Questions and Answers
What is federalism?
Why did The Articles of Confederation fail?
The federal government was too weak.
Who wrote The Federalist Papers?
What was the New Jersey Plan?
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What did The Great Compromise create?
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What is the definition of popular sovereignty?
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What are the three branches of the federal government?
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What is the purpose of checks and balances?
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What is the Bill of Rights?
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Who was the first state to ratify the Constitution?
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What did Shay's Rebellion highlight?
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Study Notes
Federalism
- Power is divided between national and state governments.
Articles of Confederation
- Failed due to the weakness of the federal government.
Trust in Government
- States exhibit distrust towards government authority.
The Federalist Papers
- Written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.
- Aimed to support the Constitution, assuring it wouldn't overpower states.
- Lacked the inclusion of a Bill of Rights.
New Jersey Plan
- Known as the "Small State Plan."
- Proposed equal representation for each state in Congress, regardless of size.
The Great Compromise
- Merged the Virginia and New Jersey Plans.
- Established a bicameral Congress consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Virginia Plan
- Referred to as the "Large State Plan."
- States' representation in Congress would be based on population.
Bicameral Legislature
- A legislative body composed of two houses.
- Associated with the Virginia Plan.
The Preamble
- Serves as the introduction to the Constitution.
Federalists
- Supporters of the new Constitution, primarily led by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
Anti-Federalists
- Opponents of the new Constitution.
- Feared it would centralize political, economic, and military authority.
Popular Sovereignty
- The principle that governmental power resides with the people.
Three Branches of Federal Government
- Comprised of Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches.
Checks and Balances
- Designed to ensure that no branch exceeds its power, preventing abuse of authority.
Constitutional Convention
- Convened in Philadelphia in 1787 to draft a new Constitution.
The Congress
- Consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives, forming the federal legislative body.
The Senate
- Composed of equal representatives from each state.
The House of Representatives
- Contains representatives determined by state population.
3/5 Compromise
- Each slave was counted as three-fifths of a person for representation in the House.
Powers of Federal Government
- Divided into Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches.
Legislative Branch (Congress)
- Made up of the Senate and House.
- Responsible for proposing and enacting laws.
Executive Branch
- Includes the President and federal departments.
- Ensures laws are enforced and executed properly.
Judicial Branch
- Consists of national courts.
- Interprets laws and administers justice.
Bill of Rights
- The first ten amendments to the Constitution.
- Guarantees individual rights and protections.
Ratify
- The act of formally approving an agreement or document.
Ratification of the Constitution
- Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution.
- Rhode Island was the last state to ratify.
Bill of Rights' Impact
- Functioned to convert many Anti-Federalists into Federalists.
Amendments
- Refer to formal changes, corrections, or additions made to the Constitution.
Shay's Rebellion
- Armed uprising led by Daniel Shays in 1786-1787 against mortgage foreclosures in Massachusetts.
- Highlighted the urgent need for a stronger national government leading to the Constitutional Convention.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the foundational concepts of government, including federalism and the Articles of Confederation. This quiz features key terms and definitions crucial to understanding the structure of American governance. Perfect for students studying civics or American history.
