amendment |
| Criminal trial rights: speedy trial; public trial; impartial jury; defendant knows charges and can question witnesses; access to attorney. | 6th Amendment |
| Civil Trials: may have jury; judge cannot overrule jury decision | 7th Amendment |
| Bail and punishment must be reasonable and equitable. No cruel or unusual punishment. | 8th Amendment |
| Slavery is prohibited | 13th Amendment |
| Guarantees rights of citizens and other people in the U.S. | 14th Amendment |
| Voting rights (allowed black men to vote) | 15th Amendment |
| U.S. Constitution written in the year | 1787 |
