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American Government CLEP > Leading up the the Constitution > Flashcards

Flashcards in Leading up the the Constitution Deck (21)
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1
Q

What is the constitution?

A

a written code that government lacked the authority to change

2
Q

Which Continental congress assumed government funtions?

A

2nd

3
Q

Which political philosophy was inherent in the Dec. of Ind?

A

John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government, underpinned by the governed peoples’ “natural rights” of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

4
Q

What are the articles of confederation? adopted by whom? what were congress’s powers?

A

the articles created a unicameral national government legislature (confederation Congress) delegates were appointed by state legislatures

powers: declare war, develop foreign policy, coin money, borrow money, regulate native american affairs, run post office

the 2nd cont. congress, approved by 13 states in 1781.

5
Q

weaknesses of the articles of confed:

A

could not directly tax or regulate interstate and foreign trade. it could only ask states for money

commerce was chaotic, for states could impose their own duties

congress could not raise its own army

war and peace, treaties, required approval of 9 states

LACK OF EXECUTIVE POWER= LACK OF EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

6
Q

what incident spurred the annapolis convention?

A

Shay’s Rebellion (a revolt by debtor farmers in mass.)

7
Q

Which state did not participate in the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

A

Rhode Island

8
Q

Explain the Virginia Plan. Who proposed it?

lower house elected by whom?

upper house by?

representation based on?

What’s council of revision?

A

James Madison.it called for a bicameral legislature ( think w. virginia and virginia)
voters

chosen by lower house from candidates nominated by state legislatures
population

exec and judges, able to veto laws passed by congress

9
Q

Explain New Jersey Plan

kind of legislature? how is it chosen?

which powers would be obtained?

what did exec consist of? who did they appoint?

A

supported by small states- less radical

unicameral. legislature chosen by state legislature (1 vote per state)
power to tax and power to regulate commerce

multiperson exec chosen by legislature. appointed judges to supreme court

10
Q

proportional rep?

A

by population

11
Q

equal rep?

A

one state, one vote

12
Q

What is the Great Compromise? (Connecticut Compromise)

A

house of rep is chosen by population, by voters

senate: 2 senators per state, chosen by legislature

13
Q

How was pop. determined in the case of slaves?

Did const. convention allow continuation of slave trade?

A

3/5 compromise

yes, until 1808

14
Q

How is exec (president) elected?

What is electoral College?

how many ppl to electors vote for?

how is tie determined?

A

legislators of each state choose electors equal to # of rep in congress

2 (1 can’t be from state)

most votes= president
2nd highest votes= vp
house of rep votes, each state has 1 vote

15
Q

did term of office have a limit?

A

nope

16
Q

When was Constitution created?

A

by delegates at Constitutional Conv. 1787

17
Q

Define Republic:

A

power of the state is held by the people and elected representatives

18
Q

Was the republic a democracy? Why?

A

No. Slavery still legal, voting required property qualifications, some religious minorites were denied the right to vote

19
Q

powers of
legislative
executive
judicial

A

makes laws
carries out laws
interprets laws

20
Q

define sep. of powers

A

division of government into 3 branches, to create a system of checks and balances, where powers of one branch are limited by the other branches

21
Q

define Federalism:

is this clearly defined? why not?

A

the division of power between the national government and the states

powers of states are left vague, because framers were determined to strengthen central gov’t