Constitution SG Key
Chapter 3, Section 1- The Nation’s First
Governments
1. Which was the first colony to write a
Constitution? Fundamental Orders of Conn.
2. What was the first Constitution of the
United States? Articles of Confederation
(1781)
3. Describe the structure of our first
government. Too weak- only 1 branch of
government- Legislative (Congressunicameral) States had TOO much power.
4. What was the Ordinance of 1785?
Omit, land surveying western land
5. What was the Northwest Ordinance?
What did it outlaw in new territories? Omit,
Outlawed slavery
6. What were the weaknesses of the Articles
of Confederation? Too much power given to
the states and not enough to the federal
government  only 1 branch: legislative
(Congress does not enough power), no
president/courts, states could tax but federal
government could not.
7. Did the Articles have the power to tax?
How did the government raise money under
the Articles? Federal government could
make laws but had no way of enforcing. The
Federal government fell into heavy debt
after the Rev. War and started taxing the
colonists to repay (seems familiar, right)
8. Why did Shay’s Rebellion occur? States
could tax, fed gov’t couldn’t. Shay, a
farmer, was in jeopardy of losing his
farmland because of not being able to pay
his taxes. As a result, he led a rebellion
against the government and lost; however, it
showed the AOC were too weak and a
STRONGER CENTRAL GOV’T was
needed.
Chapter 3, Section 2-The Road to the
Constitution
1. Where did the Constitutional Convention
take place? Independence Hall, Philadelphia
2. Who was selected to preside over the
convention? George Washington, because of
his leadership during the rev. war.
3. Since meetings were held in secret how
do we know about the details of the
Constitutional Convention? James Madison
kept a secret notebook
4. Describe the Virginia Plan. A plan based
on population, favored larger states, and
established by James Madison. (HOR-today)
5. Describe the New Jersey Plan. A plan
based on equal representation, favored
smaller states, established by William
Patterson (Senate-today)
6. Describe the Great Compromise. Ended a
6 week debate in Congress and established a
bicameral legislature (House-population and
Senate-equal rep)
7. What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
Only issue NOT settled by the Great
Compromise- dealt with how to count
slaves. For every 5, 3 would count towards
the states population.
8. What compromise did the Constitutional
Convention reach about trade and the slave
trade? 3/5’s compromise
9. How many states needed to ratify the
Constitution for it to take effect? 9/13- NH
was 9th, RI was 13th
10. What is the difference between
Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
Federalists- supporters of the Constitution,
Alexander Hamilton, loose constructionist.
Anti-Feds- against the constitution, it lacked
a bill of rights, Thomas Jefferson, strict
constructionist.
11. What were The Federalist Papers?
Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay wrote
famous essays to gain support for the
Constitution.
Constitution SG Key
12. What was the main objection of the
Anti-Federalists to the Constitution? It
lacked a Bill of Rights (1-10, individual
rights)
13. What was the 9th state to ratify the
Constitution? New Hampshire What was
the very last? Rhode Island
Chapter 3, Section 3- The Structure of Our
Constitution
1. What are the three parts of the
Constitution? Preamble, 7 Articles, 27
Amendments
2. How many articles are in the
Constitution? 7 How many amendments?
27
3. What branch of government does Article
I create? Legislative (Congress makes)
Article II? Executive (President/VP
enforce) Article III? Judicial (Courts
interpret)
4. What is the Supremacy Clause? What
Article includes it? The US Constitution is
the “Supreme Law of the Land”
Chapter 3, Section 3- Amending and
Interpreting the Constitution
1. What are the two steps to amend the
Constitution? 2/3 propsal and ¾ ratification
2. What are the two ways to propose an
amendment? 2/3 congress or convention
3. What are the two ways to ratify an
amendment? ¾ votes
4. What is the Necessary and Proper clause?
Powers NOT listed in Congress but if it is a
power Congress needs and is necessary and
proper then they can use it.
5. What are implied powers? Powers not
directly stated (ex: national bank)
6. Describe a loose interpretation of the
Constitution. Federalists- support implied
powers and necessary and proper clause
7. Describe a strict interpretation of the
Constitution. Anti-Federalists- you can only
do what is written in the constitution
(expressed powers)
Chapter 3, Section 4- Principles Underlying
the Constitution
1. Describe popular sovereignty. Power lies
with the people.
2. Describe the rule of law. No one is above
the law.
3. Describe separation of powers. Who
proposed this idea? Montesquieu, powers
separated between three branches. Each
branch is given their own powers.
4. Describe checks and balances. To insure
no ONE branch becomes too powerful.
5. Describe federalism. Dividing powers
between your levels of government.
6. Which level of government gets
expressed powers? Reserved powers?
Concurrent powers?
E- national, Reserved- states, Concurrentboth
Amendment SG
**Know ALL 27 amendments in addition to the questions below!
The First Amendment
1. What are the five First Amendment freedoms? RAPPS
2. What is the establishment clause? The national government CAN’T establish a national
religion
3. What is the free exercise clause? You have the right/freedom to worship or not as you choose.
Constitution SG Key
4. What is the difference between slander and libel? Who is John Peter Zenger? Why is his trial
significant? Slander- spoken lies/ Libel- printed lies. Zenger published something in the paper and
was sued for libel, he was acquitted.
The Bill of Rights (1-10)
1. What does the Fourth Amendment protect citizens against? No unreasonable searches and
seizures
2. Explain the exclusionary rule? Any evidence found without a search warrant cannot be used
against you.
3. What rights are protected by the Fifth Amendment (include all parts) due process, double
jeopardy, Miranda rights, I plead the 5th, and eminent domain.
5. What rights are protected by the Sixth Amendment (include all parts) Right to a speedy and
fair trial, right to a attorney in a criminal case.
6. What does the Eighth Amendment protect citizens against? No cruel and unusual punishment
and/or excessive bail
Amendments (11-27)
1. What does the Thirteenth Amendment abolish? slavery
2. What does the Fourteenth Amendment known as? Equal protection clause (everyone is treated
fair and equal)
3. Which two amendments are known as the suffrage amendments? Define suffrage? To gain the
right to vote (15th- African American men and 19th- women)
4. What group gained voting rights under the Fifteenth Amendment? African American men
5. According to the 17th amendment who elected the Senators prior to this amendment being
passed? State legislatures, today it’s the people.
6. What group gained voting rights under the Nineteenth Amendment? Women
7. What district gained voting rights under the Twenty Third Amendment? Wash., DC gained 3
electoral votes
8. What did the Twenty Fourth Amendment abolish? Poll taxes and literacy tests
9. How were poll taxes and literacy test used? To keep people (minorities) from voting
10. What group gained voting rights under the Twenty Sixth Amendment? (legal age limit) 18
year olds could now vote.