Chapter 7 Review Sheet
Answer Guide
Key Terms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Constitution: a formal plan of government
Articles of Confederation: the first US government.
Land Ordinance of 1785: law that organized the Northwest
territory.
Northwest Ordinance: law that set up a government for the
Northwest territory.
Legislative branch: branch of government that makes the laws.
Executive branch: branch of government that carries out the laws.
Judicial branch: branch of government that makes sure laws are
fair.
Federalism: the sharing of powers between the federal and state
governments.
Checks and balances: the system set up to prevent any branch
from becoming too powerful
Impeach: to accuse an official of a crime.
Constitutional Compromises
Virginia Plan:
 2-house legislature based on population
 Pleased the big states; small states were against it.
New Jersey Plan:
• 1- house legislature; each state gets
one vote.
• Pleased the small states; big states were
against it.
Great Compromise:
• 2-house legislature. Senate has 2 votes for each state.
House of Rep. is based on population
• Pleased all states because there was equal representation in the
Senate, but based on population in the House.
Three-fifths Compromise
North:
 Did NOT want to count slaves as population because
they did not have a large slave population and it
would benefit the South.
South:
• Wanted to count the slaves as population
because they had a lot of slaves and would get
more votes in Congress.
3/5 Compromise:
• All states agreed to count only a portion (3/5) of a state’s
slave population.
Review Questions
Why did Americans want a written constitution?
- It would be proof of their rights and also limit the power of
government.
2. List THREE problems of the Articles of Confederation
a. the gov’t could not tax; had no way of getting money
b. No president to carry out laws.
c. No court to settle disputes.
3. What is the purpose of checks and balances?
- to prevent any one branch form becoming too powerful.
4. How many states had to ratify the constitution for it to go into
effect?
- nine states had to ratify the constitution for it to go into effect.
5. Why were some people afraid of the constitution?
- Antifederalists feared that the constitution gave the government too
much power but did nothing to protect the rights of the
people.
6. Why did people want a Bill of Rights added to the constitution?
- A bill of rights would protect the rights of the people from the
government.
1.
Federalism
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Declare War- National Power
Create and Maintain Schools- State
Power
Make Treaties- National Power
Marriage and Divorce Laws- State Power
Raise Taxes- BOTH; Concurrent Power