| A | B |
|---|
| Fears of a Strong Central Government: | rights fought for would be lost / too much taxation... |
Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation?:,  | no power to collect taxes, no federal court system, too much state power |
What territory was affected by the Land Ordinance of 1785?,  | Northwest Territories: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin |
Land Ordinance of 1785 - did what?,  | Orderly way of to divide and sell land: Townships (36 sq. miles - 36 1sq. mile sections), using lines of latitude and longitude to establish boundaries |
Northwest Ordinance - did what?,  | Determined how the new Western lands would be governed: "when pop. reached 60,000-apply for statehood |
| Significance of Shay's Rebellion?: | it dramatized the weaknesses of the Articles of Conferation, leading to the creation of the Constitution |
Who was James Madison,  | "Father of the Constitution" wrote a good portion of it, and took detailed notes of Constitutional Convention |
| Challenges faced at Constitutional Convention | How to make federal government stronger but limit its power; how to represent the states fairly |
What was the Great Compromise,  | A compromise of the Virginia Plan and N.Jersey Plan dealing with how to represent states in Congress House = reps based on pop. / Senate = 2 per state |
| Antifederalists (against Constitution) why? | fearful of strong federal government / no bill of rights in new Constitution |
| Federalism (federal system of government); what is this? | Power is shared between the states and federal government |
| Three-Fifths Compromise, what was it? | A way to count slaves in population for purposes of taxation and representation (three fifths of a state's slave population would be counted) |
| The Constitution is known as a "Living Document", why? | It was created to be adaptive to changes over time, Amendment process to add to Constitution when necessary |
Preamble of Constitution; what is it?,  | Introduction to Constitution stating it purpose and what the government stands for |
| Congress = Legislative Branch; what is its' primary function? | Make the laws for the country |
For a bill passed by both Houses of Congress to become a law it must be what?,  | signed by the President; who also has the ability to veto it |
| What is the purpose of having 2 Senators per state regardless of the state's pop.? | To make all states EQUAL in that house of Congress |
| What is the primary purpose of having Checks and Balances in our government? | to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful (limited government) |
| What are the powers of the Executive (President)? | Enforce the laws, negotiate treaties w/ nations, nominate Supreme Court Justices, Commander in Chief of all military |
| What does majority rule mean and why do we practice it? | When voting on something, the most votes determine the outcome; so decisions represent what most of the people want! |
| Judicial Branch (Sup. Ct.) main responsibility | Interpret laws; resolve disputes under the law |
| Name given to the power of the Supreme Court? | Judicial Review: determine if decisions of gov. are constitutional or not |
| Shared (overlapping) Powers are: | power shared between national and state governments |
| Examples of Shared Powers? | Taxation, building roads,... |
| Federalism is: | The national gov. and state governments working together |
| Proposing an amendment may occur how? | 2 ways: 2/3s vote of ea. house of Congress / 2/3s of the states may also propose amendment |
| Bill of Rights purpose? | list and protect citizens rights and limit the power of federal government |
| First Amendment Rights? | Basic freedoms: religion, speech, press, petition, redress of grievances,  |
Separation of Church/State or Government and Religion,  | Keeping religion out of anything associated with the government to protect the right of Freedom of Religion *impossible to represent ALL RELIGIONS in government institutions, so no religions, |
What part of government is responsible for protecting the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?,  | Federal Courts (Supreme Court) |
Why is Freedom of the Press so important?,  | The press keeps citizens informed of what the government is doing! |
| Golden Rule pertaining to American citizens rights? | You can do basically anything you want as long as you don't infringe on other people's rights |
| What is the right to assembl mean according to the Bill of Rights? | Citizens can gather and protest something of gov they think is unfair... |
| What rights are guaranteed under the 2nd Amendment? | Right to have a military and the right to keep and bear arms |
| Due Process means what? | The rules that government must follow as it carries out the laws; protection of rights |
