the system that keeps each branch of government from exercising too much power by limiting, or checking, the powers of the other branches
checks and balances
What meeting met for the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation but instead formulated a new constitution?
Constitutional Convention
What are first ten amendments of the Constitution called?
Bill of Rights
What did Amendment XV say that can't prevent any US citizen from voting?
their race, color, or previous condition of servitude
When it came to laws, what were two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Congress lacked the authority to implement or enforce them.
What did Amendment XVIII prohibit?
the manufacture, sale, or transportation of liquor
a government in which elected representatives govern the people
republic
If the president opposes the bill, he may return it to the body where it started, stating his objections
veto
this means to formally approve
ratify
When was America's first election held?
April 1789
Who is the president to the US military?
commander in chief
What type of republic is the United States of America?
representative democracy
Which member of the convention kept a diary of the proceedings?
James Madison
Who did Amendment XXIII give the right to vote to in presidential elections?
residents of D.C.
the freedom to stockpile goods until ships transport them overseas
right of deposit
How many years are the terms senators can serve in the Senate?
six-year terms
How many years are the terms representatives in the House serve?
two-year terms
How many senators per state?
two
What five freedoms are stated in Amendment I?
religion, assembly, speech, press, and petition
What are the first ten amendments of the Constitution called?
Bill of Rights
What determines the number of representatives per state?
the state's population
Who is the president of the Senate?
the vice president
What delegate of the convention was from Virginia and elected to serve as the convention chairman?
George Washington
the first plan of government in the United States that included one governing body (Congress) and allowed for strong state governments
Articles of Confederation
According to Amendment XXII, how long can a president and vice president serve?
president can serve two terms, four years each term. vice president can serve a maximum of ten years.
a document that describes how a government is to work
constitution
the upper house of Congress with each state represented by two senators
Senate
What are states' militias called that Congress can call if necessary?
National Guard
What does Amendment II mean when it says the "right to bear arms"?
right to keep weapons
On what date did the Bill of Rights take effect?
December 15, 1791
What five states were created from the Northwest Ordinance?
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin
This was provided for the surveying and sale of the Northwest Territory
Land Ordinance of 1785
This (1) was a basic unit of government in New England and (2) divisions of land six miles square, subdivided into thirty-six smaller parcels (sections)
townships
Three reasons for the Constitution's success
Americans have expended much effort to make it work, a flexible document, and the founders recognized the shortcomings of all people
What fraction of approval does ratification of amendments require?
three-fourths of the state legislatures or states
Why was the ratification of the Articles delayed?
dispute regarding western lands
the government system consisting of one legislative house
unicameral
the lower house of Congress in which representation is based on population
House of Representatives
Who was the first elected vice president?
John Adams
What is the primary function of the Legislative Branch?
make laws
the government system consisting of two legislative houses
bicameral
What is the nation's highest court?
Supreme Court
What amendment appealed the Prohibition, but gave the states the right to prohibit within their borders?
Amendment XXI (21)
the revolt led by Daniel Shays to prevent farmers from losing their property
Shay's Rebellion
the division of the government's powers between the national government and the states
federal system
What was the political power of Congress the Articles of Confederation allowed?
declare war, make treaties, manage Indian affairs, establish and run a postal system, and borrow and coin money
Who was the first elected president?
George Washington
How many states needed to ratify the Articles of Confederation?
all thirteen
When did Congress pass the first twelve amendments to the Constitution?
September 1789
How many year terms can the president and vice president serve?
four year terms
What does Amendment IV guarantee for citizens?
privacy of homes from illegal searches
What is the primary function of the Executive Branch?
enforce laws
What group of people fought ratification, believed the states' governments should be supreme, and that the national government had too much power?
Anti-Federalists
According to the founding fathers, what does a republic need in order to succeed? ?
honest, principled citizens and rulers
What was prohibited in the Northwestern states?
slavery
What group of people favored the Constitution's ratification?
Federalists
What fraction of approval is needed from both houses or states to propose amendments?
two-thirds
What is the primary function of the Judicial Branch?
interpret the laws
How many years did the ratification process of the Articles take?
almost four years
What does the House have the sole power of and what does that mean?
impeachment; the power to bring charges against a major federal official
According to Amendment XX, when does the presidential term begin?
January 20 every fourth year
What introduces the Constitution, states the source of the government's power, and the six purposes of government?
Preamble
a loose association or league of states
confederation
How many of the thirteen original colonies had to ratify the Constitution to begin a new form of government?
nine
What meeting was held in September 1786 to discuss interstate trade and to schedule a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation?
Annapolis Convention
What is the supreme law in the United States?
the Constitution
This required the Northwest Territory to be divided into at least three but no more than five territories
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
This was the portion of western lands bound on the east by the original thirteen colonies, the west by the Mississippi, the north by the Great Lakes, and south by the Ohio River
Northwest Territory
Amendment VIII prevents ___ bail or fine and ___, unjust, and unusual punishment.
excessive; cruel
Sections 9 & 10 of Article I state what about Congress?
the powers that are forbidden to the federal government
An agreement written by Roger Sherman that the US government would have a bicameral Congress consisting of two legislative houses
Great Compromise
What is the Senate and the House of Representatives called combined?
Congress
Which member of the convention was from New York who favored a strong central government?
Alexander Hamilton
This plan proposed that the new US government have a unicameral system in which all states would have one vote?
New Jersey Plan
Today, the record or journal kept during congressional meetings is called?
Congressional Record
What river was the dividing line between slave and free states?
Ohio River
This plan proposed that the US government have a bicameral system based on each state's population?
Virginia Plan
the agreement that every five enslaved people would count as three people in the state's population total
three-fifths compromise
When the president wants to inform Congress about the nation's condition, this speech is called what?
State of the Union address
Amendment XXVI gave ___ the right to vote.
eighteen year olds
What did Amendment XIII get rid of?
abolished slavery
Which member of the convention was one of the Pennsylvania delegates and the oldest person present?
Benjamin Franklin
What were Amendments XVI to XIX called and why?
the Progressive amendments; they were passed at the height of the Progressive Era
According to Amendment VII, citizens have the right to a trial by __ for any court case involving money or property
jury
What newspaper essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay were to gain support for the Constitution?
Federalist Papers
The three branches the government's power would be divided into
legislative, executive, and judicial
What term means the right to vote?
suffrage
Where must bills dealing with revenue begin?
in the House
What were Amendments XIII, XIV, and XV called and why?
the Civil War amendments; they were all ratified just after the war
Who is the head of the House and elected by House members?
the Speaker
Under the Articles of Confederation, what did Congress NOT have the power to do?
tax or raise an army or navy
Who did Amendment XIX give the right to vote to?
women
What does Amendment III protect citizens from?
military intrusion into their homes
the principle attempting to ensure that no branch of the government has too much power
separation of powers
Who elects the president?
the Electoral College
What does Section 8 of Article I state about Congress?
lists the powers of Congress
What body, established by the Constitution, was to elect the president?
Electoral College
On what date did delegates sign the Constitution?
September 17, 1787
What occurs every ten years to determine the number of representatives for each state in the lower house?
census
What was the political power given to the states under the Articles?
control of both domestic and foreign trade, the right to act in economic matters, and the right to tax citizens
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