Aim: Review for the Test on
the Constitution
Bring a #2 pencil and a pen
Essay Topic: Compromises
Extra Credit: Castlelearning
Receive an 80 or better and earn
5 points on the test.
Mayflower Compact
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Agreement signed by the Pilgrims
before landing at Plymouth.
Contract in which the colonists
consented to be governed by a
government that they created- self
government.
Common Sense
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Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine
He wrote that it is ridiculous for the American
colonies occupying a great continent, to be
ruled by a tiny island like Britain.
Declaration of Independence
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Written by Thomas Jefferson
Purpose: Justify the reasons the colonies had
decided to become the U.S.A.
Key Ideas: People have natural rights
Governments receive their power to govern
from “the consent of the governed.”
When government fails to protect those
rights, people have the right to alter or
abolish it.
John Locke
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Social Contract.
Right to life, liberty and property.
Right to revolution.
Ideas contained in the Declaration of
Independence.
Articles of Confederation
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Weak central government. States had
all the power.
States coined their own money
States made foreign treaties.
No Federal military.
States did not have to pay taxes to the
Federal government.
Great Compromise
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Problem: Large states wanted representation
based on population. Small states wanted
equal representation.
Solution: Bicameral Legislature- Congress.
Senate- equal representation.
House of Representatives based on
population.
Federalist Papers
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A series of persuasive essays in favor of
ratification of the Constitution.
Written by: Alexander Hamilton, John
Jay, and James Madison.
Federalist/ Anti- Federalist
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Federalist- supporter of ratification
Anti-Federalist- Against ratification
Bill of Rights was added to the
Constitution to get the Anti-Federalists
to ratify the Constitution.
Judicial Review
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Power of the Supreme Court to declare
a law unconstitutional.
Example of the “unwritten
Constitution.”
Result of Marbury v. Madison.
Checks and Balances
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Based on ideas of Montesquieu.
Prevents one branch of government
from becoming more powerful than the
others.
Example- A bill becoming a law.
Preamble
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Introduction to the Constitution.
States the purpose of government and
their responsibilities to the citizens.
Federalism
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The division of power between state
and federal government.
Delegated- Federal government
(military)
Reserved- state government (licenses)
Concurrent- both (taxes)
Separation of Powers
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Based on ideas of Montesquieu.
Divides Federal government into three
branches:
Executive- enforce laws
Legislative- make laws
Judicial- interpret laws
Republic
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Form of government from Ancient
Rome.
Citizens elect people to represent them.
Amending Process
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Formally changing the Constitution.
Congress approves by 2/3rd vote.
¾ of the states must ratify the
amendment.
Electoral College
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As assembly elected by the voters that
meets every four years to formally elect
the President.
Winners of the popular vote have lost
the presidency because they failed to
win a majority of the electoral vote.
Bill of Rights
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First ten amendments to the
Constitution.
Deal with Civil Liberties.
Elastic Clause
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States that Congress can make all laws
“necessary and proper” for carrying out
the tasks listed in the Constitution.
Stretches the powers of Congress.