REVIEW SHEET- Beginnings of Government
KEY TERMS:
~Constitution---- a written plan/blue print/ rule book for
government
~Virginia Plan---Big state plan, representation based on
population
~New Jersey Plan—Small state plan, representation set at one
vote per state
~Great Compromise—Put the Virginia plan and New Jersey
plan together. Made a bi-cameral Legislative
branch…..Congress made up of House of Representatives
(representation based on a states population) and the Senate (two
Senators per State)
~3/5 Compromise--- South wanted slaves counted in Southern
states populations to increase their number of representatives.
North said NO. The compromise was to count each slave as 3/5
of a person in the states population.
~Judicial Branch--- See below
~Executive Branch—See below
~Legislative Branch---See below
~Separation of Powers--- the idea that separating the powers of
government into different “branches” would limit the ability of
government abusing its power
~Checks and Balances--- the system that limits or checks the
power of each branch of government by the other branches.
~Federalism--- the sharing of powers between the
national/federal government and the states.
~Commander in Chief--- title of President, head of all armed
forces.
Shay’s Rebellion--- see below
Tyranny--- the abuse of power by a government. Oppression of
its people
Bill--- proposed law
Due Process--- the right to be treated fairly by U.S. government.
Veto--- to reject a proposed bill/law
Bill of Rights--- first 10 Amendments of the Constitution. Antifederalists thought it was important to have citizens rights
protected by the Constitution.
Judicial Review--- the power of the Supreme Court to declare
laws or actions by the government or officials as
unconstitutional
Override---Congress can override a Presidential veto by a 2/3
vote
Ratify--- to approve
Unconstitutional---an action or law that is not allowed by the
Constitution
Bi-Cameral--- two house/body legislative
Cabinet--- Top presidential advisors made up of the most
important agencies or departments
*Articles of Confederation 1st constitution
-Why was it created? Needed a government after
Revolutionary War
Shay’s Rebellion? Showed how weak the Articles of
Confederation were. People realized they needed a stronger
government.
-What were some key characteristics? NO COURTS, NO
EXECUTIVE BRANCH, NO POWER OVER STATES,
Couldn’t COLLECT TAXES.
-What were its failings? NOT ENOUGH POWER TO RUN
THE COUNTRY
*The United States Constitution
-Why was it created? THE ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION WERE MADE WEAK ON PURPOSE,
THEY REALIZED THEY NEEDED A STRONGER
GOVERNMENT.
-What were people worried about? TYRANNY IN A
STRONGER GOVERNMENT
-Federalist vs. Anti-federalists FEDERALISTS WANTED A
STRONGER CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND ANTIFEDERALISTS WANTED A WEAKER ONE.
*Bill of rights----1st 10 amendments of the Constitution
-What are some of the rights that citizens are assured or
guaranteed in the Bill of Rights? FREEDOM OF SPEECH,
RELIGION, PRESS (NEWS), ASSEMBLY, THE RIGHT TO
OWN A GUN, TO NOT TESTIFY AGAINST YOURSELF,
DUE PROCESS, DOUBLE JEOPARDY, SPEEDY TRIAL,
- 1st Amendment:
-2nd Amendment:
-3rd Amendment:
-4th Amendment:
-5th amendment:
-6th Amendment
*Federalism
-What is it? THINK VENN DIAGRAM
SHARING OF POWER BETWEEN THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES. ENUMERATED IS
THE NATIONAL GOV’T (declare war), RESERVED ARE
STATE POWERS (marriage licenses), CONCURRENT
(taxes) THEY BOTH CAN DO.
*Separation of Power- Why did they separate power into
different Branches? THIS DIVIDED THE POWERS OF
GOVERNMENT BETWEEN THE 3 BRANCHES SO NO
ONE BRANCH COULD HAVE TO MUCH POWER AND
TAKE CONTROL OF ALL CITIZEN’S RIGHTS.
*Checks and Balances- Why did they develop this system of
limiting the power of each branch of government? ONCE
AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THEY COULD NOT GET TOO
MUCH POWER AND ABUSE IT.
*3 Branches- What does each branch do? Who makes up
each branch? How do they check or balance the other
branches? LOOK AT YOUR DOCUMENTS AND
NOTEBOOK FILE….KNOW WHO IS IN THE BRANCH?
WHAT IS THEIR ROLE? WHAT THEY DO? THE
CHECKS AND BALANCES THEY HAVE ON OTHER
BRANCHES
-Executive-- President and Departments/Agencies—
carries out or enforces the laws.
-Veto
-Appoints Department Heads/Federal Judges and Justices
-Negotiates Treaties
-Commander in Chief
-Legislative—Congress made up of House of representatives
and the Senate
-passes bills into law
-can override Presidents Veto with 2/3 vote
-approves Presidential appointees
-declare war
-ratifies treaties
-Judicial—Supreme Court and Federal Courts
-interprets laws
-power of Judicial Review—can declare any law or action
taken by government as Unconstitutional.
*Explain the process of a bill becoming a law (basic)
PROPOSED LAW (BILL) VOTED ON IN HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE. IF IT GETS 51% OR
MORE OF THE VOTES IT IS SENT TO PRESIDENT TO
BE SIGNED INTO LAW.